CHAPTER XIV. SIR MONIER MONIER-WILLIAMS: THE ENGLISH PANDIT. A.D. 1819-1899. "If thou art wise, seek ease and happiness That in the night thy sleep may tranquil be; Throughout thy life that, when thy days are ended, THOUGH Sir Monier Monier-Williams was not what is usually called an Anglo-Indian, his life was one that should be known to the Indian people, in whom he took the deepest interest, and for whose benefit he con * Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams. London: Luzac & Co., 1893, p. 446, tinually laboured. He was the son of an officer in the Bombay Engineers, who was Surveyor-General of that Presidency, and he was born in the city of Bombay on November 12, 1819. He obtained an appointment in the Bombay Civil Service, which, after he had been for some time preparing for it at the East India Company's College, he resigned; he was for several years a Professor in the same College, and helped to train very many of those who, in various capacities, and some even in high positions, took part in the Government of India ; he diligently studied the ancient classical language of India, and endeavoured to make himself fully acquainted with the customs, feelings, and religious beliefs of its inhabitants; and he was the founder of an Institution at Oxford, one object of which is to promote the good of Indians residing in England. For these reasons, though he never occupied any official position in India, we believe that he well deserves a place among the AngloIndian heroes who have loved and helped and strengthened her. Monier-Williams's father returned to England in 1821, when his son was just two years old; and, in the following year, died at Naples, whither he had gone for the sake of his health. Mrs. Williams went back to London with her children; and lived at first in Russell Square, and afterwards in Cambridge Terrace, Regent's Park. She was a most sweet and excellent lady; and, from the very beginning, she seems to have exercised a powerful influence on her son's character, moulding it in the right direction, and leaving on it an impression that was never effaced. He once called her "a veritable incarnation of combined energy and wisdom." She was gifted with an abundance of that very valuable facultycommon sense. "She was," he wrote, "an incomparable mother, devoted to her children, and able by her tact and wisdom in dealing with their several peculiarities to prevent differences of character from causing any permanent disagreement in our united home circle." She was the means of his eyes being opened to appreciate the beauties of nature and of art; and she, being herself a pious woman, was the first to influence his mind to see the attractiveness of true religion, which afterwards took such a strong and decided hold on his whole life. Monier-Williams was a very delicate child. He was frequently attacked by more or less dangerous diseases, and, at one time, his mother thought that he would not long survive. Care and attention helped to restore him to health; but a certain sensitiveness of mind and predisposition to illness seem to have been the result, though sometimes he appears to have been both strong and well. He was sent in turn to several small schools kept by private individuals. He subsequently went to King's College School in London, which was then under Dr. Major, a distinguished scholar, and the author of many educational works, from whose instruction he derived a good deal of advantage. For a short time he was promoted to King's College itself; but he seems to have been too young to obtain the full benefit of the higher course of studies there pursued. Finally, after a few months spent with a private tutor, he entered Balliol College, Oxford. Monier-Williams's first experience of life at Oxford lasted little more than a year, and during this time he did not apply himself to study. On the contrary, he entered heartily into innocent amusements, such as boating, riding, skating, and other similar recreations. He describes the time thus spent as comparatively idle, but very happy. His youngest brother, Alfred, had gone to Bombay in the army, and wrote to him to the effect that he thought the life in one of the services there would suit him better than remaining in England. This letter made him seriously reflect, and he mentioned the subject to his mother, who at once wrote a letter to one of the Directors of the East India Company asking for a Civil appointment. This was granted; and, after passing the usual examination at the India House, he entered the old East India College, Haileybury, in January, 1840. All our readers who are acquainted with the history of British India know that the Directors were most anxious for the welfare of the people whom they were called upon to govern. They were peculiarly desirous that their Civil Servants, who were brought into immediate contact with the people, and who were intended “to dispense justice to millions of various languages, manners, usages, and religions," should be well-educated and thoroughly trained. At the beginning of the last century, when the position of these officials had, owing to the expansion of the Empire, considerably changed, that distinguished Governor-General, Lord Wellesley, whose words we have just quoted, founded a College at Calcutta for the instruction of the young Civilians on their arrival in the country; but the Court of Directors disapproved of this plan, and came to the conclusion that the training which they considered so essential had better be given in England, before their younger |