CALCUTTA 
2,57 
return in the prime of life, with constitutions unimpaired, and 
habits uncontaminated by the luxuries of Asia. 
In a political point of view, the advantages resulting from the 
proposed regulations would have been equally important, and must 
considerably have assisted the grand object of the judicious policy 
of England, to prevent colonization in all her Eastern settlements ; 
since nothing could have a stronger tendency to hinder the Euro- 
peans from establishing themselves in India, than the prospect thus 
held out to them of a speedy return to their native climate, while 
the scenes of youthful days were fresh in their remembrance, and 
the ties of friendship, and of kindred, neither broken nor forgotten. 
The great facility with which a knowledge of Oriental literature, 
and the customs, and laws of the natives might be acquired in India, 
compared with the acquisition of similar attainments in England, is 
too obvious to need discussion ; and considering it was the intention 
of Lord Wellesley, that alJ the Presidencies of our Eastern empire 
should be equally benefited by his establishment, the consequent 
charges ought not to have created an objection. These had been 
in a great measure already defrayed, and the funds, which he pro- 
posed to appropriate for that express purpose, were fully competent 
to answer every future demand ; yet it appears by the official docu- 
ments of the Court of Directors, that the dread of incurring expense 
formed the chief and almost sole reason for abolishing an Institution, 
" which," it was admitted, " would under other circumstances 
have been thought deserving of the most serious consideration." 
Since the above was written, a College has been established at 
Hertford, on a plan somewhat similar to that at Calcutta, which 
must be considered as an acknowledgment, that the principle of 
