Page:A General Biography of Bengal Celebrities Vol 1.djvu/195

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186 LIFE OF BABU RAM GOPAL GHOSE. ith Jvnt 1839. — Bead an eloquent, learned and interesting article from Blackwood's Magazine. Ib. was the review of Dr. Arnold's History of Borne. Some idea might be derived from the review in question as to the importance of the study of the History of Rome. 14th June 1839.— At 5 o'clock came down to the College to see the foundation stone df the Patshala laid by David Hare. One stone was made fast on the ground by masonry in which a hole was based. In it a glass bottle, stoppered and sealed, was deposited containing the newspapers of the day, and as I was told the modern coins. Above were two copper plates one of which was inscribed in Eng- lish and the other in Bengalee, giving, the date and particulars of the Patehala with the names of those who formed the College Com- mittee, and it was further added that the stone was laid by David Hare Esq. — an old and respectable citizen of the Metropolis with a few lines of well-deserved eulogium on this philanthropic individual. After the ceremony of laying the stone was over, Mr. Hare ad- dressed those who were assembled arround him congratulating the public on the formation of this useful institution, but he was not audible, his voice being ohoked by the feeling that was uppermost in him. He was followed by Sir Edward Ryan who explained the object of the institution, laying great stress on the value of vernacular education, and concluding by a tribute of applause to David Hare. Prasunna Kumar Tagore spoke in Bengalee, and ezplainiug the object of the Patshalla, and dwelling on the public good which was likely to result from it. He spoke good Bengalee, and acquitted himself very creditably, considering he was quite unprepared for the task. I was strongly reminded the whole of this evening, of Mr. Adam's views of education, and of his enthusiastic advocacy of the vernacular system. I wish he had been here to witness the change that is coming round. An unknown writer published a memoir, and speeches of Ram Gopal in 1871 from which we glean tjie following: "He found time also to write in the Gyananeshan, — a then exist- ing diglot, a series of articles signed « Civia " on the Indian Transit