166 



Proceedings, [no. S, new series, 



The remainder of the book, some 230 pages, is a statistical Com- 

 • parison of the Military and Financial resources of the two countries, 

 their Commerce, Public Works and Educational Systems. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



The Managing Committee of the Madras Literary Society and 

 Auxiliary of the Royal Asiatic Society, Thursday Evening, the 9th 

 April, 1857. 



The Secretary laid before the meeting the usual monthly State- 

 ment of the Society's Funds. 



Read a paper communicated, through the Honorable Walter 

 Elliot, Esq., by the Revd. Mr. Percival, on the Tamil Epic the Chin' 

 tamani. 



After a few observations on the late Educational scheme intro- 

 duced into India, Mr. Percival alludes to the general satisfaction 

 caused by the Vernaculars, instead of English, as was at first ap- 

 prehended, being made the medium of instruction to the masses. 

 He briefly points out the increased attention the Dravidian Tongues 

 are attracting at the present day, both among Oriental Scholars 

 in England, and on the Continent of Europe. 



That such is indeed the case, were other evidence wanting be- 

 sides the several Publications which have lately appeared in con- 

 nection with India, its Literature and Language, is sufficiently 

 proved by the fact that one or two Works in Tamil beautifully ex- 

 ecuted have issued from the Press in Europe. 



Under such circumstances Mr. Percival ventures to remind us of 

 the benefits that are likely to arise were we to direct our attention 

 to some of the ancient works of Southern India, which for cen- 

 turies have been acknowledged by the Natives as Authorities, and 

 have earned the admiration of their best scholars. There are five 

 Classical Works he says answering to this description, and which 

 are reckoned of undisputed authority in all matters relating to 

 Tamil Philology. 



