was neither amongst the sensible wants of the people, nor in the power of the government to bestow[1]; that the maulavee and pundit, satisfied with their own learning, are little inquisitive as to anything beyond it, and are not disposed to regard the literature and science of the West as worth the labour of attainment; and that any attempt to enforce an acknowledgment of the superiority of the intellectual productions of the West could only create dissatisfaction.
This brings us to the second point which we had to consider, namely, whether, supposing English literature to be best adapted for the improvement of the people of India, they are themselves ready to profit by the advantages which it holds out. If it can be proved that tuition in European science has become one of the sensible wants of the people, and that, so far from being satisfied with their own learning, they display an eager avidity to avail themselves of every opportunity of acquiring the knowledge of the West, it must be admitted that the case put by the committee of 1824 has occurred,
- ↑ This letter was dated on the 18th August 1824. The Hindu college was established in 1816, by the voluntary subscription of the natives themselves, for the purpose of instructing their youth in European science, for which no provision had at that time been made by the government.
