The importance of Geography as compared with a knowledge of the Stars.—I agree with Mr. Trevelyan that we should procure Globes from England. But I cannot agree with him in thinking that we should indent for an equal number of terrestrial and celestial Globes. The importance of Geography is very great indeed. I am not sure that it is not of all studies that which is most likely to open the mind of a native of India. But a knowledge of the precise positions of the fixed stars is by no means indispensable even to a very liberal European education. I know many most enlightened English gentlemen who do not know Aldebaran from Castor or Pollux. I would order only one or two celestial Globes and twenty terrestrial.—[Book G. page 17.] 25th March, 1835.
Proposal to purchase 100 copies of Wollaston’s Geography.—I will not object. But I think that we ought seriously to consider whether we are not taking a very expensive course in subscribing to new publications on the elements of science. In England works of great merit may be procured at a very small price, and sent hither to us at a very small additional charge. The price of one of the tracts published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge is 6d. The same quantity of matter printed in this country, would probably cost two Rupees. It deserves to be considered whether we ought not to import more and to subscribe less.—[Book G. page 22.] 28th March, 1835.
Stoppage of the printing of Oriental books.—I should be most reluctant to affront a gentleman for whom I feel so much respect, as I most unfeignedly entertain for Dr. Mill. But we have positive orders from Government, and we surely offer no slight to Dr. Mill by obeying those orders.
I should be sorry to say any thing disrespectfully of that liberal and generous enthusiasm for Oriental literature which appears in Mr. Sutherland’s minute. But I own that I cannot think that we ought to be guided in the distribution of the small sum, which the Government has allotted for the purpose of education, by considerations which seem a little romantic. That the Saracens a thousand years ago cultivated Mathematical science is hardly, I think, a reason for our spending any money in translating English treatises on mathematics into Arabic. If our proceedings are to be influenced by historical association, it would be easy to refer to topics of a different kind. Mr. Sutherland would probably think it very strange, if we were to urge the destruction of the Alexandrian Library as a reason against patronizing Arabic Literature in the nineteenth century. We have, I think, a very plain duty to perform, which the instructions of the Government have, as we have
