and Regulations, on behalf of the Students attached to the College of Fort William, on the condition that the other half should be defrayed from the funds of the Education Depart ment. 42. It was stated that if the general principle of this suggestion should meet with the favorable consideration of the Government, the Council of Education would be prepared to enter into a more detailed report of the manner in which they would propose to make the benefits of the Lectures of such a Professor available to the Students of the College of Fort William, and to those of the Institutions under the Council at the Presidency, and perhaps at Hooghly. 43. The Government approved the proposition, and requested that the detailed report referred to by the Council, might be submitted. 44. In consequence we referred the papers to our President, who recorded a Minute to the following effect: "By their letter of the 22d March last, the Government undertake to sanction the payment from the public resources, of half the salary of a Professor of the Laws and Regulations, the other half being charged to the funds allotted to the Education Department, and we are now called upon to report upon manner in which we propose to make the benefits of the Lectures of such a Professor, available to the Students of the College of Fort William and to those of the Institutions under us at the Presidency, and perhaps at Hooghly." "I apprehend in the first place, that a Professor of the Laws and Regulations of India, ought in truth to be a Professor of Jurisprudence. His lectures ought to shew what are the general principles and distinctions, which in some form or other, are to be found in every system of positive Law, and then to bring to view the particular form in which those principles and distinctions present themselves in the different systems which obtain in British India. It would be desirable also that he should be a Professor of the Science of Legislation; that is to say, that he should give a course of lectures pointing out what are the objects which should be aimed at in a good System of Law, and how far the objects aimed at or attained in the systems actually existing in India, coincide therewith. But in this course of lectures, two cautions should be particularly impressed upon him. First, to avoid such criticisms as may shock the religious feelings of Hindoos or Mahomedans; and secondly, to circumscribe his subject within reasonable bounds, by excluding from it all such laws as are not the proper study of a Lawyer or Jurist as such. This last, for two reasons; first, that his subject may not be of unmanageable bulk, and secondly, that it may be one science and not many sciences. I will illustrate what I mean by an example, one important portion of the laws of a country is the laws of the customs, but if our lecturer were to undertake to show how far the customs laws of India aim at objects consistent with utility, and how far they attain those objects, he would have to draw his principles, not from Law, or Jurisprudence, but from Political Economy." For the illustration of those Principles which are the proper study of a Lawyer or Jurist as such, India affords abundant materials. There are three systems of substantive law, the English, the Hindoo and Mahomedan, besides the modification of the two latter which may be collected from the reports of cases decided by the Sudder Dewanny Adawlut; and there are two systems of procedure, that of the Presidencies, and that of the Mofussil, whose defects (as far as they are deficient) are of an opposite character: the procedure of the Queen's Courts is encumbered by technicalities not founded in utility, the procedure of the Company's Courts is deficient, I believe, in that regularity which is given to legal proceedings, by a system of rational technicalities. "By throwing upon all these various materials, the light derived from general principles of Jurisprudence and of utility, a skilful Lecturer might impart to his class a body of instruction which they could attain in no other way, which would not only be of great practical utility to such of them as might afterwards be employed in the administration of justice, but would have a very strong tendency to liberalize the minds of all.” "Most of us probably remember Mr. Burke's just observation respecting the tendency of legal studies, as they are generally pursued, to contract at the same time that they sharpen and invigorate the intellect. Such a course as this would, I believe, not only sharpen and invigorate, but at the same time expand and liberalize the minds of those who should follow it with adequate industry and attention." "The lectures I think should be delivered twice a week at the Hindoo College where accommodation can easily be found for the young gentlemen from the College of Fort William, who should be directed by Government to attend, and for the Students of other Native Institutions." "With respect to the Students of Hooghly, I think, we had better consult Mr. Sutherland as to the practicability of their attending the lectures, and request him to suggest such arrangements as will enable them to do so, with the least sacrifice of other academical objects." We concurred generally in the Hon'ble Mr. Cameron's opinion and informed the Government accordingly, and we trust in our next report to be able to narrate the successful results of this measure. 46. In connexion with the subject, we may here mention that under date the 18th of April 1842, the Principals of the several schools and colleges under the controul of the Council of Education, were authorized to grant certificates for examination to bonâ fide students of their respective schools or colleges, such certificates to be countersigned by the Judge of the Zillah in which the school or college might be situated, after that Officer should have satisfied himself that the candidate was a fit person to be admitted to examination, according to the rules in force. The Rules and Regulations for the Educational Institutions. 47. We have in this place merely to repeat our opinion expressed in para. 49, page 31 of the last report, i. e., that "they appear generally calculated to strengthen and improve our Institutions, and to subserve the promotion of Native Education. We however feel it our duty respectfully to add, that it is our conviction that the rules cannot be sufficiently enforced, or the returns required by them sufficiently answer the purposes for which they are demanded in regard to our Institutions, unless those Institutions are subjected to "unexpected visitation and searching inspection." 48. The Government will perceive by a reference to Circular No. 38, Appendix F, that we have adopted some slight modifications in the admission Rules, as suggested by ourselves, on a reference from the General Department relative to the Bhaugulpore School. The preparation of Vernacular Class Books. 49. Paras. 50 to 56, pages 31 to 33, will have informed the Government of our pro On ceedings on this subject up to the 12th of May 1842. the 20th of June and 3d of September we recorded the following proceedings which we subjoin in full, as giving the best insight into our measures and plans. Forwarded for the information and guidance of the Local Committee at uhose best attention is requested to the Circular especially addressed to them, with a view to a report, herein. H. V. BAYLEY. Dy. Secy. to Govt. At a Meeting of the Section of the Council of Education for Vernacular Class Books, held at the President's house, on Monday the 20th June, at 11 A. M. PRESENT The Hon'ble H. T. PRINSEP, President. J. C. C. SUTHERLAND, Esq. J. GRANT, Esq. Baboo PROSONOCOOMAR TAGORE, (Visitor.) Read a letter from J. C. Marshman, Esq., dated 15th June, stating, in reply to the request of the Section, that he is prepared, in furtherance of the Proceedings of the 9th and 26th of April and 12th of May to deliver A thousand copies of the History of Bengal, in Bengalee, for .... A thousand copies of the History of England, in English, ....... Ditto, in Bengalee, 1,500 1,500 .... 1,500 1,500 1,500 A thousand copies of the Wonders of Nature and Art in India, in English, for....... A thousand copies of the History of India, in English, 1,500 Ditto, in Bengalee, for Ditto, in Bengalee, 1,500 Total,...10,500* Ordered, that the following letters be written. To J. MARSHMAN, ESQUIRE, The greater portion of this re-payable by sale of the books at 1 R. or 1 R. 4 Ans, each. 2. The Section have given the proposals therein contained their best consideration, and accept the same. 3. The Section would wish that the works should be delivered first in English, so as to enable the Council to take measure for the earliest adaptation of them into the Vernacular dialects of the various Provinces of India, and would wish to know by what date you may contemplate being able to deliver such English Versions. 4. With respect to the Bengalee Versions, the Section would prefer the History of England, History of India, The Wonders of Nature and Art in India, to be delivered in the order above stated. 5. The Section would be glad to learn if you could not undertake the preparation of the Ethnological View of the Rise and Progress and Fall of Kingdoms and Empires, in English and Bengalee; and if so, the particulars with reference to which you could comply with this request. I have, &c., H. V. BAYLEY, Secretary. COUNCIL OF EDUCATION, June 20th, 1842. To J. GRANT, ESQUIRE. BABOO PROSONOCOOMAR TAGORE. GENTLEMEN,-I am directed to enquire, with reference to the proceedings of the Section for Vernacular Class Books, dated 9th and 26th of April and 12th May, whether you will undertake in conjunction, the former the English, and the latter the Bengalee Version of "a Reader of about 100 conveying valuable instruction in the simplest language. 2. The MSS. will be put to press at the expense of course of the Education Department. I have, &c., H. V. BAYLEY, pages, COUNCIL OF EDUCATION, June 20th, 1842. Secretary. |