the gate Isi-niu-cung, where we found the mandarins assembled. Some of the missionaries, after speaking aside with the mandarins, followed them to the entrance of the inner palace, where the corpse lay, and the funeral rites were performed. I then observed to Father Rinaldi, who being newly arrived, trusted entirely to my directions, that they were going towards the bier, but I did not know what ceremonies they intended to perform. Upon this Father Rinaldi asked them what they were going to do; and he received for answer, that there would be no improper or idolatrous sacrifices, no papers burnt, no libations of wine performed. On this assurance we followed the others; and through the gate already mentioned, we entered a spacious court. in which we found a vast number of mandarins upon their knees. They were all habited in mourning, and weeping; and from time to time, upon a signal from the master of the ceremonies, they all at once raised such a howl of lamentation as filled the sky; after which they performed their prostrations.

We were then ordered to kneel also, but in a place apart from the mandarins. In this position we wept with them, and made the same prostrations, not perceiving anything unlawful or unchristian in such marks of grief. During several days we repaired to the same spot, and repeated the same ceremonies.

When the funeral rites were over, I asked a mandarin who had assisted at the ceremony, in what manner it had been performed; and he replied, that during the whole time the body was lying in the palace no paper money had been burnt; but that, after the removal of the body to Kiah-Shian, the mountain of gold, a place immediately without the gate of the palace, such a quantity of paper money had been burnt that the air around was for a time clouded with smoke. He also told me that the Tien-tsien, or libation of wine, had been made, and had taken place in this manner:-The president of the Board of Rites presented a vessel of wine to the Emperor, who poured it into a large golden bowl; and at the same moment the master of the ceremonies gave a signal, at which the mandarins, and we missionaries with them, performed their prostrations. On hearing that we had, even unconsciously, taken part in this work of superstition, I was grieved and alarmed to a degree which it would be impossible for me to express; and in order to preclude the recurrence of such a misfortune, I resolved to quit that Babylon at any risk, and as soon as possible."

With these extracts we must take leave of Father Ripa, recommending our readers to make his acquaintance.

SANDERS, CONES, AND CO. TYPS., No 7, MISSON ROW.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.

Annual Report of the Medical College of Bengal; Session,

1844-45.

As it is our purpose in due time to furnish a full account of the origin, rise, progress, and objects of the Medical College, we shall, for the present, limit ourselves to a simple notice of the last Annual Report. The institution is one which all those interested in the cause of Native improvement must view with especial satisfaction and delight-whether we consider the nature and amount of inveterate hereditary prejudice which must have given way before its establishment could be projected, and the complete and final demolition of which its continued success cannot fail to ensure or whether we contemplate the philanthropic ends which it is so peculiarly fitted to accomplish in a land, which, for ages, has been scourged with the worst of human diseases in their most virulent types, aggravated as these have been by the worst adapted of human remedies, under the imposing forms of witching spells and senseless quackeries.

The Report is drawn up by the Secretary, Dr. Mouat, with his usual clearness and ability. It abounds with matter in a highly compressed form. In this respect, it cannot be said to err, either in the way of deficiency or excess. It omits nothing of importance which one could reasonably wish for, or expect to find, in such a document. It contains nothing which one could desire to see expunged, or the rejection of which would not leave a gap that would mar the symmetry of the whole. The only improvement which we would venture to suggest is, the introduction of distinct headings, briefly indicative of the nature of the different topics treated of, as these successively arise. At present, there is nothing to point out to the eye, where one distinct subject ends, and another begins. And the want of some such unmistakeable notation as that which the ordinary expedient of distinct "headings," supplies, will be felt, as more or less embarrassing by all, and more especially by those who are little conversant with the subject-matter of such a publication

The College is under the immediate control and superintendence of the Council of Education; at the head of which are the Honourable Messrs. Cameron and Millett, members of the Supreme Council of India. The Educational routine and Collegiate discipline are entrusted, under the foresaid paramount superintendence to the body of regular Professors, under the designation of the "College Council." The completeness of the Professorial Staff, and the Educational Course with its needful accessories, may best be seen by reference to the following enumeration of particulars

*

a

the Museum, Lecturer on Pharmacy,....

DR. WALLICH.

DR. JACKSON.

J. T. PEARSON, Esq.
DR. STEWART.

R. O'SHAUGHNESSY, ESQ.
Dr. Mouat.

A. WEBB, Esq.

Chemistry and Practical A. ROBERTSON, ESQ.

Native Demonstrator of Anatomy,....

PUNDIT MODUSUDEN GUPTO.

The number of regular students in the primary class is ninety-one. Of these, fifty-seven are Hindus of different castes, including nineteen of the Brahmanical. Of Muhammadans, the proportion is very smallthe number being only three. The remainder consist chiefly of Chris

The Midwifery Scholarship Holder.

tians-East Indians, Ceylonese, &c. In the military class, consisting almost exclusively of the sons of Native officers and soldiers in the Bengal Army, the total number is ninety. These are intended to become assistants to Military Surgeons in cantonments or elsewhere. Of these again 75 are Mussalmans and 15 Hindus. Of the former, 61 are natives of the North Western Provinces, and 14 of Bengal. Of the Hindus, 10 are natives of the Upper Provinces, and 5 of Bengal.

The Report, in passing, pays a merited compliment to Dr. Goodeve, who, on account of ill-health, has been compelled to proceed to Europe, on leave of absence. He is the oldest surviving officer connected with the Institution; and one to whom the largest share of its present suc cess is due. The Report, also, after deploring the loss which botanical science in this country has sustained, by the premature and lamented death of Mr. W. Griffith, who officiated as Professor of Botany, during the absence of Dr. Wallich, records the following testimony in his favour:

"The eminence and high scientific reputation of Mr. Griffith; the untiring zeal, energy, and ability with which his duties in the Medical College were conducted; and the creditable proficiency of the Students of his class; together with the extremely valuable and beautiful collection of diagrams and drawings, which he prepared for the instruction of his pupils and presented to the College, were such as to entitle him to the best thanks of the Council, and to render his decease a subject of deep regret, to every one interested in the successful cultivation and dissemination of science in India. It was his intention had his life been spared, to have prepared a Manual of Botany for the pupils of this College, specially adapted to their wants and illustrated throughout from his drawings of Indian plants so as to form not only a complete guide to structural and physiological botany, but to serve in some measure, so far as our present knowledge extends, as a Flora Medica of India. Few were better qualified to do justice to such a subject, and none could have brought a greater degree of energy and ability, or a larger amount of knowledge to the task."

Ac

One great object, stedfastly kept in view by the Managers of the College, has been its onward progressive improvement and efficiency. cordingly, upon the occurrence of the vacancies occasioned by the recent departure of Professors Goodeve and Raleigh, in the chairs of Anatomy, Physiology, Midwifery and Surgery, a communication was addressed to Government, pointing out the eligible opportunity which had occurred of remodelling the whole course of instruction pursued in the Medical College, so as to bring it up to the standard of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and procure the recognition of the institution by that body. From this communication, the following extract will best explain the arrangements which have been proposed, and which have already been duly sanctioned by the Council of Education and by Government:

"The approaching departure of Professors Goodeve and Raleigh has been deemed an eligible opportunity for remodelling the system of instruction pursued at the Medical College, so as to bring it within the regulations of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, that the Institution may be duly registered and recognized, and those of its pupils who may hereafter

visit Europe for the purpose of graduating or obtaining the Diploma of Surgeons may be enabled to derive the benefit of the time passed here, being allowed to count in England, instead of their being compelled to spend four years in other schools and hospitals, as they are at present.

The means of instruction, dissecting rooms, museums, library, laboratory, &c. are such as fairly to entitle it to rank with any of the provincial schools of Great Britain, or the second class schools of medicine, in the capitals of England, Scotland or Ireland. The chief and insuperable drawbacks to its present recognition, are the divisions of the courses of Lectures, and the time occupied by some of them: it being a rule of most European Colleges, that no single Professor shall teach two distinct branches of medical science, except in the cases of Anatomy and Physiology, and Materia Medica, with Medical Jurisprudence, and that none of the systematic courses of lectures shall consist of less than 70 lectures or demonstrations upon each subject.

Under these circumstances the College Council beg strongly to recommend that the chairs of Anatomy and Midwifery may be separated: that the teaching of the elementary chemistry required, be united with the course of practical pharmacy given by Mr. Robertson, and that gentleman's services be separated from the present courses of Chemistry and Materia Medica, in which no assistant would then be required; and that for his present salary under the style of "Lecturer on chemistry and practical pharmacy," Mr. Robertson should give the courses required by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

That every student should, in addition, compound in the dispensary of the Medical College, under the superintendence of Mr. Daly, the House Surgeon and Apothecary: that the present anomalous and useless appointment of Lecturer on Minor Surgery should be abolished, and the whole course given, as it is in most European Schools, by the Professor of that branch of medical study: and that Mr. Webb's valuable services should in this department be transferred entirely to the military class, to the pupils of which he is willing and able to lecture in Hindustani upon military and operative Surgery, a course of instruction which would be as valuable to them as it would be creditable to the talent and industry of Mr. Webb, who is willing to perform this extra duty without any other remuneration, than being styled Professor of Military Surgery to the Secondary Class.

In addition to the above, the College Council beg to recommend, that the present Professor of Chemistry and Materia Medica, be directed to give annually a course of lectures upon those parts of Medical Jurisprudence, not treated of in the toxicological department of the Materia Medica lectures, and that his designation be changed to that of "Professor of Materia Medica and Medical Jurisprudence."

It is deemed of great importance that every course of lectures should be of the nature and duration, adopted as the standard of the Royal College of Surgeons.

The above changes would be attended with no additional expense to Government; would secure to the pupils a larger amount of instruction than they can receive under the existing system; and would aid in placing the Medical College of Bengal upon a proper footing, as compared with similar Institutions of Europe."

The arrangements thus proposed and sanctioned are directed to be carried into effect from the commencement of the next session. The following will accordingly be the extent and divisions of the courses of Lectures, to be hereafter, during each session, given in the College:

"Anatomy and Physiology-120 lectures, viz. three lectures a week