The History, Design and Present State of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions, Founded by the British in Calcutta and Its Vicinity/Calcutta School Book Society
SCHOOL BOOK SOCIETY.
This Institution was established on it’s existing footing after the most careful enquiry and deliberation. The want of elementary books in the Bengallee and Hindoostanee languages had for some time been perceived, and a subscription for the printing of such works was set on foot. The association for this purpose led to a more extended meeting in the month of May 1817, at the College of Fort William, when certain preliminary rules for the institution proposed to be established under the name of the Calcutta Book Society, were framed, and a provisional Committee appointed to take measures for making it known, to procure it the pecuniary support all classes of the community, and the aid of the labors and advice of learned men, both at the Presidency and in the provinces. The report of the provisional Committee having been received, the School Book Society was finally organized and established on the 1st of July 1817. The following are the rules of the Society.
1.—That an association be formed, to be denominated “The Calcutta School-Book Society.”
2.—That the objects of this Society be the preparation, publication, and cheap or gratuitous supply of works useful in Schools and Seminaries of learning.
3.—That it form no part of the design of this Institution, to furnish religious Books a restriction, however, very far from being meant to preclude the supply of moral tracts, or books of moral tendency, which, without interfering with the religious sentiments of any person, may be calculated to enlarge the understanding, and improve the character.
4.—That the attention of the Society be directed, in the first instance, to the providing of suitable books of instruction for the use of Native Schools, in the several languages, (English as well as Asiatic,) which are, or may be taught in the provinces subject to the Presidency of Fort William.
5.—That the business of the Institution be conducted by a Committee, which shall comprise a President, 4 Vice Presidents, and 20 Members, (10 of them being Natives,) to be annually chosen at a general Meeting in July; who shall associate with themselves, as Members ex-officio, a Treasurer, a Collector, a European and Native Recording Secretary, and a European and Native Corresponding Secretary, with as many other Secretaries as the Sub-Committees it may be expedient to form shall require.
6.—That all persons, of whatever nation,'subscribing any sum annually to the funds of the Institution, shall be considered Members of the Society, be entitled to vote at the annual election of Managers, and be themselves eligible to the Committee.
7.—That the names of Subscribers and benefactors, and a statement of receipts and disbursements, be published annually, with a Report of the proceedings of the Committee.
8.—That the Committee be empowered to call a general Meeting of the Members, whenever circumstances may render it expedient.
9.—That the Committee be likewise empowered to fill up from among the Members of the Society, any vacancies that may happen in ifs own number, in the period between one annual election of Managers and another.
10.—That any number of persons in the Country forming themselves into a School-Book Association, auxiliary to the Society, and corresponding with it, shall be entitled to the full up amount of their annual subscriptions in School-Books at cost price.From the Report of the Provisional Committee it appeared expedient that the means of instruction should be in the first instance provided in the Bengallee, Hindoostanee, Persian, Arabic, and Sanscrit languages, the earliest attention being given to the preparation and printing of School Books in the Bengallee language. In this respect the wants of the people were represented to be most urgent, numerous Schools being at a stand for want of books, many respectable individuals having been compelled to relinquish their plans of establishing native Schools, solely from the deficiency of this most essential article.
The supply of Books in the English language was stated to be very disproportioned to the demand both from native Schools, and those institutions in the Metropolis and it’s vicinity where young persons of European parentage and partial descent, (which latter according to the computation of the Committee amount to about 3,000) are brought up. It was accordingly proposed that a few elementary Books in English should be immediately prepared tor the use of the Schools, Native and English, and that compendiums in the English language of Geography, Chronology and History should also be prepared, adapted especially to native Schools. Proceeding generally according to the suggestion of the provisional Committee, the Society availed itself of the aid of several benevolent and enlightened persons, who had prepared or were compiling useful works in the native languages, during the first year of it’s institution, and took measures for printing, or subscribing for, at its expense, works in various languages to the extent of 34,476 copies; giving a splendid promise of future exertion. The specification alone of these works would occupy several pages; but this detail is not necessary to excite our admiration of the efforts of the many excellent individuals, who have been actively employed in this service of benevolence.
The amount received from the public liberality, at the expiration of the first year of the Society’s formation was,
| Donations, | Rupees 13,337 |
| Annual Subscriptions, | 3,838 |
The question of the result of the Society’s labors during the three years which had elapsed, is thus answered in the 3d Report: Page:History, Design and Present State of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions.djvu/175 and by the grant of considerable pecuniary aid. As the operations of the Society advanced, the prospect of useful labor became more and more enlarged—new and increasing demands on it’s resources were made from various parts of the country: in it’s anxiety to comply with them, it’s funds became rapidly exhausted; yet naturally reluctant to relinquish it’s career of usefulness and to leave imperfect what appeared capable of such happy completeness, the Society adopted the resolution of representing it’s exigencies to the Government. Graceful, however, and dignified was it’s attitude of solicitation. There were no errors to correct, no precipitation to acknowledge, no improvident failure to lament. The Committee approached the Government with a representation of undeviating adherence to wise and avowed principles, of steady progress in beneficial plans, of eminent good already done, and the most promising prospects, if assisted, of future advantage.
It was not likely that an enlightened Government should be insensible to so forcible an appeal. On the contrary, the request of the Society was promptly acceded to with the most flattering expressions of applause and confidence. After dwelling in terms of satisfaction at the combination of Europeans, Moosulmans and Hindoos in the noble cause of diffusing light and information throughout this land of ignorance, and praising the wise and unexceptionable principles and conduct of the Society, it was declared that the Institution had peculiar claims on the liberality of Government: that the pursuits, in which it was engaged, tended to fulfil an object of National solicitude, and that by extricating the Society from it’s pecuniary difficulties, the Government, to a certain degree, would accomplish it’s own views and wishes for the happiness of the people subjected to it’s rule. The sum of 7,000 Rupees was granted to relieve the Society from it's immediate embarrassments, and a monthly contribution of 500 Rupees was assigned to it from the public Funds.
The union of Natives at the Presidency with Europeans as Members of the Society and of it’s Committee, attracted notice in more remote quarters, and the King of Oude, a Moosulman Prince, and the Rajah of Bhurtpore, a Hindoo Chief of high rank and influence, well known as a former Page:History, Design and Present State of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions.djvu/178 ed from the Depository of the Society. The aggregate of contribution realized since it’s foundation is Rupees 1,03,500.
President.
William Butterworth Bayley, Esq.
Vice Presidents.
J. H. Harington, Esq.
John Pascal Larkins, Esq.
Henry Shakespear, Esq.
William Byam Martin, Esq.
Treasurer.
James Calder, Esq.
European Secretary.
The Reverend Mr. Yates.
- ↑ The unwearied and benevolent exertions of this Gentleman in the promotion of every Institution, having either the relief of distress or the diffusion of education and morality for it’s object, are too well known throughout India, to be particularly dwelt on here, but it would be an act of Injustice to mention his name, without further notice. In a work professing to describe those Institutions, to the success of which his talents, learning, and extensive charity have so largely contributed.