the life of william carey-第47节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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　mystical　sense；　there　came　a　Bengali　declamation　by　Tod　senior　on　the　position　that　the　translations　of　the　best　works　extant　in　the　Sanskrit　with　the　popular　languages　of　India　would　promote　the　extension　of　science　and　civilisation；　opposed　by　Hayes；　then　Carey；　as　moderator；　made　an　appropriate　Bengali　speech。　　A　similar　disputation　in　Arabic　and　a　Sanskrit　declamation　followed；　when　Carey　was　called　on　to　conclude　with　a　speech　in　Sanskrit。　　Two　days　after；　at　a　second　assemblage　of　the　same　kind；　followed　by　a　state　dinner。　　Lord　Wellesley　presented　the　best　students　with　degrees　of　merit　inscribed　on　vellum　in　Oriental　characters；　and　delivered　an　oration；　in　which　he　specially　complimented　the　Sanskrit　classes；　urged　more　general　attention　to　the　Bengali　language；　and　expressed　satisfaction　that　a　successful　beginning　had　been　made　in　the　study　of　Marathi。

It　was　considered　a　dangerous　experiment　for　a　missionary；　speaking　in　Sanskrit；　to　avow　himself　such　not　only　before　the　Governor…General　in　official　state　but　before　the　Hindoo　and　Mohammedan　nobles　who　surrounded　him。　　We　may　be　sure　that　Carey　would　not　show　less　of　his　Master's　charity　and　wisdom　than　he　had　always　striven　to　do。　　But　the　necessity　was　the　more　laid　on　him　that　he　should　openly　confess　his　great　calling；　for　he　had　told　Fuller　on　Lord　Wellesley's　arrival　he　would　do　so　if　it　were　possible。　　Buchanan；　being　quite　as　anxious　to　bring　the　mission　forward　on　this　occasion；　added　much　to　the　English　draft〃the　whole　of　the　flattery　is　his；〃　wrote　Carey　to　Fullerand　sent　it　on　to　Lord　Wellesley　with　apprehension。　　This　answer　came　back　from　the　great　Proconsul：〃I　am　much　pleased　with　Mr。　Carey's　truly　original　and　excellent　speech。　　I　would　not　wish　to　have　a　word　altered。　　I　esteem　such　a　testimony　from　such　a　man　a　greater　honour　than　the　applause　of　Courts　and　Parliaments。〃

〃MY　LORD；　it　is　just　that　the　language　which　has　been　first　cultivated　under　your　auspices　should　primarily　be　employed　in　gratefully　acknowledging　the　benefit；　and　in　speaking　your　praise。　This　ancient　language；　which　refused　to　disclose　itself　to　the　former　Governors　of　India；　unlocks　its　treasures　at　your　command；　and　enriches　the　world　with　the　history；　learning；　and　science　of　a　distant　age。　　The　rising　importance　of　our　collegiate　institution　has　never　been　more　clearly　demonstrated　than　on　the　present　occasion；　and　thousands　of　the　learned　in　distant　nations　will　exult　in　this　triumph　of　literature。

〃What　a　singular　exhibition　has　been　this　day　presented　to　us！　　In　presence　of　the　supreme　Governor　of　India；　and　of　its　most　learned　and　illustrious　characters；　Asiatic　and　European；　an　assembly　is　convened；　in　which　no　word　of　our　native　tongue　is　spoken；　but　public　discourse　is　maintained　on　interesting　subjects　in　the　languages　of　Asia。　The　colloquial　Hindostani；　the　classic　Persian；　the　commercial　Bengali；　the　learned　Arabic；　and　the　prim鎣al　Sanskrit　are　spoken　fluently；　after　having　been　studied　grammatically；　by　English　youth。　　Did　ever　any　university　in　Europe；　or　any　literary　institution　in　any　other　age　or　country；　exhibit　a　scene　so　interesting　as　this？　　And　what　are　the　circumstances　of　these　youth？　　They　are　not　students　who　prosecute　a　dead　language　with　uncertain　purpose；　impelled　only　by　natural　genius　or　love　of　fame。　　But　having　been　appointed　to　the　important　offices　of　administering　the　government　of　the　country　in　which　these　languages　are　spoken；　they　apply　their　acquisitions　immediately　to　useful　purpose；　in　distributing　justice　to　the　inhabitants；　in　transacting　the　business　of　the　state；　revenual　and　commercial；　and　in　maintaining　official　intercourse　with　the　people；　in　their　own　tongue；　and　not；　as　hitherto；　by　an　interpreter。　　The　acquisitions　of　our　students　may　be　appreciated　by　their　affording　to　the　suppliant　native　immediate　access　to　his　principal；　and　by　their　elucidating　the　spirit　of　the　regulations　of　our　Government　by　oral　communication；　and　by　written　explanations；　varied　according　to　the　circumstances　and　capacities　of　the　people。

〃The　acquisitions　of　our　students　are　appreciated　at　this　moment　by　those　learned　Asiatics　now　present　in　this　assembly；　some　of　them　strangers　from　distant　provinces；　who　wonder　every　man　to　hear　in　his　own　tongue　important　subjects　discussed；　and　new　and　noble　principles　asserted；　by　the　youth　of　a　foreign　land。　　The　literary　proceedings　of　this　day　amply　repay　all　the　solicitude；　labour；　and　expense　that　have　been　bestowed　on　this　institution。　　If　the　expense　had　been　a　thousand　times　greater；　it　would　not　have　equalled　the　immensity　of　the　advantage；　moral　and　political；　that　will　ensue。

〃I；　now　an　old　man；　have　lived　for　a　long　series　of　years　among　the　Hindoos。　　I　have　been　in　the　habit　of　preaching　to　multitudes　daily；　of　discoursing　with　the　Brahmans　on　every　subject；　and　of　superintending　schools　for　the　instruction　of　the　Hindoo　youth。　Their　language　is　nearly　as　familiar　to　me　as　my　own。　　This　close　intercourse　with　the　natives　for　so　long　a　period；　and　in　different　parts　of　our　empire；　has　afforded　me　opportunities　of　information　not　inferior　to　those　which　have　hitherto　been　presented　to　any　other　person。　　I　may　say　indeed　that　their　manners；　customs；　habits；　and　sentiments　are　as　obvious　to　me　as　if　I　was　myself　a　native。　And　knowing　them　as　I　do；　and　hearing　as　I　do　their　daily　observations　on　our　government；　character；　and　principles；　I　am　warranted　to　say　（and　I　deem　it　my　duty　to　embrace　the　public　opportunity　now　afforded　me　of　saying　it）　that　the　institution　of　this　college　was　wanting　to　complete　the　happiness　of　the　natives　under　our　dominion；　for　this　institution　will　break　down　that　barrier　（our　ignorance　of　their　language）　which　has　ever　opposed　the　influence　of　our　laws　and　principles；　and　has　despoiled　our　administration　of　its　energy　and　effect。

〃Were　the　institution　to　cease　from　this　moment；　its　salutary　effects　would　yet　remain。　　Good　has　been　done；　which　cannot　be　undone。　　Sources　of　useful　knowledge；　moral　instruction；　and　political　utility　have　been　opened　to　the　natives　of　India　which　can　never　be　closed；　and　their　civil　improvement；　like　the　gradual　civilisation　of　our　own　country；　will　advance　in　progression　for　ages　to　come。

〃One　hundred　original　volumes　in　the　Oriental　languages　and　literature　will　preserve　for　ever　in　Asia　the　name　of　the　founder　of　this　institution。　　Nor　are　the　examples　frequent　of　a　renown；　possessing　such　utility　for　its　basis；　or　pervading　such　a　vast　portion　of　the　habitable　globe。　　My　lord；　you　have　raised　a　monument　of　fame　which　no　length　of　time　or　reverse　of　fortune　is　able　to　destroy；　not　chiefly　because　it　is　inscribed　with　Maratha　and　Mysore；　with　the　trophies　of　war　and　the　emblems　of　victory；　but　because　there　are　inscribed　on　it　the　names　of　those　learned　youth　who　have　obtained　degrees　of　honour　for　high　proficiency　in　the　Oriental　tongues。

〃These　youth　will　rise　in　regular　succession　to　the　Government　of　this　country。　　They　will　extend　the　domain　of　British　civilisation；　security；　and　happiness；　by　enlarging　the　bounds　of　Oriental　literature　and　thereby　diffusing　the　spirit　of　Christian　principles　throughout　the　nations　of　Asia。　These　youth；　who　have　lived　so　long　amongst　us；　whose　unwearied　application　to　their　studies　we　have　all　witnessed；　whose　moral　and　exemplary　conduct　has；　in　so　solemn　a　manner；　been　publicly　declared　before　this　august　assembly；　on　this　day；　and　who；　at　the　moment　of　entering　on　the　public　service；　enjoy　the　fame　of　possessing　qualities　（rarely　combined）　constituting　a　reputation　of　threefold　strength　for　public　men；　genius；　industry；　and　virtue；these　illustrious　scholars；　my　lord；　the　pride　of　their　country；　and　the　pillars　of　this　empire；　will　record　your　name　in　many　a　language　and　secure　your　fame　for　ever。　　Your　fame　is　already　recorded　in　their　hearts。　　The　whole　body　of　youth　of　this　service　hail　you　as　their　father　and　their　friend。　　Your　honour　will　ever　be　safe　in　their　hands。　　No　revolution　of　opinion　or　change　of　circumstances　can　rob　you　of　the　solid　glory　derived　from　the　humane；　just；　liberal；　and　magnanimous　principles　which　have　been　embodied　by　your　administration。

〃To　whatever　situation　the　course　of　future　events　may　call　you；　the　youth　of　this　service　will　ever　remain　the　pledges　of　the　wisdom　and　purity　of　your　government。　　Your　evening　of　life　will　be　constantly　cheered　with　new　testimonies　of　their　reverence　and　affection；　with　new　proofs　of　the　advantages　of　the　education　you　have　afforded　them；　and　with　a　demonstration　of　the　numerous　benefits；　moral；　religious；　and　political；　resulting　from　this　institution；benefits　which　will　consolidate　the　happiness　of　millions　of　Asia；　with　the　glory　and　welfare　of　our　country。〃

The　Court　of　Directors　had　never　liked　Lord　Wellesley；　and　he　had；　in　common　with　Colebrooke；　keenly　wounded　them　by　proposing　a　free　trade　movement　against　their　monopoly。　　They　ordered　that　his　favourite　college　should　be　immediately　abolished。　　He　took　good　care