The fisherman who brought me the letter, having overtaken the jolly boat, accompanied her to the Ladrones, with the ransom, which having taken out and counted, they let us go. One of their row boats was sent part of the way with us, to prevent our being molested by any other Ladrone vessel, and about 3 P.M. of the 22d May I arrived on board the Hon. Comp cruizer Discovery: where I was sincerely congratulated on my happy deliverance.

During my captivity of five months and a half, I was fortunate enough to enjoy tolerable health; notwithstanding the inconveniences to which I was subject.

My fare was the same as that of the common Chinese; consisting for the most part of coarse red rice, with a little salt fish. In vessels so crowded as the Ladrone boats nerally are, the accommodations, it may ea

sily be conceived, are wretched; and

inconvenience I felt severely.

release was happily effected; and for which I will ever feel most grateful.

(Signed) J. L. TURNER. Canton, August 11, 1807.

We are under the necessity of deferring till next nuniber, some very interesting particulars related by Mr. Turner, respecting the force, discipline, &c. of the LADRONESthe result of his observations during his confinement among them.

ON TOLERATION.

this

At night, the space allowed me to sleep in, was never larger than about eighteen inches wide, and four feet long; and, if at any time, I happened to extend my contracted limbs beyond their limits, I was sure to be reminded of my mistake by a blow, or a kick.

For the first few days after being taken, I was kindly used; but afterwards, my treatment was very indifferent. Several times have I been struck, and kicked by the lowest of the Ladrones, while useless expostulation was all I could oppose in my defenee. Often was I threatened with a cruel death; till at last their threats almost failed to intimidate me; though I was well aware that had nothing to hope, either from the justice or mercy of those unprincipled robbers.

I cannot describe my feelings during my captivity and it is scarcely possible for any to conceive them, but those who have been in similar unfortunate circumstances. Even when I expected daily to be ransomed, I was under the most dreadful apprehensions that some treachery on the part of the Ladrones might render useless the efforts of those who had interested themselves in my liberation; and might perpetuate my confinement amongst those pirates.

But I shall leave these painful recollections; to acknowledge the obligations I lie under to these gentlemen, by whose exertions my

Mr.

Wyvill's answer has also been published:

that gentleman's sentiments are well known; but they are not our object, at present. Extract of a Letter from Mr. G. Harrison

to the Reverend Christopher Wyvill. Worthy and respected Friend,-I have read thy little tract, recommending "a more ex"tended discussion in favour of liberty of "conscience," with cordial satisfaction, and as I trust that a formal apology on the part of a well-wisher to such a discussion, though a stranger, will not be deemed necessary for obtruding myself upon thy notice, I will venture to set down a few thoughts, which have occurred to my mind upon the perusal of thy pamphlet.

The interest of mankind, both in a civil and religious point of view, seems to be deeply involved in the occurrences of the present eventful period. Every feeling mind must be affected by the contemplation of the horrors and miseries accompanying the extended warfare that has of late years prevailed in Europe; and yet the history of former

ages

saffords a fair ground of hope that He,

* Vide Panorama, p. 42, of the present v lume.-In Vol. II. p. 1207, may be seen the epistle of the meeting of Quakers, (held May 27,) 1807, to their brethren, on the Slave trade and Indian civilization.-An account of the school at Ackworth, Yorkshire, established by this respectable society, may be also seen in p. 1297 of Val. I. of our work.

who can and does cduce good from evil, will give to the present calamitous scene an effect ultimately beneficial to the human race.

But though feeble mortals cannot controul events, does it become the well-wisher of his species listlessly to regard the passing scene? Benevolence is an active principle, and human affairs are conducted under Providence by human talents and exertion, and these talents and exertion have been the most conspicuous in times of the greatest difficulty. It is the storm and not the calm that calls

for them.

May, then, the cause of the pamphlet be taken up with a calm, but firm resolution, to persevere till the rock of civil and religious liberty be made the foundation of social order in this country; but let the object be frankly and explicitly stated and avowed, in order that all malevolent insinuations or misrepresentations may at once be put down.

To be uniformly and scrupulously temper ate in discussion is wisely recommended in the pamphlet.

I observe, that with the exception of one respectable individual, your association consists of members of the Established Church, to whom the undertaking is highly creditable, and in such a cause it seems peculiarly expedient that they should fill the foremost ranks; but at the same time members of " every sect " and denomination" are invited as auxiliaries. This seems quite cousistent with the grand principle of the object in view, in no sort invidious or exclusive. What opinion or disposition my fellow professors may entertain upon the subject I cannot undertake to say, but I think it must be a sad dereliction of first principles, or a lamentable ignorance of the tenets professed, or a fear arising from worldly considerations, that influences their judgment and actuates their conduct, if they withhold their countenance from the promotion of a purpose so congenial to the doctrines avowed in the writings of our best authors.

After all, when I consider the powerful effect of prejudice and habit upon the minds of men, I am scarcely able to exclude from my mind a doubt whether, before the object aimed at can be effectually accomplished, it will not, by education, be previously necessary to impress the minds of the youth of the rising or succeeding generation with those just and liberal sentiments of religion, the prevalency of which can alone ensure success.

We have seen of late a striking and calamitous instance of the want of due preparation in the minds of the people of France for the sober adoption and permanent enjoyment of civil and political freedom, and ardently

do I wish that the "extended discussion," recommended in the case in question, may eventually have the effect of precluding all objection, danger, and mischief on that ground.

COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM, AT
CALCUTTA.

[For former Proceedings, compare Panorama, Vol. I. p. 159, and Vol. III. p. 715.]

The Right Hon. Lord Minto, Govenor General and Visitor of the College of Fort William, having appointed Saturday, the 27th of February, for a Public Disputation in the Asiatic Languages, to be held in conformity with the Statutes of the College, the Governors, Officers, Professors, and Students of the College, met at ten o'clock, at the Government House; where the Members of the Supreme Council, the Judges of the Suprenie Court, and many of the Civil and Military Officers at the Presidency, with others of the Principal European Inhabitants of Calcutta, and a few respectable Natives were also assembled.-After the Prizes and Honorary Rewards had been distributed, the Right Hon. the VISITOR, delivered the following Discourse:

Gentlemen of the College of Fort William,

In addressing a body constituted as you are, I have to regret, that the course of my pursuits and occupations has not led to those attainments, which can enable me to form a personal judg ment on the interesting objects which are pecu

liarly connected with the solemnities of the pre

sent day, much less to bring into this chair the authority of the distinguished and accomplished person who lately filled it. In the delicate and scrupulous office, however, of distributing the honours and rewards, which are annually assigned to talents, application and conduct, in this place,

I have felt no diffidence, and I shall feel none in

performing the remaining duties of the day, by observing on the progressive success of this institution, both in its immediate and peculiar functions for the instruction of youth, and in its more general tendency to promote the improvement and extension of oriental literature; I feel no distrust, I say, in the execution of duties so foreign to my personal habits and acquirements, because my own deficient judgment has been guided by that of learned and honourable men, whose en

lightened testimonies, I know, cannot mislead dividual character, but as I ought, and as I am me. Speaking, therefore, no longer in my inabout to do, in that of the high office which I

have the honour to bear, I rest on the firm and secure ground, which ought to be the foundation of every act and every sentiment issuing from such offices; I mean, the collected wisdom, know

ledge, and discernment of those, who are qualified, by their station and by personal endowments, to aid me with their counsel.

If a comparison were drawn between the present year and the three preceding, the result would be extremely advantageous to the latter period; and would justify on clear and satisfactory grounds the assertion which I am happy to think myself warranted in making, that the College of Fort William is advancing in a course of sensible improvement. But as the number of years we should have to review might render the argument somewhat complicated, and as a parallel between the present, and the last preceding year, will yield the same conclusion, I shall content myself with a few observations on that view of the subject.

The first indication of progress which I have the satisfaction to remark in the present year compared with the preceding is, that a greater number of students have been found sufficiently proficient in the Oriental languages to quit college and to enter on the duties of the service. Twenty names have been reported this year competent to the functions of public business. The number which the examination of the preceding year furshed to the service was fifteen.- observe, also, with satisfaction, that the number of students who have presented themselves for examination in the Persian language, has considerably increased. At the former examination the number was fifteen; it is now twenty-seven.--In the preceding year, three students had attained a sufficient eminence in the knowledge of Persian to be ranked in the first class.-In the present year that number of eminent Persian scholars is doubled.In the former year five were placed in the second class. In the present, nine have attained the same degree of proficiency; and in the present year the same number are found in the two superior classes, as occupied three at the former examination.-It is also worthy of remark, as denoting, either improvement in the mode of instruction, or increased application in the students, but indicating, either way, in effect, a very satisfactory progress in the institution itself, that a competence in the collegiate studies, qualifying the student for the public service, was found to have been obtained this year in a period considerably shorter than appeared to have been the case at the former examination. Of the fifteen gentlemen who were qualified to leave college in January 1807, three only had attended college less than two years.-Of the twenty who are this year qualified for the service; ten have attained

doubt, the extraordinary efforts and abilitics of the individuals to whom I allude, and whom I shall not easily forget to name in their proper place, with the honour that is due to them, than ad

particular period that has happened to produce them. But, in truth, we are entitled on a general comparative average of time, at the two examinations, to claim a sensible progress in the success of this college during the last twelve months.

It is impossible, in this place, not to remark, that the progress of this year, which I have just established, bears a strong testimony to the wisdom of a very material alteration which has been made, since the examination of 1807, in the rules which formerly prevailed respecting the period of attendance on the College of Fort William prescribed to the students. The whole of the junior civil servants were formerly attached to the college during a fixed period of three years. The alteration to which I allude was made by section xii, regulation iii, 1807, which rescinded the former rule, and provides" that their continuance in college will henceforward be regulated by their proficiency;" and it is added, that "the patron and visitor will determine, from the reports of proficiency made to him after the public examinations, when the students may be permitted to quit the college as having completed the prescribed course of study."

After the system, which now subsists for the education of the Company's junior servants, was adopted; that is to say, when provision was made in England by instituting the college at Hertford, for the more general branches of instruction, and for an elementary and preparatory introduction to eastern learning, and when the studies to be pursucd at the College of Fort William were limited to the languages of Asia, and to the laws and regulations of this presidency, it became unnecessary to detain the young men destined for the public service, in a state of inaction, during a period which, having been fixed in contemplation of a more extended course of study, would not have been too long for the completion of such a plan, but ceased to be requisite for the contracted and supplementary course reserved for this college. The competence of the student for the business of India, is now the reasonable measure of his confinement to college, and its protraction beyond that point becomes unprofitable to the public, and speaking generally, detrimental to the individual.

In these respects, therefore, the alteration was salutary; but it was conducive also to another most desirable end; for, by supplying a powerful inducement to diligence and exchion, it itu.es

I refrain from the more ungracious delineation of the opposite consequences which must accompany the slow entrance of those into the world, who may have permitted a succession of juniors to pass before them, and who will have to endure the uneasy gloom and humiliations which always attend both the consciousness and the display of inferiority. It is enough, in this place, to say, that an early or a late entrance into the service are the first consequeness of meritorious or blameable conduct at college. There are undoubtedly other and more important points depending on the same criterion, but I shall speak of them in another part of my discourse.

I have had the satisfaction to confer degrees of honour, and other marks of approbation and distinction, on the gentlemen whom I am about to name. Mr. Tytler, Mr. Colvin, Mr. Lindsay, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Sisson, Mr. Macnabb and Mr. Barwell. The degree of honour is itself an unequivocal testimony of distinguished merit, because the statutes of the college have wisely required such proof of excellence, in those who aspire to it, as diligence and talents united can alone furnish. I an unwilling, however, to pass, unnoticed the particular claim to distinction which Each of these candidates for honour has successfully asserted.

Mr. Tytler stands in the highest class of Hindoostanee and Persian, and his name is at the head of those who have studied the vernacular language of Bengal. To eminence in two languages, and to the first place in another, his industry and capacity have enabled him to add an elementary acquaintance with a fourth; I mean the Mahratta, a language more immediately connected, indeed, with the service of other presidencies, but no unprofitable acquisition in some departments of the public service under the government of Bengal.Mr. Colvin has attained eminence in the Persian and Hindoostanee languages, and in the midst of those occupations, has obtained the first place, with the distinction of a medal, in the study of Arabic.-Mr. Lindsay occupies the first place in the first class of Persian. He is in the highest form of Hindoostanee, and is second only to Mr. Colvin in Arabic. To these successful and various

studies, he has added the difficult but valuable accomplishment of high proficiency in writing both the Persian and the Nagree characters. I should do injustice to the talents and application of Mr. Lindsay, if I did not observe, that the merit of these numerous acquirements is enhanced by the short period in which he has triumphed over so many difficulties. Mr. Lindsay entered college in the month of November, 1806, and has entitled himself, therefore, to quit it with singular honour in the short space of a year and two months. Mr. Alexander holds the second place, and stands, therefore, amongst the most eminent both in the Persian and Hindoostanee languages, having attained that distinction by the assiduous application of little more than one year and six months.-Mr. Sisson and Mr. Macnabb have furnished other examples of the success, which attends a diligent and vigorous exercise of talents, by rising in a year and a half to the first classes of the Persian and Hindoostanee languages;-and Mr. Barwell has the distinction of possessing the first place in Hindoostanee; the third in the useful language of Bengal, and the first in the art of Nagree writing.

I should indulge myself in a wider field of commendation than is warranted by former practice, if I were to recite the names, and it would be no inconsiderable number of our younger members, who have already given earnest of future eminence, and in this honourable conflict of early talents and virtues, have already seized on stations beyond their standing. But if their claims on public approbation are not yet mature for this anniversary, do not let them imagine they are unobserved. I have a pleasure in declaring, as patron and visitor to this important establishment, that I keep even the youngest in my eye, and while we are gathering on this day the ripe fruit of one abundant summer, I am happy to contemplate the fair blossom which in its turn is to crown the promise of another. Forbearing, however, as I do, from the premature notice of good conduct, however commendable in itself, in the first stages of academical life, I should feel far short of a duty at once sacred and grateful to me, if on this day of public testimony to merit, I should withhold from acknowledgement and applause two names, low indeed in the list of your college, but already conspicuous in the roll of its honours.-Mr. Chalmer, who entered the College of Fort William but last August, has in January been declared to possess a competent proficiency in Persian and Hindoostanee, with elementary knowledge of Arabic. A progres so rapid and so remarkable, has required, and therefore evinces, a rare union of distinguished qualities. Labour would alone have conducted him to the same goal, but at a slower pace. Genius, unattended by industry, unstimulated by a liberal love of learning, and undirected by a steady sense of duty, might have made less progress than even dullness itself; but abilities and application, vigorously addressed to the discharge of duty, have opened to him the career of life almost in its dawn, and presented to him the early prospect of honour and advantage generally reserved for riper years.-Mr. Sotheby has in four months' study merited the following testimonial, which I shall read in the very words with which the learned council of the college con

66

The admission of gentlemen belonging to the establishment of other presidences, to the College of Fort William, is not in strictness conformable to the regulations which it has pleased the honourable Court of Directors to appoint on that subject. But the literary thirst of Mr. Sotheby's eager and inquisitive mind, and the sound, well regulated, well directed, and ingenuous ambition of his ardent character, were not to be repressed, by a general regulation, merely of convenience, made for ordinary cases, but not inflexible, as it has proved, to the individual claims of bright exceptions. Mr. Sotheby, therefore, begau by surmounting that obstacle, and was warmly welcomed into the very sanctuary which he violated. How well he has justified this deviation from law, and redeemed his own offence an 1 ours, by the fruit which it has borne, the college council has just apprized us. The report which I have read states, that Mr Sotheby having attained high proficiency in the Hindoostanee, and considerable proficiency in the Persian and Mahratta languages, appears to be fully competent to enter on the public service." As the attainments thus reported by the college council were made in the short space of four months, and exceed so far the usual achievements of industry and capacity as to wear almost an air of fable and prodigy; no higher testimony cou'd be borne to those qualities, and to the signal and remarkable degree in which Mr. Sotheby possesses them, than the report which I have just read. Government would surely have concurred in the conclusion which follows: "that Mr. S. was fully competent to enter on the public service;" and in conformation of that sentiment, it will not be imagined that marks of confidence and favour would have been wanting to endowments so worthy of both.

The report concludes-" And as the college council understand he does not at present wish to leave the college, his name is not included in the above report."

Eminent as the place undoubtedly is in our esteem, to which the studious energy of Mr. Sotheby has entitled him, it is, I confess, in the point last alluded to, that he stands, in my judgment, most remarkably and most honourably distinguished. We are all acquainted with that impatience for manhood, which is in a manner characterestic of youth. There are two ways of asserting that claim, and gratifying that impatience; one, and I fear the most general, is to assume in haste the forms, costume, and habits of men; to emulate their expences, without the means; to copy their

mature the mind, and to put on the true properties and character of man. He who in his desire to be, and not to seem a man, consents to prolong the restraints, the disqualifications, the privations, the dependence of boyhood or youth, is already the man that others would strive in vain to appear. To Mr. Sotheby, the door of restraint was unbarred; the world stood open to his view and with all the enticements of novelty of favour and of honours, invited him to the fellowship of men. He has had the marly judgement, and the

ments, and has chosen to merit, rather than to possess, the tempting objects which seemed to court his acceptance. He has, indeed, made that choice, which the moral fable of antiquity has taught us, was recommended by wisdom, and rewarded by fame and immortality

I have dwelt, I confess, somewhat largely, on what appears to me, a rare example of early maturity in judgment,' talents, and character; because I have thought it, in truth, entitled to a place in the Fasti of your college, and, si quid meà carmina possunt, the name of Mr. Sotheby shall not be omitted in its tablets.

If I have been silent hitherto, on the acknowledged ments of the professors and other officers of the college, it is because I felt, that the excellence of the scholar is the best praise of the master, and that the favourable sentiments I have been so happy as to express concerning the general and increasing proficiency of students, conveyed in the least questionable, and perhaps the most acceptable form, the panegyric of the preceptor. I have great satisfaction, however, in saying disstinctly, that the skill, assiduity and learning of the professors and their coadjutors have never been more conspicnous than in the present year.

I feel myself, indeed, responsible for having in one instance, withdrawn from the college, one of its most dist nguished and eficient members. But if I have de poiied one temple of its ornaments, it has been for the decoration and service of another. If the familiar and universal knowledge of Dr. Leydon in the numerous languages of the east, and yet much more, it his profound researches into the science of eastern philology le considered, we should a cribe such extensive cre dition and acquirements to the severe labour of a long life; while, in reality, their sudden and rapid attainment has resembled rather the gift of tongues, or some peculiar privilege of his own, than the slow process and long vigils of human study. The regrets of learning, however, which fullow the transter of Dr. Leydon to other functions, will, I am persuaded, yield to the ref.ction, that the same acute, informed, upright, and delicate mind is enlisted in the service of the highest and dearest interests of society.

I pass, now, to the notice of those accessions to the literature of the east, which have been already made, and of those which are in progress, either in immediate connection with the college of Fort William, or associated to it, by as milari; of liberal tastes and pursuits in their authors. A printing press has been established by the learrel Hindoos, furnished with complete founts