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 active aid of learning, talents, and virtues, furnished from the bosom of this Lervice. "The origin of this College, its prefent profperity, and its beneficial effects, are to be afcribed in a great degree to the affistance which I have derived from those refpectable characters in the higher branches, and in various departments of the fervice, who by contributing their zealous exertions to promote the fuccefs of the Inftitution, have endeavoured to extend the benefit of their ufeful acquifitions and of their falutary example, and to continue in the public fervice a fucceffion of merit fimilar to that which has diftinguifhed their conduct in their respective stations. "With these fentiments, during my abfence from the Prefidency, it was highly fatisfactory to me, that my authority in this College fhould have been reprefented by a gentleman, who is peculiarly qualified to appreciate the advantages of the Institution, and to accelerate its fuccefs; and whofe eminent character and honorable progrefs in the fervice, furnish at once the most perfect example which can be propofed for your imitation, and the most powerful incitement which can be offered to your ambition. "The report which I received from Mr. Barlow, of the progress of the Inftitution, during the first year of its operation, fatished me, that many of the Students had been confiderably diftinguifhed, not only by proficiency in the Oriental Languages and Literature, but by a laudable obfervance of the Statutes and Rules of the College; that the Officers, Profeffors, and Teachers, had manifelted an uniform zeal and attention in the discharge of their refpective duties; that the Public Examinations had been conducted with great knowledge and ability, and had proved highly creditable to the general character of the Students; while the Difputations in the Perfian, Bengalee, and Hindooftance Languages, had afforded an extraordinary example of the progress of the Students, who had maintained public arguments in thofe languages on the 6th of February, 1802. "The refult of the Examination holden in January last, at the conclufion of the fourth term of the year 1802, and the Public Difputations which have been maintained in my prefence, have afforded me the cordial fatisfaction of witneffing the progreflive improvement of the Students in every branch of Oriental Language and Literature, in which Lectures have been opened. I am happy to obferve, that in the Perfian, Hindooftanee, and Arabic Claffes, the comparative proficiency at the laft Examination exceeds that which appeared on the 6th of February, 1802. In the Bengalee Language, a confiderable proficiency has been manifefted. In the courte of the laft year a commencement has been made in the study of the Tamul and Shanferit Languages, and the great improvement of the Students in the Arabic Language, has been rendered particularly contpicuous by the Declamations in that language, holden for the firt time on this occafion. "The "The Degrees of Honor which I have conferred this day on Mr. William Butterworth Bayley, Mr. Richard Jenkins, Mr. William Byain Matin, Mr. Terrick Hamilton, Mr. William Chaplin, Mr. Edward Wod, Mr. Richard Thomas Goodwin, Mr. Jonathan Henry Lovett, and Mr. Charles Lloyd, fufficiently indicate, that the proficiency which has been made in Oriental Literature, has been intimately connected with other liberal attainments, and has been united to a corre& obfervance of the Statutes and Rules of the College. "Confiderable force and animation have been derived to the principles of the Inftitu ion, from the honorable emulation which has exitted between the Students of the different Establishments affembled at Fort William. "I have experienced fincere pleasure in witneffing the examples of merit which have appeared among the Students from Fort St. George and Bombay, as well as among thofe of this Eftablishment. Not only the Students of this Eftablishment, but those of Fort St. George and Bombay, have furnished numerous inftances of extenfive knowledge and ufeful talents, of the most laudable industry, and of the pureft principles of integrity and honor, acquired, formed, or confirmed under this Inftitution. I entertain a confident hope, that their future courfe in the public fervice, will juftify my prefent approbation, and will confirm the happy promifes of their education. The conduct of the gentlemen now departing for Fort St. George and Bombay merits my moft cordial commendation. They will communicate to their refpective Prefidencies, the full benefit of those useful and honorable qualifications which muft for ever render their names refpectable in this Settlement, and muft infpire this fervice with a peculiar intereft in their future progrefs and fuccefs. "It has been a principal object of my attention to confolidate the interefts and refources of the three Prefidencies; to promote in each of them a common fpirit of attachment to their mutual profperity and honor; to affimilate their principles, views, and fyftems of government; and to unite the co-operation of their respective powers in the common caufe, by fuch means as might facilitate the adminiftration of this extenfive Empire in the hands of the Supreme Government. May thofe gentlemen now departing for the fubordinate Prefidencies, accompanied by the applaufe and affections of this Society, remember with reverence and attachment, the fource, whence they have derived the first principles of instruction in the duties of that fervice, which they are qualified to adorn! "My moft fincere acknowledgments are offered to the learned gentlemen, who have affitted at the Examinations, and who have difcharged the duty of Profeffors and Teachers in the feveral Departments. "Their knowledge, talents, and skill, can be equalled only by the indefatigable zeal, induftry, and happy fuccefs with which they have promoted the objects of this Inftitution. The affiduity and learning of thefe gentlemen, have produced many able and useful works in Oriental Languages and Literature, which have been published fince the commencement of the Inftitution, and which have accelerated its beneficial effects. Continuations of thefe works are now in a ftate of confiderable progrefs; and many additional works of a fimilar defcription are actually prepared for publication. The Profeffors and Teachers of the Perfian, Arabic, Hindooftanee, Bengalee, Shanferit, and Tamul Languages, are now diligently employed in compofing Grammars and Dictionaries, and in preparing tranflations and compilations for the ufe of the Students in their refpective Departments, The operation of thefe ufeful labours, will not be confined to the limits of this Inftitution, or of this Empire. Such works tend to promote the general diffufion of Oriental literature and knowledge in every quarter of the globe, by facilitating the means of accefs to the elementary study of the principal languages of the Eaft. The exertions of the Profeffors have received confiderable aid from the numerous body of learned natives attached to the Inftitution; and the labours of those learned perfons have also contributed to increase the general flock of Oriental knowledge. Reviewing all these circumftances, and confidering the induftry and ability manifefted by the Profeffors and Teachers; the fuccefsful advancement which has already been effected in the general extenfion of the most useful, practical, and neceflary branches of Oriental learning; the progreffive improvement manifefted by the Students in every clafs of their prescribed ftudies; the frequent inftances attested by the public certificates, of laudable and exemplary attention to the difcipline, ftatutes, and rules of the College; and the fupply of highly qualified public officers, which the fervice has actually received. from this Inftitution, added to the number of thofe, who proceed on this day to apply the attainments acquired in this College to the bene fit of the Company and of the Nation: It is my duty to declare in the most public and folemn manner that this Inftitution has answered my moft languine hopes and expectations; that its beneficial operation bas juftified the principles of its original foundation; and that the adminiftration and difcipline of the College have been conducted with honor and credit to the character and Ipirit of the Inftitution, and with great advantage to the public fervice." "His Excellency then returned to his apartments attended by his fuite. In the evening a grand dinner was given to the Officers and Students of the College by his Excellency, at the Government Houfe; at which were prefent the Honourable the Chief Juftice, the Members of the Supreme Council, and all the principal Civil and Military Officers at the Prefidency." This account is followed by the particular report of the Public Examinations, in which 53 Students of the PERSIAN Language are named; 60 of the HINDOOSTANEE, 15 of the ARABIC, 12 of the BENGALEE, 3 of the TAMUL, and 2 of the SHANSCRIT. There is also an account of English Exercifes. This view of a new, but highly important and honorable Etablishment, must be very gratifying to the generality of English readers. ACKNOW. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. M-d will fee that we have confidered his little book in the light in which he represents it; and confequently have, as far as lies in our power, counteracted the impreffion of which he complains. Ton d'apameibomenos cannot poffibly wifh us to be more zealous in the cause he recommends than we are already. It is part of our original compact with the public; from no tittle of which have we ever fwerved for a moment. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. The Rev. Mr. Partridge, of Boston, is preparing a volume of Sermons, altered and abridged from fome of the best French preachers; which promises to give the beauties, without the faults, of their pulpit eloquence. The Rev. T. Harwood, who publifhed on the Grecian Antiquities, &c. is now employed on an Hiftory of Lichfield, which will extend to two volumes in octavo. Mr. Bofcawen is preparing a new edition of his translation of Horace, with the original, and many notes, to be printed in a convenient small size. The preparations of Mr. W. Gifford, for his edition of Mafinger, are in a confiderable state of forwardness. The first part of Mr. Pattefon's Claffical Atlas will be published in a few days. The Poetical Register for 1803, is nearly ready for publica tion. Dr. Hales is preparing for publication a fecond part of Methodism Infpected. ERRATA. Vol. xxiii. p. 101, 1. 32, for Mendels John r. Mendelsohn. ibid. 1. 35, for fuor t. fusi. ibid. 1. 30, for facultatam r. facultatum. p. 103, 1. 8 from the bottom, for Sejuti x, Sojuti. THE BRITISH CRITIC, For SEPTEMBER, 1804. Nunquam aliud Natura, aliud Sapientia dicit. Juv. Truth forms the bafis of the critic school, ART. I. An Account of the Cape of Good Hope; containing an Hiftorical View of its original Settlement by the Dutch, its Capture by the British in 1795, and the different Policy purfued there by the Dutch and British Governments. Alfo a Sketch of its Geography, Productions, the Manners and Cuftoms of the Inhabitants, &c. &c. with a View of the Political and Commercial Advantages which might be derived from its Poffeffion by Great Britain. By Captain Robert Percival, of his Majefty's Eighteenth or Royal Irish Regiment; and Author of an Account of the land of Ceylon. 4to. l. Baldwin. 1804. THIS HIS writer's account of the Island of Ceylon was received with eager curiofity, and stamped with general approbation. Our previous knowledge of that place was very limited, and the obfervations of an enlightened traveller, enjoying the advantages of a refpectable military command, could not fail to be highly fatisfactory. We accordingly added the tribute of our approbation to the general praise; and we doubt not that Mr. Percival's defcription of Ceylon will always have a place in Q BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXIV. SEPT. 1804, all |