1840.] 



Life and Writings of Father BescM. 



251 



College. Mr. Btibington possesses an extensive, and a profound know- 

 ledge of Sanscrit Rnd Tamil. Immediately on bis arrival in India, he 

 eagerly applied himself to the acquisition of these languages, and 

 made himself familiar with their genius and beauties, by his unremit- 

 ting study of ihe historical and scientific v\7orks, that have been com- 

 posed in these dialects. After having submitted to the College an 

 English translation of the Shen Tamil Gnimrnar, written originally 

 in Latin by Father Beschi, he returned to England in possession of 

 many of the v\'urks of that ingenious and distinguished writer. Some 

 of the^e he has printed since his return to Europe, and he has trans- 

 niitted them to Madras, that the memory of the venerable Father may- 

 be perpetuated and honoured in his adopted country. In exef-uting the 

 task, which under such ?iu«;pi;es I willingly accepted,! availed myself of 

 the manuscript*, which in 1798 had been prepared on the same subject 

 by Viduvcsn Saminada Pillei, an excellent Tamil poet, and the author 

 of many Tamil works. 



In addition to the assistance derived from this source, T was in 

 possession of manv interesting and important facts regarding Father 

 Beschi, which I gleaned during a tour through the south, from tradi- 

 tionary accounis, siill preterved among the people. 



My joum'^y to the souih was undertaken at the desire of Messrs, 

 F. W. Ellis, the then senior member of the College Board, and A. D, 

 Cam{)bell, the present senior member, for the purpose of procuring a 

 collection of Father Beschi's works, and I gladly embrace this opportu- 

 nity to express my acknowledgment to these gentlemen for having 

 Gonfid d to me a commission so honourable, and so congenial to my 

 feehngs. In truth, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Ellis are entitled to the 

 gratitude of all, who take an interest in the preservation and spread 

 of the oriental languages. They are the authors of many valuable 

 oriental works. By their example and encouragement they have 

 promoted the study of the native languages, and rescued these from the 

 neglect into whi( h they had fallen after the destruction of the Madura 

 college. No longer sustained by. that institution, which had flourish- 

 ed under the patronage of the ancient Pandyan kings, our vernacular 

 languages creeping, if I may use the expression, as the vine without 

 its support, would have rapidly degenerated, and sunk into a state of 

 rudeness, ha<l not the distinguished individuals whom I have just 

 named, by their unremitting exertions, and the zealous co-operation 

 of their colleagues, succeeded in establishing the Madras College, and 

 thrown around it the light of their talents. 



