Proceeclwgs of Soclciies : [Oct, 



improved system of education which 1ms been introduced amongst tlie 

 natives ; tlie number of useful works on science and literature which 

 have been translated from the English into different Oriental languages ; 

 the variety of newspapers, in English and in the native languages, which 

 are circulated through the country ; and the frequent public meeting?? 

 and public discussions, which take place upon subjects of great public 

 interest, have gradually weakened the prejudices which prevail amongst 

 the natives against combing to Europe ; and must ultimately induce them 

 to follow the examples set them by the celebrated Brahmin the late 

 Rammohun Roy, 2 1 and the Maliommedan Prince Jamh-ud-diD,^ 2 of 

 visiting England themselves, of becoming acquainted, upon the spot, 

 with the nature and effects of all its political institutions, acquiring the 

 means of exercising a direct influence upon the government of British 

 India, and thereby protecting the rights and privileges, and promoting 

 the local interests of themselves and their countrymen. At Madras, 

 the natives, by forming a Hindi! Literary Society at that place, show 

 the desire they feel to acquire knowledge, and to promote the researches 

 of this Society, by inquiring into the history, religion, laws, architecturej 



^ives of India, was by giring them an aiiTple share in the government of their coun- 

 try, obtained for the natives of Ceylon a charter, under the great seal of England, 

 imparting 'to them trial by jury, the right of being appointed Justices of the Peace, 

 and all the other most important rights of British-born subjects. Mr. Wynn, in 1836, 

 then President of the Board of Control, thinking, from the moral and political effect 

 which had been produced on the people of Ceylon by this measure, that it would be 

 advisable to adopt a similar measure with respect to the natives of British India, 

 introduced the Act by which the right of sitting upon Juries was extended to the 

 natives of Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta ; and Lord Glenelg, Mr. Wynn's successor, 

 subsequently, upon the petition of the natives of Bombay, also extended to the natives 

 of those three places the right of being appointed Justices of the Peace. This right 

 is highly valued, as none but those natives who are the most distinguished by their 

 character and their talents are appointed to the situation. 



2 1 Rammohun Roy, when in England, was examined by the Committee appointed 

 by the House of Commons to take evidence relative to India, before the passing of the 

 last Act which was made for the government of that country, and thereby had a public 

 opportunity given him of stating his opinions as to the privileges and rights which ought 

 to be granted to his countrymen, and as to the altera^tions which ought to be made in the 

 British government of India. This circumstance alone, shows the very great protection, 

 and the very great advantage, which must be derived by the natives of India, from hav- 

 ing countrymen of their own, of high character and great talents, residing in this country. 



2 2 This prince, after visiting different parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and 

 obtaining a knowledge of the agriculture, manufactures, and statistics of the country, 

 lias becume a proprietor of East India Stock, and thereby acquired a right of exercising 

 his influence by his vote, over the British government of India. The history of this 

 prince's family, shows the great changes which have taken place in India within the 

 last fifty years, Hyder All, the grandfather of the prince, was once so powerful a chief, 



