176 



Proceedhrgs of Societies. 



[July 



u With respect to the motives which are likely to stimulate them to direct their 

 attention to science, it appears, if we refer to the literary age of Vikramaditya, in 

 the north of India, and to that of the Hindu College of the south of India, that the 

 rewards which were held out for the encouragement of literature were public 

 honours and distinctions. We have evidence that the love of public honours and 

 distinctions is at this moment one of the strongest motives for exertion amongst 

 the Hindris, this is proved by the avidity with which such of them as have been 

 appointed under the new act, king's justices of the peace, have claimed from 

 government, and received the honorary title of esquire, and by their having ap- 

 plied to Sir Charles Forbes to have seals made for them in this country, with arms 

 engraved upon them descriptive of their families, and of the manner in which 

 they, or their ancestors, have distinguished themselves. 



" With respect to the feelings which they are likely to entertain for the indi- 

 viduals who have taken means for raising them, either by a Scientific education, 

 or by conferring upon them political rights and privilege s, we have evidence 

 in -beir affection for and conduct towards Sir Charles Forbes. If we refer to 

 the proceedings of parliament when Sir Charles Forbes, fortunately for the 

 r.at. 88 c I dia, had a seat in the House of Commons, or to the proceedings of 

 the l . Proprietors of East India Stock, we invariably find the name of 



Charles Forbes associated with every measure that is calculated to raise and 

 protect the natives of India. The natives of Bombay, some time ago, sent to 

 England a petition to th-? House of Commons, signed by between four and five 

 thousand inhabitants of all the different religious sects, and of all the different 

 castes of the inhabitants of that presidency, asking for those privileges and rights 

 which they think of importance to themselves. They wished this petition to be 

 entiusted to a person of whose friendly feelings to them they were all thoroughly 

 convinced; and though the persons signing it differ from one another upon every 

 other point, they all agreed in this one, that Sir Charles Forbes, from his invari- 

 able conduct in endeavouring to raise them in society, was the fittest person to 

 patronise this petition.* Sir Charles Forbes has lately given a copy of this peti- 

 tion to the Society; it is a curious document, from the number of autograph sig- 

 natures to it of people of all religious persuasions and castes at Bombay; and 

 enables me to produce the strongest evidence which can be afforded, of the feel- 

 ings which the natives of India will always entertain for an individual, or a 

 government, who may take measures for raising their moral and political cha- 

 racter. 



" From all these, circumstances I am authorised to conclude, that the Hindus 

 of the Peninsula of India, having, in former days, when properly encouraged, 

 made the greatest progress in science and literature, may at present, if so encou- 

 raged, make equal progress: that public honours and distinctions were the cause 

 of that progress in former days; that public honours and distinctions may be 

 rendered an efficient cause of the same progress in the present day ; and that the 

 government which endeavours to raise their character will be looked upon by 

 them as deserving of full confidence and affection. Of this we have the strongest 

 proof in the history of Akbar. That great and enlightened sovereign, after the 

 most minute inquiry into the character of his Hindu subjects, declared them to 

 be as worthy of his protection and encouragement as his Muhammedan subjects; 



* As this document, written by the natives themselves in three different languages, in 

 order that all those who signed it might be aware of its contents, affords a curious illus- 

 tration of the present views of the people of Jndia, a copy of it is inserted in this 



Journal, 



