566 | | Proceedings of learned Secieties. 
Mr. Jonathan Henry Lovett, of the 
Eftablifhment of Bombay ; and 
Mr.Charles Lloyd, of the Eftablithment 
of Bengal. 
After the degrees of honour had been 
conferred, the prizes, medals, and hono- 
rary rewards adjudged at the late public 
examination were difiributed by the Pro- 
volt, in prefence of the ViAtor, to the fol- 
lowme fludents— 
Meffrs. Jenkins, Martin, Chaplin, Ha- 
milton, Woced, Goodwin, Hunter, Wau- 
chope; Rofs, Morton, Romer, Gowan, 
Newnham, Sprott, Bourchier, Sparrow, 
Elliott, Cole, Puller, Walker, Plowden, 
and Turnbull. 
After the prizes and honorary rewards 
had been diltributed, his Excellency the 
Vifitor was pleated to deliver the foliowing 
fpeech. 
© GENTLEMEN OF THE COLLEGE 
OF FORT WILLIAM, 
*¢ From the foundation of this college 
to the prefent time, the flate of political 
affairs has not permitted me to difcharge 
the grateful duty of prefiding at your 
public exerciles. My attention, however, 
has not been withdrawn from the progrefs, 
interefts, and conduét of this inftitution. 
The principles on which this inftitution is 
founded, the {pirit which it is defigned to 
diffufe, and the purpofes which it is cal- 
culated to accomplith, muft inhance the 
importance of its fuccefs, in proportion to 
the exigency of every public crifis, and to 
the progreffive magnitude, power, and 
glory of this empire. 
“<¢ Inthe difficulties and dangers of fuc- 
ecflive wars, in the moft critical jun&ture 
of arduous negociations, in the fertlement 
of conqucred and ceded provinces, in the 
time of returning peace, attended by the 
extention of our trade, by the augmenta- 
tion of or revenue, and by the rettoration 
of public credit, I have contemplated this 
infitution with confcious fatista@ion and 
with confident hope. Obferving your au- 
fpicious progrefs under the falutary opera- 
tion of the ftatutes and rules of the Col- 
lege, I have anticipated the flaoility of 
all our acquifitions, and the fecurity and 
improvement of every advantage which 
we poflefs. 
‘¢ From this fource, the fervice may 
now derive an abundant and regular fup- 
py of public officers, duly qualified to be- 
come the fuccefsful inftruments of ad- 
miniftering this government in all its ex- 
tenfive and complicated branches; of pro- 
moting its energy in war; of cultivating 
[July 1, 
and enlarging its refources in peace; of 
maintaining in honowt and refpe& its ex- 
ternal relations with the native powers 5 
and of eftablithing (under a juft and be- 
nignant fy#em of internal adminiftration) | 
the profperity of our finances’ and * com- 
meree on the folid foundations of the af- 
fluence, hippivefs, and confidence of a 
contented and grateful people. 
** Thefe were the original purpofes of 
this foundation, which was deftined to aid 
and animate the efforts of diligence and 
natural genius, contending with the de- 
fects of exifting eftablifhments ; to -re- 
move every obflacle to the progrels of the 
public fervants in attaining the qualifica- 
tions requifite. for their refpettive fations ; 
to enlarge and to facilitate the means of 
acquiring ufeful knowledge ; and’ to fe- 
cure, by fyftematic education, fixed reou- 
lation, and efficient diicipline, that atten- 
tion to a due courfe of ftudy, which had 
hitherto depended on individual difpof- 
tion, or accidental advantage. 
‘¢ The neceflity cf providing fuch a 
fyftem of education was not diminifhed by 
the numerous inftances exifting in the 
Company’s fervice of eminent oriental 
learning, and of high qualification for 
public duty. A wife and provident go- 
vernment will not reft the public fecurity, 
for the due adminiftration of affairs, on 
the merits of any number or defeription of 
its public officers-at any period of time. 
It is the duty of government te endeavour 
to perpetuate the profperity of the tate, by 
an uniform fyftem of public inftitution ; 
and by permanent and eftablifhed iaw to 
tranimit to future times, whatever bene~ 
fits can be derived from prefent examples 
of wifdom, virtue, and learning. The 
fuppofition of an univerfal deficiency in 
that knowledge, which this College is cal- 
culated to extend, has never conftituted a 
fundamental principle of the inftitution. 
Far from refting on fuch foundations, 
this inftitution could not have endured 
for an. hour, it could not have commenced, 
without the aétive aid of learning, talents, 
and virtues; furnifhed from the bofom of 
this fervice. : 
«* The origin of this College, its prefent 
profperity, and its beneficial effects, are 
to be afcribed in a great degree to the 
affiftance which I have derived from thofe 
refpeftable charaéters in the higher branches 
and in varisus departments of the fervice, 
who, by contributing their zealous exer- 
tions to promote the fuccefs of the inftt 
tution, have endeavoured to extend the 
benefit 
—— 
