1904.) 
benefit. of their ufeful acquifitions and of 
their falutary example, and to continue 
in the public fervice a fucceffion of. merit 
fimijar to that, which has diftinguithed 
their conduc in their refpective fations. 
‘s With thefe fentiments, during my 
abfence from tie prefidency, it was highly 
fatisfatory to me, that my aathority in 
this college thould have been reprefented 
by a gentleman who is peculiarly qualified 
to appreciate the advantages of the infti- 
tution, and to accelerate its fuccefs ; and 
whofe eminent character, and honourable 
progrefs in the fervice, furnifh at once the 
moi perfect example which can be pro- 
pofed for your imitation, and the mof 
powerful incitement which can be offered 
to your ambition. 
«© The report which I received from 
Mr. Barlow, of the progrefs of the infti- 
tution, during the firft year of its opera- 
tion, fatished me, that many of the ttu- 
dents had been confiderably diftinguifhed, 
not only by proficiency in the oriental 
languages and literature, but by a laud- 
able obfervance of the ftatutes and rules 
of the college; that the officers, profef- 
fors, and teachers, had manifefted an uni- 
form zeal and attention in the diicharge 
of their refpeétive duties; that the pub- 
lic examinations had been conduéted with 
great knowledge and ability, and had 
proved highly creditable to the general 
character of the ftudents; while the dif- 
putations in the Perfian, Bengalee, and 
Hindooftanee languages, had afforded an 
extraordinary example of the progrefs of 
the ftudents, who had maintained public 
arguments in thofe languages on the 6th 
ot February, 1802. 
« The refult of the examination holden 
in January laft, at the conclufion of the 
fourth term of the year 1802, and the.- 
the public difputations which have been 
maintained in my prefence, have afforded 
me the cordial fatisfa€tion of witnefling 
the progreflive improvement of the ftu- 
dents in every branch of oriental lan- 
guage end literature-in which lectures 
have been opened. I am happy to ob- 
ferve, that in the Perfian, Hindooftanee, 
and Arabic clafles, the compara‘ive pro- 
ficiency, at the laft examination, exceeds 
that which appeared on the 6th of Febru- 
ary, 1802. In the Bengalee language, a 
coniiderable proficiency has been mani- 
fefted. In the courfe of the lat year, a 
commencement has bzen made in the ftudy 
of the Tamul and Shanfcrit languages, 
and the great improvement of the ftudents 
Proceedings of learned Societies. 
567 
in the Arabic language, has been render- 
ed particularly con{picuous by the decla- 
mations in that language holden for the 
firft time on this occasion. 
<¢ The degrees of honour which I have 
conferred this day cn Mr. William But- 
_terworth Bayley, Mr. Richerd Jenkins, 
Mr. William Byam Martin, Mr. Ter. 
rick Hamilton, Mr. William Chaplin, 
Mr. Edward Wood, Mr. Richard Tho- 
mas Goodwin, Mr. Jonathan Henry Lo- 
vett, and Mr. Charles Lioyd, (ufficiently 
indicate, that the proficiency which has 
been made in oriental literature, has been 
intimately conneSted with other liberal 
attainments, and has been united to a cor- 
rect obfervance of the ftatutes and rules of 
the collcge. 
“¢ Confiderable force and animation have 
been derived to the principles of the in- 
ftitution, from the honourable emulation 
which has exifted between the fludents of 
of the different Eftabiithmenats aff<moled 
at Fort William. 
«¢ [ have experienced fincere pieafure in 
witnefling the examp es of merit, which 
have appeared among the ftudents from 
Fort St. George and Bombay, as well as 
among thofe of this Bfablifhment. Not 
on'y the ftudents of this Etablifhment, 
but thofe of Fort St. George and Bom- 
bay, have furnifhed numerous initances of 
extenfive knowledge and ufeful talents, of 
the moft laudable induftry, and of the 
pureft principles of integrity and honour, 
acquired, formed, or confirmed, under this 
inftitution. I entertain a confident hope, 
that their future courfe in the public fer- 
vice will juftify my prefent approbation, 
and will confirm the happy promiles of 
their education. The conduét of the 
gentiemen now departing for Fort St. 
George and Bombay merits my moft cor- 
dial commendation. They will commnu- 
nicate to their refpe&tive Prefidencies the 
full benefit of thofe ufeful and honourable 
qualifications which mui for ever render ’ 
their names refpectable in this Settlement, 
and muft infpire this fervice with a pecu- 
liar intereft in their future progrefs and 
fuccels. 
*«« It has been a principal obje&t of my 
attention to confolidate the interefts and re- 
fources of the three Prefidencies ; to pro- 
mote in each of them, a common {pirit of 
attachment to their mutual protperity and 
honour; ‘to affimilate their principles, 
views, and fyfems of government; and 
to unite the co-operation of their refpec- 
tive powers in the common caule, by fuch 
means 
