The History, Design and Present State of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions, Founded by the British in Calcutta and Its Vicinity

by Charles Lushington

Page:History, Design and Present State of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions.djvu/1

 

THE

HISTORY,

Design, and Present State

OF THE

RELIGIOUS,
BENEVOLENT AND CHARITABLE

INSTITUTIONS,

 

FOUNDED BY

 

THE BRITISH IN CALCUTTA

AND ITS VICINITY.

 

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By CHARLES LUSHINGTON, Esq.

Of the Bengal Civil Service.

 

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CALCUTTA :

PRINTED AT THE HINDUSTANEE PRESS.

1824.

 

 

To

The Honorable JOHN ADAM, Esq.

&c. &c. &c.

The conception of this Work, and my resolution to inscribe it to you, were almost co-instantaneous. This Community, intimately acquainted with your character, would, I doubted not, at once recognize the propriety of conspicuously associating your name with a Commemoration of virtuous and beneficent undertakings; but my more immediate impulse was publicly to testify, how deeply I feel the value of the friendship in which we have been so long united, and which, as it has eminently contributed to the happiness of my life, confers also upon me a distinction which it is my pride to acknowledge.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeee Your’s most faithfully,

C. LUSHINGTON.

 

Calcutta, the 10th of December, 1824.

 

To

The Honorable JOHN ADAM, Esq.

&c. &c. &c.

The conception of this Work, and my resolution to inscribe it to you, were almost co-instantaneous. This Community, intimately acquainted with your character, would, I doubted not, at once recognize the propriety of conspicuously associating your name with a Commemoration of virtuous and beneficent undertakings; but my more immediate impulse was publicly to testify, how deeply I feel the value of the friendship in which we have been so long united, and which, as it has eminently contributed to the happiness of my life, confers also upon me a distinction which it is my pride to acknowledge.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeee Your’s most faithfully,

C. LUSHINGTON.

 

Calcutta, the 10th of December, 1824.

 

PREFACE.

 

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The idea of the following Work was suggested by a book published in London in the year 1810, entitled “Pietas Londinensis,” by A. Highmore, Esquire. It presents an honorable record of British humanity and munificence, so manifest in the numerous benevolent Institutions, which grace our native land and exalt our national character in the estimation of the civilized world. In contemplating the noble Charities described in that volume, it was natural to advert to the efforts of our countrymen in this quarter of the Globe, to benefit their fellow creatures, more especially the Natives of these regions, by the creation of Charitable Institutions, by the establishment of Hospitals, the formation of benevolent Societies, the encouragement of moral and literary Instruction, and by the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. That these endeavours have not been inactive nor unsuccessful, it is the purpose of the following Treatise to prove, by an enumeration and description of the several objects to which they have been directed. Should, then, this humble volume ever reach the Mother Country, it may serve to indicate, that her Sons have not lost sight of her illustrious example, while it will afford a practical refutation of the charge of indifference to the interests of the Natives, which has, oftener than on one memorable occasion, been so precipitately and unjustly urged against the British name in India. But, unfortunately, as has been frequently observed, so great and unnatural is the apathy evinced in England, with regard to Indian affairs, though, almost every family at home, is, in some degree, connected with those sent forth from her bosom, that the attempt to excite some interest beyond the executive authorities, relative to the most important Foreign Possession of Great Britain, and the most singular dominion that was ever exercised by any nation, is nearly hopeless. A momentary and partial attention is, indeed, occasionally roused by discussions respecting the conduct of conspicuous individuals, but this soon subsides, unless the stimulus of an Impeachment keeps it awake, until the question of the renewal of the Charter, provokes periodical excitement. An insurrection of Negroes in a petty Colony of the West Indies, would create a greater general sensation in England, than the news that the British Empire in the East was in imminent danger.

It will be perceived, that the present work is avowedly a compilation, a considerable portion of its contents having appeared, though in a more diffuse shape, in separate Pamphlets. In order, however, to secure accuracy, recourse has frequently been had to original sources. The labour of its composition, therefore, has, for the greater part, been confined to the condensation of information previously communicated to the public in a more detailed form, or which was scattered in voluminous though authentic documents which have never been published. By the indulgence of the Government, I have had access, among other official papers, to the Re ports of the Public Officers, who have been appointed to mature and digest the plans of the Government for the diffusion of the benefits of Education throughout these Provinces, and to superintend the various Institutions for that purpose supported or aided from the public resources. In this branch of my undertaking, I have necessarily confined myself to what has been fixed and determined, omitting all speculative or unsettled points, which it would have been improper, as well as useless to introduce. The Members of the Committee of Public Instruction will quickly discover the ample use which I have made of their Reports, in some parts of the articles relating to education. Excepting the requisite abridgement, and the adaptation of the materials to the narrative form, I have seldom departed from the language of the original documents. It would indeed have been presumption, unnecessarily to alter, much more to attempt to improve, the productions of superior intellect: consequently, if that portion of the work should prove interesting, the principal cause will at once be ascertained.

To those who may be disposed to criticize my Book with severity, I will say, that I have employed my best endeavours to he accurate and impartial, without compromising my own opinions, and that it has cost me much labor. My time, moreover, was very little at my own disposal, and this work has, for several months past, fully occupied every hour which I could spare from an Office of considerable detail, and of much personal communication. It was important, also, to complete the work before the time when the Annual Periodical Reports ot the different Associations should appear, which would furnish new matter not to have been dispensed with, and might have protracted the publication of the work for another year, if not, put a stop to it altogether. As it is, I have been occasionally anticipated by the appearance of detached accounts of some of the subjects which the work comprehends. These considerations will perhaps be allowed to plead with the candid reader for any marks of haste or other faults, either of arrangement or composition which, may be discernable in these pages.

As it is possible that the distinction of Benevolent from Charitable Institutions, may at first sight appear fanciful, I would remark, that under the head of “Benevolent” are classed the various Associations for Education, and those Societies, the Members of which, contribute either for the benefit of their families, or of Subscribers requiring assistance beyond the means afforded by their own resources, such as the Upper Orphan School, the General Widow’s Fund, and the Civil Fund. These latter Societies of which the Members derive advantage, either in the persons of their families, or their own, cannot be designated as charitable in the common sense of the word, though they have a benevolent origin and purpose, nor do Institutions for the promotion of education, partake sufficiently of an eleemosynary character, to come strictly under the above head. In short, what is benevolent is not always charitable, though what is charitable, is, on the face of it, always benevolent.

I fear that many defects will be found in the arrangement of the work. Some of them are to be ascribed to the inherent difficulty of classifying subjects, not always easily distinguishable in their character. For the rest, I must entreat the indulgence of the reader, both for the reasons already offered, and on account of the impracticability of obtaining i this country, the assistance of experience in adapting any literary attempt for publication.

In whatever quarter I have applied for in formation or assistance, I gratefully acknowledge that I have found an uniform readiness to oblige me. It is incumbent on me, however, specifically to avow my obligation to the scientific friend, who not only furnished me with three of the Drawings which embellish this volume, but kindly undertook to superintend the multiplication of the requisite number of Copies of all the Designs, by means of Lithography.

 

CONTENTS.

 

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RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society, .*
Calcutta Bible Association .
Calcutta Committee of' the Church Missionary Society,
Calcutta Church Missionary Association .
Calcutta Diocesan Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge , ....
Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society
Calcutta Baptist Missionary Society ..
Bishop's College< .*•*!.
Calcutta Bethel Union, and Seaman's friend Society,. *

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BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

Government Sanscrit College, 123
Madrissa; or, Government Mohomedan College, 135
Committee of Public Instruction, 156
Government Chinsurah Schools 145
Calcutta School Book Society ... 156
Calcutta School Society .... . .. Calcutta Female Juvenile Society . Ladies' Society for Native Female Education in Calcutta Hand its Vicinity ...... Benevolent Institution for the Instruction of Indigent Children Remarks . . .. Military Orphan Society .... Bengal Military Widows' Fund, .... Lord Clive's Fund . King's Military Fund . Marine Pension Fund . Civil Fund, .. **” Bengal Mariner's and General Widows' fund,, Page:History, Design and Present State of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions.djvu/11