nished¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Serampore¡¡recognise¡¡the¡¡aggressively¡¡missionary¡¡character¡¡of¡¡Carey£»¡¡who¡¡would¡¡not¡¡degrade¡¡his¡¡high¡¡calling¡¡by¡¡even¡¡the¡¡suspicion¡¡of¡¡a¡¡compromise£¿¡¡¡¡To¡¡be¡¡called¡¡and¡¡paid¡¡as¡¡a¡¡teacher¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡as¡¡the¡¡professor¡¡whose¡¡double¡¡work¡¡he¡¡was¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡modesty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scholar¡¡who¡¡pleaded¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡unfitness¡¡for¡¡the¡¡duties¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡Master£»¡¡not¡¡himself£»¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡Carey's¡¡first¡¡thought£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡full¡¡professorship£»¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡£¿800¡¡a¡¡year£»¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡conferred¡¡on¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡proved¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡much¡¡the¡¡college¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡person¡¡as¡¡were¡¡the¡¡other¡¡professors¡¡put¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡month¡¡after¡¡his¡¡appointment¡¡he¡¡thus¡¡told¡¡the¡¡story¡¡to¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Ryland¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡a¡¡long¡¡letter¡¡devoted¡¡chiefly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡first¡¡native¡¡converts£º
¡¨SERAMPORE£»¡¡15th¡¡June¡¡1801¡£¡£¡£We¡¡sent¡¡you¡¡some¡¡time¡¡ago¡¡a¡¡box¡¡full¡¡of¡¡gods¡¡and¡¡butterflies£»¡¡etc¡££»¡¡and¡¡another¡¡box¡¡containing¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡copies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Testament¡¡in¡¡Bengali¡£¡£¡£Mr¡£¡¡Lang¡¡is¡¡studying¡¡Bengali£»¡¡under¡¡me£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡college¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡I¡¡have¡¡last¡¡mentioned¡¡requires¡¡some¡¡explanation£»¡¡though¡¡you¡¡will¡¡probably¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡it¡¡before¡¡this¡¡reaches¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡must¡¡know£»¡¡then£»¡¡that¡¡a¡¡college¡¡was¡¡founded¡¡last¡¡year¡¡in¡¡Fort¡¡William£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡instruction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡junior¡¡civil¡¡servants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Company£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡study¡¡in¡¡it¡¡three¡¡years¡¡after¡¡their¡¡arrival¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡always¡¡highly¡¡approved¡¡of¡¡the¡¡institution£»¡¡but¡¡never¡¡entertained¡¡a¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡called¡¡to¡¡fill¡¡a¡¡station¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡my¡¡great¡¡surprise¡¡I¡¡was¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡undertake¡¡the¡¡Bengali¡¡professorship¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡morning¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brown¡¡came£»¡¡inviting¡¡me¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡some¡¡conversation¡¡with¡¡him¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡subject¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡but¡¡just¡¡time¡¡to¡¡call¡¡our¡¡brethren¡¡together£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡of¡¡opinion¡¡that£»¡¡for¡¡several¡¡reasons£»¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡it£»¡¡provided¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mission¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡also¡¡knew¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡filling¡¡such¡¡a¡¡station¡¡with¡¡reputation¡¡and¡¡propriety¡£¡¡¡¡I£»¡¡however£»¡¡went¡¡over£»¡¡and¡¡honestly¡¡proposed¡¡all¡¡my¡¡fears¡¡and¡¡objections¡£¡¡¡¡Both¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brown¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Buchanan¡¡were¡¡of¡¡opinion¡¡that¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mission¡¡would¡¡be¡¡furthered¡¡by¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡able¡¡to¡¡reply¡¡to¡¡their¡¡arguments¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡convinced¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡my¡¡ability£»¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡satisfy¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡insisted¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡that¡¡they¡¡must¡¡be¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡of¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡therefore¡¡consented£»¡¡with¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡trembling¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡proposed¡¡me¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡next£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Governor¡General£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡patron¡¡and¡¡visitor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡college¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡missionary¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡¡for¡¡seven¡¡years¡¡or¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡a¡¡missionary¡¡I¡¡was¡¡appointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡office¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡clause¡¡had¡¡been¡¡inserted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡statutes¡¡to¡¡accommodate¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡not¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Church¡¡of¡¡England¡¡£¨for¡¡all¡¡professors¡¡are¡¡to¡¡take¡¡certain¡¡oaths£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡declarations£©£»¡¡but£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡accommodation¡¡of¡¡such£»¡¡two¡¡other¡¡names¡¡were¡¡inserted£»¡¡viz¡££»¡¡lecturers¡¡and¡¡teachers£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡not¡¡included¡¡under¡¡that¡¡obligation¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡was¡¡proposed£»¡¡his¡¡lordship¡¡asked¡¡if¡¡I¡¡was¡¡well¡¡affected¡¡to¡¡the¡¡state£»¡¡and¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡fulfilling¡¡the¡¡duties¡¡of¡¡the¡¡station£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡B¡£¡¡replied¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡never¡¡have¡¡proposed¡¡me¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡had¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡doubt¡¡on¡¡those¡¡heads¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡how¡¡people¡¡can¡¡have¡¡such¡¡favourable¡¡ideas¡¡of¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡certainly¡¡am¡¡not¡¡disaffected¡¡to¡¡the¡¡state£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡other¡¡is¡¡not¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡me¡£
¡¨When¡¡the¡¡appointment¡¡was¡¡made£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡very¡¡important¡¡charge¡¡committed¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡books¡¡or¡¡helps¡¡of¡¡any¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡therefore¡¡set¡¡about¡¡compiling¡¡a¡¡grammar£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡now¡¡half¡¡printed¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡got¡¡Ram¡¡Basu¡¡to¡¡compose¡¡a¡¡history¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡their¡¡kings£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡prose¡¡book¡¡ever¡¡written¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Bengali¡¡language£»¡¡which¡¡we¡¡are¡¡also¡¡printing¡£¡¡¡¡Our¡¡pundit¡¡has¡¡also¡¡nearly¡¡translated¡¡the¡¡Sanskrit¡¡fables£»¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Brother¡¡Thomas¡¡sent¡¡you£»¡¡which¡¡we¡¡are¡¡also¡¡going¡¡to¡¡publish£»¡¡These£»¡¡with¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Foster's¡¡vocabulary£»¡¡will¡¡prepare¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡reading¡¡their¡¡poetical¡¡books£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡this¡¡difficulty¡¡will¡¡be¡¡gotten¡¡through¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡my¡¡ignorance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡conducting¡¡collegiate¡¡exercises¡¡is¡¡a¡¡great¡¡weight¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡mind¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡thirteen¡¡students¡¡in¡¡my¡¡class£»¡¡I¡¡lecture¡¡twice¡¡a¡¡week£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡nearly¡¡gone¡¡through¡¡one¡¡term£»¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡two¡¡months¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡began¡¡4th¡¡May¡£¡¡¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡students¡¡have¡¡gotten¡¡through¡¡the¡¡accidents£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡have¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡translate¡¡Bengali¡¡into¡¡English¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡examination¡¡begins¡¡this¡¡week¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡also¡¡appointed¡¡teacher¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sanskrit¡¡language£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡no¡¡students¡¡have¡¡yet¡¡entered¡¡in¡¡that¡¡class£»¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡must¡¡prepare¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡writing¡¡a¡¡grammar¡¡of¡¡that¡¡language£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡must¡¡also¡¡print£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡get¡¡through¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡dictionary£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡began¡¡some¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡say¡¡all¡¡this£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡brother£»¡¡to¡¡induce¡¡you¡¡to¡¡give¡¡me¡¡your¡¡advice¡¡about¡¡the¡¡best¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡conducting¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡this¡¡station£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡induce¡¡you¡¡to¡¡pray¡¡much¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡that¡¡God¡¡may£»¡¡in¡¡all¡¡things£»¡¡be¡¡glorified¡¡by¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡presented¡¡a¡¡copy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bengali¡¡New¡¡Testament¡¡to¡¡Lord¡¡Wellesley£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡appointment£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡medium¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Rev¡£¡¡D¡£¡¡Brown£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡graciously¡¡received¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡also¡¡presented¡¡Governor¡¡Bie¡¡with¡¡one¡£
¡¨Serampore¡¡is¡¡now¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡English¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡while¡¡we¡¡were¡¡in¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡asleep£»¡¡you¡¡may¡¡therefore¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡done¡¡without¡¡bloodshed¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡may¡¡be¡¡perfectly¡¡easy¡¡about¡¡us£º¡¡we¡¡are¡¡equally¡¡secure¡¡under¡¡the¡¡English¡¡or¡¡Danish¡¡Government£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡well¡¡disposed¡¡to¡¡both¡£¡¨
For¡¡seven¡¡years£»¡¡since¡¡his¡¡first¡¡settlement¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Dinapoor¡¡district£»¡¡Carey¡¡had¡¡given¡¡one¡third¡¡of¡¡his¡¡long¡¡working¡¡day¡¡to¡¡the¡¡study¡¡of¡¡Sanskrit¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡1796¡¡he¡¡reported£º¡¨I¡¡am¡¡now¡¡learning¡¡the¡¡Sanskrit¡¡language£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡may¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡read¡¡their¡¡Shasters¡¡for¡¡myself£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡acquired¡¡so¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hindi¡¡or¡¡Hindostani¡¡as¡¡to¡¡converse¡¡in¡¡it¡¡and¡¡speak¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡¡intelligibly¡£¡£¡£Even¡¡the¡¡language¡¡of¡¡Ceylon¡¡has¡¡so¡¡much¡¡affinity¡¡with¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Bengal¡¡that¡¡out¡¡of¡¡twelve¡¡words£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡little¡¡Sanskrit¡¡that¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡understand¡¡five¡¡or¡¡six¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡In¡¡1798¡¡he¡¡wrote£º¡¨I¡¡constantly¡¡employ¡¡the¡¡forenoon¡¡in¡¡temporal¡¡affairs£»¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡in¡¡reading£»¡¡writing£»¡¡learning¡¡Sanskrit£»¡¡etc¡££»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡by¡¡candle¡¡light¡¡in¡¡translating¡¡the¡¡Scriptures¡£¡£¡£Except¡¡I¡¡go¡¡out¡¡to¡¡preach£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡often¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡I¡¡never¡¡deviate¡¡from¡¡this¡¡rule¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Three¡¡years¡¡before¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡confute¡¡the¡¡Brahmans¡¡from¡¡their¡¡own¡¡writings£»¡¡in¡¡1798¡¡he¡¡quoted¡¡and¡¡translated¡¡the¡¡Rig¡¡Veda¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Purana¡¡in¡¡reply¡¡to¡¡a¡¡request¡¡for¡¡an¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beliefs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priesthood£»¡¡apologising£»¡¡however£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡usual¡¡self¡depreciation£º¡¨I¡¡am¡¡just¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡see¡¡for¡¡myself¡¡by¡¡reading¡¡the¡¡original¡¡Shasters¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡In¡¡1799¡¡we¡¡find¡¡him¡¡reading¡¡the¡¡Mahabharata¡¡epic¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡finding¡¡some¡¡allusion¡¡or¡¡fact¡¡which¡¡might¡¡enable¡¡him¡¡to¡¡equate¡¡Hindoo¡¡chronology¡¡with¡¡reliable¡¡history£»¡¡as¡¡Dr¡£¡¡John¡¡Wilson¡¡of¡¡Bombay¡¡and¡¡James¡¡Prinsep¡¡did¡¡a¡¡generation¡¡later£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Antiochus¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡in¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡edicts¡¡of¡¡Asoka£»¡¡written¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Girnar¡¡rock¡£
By¡¡September¡¡1804¡¡Carey¡¡had¡¡completed¡¡the¡¡first¡¡three¡¡years'¡¡course¡¡of¡¡collegiate¡¡training¡¡in¡¡Sanskrit¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Governor¡General¡¡summoned¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡assembly¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡the¡¡disputations¡¡and¡¡declamations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡students¡¡who¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡their¡¡professors£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡various¡¡Oriental¡¡languages¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡new¡¡Government¡¡House£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡still¡¡called£»¡¡having¡¡been¡¡completed¡¡only¡¡the¡¡year¡¡before¡¡at¡¡a¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡£¿40£»000£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡scene£»¡¡in¡¡¡¨the¡¡southern¡¡room¡¡on¡¡the¡¡marble¡¡floor£»¡¨¡¡where£»¡¡ever¡¡since£»¡¡all¡¡through¡¡the¡¡century£»¡¡the¡¡Sovereign's¡¡Viceroys¡¡have¡¡received¡¡the¡¡homage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tributary¡¡kings¡¡of¡¡our¡¡Indian¡¡empire¡£¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡from¡¡Dalhousie¡¡and¡¡Canning¡¡to¡¡Lawrence¡¡and¡¡Mayo£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡still¡¡surviving¡¡successors£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡pageants¡¡and¡¡durbars¡¡more¡¡splendid£»¡¡and¡¡representing¡¡a¡¡wider¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡territory£»¡¡from¡¡Yarkand¡¡to¡¡Bangkok£»¡¡than¡¡even¡¡the¡¡Sultanised¡¡Englishman¡¡as¡¡Sir¡¡James¡¡Mackintosh¡¡called¡¡Wellesley£»¡¡ever¡¡dreamed¡¡of¡¡in¡¡his¡¡most¡¡imperial¡¡aspirations¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡councils¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡been¡¡held£»¡¡and¡¡laws¡¡have¡¡been¡¡passed¡¡affecting¡¡the¡¡weal¡¡of¡¡from¡¡two¡¡to¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡our¡¡fellow¡subjects¡£¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡too£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡stood¡¡with¡¡Duff¡¡and¡¡Cotton£»¡¡Ritchie¡¡and¡¡Outram£»¡¡representing¡¡the¡¡later¡¡University¡¡of¡¡Calcutta¡¡which¡¡Wellesley¡¡would¡¡have¡¡anticipated¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡we¡¡question¡¡if£»¡¡ever¡¡since£»¡¡the¡¡marble¡¡hall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Governor¡General's¡¡palace¡¡has¡¡witnessed¡¡a¡¡sight¡¡more¡¡profoundly¡¡significant¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡William¡¡Carey¡¡addressing¡¡the¡¡Marquis¡¡Wellesley¡¡in¡¡Sanskrit£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡¡Duke¡¡of¡¡Wellington£»¡¡in¡¡such¡¡words¡¡as¡¡follow¡£
The¡¡seventy¡¡students£»¡¡their¡¡governors£»¡¡officers£»¡¡and¡¡professors£»¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡when£»¡¡at¡¡ten¡¡o'clock¡¡on¡¡Thursday¡¡the¡¡20th¡¡of¡¡September¡¡1804£»¡¡His¡¡Excellency¡¡the¡¡Visitor¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡accompanied£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡official¡¡gazette¡¡duly¡¡chronicles£»¡¡by¡¡¡¨the¡¡Honourable¡¡the¡¡Chief¡¡Justice£»¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Supreme¡¡Court£»¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Supreme¡¡Council£»¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Council¡¡of¡¡the¡¡College£»¡¡Major¡General¡¡Cameron£»¡¡Major¡General¡¡the¡¡Honourable¡¡Arthur¡¡Wellesley£»¡¡Major¡General¡¡Dowdeswell£»¡¡and¡¡Solyman¡¡Aga£»¡¡the¡¡envoy¡¡from¡¡Baghdad¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡civil¡¡and¡¡military¡¡officers¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Presidency£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡British¡¡inhabitants£»¡¡were¡¡present¡¡on¡¡this¡¡occasion£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡many¡¡learned¡¡natives¡£¡¨
After¡¡Romer¡¡had¡¡defended£»¡¡in¡¡Hindostani£»¡¡the¡¡thesis¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Sanskrit¡¡is¡¡the¡¡parent¡¡language¡¡in¡¡India£»¡¡and¡¡Swinton£»¡¡in¡¡Persian£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡poems¡¡of¡¡Hafiz¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡understood¡¡in¡¡a¡¡figurative¡¡or¡¡my