services in any degree acceptable or useful.

It has been usual to notice on this occasion the most esteemed works, either in the languages of the East, or connected with oriental literature, which have appeared in the course of the year. The year which we are now commemorating has not been barren, and enables me to congratulate the learned world on a valuable addition to the stock of Eastern knowledge.

The Moontukhub-ool Loghat, an Arabic lexicon explained in Persian, has been printed by the Native proprietors of the Persian press. It is a work held in great estimation for its acknowledged accuracy and convenient arrangement, and the publication of a collated and corrected edition of this useful work must afford important aid to the students of the Persian as well as of the Arabic language. It may be expected to be followed by other publications, equally conspicuous for accuracy and neatness, through the persevering industry and enterprise of Native printers.

The types which have been employed for the publications, now noticed, are in a great measure logographic, and are adapted to imitate more nearly the written characters than any before attempted. From this successful endeavour to improve the Persian type, further progress may be reasonably anticipated, and it may be hoped, that ultimately the press may be enabled to vie with manuscripts in beauty and cheapness, as it surpasses them in accuracy. The degree of perfection already attained is due to the professor of Arabic and Persian, who gave particular countenance and encouragement to this interesting undertaking. The types were executed under the immediate direction and superintendance of natives attached to the college.

The professor of Arabic and Persian has entered on a more arduous task; that of preparing for the press, with the assistance of learned natives at tached to this department, a correct copy of the celebrated Shanamah. This poem, the boast and pride of Persia, and certainly a monument of

transcendant genius, will no doubt be restored by their labours to the purity, in which so classic a poem should be exhibited.

Considerable progress has been made by the professor in publishing a correct copy of the Mukamat-Hariti, a classical work in the Arabic language of great merit. By this publication, an essential service will be rendered to the students of that language, and to the learned in Europe as well as in India.

At the recommendation of the council of the college, government has extended its patronage to the Dubistani-Muzahib, a Persian work of cele brity, containing much curious information on the ancient religions of Persia and of India. It has been revised from the collation of numerous manuscripts by a learned native, Moulavee Nuzur Ashrof, and will be published by the native proprietors of a press, which was established in a former year under particular encouragement afforded to it by the college.

The native proprietors of the Sanscrit press have, with the improved Nagree types, which were noticed on a former occasion, printed several popular works, generally admired by those who cultivate Indian literature. At the recommendation of the council of the college, those publications have received encouragement from government, and the publisher has been able to afford them at so moderate a price, as to furnish a strong confirmation of the hope entertained, that the press may be rendered instrumental to the general diffusion of knowledge among the natives of the country. The songs of Jayadeva and the Bhagvatagita, which are known to the English readers by the translations of Sir William Jones and Mr. Wilkins, are among the works already published.

Vocabularies, Persian and Hindoostanee, and Sanscrit and Bengalee, prepared with the view of collecting materials for a comparative vocabulary of the various Indian languages, as mentioned on a former occasion, have been completed, and are in the course of circulation. It is hoped that considerable progress will be early made in

collecting accurate and copious vocabularies of the numerous languages and dialects of India, and of contiguous countries. In the mean time, a comparative vocabulary of twelve principal languages, to the same extent, and in the same order with the Sanscrit dictionary, termed the Amera Cosha, has been compiled, by persons employed for that purpose, by Mr. Colebroke, and a copy of it has been prepared to be deposited in the library of the college. The languages comprized in the compilation, are those of Bengal, Orisia, Tirhoot, Hindoostan, Penjah, Cashmeer, Nepal, Guzrat, Canara, and Telirgana, with the Mahratta and Tamul or Malabar.

In prosecution of the design of making an extensive collection of dialects spoken in countries contiguous to India, it is intended to print and distribute ■ vocabulary of the Malay and Burmah languages, corresponding to the Persian and Sanscrit vocabularies al ready printed. The numerous original languages of the vast Archipelago in which the Malay language is used, may be obtained through this medium; and the languages of the countries on the continent, between the east of Bengal, and west of China, will be collected through the Burmah language. By means of both, provided the design be seconded by those, who have the opportunity of promoting it, a fund of curious and useful information will be obtained, tending to illustrate, by the comparison of their languages, the connexion and affinity of nations at present but little known. The practical utility of a copious collection of languages and dialects in use in countries, with which an intercourse is maintained, is obvious.

The undertaking has been assisted by the preparation of types of the Burmah character, recently for the mission press; and is the first instance of the application of the art of printing to the characters of a language of the eastern parts of India. It may be expected in time to become the vehicle of making known, not merely the scanty literature of those coun

tries to the learned of Europe, but even of diffusing in those countries some portion of the light of European science.

The 2d volume of the Ramayana, translated under the joint patronage of the college and Asiatic society, has been published from the press of the missionaries at Serampore. The same persons continue to be engaged under the patronage of the college on a translation of a Hindoo system of philo sophy, which they intend to publish, like the mythological poem above-mentioned, with the original text.

A Dictionary, Hindostauce and English, which has been several years in the press, has been completed by Dr. Hunter, the secretary of the college, according to the original plan, in two volumes, of which the second has been recently published. This work will no doubt greatly facilitate the ac quirement of that useful language. An appendix to this work has been announced by the editor, which promises to be no less useful than the original publication.

Further progress has been made by the professor of the laws and regu lations in the preparation of his andlysis of the regulations enacted by the government of Bengal. The second part, including the Mohammedan system of criminal law,the modifications of it,and the additions to it, by the regulations of the British government, the rules for the guidance of the courts of cri minal jurisdiction, and the provisions for the police, is completed, and the publication of this sequel of a useful and important work may be soon expected.

Connected with the laws of the Mohammedans, which are founded on the Koran, and the traditions of their prophet, is a work undertaken by an officer of the military establishment under this presidency, Captain Matthews. This is a translation from the Arabic language of the Mishcat ul Musabih, a work of high authority among the Mussulmans,aud which may be said to hold among them the same place which the Talmud does among the Jews. It is a voluminous collection

of all traditions deemed authentic. The translation has been some time ready, and the task of printing it has been commenced.

Before I close the enumerations of the valuable gifts made this year to the literature and knowledge of the east, I am induced to speak with the honor which I think is due, of the progress that is making in the vicinity of our college in a field of oriental knowledge, which has been left hitherto to the zeal and resourses of individuals. I allude to the little, but respectable Chinese school at Serampore. I had occasion to advert to this institution and its performances, with the approbation that I felt, in my last discourse. On the one hand the interest, which this insulated but commendable undertaking inspires, will not let me be silent on the laudable advancement of Chinese learning and proficiency, which the industry and talents, both of master and scholars, have operated during the past year; on the other hand this subject is not so closely connected with the college of Fort William, or with the proper occupations of this day, as to admit of my enlarging, in as much detail as I should, perhaps, be inclined to do, on the growing improvement of this singular institution. I will not withhold the particulars, however, of its labours from those who may think them acceptable, and shall in that view take the liberty of annexing to this discourse a report of the examination, which was held at Serampore in last September, and which redounded highly to the honour of Mr. Marshman and his pupils; I will not refrain, however, even now, from reading the satisfactory testimony of the learned persons, connected as they are with our own body, before whom the trial of Chinese proficiency were on that occasion exhibited.

After describing the exercises of the young Chinese student, Mr. Marsham, Mr. Jab. Carey, and Mr. J. C. Marsham, the report proceeds,

"Specimens of Chinese types, now cutting in wood, were then exhibited, and some of the first sheets of the Lun Gnee, or first book of Confucius,

now in the press, with a large single sheet, containing the whole of the Chinese radicals, or elementary characters, according to which the Chinese characters are arranged in their dictionaries.

"On the whole, we beg leave to express the highest satisfaction with tie, progress of the seminary, and the acquirements of the Chinese students. We beg leave, likewise, to state, that the manner in which the publication of the works of Confucius is commenced, is entitledto the highest approbation, and of the most obvious utility for communicating to the European world, a knowledge of the Chinese language and literature, to which little more seems to be absolutely necessary than the publication of the five books of Confucius, and the imperial Chinese Dictionary, in a similar manner.

(Signed) "J. H. HARINGTON.

"J. LEYDEN."

In closing this discourse, it only remains for me, in addressing the junior part of my audience, to remind them, that in their hands is deposited the honour of the coming year. On their strenuous efforts, on their unabating diligence, hangs the credit of their own period. The season that is gone has bequeathed to them a fair example. I know it will be followed, and that in the race of emulation, the candidates for distinction will neither turn aside, nor faint; that I shall yet have victors to crown with our annual honours, and that the next discourse need not be barren either in acknowledgments to the College of Fort William, or in congratulations to the public on the high and still rising reputation of that useful and important institution.

tion of his sentiments regarding the meritorious conduct of Major Weguelin, and of the officers and men under his command, during the period of their employment in China.

Numerous are the occcasions on which the British government has discharged the satisfactory duty of publicly expressing its admiration of the distinguished zeal and gallantry of the European and Native troops, serving in India, in the most arduous contests of the field; of their perseverance in surmounting accumulated difficulties, and of their patience under the severest hardships and privations of a state of war. But it is only on the occasion of the late service in China that British troops have been required, by the peculiar circumstances of their situation, to practice the less brilliant but severer military virtues of patient forbearance, rigid discipline, and exact subordination, under the repeated provocations to which they were exposed by the characteristic jealously, and by the mistaken prejudices, of the government and people of China.

The highest praise is due to major Weguelin, for the judgment and ability manifested by him in the precautionary measures which he adopted to prevent the evil consequences of irritation, so justly excited among the European and Native troops under his command, by the unfriendly and often injurious conduct of the Native inhabitants; for his uniform vigilance, attention, and exertion, to which is materially as cribed the preservation of tranquillity at Macao, for his indefatigable endeavours to promote the comfort, and relieve the wants of the troops, in a situation in which they were exposed to all the inconveniences of restraint and privation, and for the professional skill which he displayed in the defensive arrangements, which it was judged necessary to adopt.

The governor-general in council also deems it his duty to express his acknowledgments to captain Muller, commanding the volunteer battalion, captain Nixon, commanding the coast artillery, captain Beaumont, of the detachment of his Majesty's 30th re

giment, and captain Blakenhagen, in charge of the companies of the Bengal European regiment, and to the officers under their respective command, for their zeal and alacrity in promoting the object of the public service, and in regulating their conduct by those maxims of prudence, which the circumstances of their situation so peculiarly required.

The governor-general in council has great pleasure in expressing the just sense which he entertains of the merits of captain-lieutenant Stuart, of the European regiment in the department of supplies, the duties of which, under the pressure of extraordinary difficulty, he conducted with equal credit and success.

The governor-general in council also discharges a satisfactory obligation of his public duty in acknowledging the services of captain Robertson, of the Bengal engineers, not only in the command of the first division of troops, which devolved upon him by the death of Major Wright, and imposed on him the duty of conducting their disembartion at Macao, but also in the support and assistance which he afforded to Major Weguelin, when relieved from his command by the arrival of that Officer at Macao.

The governor-general in council further desires to convey to the whole of the European and Native non-commissioned officers and privates of the detachment under major Weguelin's command, the expression of his lordship in council's high approbation of their meritorious conduct, in fulfilling, under very trying circumstances, and in a manner so exemplary, the essential duties of good order and forbearance, enjoined to them alike by the rules of discipline, and the interests of the public service.

BENGAL

Occurrences for March. CALCUTTA, MARCH 2.-A letter from a gentleman attached to the emr bassy to Cabul, contains a short account of their progress to the camp proper to direct a public communica

near Deran Ismael Khan, whence the letter is dated on the 18th January.

"We left Dehlee on the 12th of October, and in a few days quitted the company's provinces.

"The country is almost a desert from the frontiers to the Gharrah, which river we reached on the 26th of November. The town of Bikaneer is in the middle of the desert, and about the time of our arrival there we lost forty people from the effects of fatigue and the badness of the water. We remained at Bikaneer for ten days, during which time the town was surrounded, and almost completely blockaded, by the army of the Rajah of Jounpoor and his allies. Having left that place, we marched to Bbawulpoor, a town near the Gharrah and found this by far the worst part of the desert. We had made every possible arrangement for the carriage of water, and were greatly assisted by Bhawul Khan, the prince of the country, between Bikaneer and Moultaun. He sent some hundred camels laden with water to meet us in the desert, under the escort of a party of troops, also mounted on camels, forming a finelooking, and they say, an efficient sort of cavalry. Camels are here much more commonly used than horses, and I often rode them for many miles.

"We remained on the banks of the Gharrah for near a fortnight, and from thence reached Moultaun in four or five marches. The town is large, walled, and possessed of a citadel. The governor, who is a Suddoo Zyee, (the name of the king of Cabul's tribe) exchanged visits with us, but as he did not seem to relish our being encamped so close to his walls, we moved on in a few days to the Chenaub, or Asecines, on the banks of which we remained several days. We at last reached the Indus on the 5th of this month, (January) and crossed at the Ghant (here called Puttun) of Keyheearee. We marched up to the right bank, and arrived at this place on the 11th instant.

"We are now waiting for the king's commands respecting our advance, which we expect hourly to receive. We shall meet him at Paishawur, where he has just arrived, and where he generally spends the winter, which is less severe there than at Cabul."

Fort William, March 6.-The right hon. the governor-general in council, having received the official advices of the final accomplishment of the object of the detachment lately employed in Bundlecund, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Martindell, by the surrender of the fortress of Adjyghur, deems it proper to direct the publication of the following copies of letters from the governor general's agent in Bundlecund, and from lieutenant-colonel Martindell, to the address of the adjutant-general.containing reports of the operations of the detachment, and at the same time to express the sentiments of approbation and applause, with which his lordship in council contemplates the professional skill, judgment, and ability displayed by lieutenant-colonel Martindell, in regulating the operations of the detachment,and of the zeal and exertion, which have distinguished the conduct of the officers and men under his command.

To N. B. EDMONSTONE, Esq. Secretary to Government in the Secret and Political Department, Fort William.

SIR-My dispatch of the 21st instant stated, that it was lieutenant-colonel Martindell's intention to move forward to within about a coss of Adjyghur, the next day, there to determine upon, and take up the most expedient position for the commencement of the siege.

2.-Lieutenant colonel Martindell was induced to alter his determination, in my judgment very properly, from finding that a very strong post on a hill near a small village, called Regowly, about two miles in front of our camp, and a little to the right, on our way to Adjyghur, which was occupied by Sirdar Sing, Kass Kullam, and Adjodeo Purshaud, a near relation to Lutch