Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.

There are in America several periodical publications of a religious nature which have a wide rculation.

From these we in

tend to give occasional extracts; but this month other matter precludes our inserting more than the following Anecdote :

"In the Christian Panoply, there is a weapon called all-prayer. That this is the surest defence in times of severe trial and oppression, is interestingly illustrated in the following anecdote: "In a section of our country, where slavery most rigidly obtains, it was customary to suppress as evil, all exercises of devotion, however secretly conducted. To this end, overseers were particularly instructed to watch the slaves, and punish with promptness and severity all appearances of religion. One, who had been in this employ, and who was willing of himself to carry this order into full effect, relates the following fact: That after sundry assiduous, though fruitless excursions through the dwellings of the slaves, and at late hours of the night, to detect this crime, as he was approaching a cabin one night, he heard a tone of voice which he took to be prayer. "Ha!" said he to himself, "now I have caught you!" So he crept up softly with a view to discover how many were united in this forbidden act. It was indeed the voice of prayer; but he was somewhat disconcerted in finding it to be only an old, solitary, African woman. This caused him to pause and listen→ when he heard the old slave praying for the blessing of God on her master, mistress, young masters and mistresses, and even on her overseer! "While he listened, it seemed to him, that, according to his orders, he was to chastise this old woman for this forbidden act. But he said within himself, "For what? For intreating the blessing of God on her master, and his family, and on her overseer!" Again he said within himself, "Can I do it?--No, I can. not ;" and cautiously retired to avoid discovery. But he carried off a wound in his heart, which no balm could care, but the blood of Christ. Thus God, in answer to prayer, saved his old slaveservant from the iron hand of oppression, and gave her a new associate in suffering affliction for Christ's sake."

MISCELLANEOUS.

Dig-durshuna, a work in the Bengalee language.

The various attempts to communicate knowledge to the Natives through the medium of Schools, have obtained the approbation of the wise and the good in an extensive degree. It is evident however, that to render schools fully efficient, something is needed which may nourish the desire for information as it rises in the youthful mind. Nor is it of trivial importance that the reading of Native youths be select, both to secure their improvement, and to prevent their minds being filled with idle or injurious ideas. A small monthly publication, therefore, has been begun in the Bengalee language with the hope of exciting a love of reading in the minds of Native youth. Of this, two Numbers have already appeared; and by the advice of a judicious friend, it is intended to publish in this work, the contents of each Number, that our countrymen whether they read Bengalee or not, may be in full possession of what each contains, should they feel a wish to circulate copies among their native servants and neighbours.

No. I. contains, 1. An account of the discovery of America.-2. The Geographical limits of Hindoost'han.-3. A view of the chief articles of Trade raised in Hindoost'han; cotton, indigo, &c.-4. Mr. Sadler's aerial journey from Dublin to Holy-head.--5. Particulars relative to the court of Raja Krishna-Chandra-raya. No. II. contains-1. Discovery of the passage to India by way of the Cape of Good-Hope.-2. Trees and plants found in Bengal; but not indigenous to Britain, as the Sugar-cane, &c.-3. Death of Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte.-4. Account of Steam Boats. -4. Subscriptions of Natives in the district of Comillah to the Native Schools.-5. Death of Mohun Bachusputti, a famous pundit, lately at the water-side calling on the one God alone.-6. Account of Bengalee Works lately published.-8. Various acts of beneficence recently done by the natives.

This work is printed in a neat type, on English paper, each number containing twenty-four pages, stitched in a blue cover, with a table of contents in the manner of an English work. The price of a single copy is Half a Rupee; but those gentlemen who may wish to put into the hands of their servants and neighbours something that may interest their minds in their leisure hours, may be furnished with Twenty Copies for Five Rupees; Fifty for Twelve; and a Hundred for Twenty Rupees.

THE FRIEND OF INDIA.

No. II.

A brief Account of the various Institutions at the Presidency of Fort William for the advancement of Knowledge and Religion.

RELATIVE to Public Institutions, the Presidency of Fort William at the present period exhibits a scene nearly as interesting, all circumstances considered, as any to be found in the British dominions. This feature in society is almost peculiar to Christianity. While we bow to the intellect displayed by Greece and Rome, while we do honor to the taste of these nations, and contemplate with admiration the precision, the elegance with which the precepts of virtue are laid down by them, we are constrained to look elsewhere for an exemplification of those principles which cause men to feel afflicted with the miseries of others, to pity the ignorance of youth, and to delight in supporting institutions from which they expect no return of profit to themselves. These features are evidently Christian; scarcely a vestige of them can be discerned before the precepts of the gospel began to be recog nized in the Roman Empire as worthy of universal regard.

Should it be objected that this conduct is not always disinter ested; that many as regularly look for a return of fame and estimation from what they devote to the advantage of others, as from what they expend in adorning a house, or beautifying a garden; it is acknowledged that too much of this feeling does unhappily appear. But while this is both acknowledged and lamented, let it be remembered that it serves only to illustrate the superior nature of Christianity. The Greeks and the Romans were as fond of fame

E

and estimation as any in the present day. Why then did they not seek it in attempts to abolish the miseries of men, as well as in exhibiting fights of gladiators? Because no estimation was attached thereto !-because no one deemed these, deeds of fame! How then came this kind of excellence to obtain the public esteem? Was it not that certain persons from a nobler principle dared to do good in this way, while it was not regarded as reputable? and that they were imitated by others till the excellence of the conduct shone so fully on the public mind, as to obtain that es teem which kindled the spirit of emulation in the minds of those destitute of the nobler principle? What then can be more glorious for Christianity than that she has rendered selfishness disreputable, and beneficence so estimable, that men, void of her genuine spirit, deem it a profitable speculation!

1. The Muddrissa, or College for Arabic Literature.

In treating of the Institutions for the encouragement of knowledge in Calcutta, justice demands our noticing one, which for its origin is indebted to a man, who, whatever may have been his al ledged or his real faults, as theEncourager of Literature, has claims on British India which gratitude will not soon suffer to be buried in oblivion, we allude to the aged and venerable Hastings, and to the College for Arabic literature in Calcutta, of which he was the founder as early as the year 1781; and which has ever since been supported by the liberality of Government.

This Institution as already hinted, was begun by Mr. Hastings in the year 1781, for the instruction of Mussulman youth. The first Preceptor or President, was Muhummed-moojud-ud-deen, to whom the erection of the premises in the Lall-Bazar was committed by Mr. Hastings. They cost Forty Thousand Rupees, an expense Mr. H. generously defrayed himself.

The Preceptor, in reality the President, to whom is committed the immediate government of the College, as well as the care and instruction of the Students, is appointed by the Governor General in Council, and not removeable but by his express direction, upon proof of incapacity or misconduct. The four Under Masters are selected by him and recommended to the Committee of Superintendance, who are, the Acting President of the Board of Revenue, the Persian Translator, and the Preparer of Reports. He has also the appointment of all the servants of the College without reference to the Committee. The Under Masters are enjoined to pay implicit obedience to his orders, and are liable to dismission in case of disobedience.

[ocr errors]

The branches of literature directed to be taught are, Natural Philosophy, Theology, Law, Astronomy, Geometry, Arithmetic, Logic, Rhetoric, Eloquence, and Grammar, Under each of these, appropriate books in the Arabic language are named and directed to be studied; to which the President may add any other treatises that he approves. Among these, however, the study of Law is chiefly recommended; and such students as excel therein are recommended to the Committee that they may be selected to fill the Law appointments in the civil and criminal Courts of justice. The President has also to propose annually a thesis for each of the three first classes; and the student in each who in his opinion produces the best dissertation of his own composition, is to be reported to the Committee as worthy of an honorary reward.

The President has Four Hundred Rupees monthly. The Four Teachers or Assistants under him, have respectively one hundred, eighty, sixty, and thirty Rupees monthly. To these is added a Khuteeb or Reader of the Koran, whose business it is to call the students regularly to their devotions according to the Mahomedan ritual, and who has a salary of Twenty Rupees monthly. The Mowazzin or Cryer has Ten. These with a sircar at twelve, a

« PoprzedniaDalej »