CHAPTER V. THE PRESS-EUROPEAN AND INDIAN-CIRCULATION OF THE JOURNALS-STATE OF EDUCATION AT BENGAL, MADRAS, AND BOMBAY-NUMBER OF COLLEGES-SCHOOLS AND PUPILS, &c. THE PRESS. The mighty engine which has effected such an extraordinary revolution among the inhabitants of the earth, and which by its powerful operation and almost unseen influence prevents any just parallel being drawn between ancient and modern nations, is being extended with sure and certain steps in British India, unshackled by stamp duties, undepressed by taxes on paper or on advertisements, and unimpeded by penalty bonds and securities, devoid of all censorship, and practically free for every legitimate purpose which a good citizen can require. The state of the press will be seen by the following authentic and official returns. BENGAL. In 1814, there existed but the Calcutta Government Gazette. In 1820, there were in addition to the foregoing, the Bengal Hurkaru, (Messenger) the Indian Gazette; the Calcutta Journal; and the Monthly Journal. The following was the return for the year 1830. 1. Calcutta Gov. Gazette. 2. Bengal Hurkaru. 3. Indian Gazette. 18. Columbian Press. 19. Bengal Chronicle, 20. Oriental Observer. 4. Calcutta Monthly Journal. 21. Indian Magazine. 5. John Bull. 6. Asiatic Observer. 7. Quarterly Oriental Review. 8. B. Indian Mil. Repository. 9. Unit. & Christ. Miscellany. 10. Trifler. 11. Oriental Mercury. 12. Calcutta Monthly Miscel. 15. Bengal. 16. Weekly Gleaner. 17. Scotsman in the East. 22. Literary Gazette. By a recent calculation the following is the number and circulating state of the Calcutta press. Official Political WEEKLY. Twice a week. Calcutta Courier 222 .... Commercial. 242 Commercial Price Current 400 200 .... Calcutta Exchange Do... ...... 200 Exports and Imports Do. Unknown. Calcutta Literary Gazette 338 Calcutta Gazette (Unknown.) | Oriental Observer Calcutta Quarterly Review 200 | Quarterly Register Bengal Annual Oriental Pearl Bengal Souvenir ANNUAL VOLUMES. (name unknown.) 350 Calcutta Directory .... 1200 Bengal Do. & Almanack 1200 Proportions of Classes who subscribe to the daily papers at In addition to the foregoing, several English newspapers and journals have been established in the provinces, viz. the Meerut Observer, Meerut Universal Magazine; Cawnpore Examiner, Cawnpore Omnibus, Cawnpore Free Press, Central India Free Press, the Delhi Gazette, the Agra Acbar; the Mofussil Acbar, &c. &c. Of the daily English newspapers, the Bengal Hurkaru may be taken as an example; it is as large Total. as the London Morning Post, circulates now more than a thousand copies, has generally a page, if not more, of well paying advertisements, and its cost (independent of postage,) is twenty rupees a quarter1. The Bengal, or rather properly speaking, the Calcutta Native Press 2. was in Sumachur Durpun, (Bengallee with English, translations). Bunga doot, or Bengal Herald, (Bengallee, Persian and Hindostanee). [Established by the Author.] Britant Bauhak, (published at Bowanipoor) English and Bengallee. Jami Jhan Numa, Persian; Gyananneshun and Urmoobadika, Bengallee; Sumachur Chundrika, do. ; Ooodunt Martund, ditto; Sumbad Coomuddy, do.; Rutnebulli, do.; Subha Rajendra, Persian; Shumsul Acbar, Bengallee; Subha Rajendra, do.; Sumbad Soodbaker, do.; Sungbad Tumul Nausack, do.; Sungbad Sarsungroho, Bengallee and English. Of these papers some are published twice or thrice a week, (one, I believe daily) and the remainder weekly. Before leaving India, arrangements were put in progress by the Author for the establishment of a Scientific and Literary Monthly Magazine in the native languages. 1 The Bengal postage of a newspaper if sent to any place within 500 miles is about 1d., and from 500 to 1000 miles 3d. 2 There are a great variety of Acbars or newspapers throughout the provinces, at the different courts, of which we do not know even the names. : It should be observed that two of the newspapers given in the English list, (the Reformer and Inquirer) are the property of and conducted by natives themselves with extraordinary ability. The general tone of the English press, as also that of the Native journals, is liberal, but some of the Bengallee newspapers are of a high orthodox nature; their prejudices are, however, ably met by their own countrymen in the Sungbad Coomuddy, (or Moon of Intelligence) and other Hindoo journals. The Reformer is, it is said, under the management of a distinguished, wealthy, and highly talented Hindoo, Prussunu Coomar Tagore. But to no individuals is the Indian press under greater obligations than to the late Rammohun Roy, and the munificent Dwarkanaut Tagore. The Madras and Bombay press is less extensive than that of Bengal, and it has been shifting so much that we possess less accurate details of its actual state. MADRAS.-English Periodicals-Gazette, Courier, Times, Standard, Conservative, Hurkaru, Advertizer, The Plain Man's Friendly Visitor, Carnatic Chronicle, Literary Gazette, The Seventh Day, Commercial Circular, Oriental Magazine, Army List, Register, Almanack, and the Mirat Ulkhbar in English and Hindostanee. BOMBAY.-English Periodicals.-Gazette, Courier, Iris, Guide, Commercial Advertizer, Orental Christian Spectator, Sporting Magazine, Price Current, Calendar, Registrar and Directory. Native Periodicals-Na Sumachur, Persian Huckba, Manibujeka Hurkaru, Chabrook Guzarattee, (Commercial Journal). One Newspaper is in Mahratta and English, one is |