or missionaries, may be educated, and informed to any extent their employers please; to this there can be no objection; but to teach them our manners and habits, and accustom them to our mode of living, will go far to destroy their usefulness. The labour of the well qualified native preacher is superior to that of the European, only because he can enter more freely into the habits, and feelings of his countrymen, and is able to go about from house, to house, and from village, to vilage, with less suspicion or danger: in all other respects, there is no comparison between the two. But if, by our imprudence and indiscretion, we make a European of him in habits, in delicacy of constitution, and in an entire neglect of the allowable customs of his ancestors, we render him unfit, alike for the higher, or the subordinate offices, of the Christian church, and shall see our errors perhaps when it is too late. Your European gentleman in habits, and inclination, but a Bengáli in want of energy and decision of character, is not the man whom any missionary, well acquainted with the nature of his work, would take by the hand. We have said thus much by way of warning, because we have been grieved to see, in some quarters, a tendency in this direction.

We are sorry that we cannot give a more detailed account of Mr. Read's interesting work. His description of the Hindu character, of the religion and manners of the people, and his account of the difficulties which Missionaries have to contend with, are all admirable. We cheerfully recommend the work to all who wish to become acquainted with India and its inhabitants, especially to those interested in Missionary operations. It will supply the place of Ward, and the Abbè Dubois, to all such as have neither leisure nor inclination to wade through such huge quartos. Mr. Read is entitled to the best thanks of the Christian world, for the clear and honest light in which he has placed the whole subject of Missions in India, as it regards the hindrances to the work, the paucity of conversions, and the character of the converts. We trust that his honest and strait-forward statements, will do much towards destroying the romance of modern Missions, if we may be allowed the expression, and to lead Christians to regard the subject in a more serious and sober aspect. We hope these volumes will be extensively read through Europe, and America, and we doubt not but that they will do much good, and will promote a better state of feeling in the Christian church, in reference to Missions.

THETA.

Christian School-Book Society, at Banáras.

To the Editor of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

DEAR SIR,

I shall feel obliged if you will kindly inform your readers and the public, in the next number of your valuable periodical, that the friends of religion in Banáras have established a SchoolBook Society, for the purpose of preparing and printing a complete set of elementary books for Missionary and other schools conducted on Christian principles. Mr. Trevelyan, on his leaving India, generously made over to us the unsold copies of the school books printed by him, chiefly those in the Roman character. There are at present the following books in the Depository of the Society. (See the cover.)

It will be seen by this list that it is not for want of books that so little is done in this country for educating the millions who are perishing for lack of knowledge. We hope that the time is not far distant when all Christians in this country will feel it their sacred duty to establish schools, wherever Providence has placed them. They are called to show by private exertions what can be done for the mass, before Government will be shamed into a plan of National Education for their Indian Empire. If schools be established at every station, and books bought, the Society at Banaras will cheerfully make every exertion to augment the existing stock; if not, even those which are already in existence will rot on the shelves. For the honor of Christian Philanthropy in this country, we hope the latter will not happen. It is clear that a single individual can do little; but he may do much by stirring up others to unite with him in the blessed work, and their united efforts will accomplish much.

Any number of books in the above list may be obtained by applying to Rev. J. A. Shurman, Banáras, who is Secretary and Treasurer of the Society, and who will likewise be happy to receive subscriptions and donations for carrying on the objects of the Society.

Banaras, 18th April.

Yours truly,

S.

II.-Notices of Bengáli Dictionaries.

[Concluded from page 292*.]

No. 9. A COMPANION TO JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY, in English and Bengalee, to which is prefixed an Introduction to the Bengalee language, adapted for the use of both Native and European students, vol. II. by John Mendies, Serampore, 1828.

The compiler of this work, as the latest in the field, has been enabled to avail himself of the labours of many predecessors, which he certainly has done with very commendable diligence. The volume extends to 524 pages printed in double columns, the column averaging about 32 words, containing therefore a total of upwards of 32,000. In this aggregate, however, are included 1st, a vast number of mere botanicals, names of trees and flowers, &c. of little general utility; 2ndly, a very large propor tion of the easier compounds, for which a Dictionary is not at all required; and 3rdly, a great mass of Persian and Hindustani words. These last, however, are very properly marked with an asterisk, by which simple contrivance the student is at least enabled to know, at sight, what are and what are not pure Bengáli terms. This is a great improvement upon the plan of uniting in undistinguished confusion (rudis indigestaque moles) the vocabularies of two languages. Still, the meanings are far two meagre, and very inadequate to the requirement of students at all advanced in the language. Few or no phrases are given. Prefixed is a succinct Bengálí grammar of much merit, (of which below,) adding greatly to the utility of the work to learners. On the whole this work is decidedly superior to the others of its kind, being much fuller not only than numbers 7 and 11, but even than number 6, to which also it is greatly preferable as distinguishing the exotic terms. The opinion is entertained, in which we incline fully to coincide, that this and No. 8 together, would answer to the student all the ordinary purposes of a complete dictionary. The compiler is a laborious, diligent and meritorious individual, and we have great pleasure in recommending his work to more general notice. It is well printed; the paper is somewhat defective in colour, though of a good consistence. Its original price was 8 rupees; it may now be had for four, in cloth.

N. B. At the end is a scientific nomenclature of animal and botanical terms, to which reference is made by small numerals from the body of the work, so as to enable the student to have recourse to scientific sources for further information.

No. 10. A DICTIONARY OF THE BENGALEE LANGUAGE. Vol. 2. English and Bengalee. Serampore, 1828.

This work, which is designed as a companion to the Abridgement (No. 6,) of Dr. Carey's Bengáli and English Dictionary, is understood to be a compilation of the intelligent and enterprizing Mr. J. C. Marshman, assisted by Dr. Carey himself. It numbers 440 pages in double columns, and, on an average of 54 words to a page, gives a total of 23,500 to

The reader is requested to correct the following press errors in the former part of this Index in last Month's Observer, viz. in p. 292, 1. 14, dele of' before others; in l. 16 and 17 for students acquire' read' student acquires.'

24,000 words, for its contents. It takes in indiscriminately both pure Bengáli and Hindustání vocables, but does not furnish the student with any means of distinguishing the one class from the other. It aims therefore rather at general utility for the common purposes of business and daily life, than at classical correctness. For this very reason, however, it is of greatly less advantage to such as desire to acquire a correct knowledge of the pure language of the country. For innumerable terms occurring in books, the student will therefore look in vain, in this Dictionary. Neither does it, like Forster's, distinguish the various applications of English words; these the learner must trace out, if possible, for himself, or have recourse after all to a living instructor! To the native especially, this defect must constantly occasion most serious difficulty, leading him unavoidably into innumerable mistakes, oftentimes of the most ludicrous, as often perhaps of the gravest, character. To the European it is one which, to great loss of time and increase of labour, brings besides no small amount of incertitude in his choice of words, and of error in their application.

We question, too, not only the exactness but the correctness, in many instances, of the Bengáli version. Yet, that the equally industrious and intelligent compiler should have found time and patience, amidst incessant and most varied occupations, (each and all making no small demand upon both,) for doing so much, is more a matter of surprize than that he should not have wrought this work to a higher degree of excellence. The publishing price was 12 Rs.; its present cost, we believe is 8 Rs.

No. 11. A SCHOOL DICTIONARY, English and Bengalee, designed chiefly for the use of native students, by J. D. Pearson. Calcutta, printed for the School Book Society, 1829.

This compilation might more properly have been termed a Vocabulary, for it is nothing more. It contains 304 pages in double columns averaging 19 words to a column, and giving a total of about 11,500 English words; a considerable number indeed in absolute amount; but then, as usually only a single Bengáli meaning is given to each, and very rarely more than two, with a few short phrases, it must necessarily happen that the student will look in vain, not only for numerous words not noticed at all, but also for innumerable applications of words that are noticed, constantly occurring in books and ordinary conversation. This, to the European who wishes to write or express himself in Bengálí, or to the young native student more especially, who desires to understand the meanings of the English words he meets with in the course of his reading, must be a source of not merely great inconvenience and vexation, but even still more frequently of serious or most ludicrous mistake. e. g. "monster, s. t." But t is a cannibal-demon! while monster has numerous ordinary applications, such as to denote a malformed animal, a cruel individual, &c. none of which are noticed! What does the native student then learn from such a mere meagre vocabulary? and what aid can a European derive from it in expressing himself to or composing for natives? Again, the meanings given are not always correct, e. g. "Peruse, v. ." Not so; it should bę

পাঠক; অধ্যয়ন ক is rather to study or get by heart.

So "Forfeit, s.

satest," a clear mistake; testa is an adj. criminal, faulty, &c. and is besides not a Bengáli word: it should have been 8, or at least . Again, "Do away with, v. fagte¶¶.” But the usual

and proper meaning of fat is to expel, drive out, &c.

We more than question the utility altogether of such meagre skeletons of Dictionaries, which frequently are more a positive hindrance than an aid to the student; and we cannot but feel some surprise that the Cal. S. B. Society should give its support and countenance to such, to say the least, most unsatisfactory compilations. We hear that a new, but unimproved, edition is in the Press. The price is 2 Rs.

No. 12. A DICTIONARY BENGALI, AND SANSKRIT, explained in English, and adapted for students of either language; to which is added an INDEX serving as a reversed Dictionary. By Sir G. C. Haughton, Knt. &c. London, 1833; 1 vol. 4to. pp. 1461, price Co.'s Rs. 100. Sold, in Calcutta, by Thacker and Co.

This well-printed volume has been several years in the country, but owing chiefly, to its high price (115 Rs. now reduced to 100), is but little known to that class of students, the missionaries and others, who would be most disposed to make use of it. There was however the less reason for putting so large a price upon this work, as it was printed at the charge of the H. I. Company.

The Dictionary occupies 1381 pages, in double columns, averaging about 30 words to a page, and giving a total of nearly 40,000. The columns however, not the pages, are numbered, and amount to twice 1381 or 2762.

The author's plan was to combine in one volume the dictionaries of both the parent Sanskrit and the derivative Bháshá of Bengal, on the principle that the latter must draw on the former whenever it is found deficient. The principle is good; but the course adopted upon it, is not a logical inference. The modern Italian differs scarcely more from the Latin than the Bengáli from the Sanskrit: but would it be deemed expedient therefore, to make the original Latin Dictionary the groundwork of an Italian Dictionary, by simply inserting in the columns of the former the corrupt derivations from its original stock, and the borrowed exotics current in the speech of the inhabitants of modern Latium? Most assuredly not; for what but inextricable confusion, uncertainty and mistake could result from so novel a plan in lexicography? Many students, and some of the very best practical scholars, know nothing of Sanskrit; just as many in Europe, of the fair sex in particular, are excellent proficients in the sweet dialect of Italy, and can enter into all the beauties of Metastasio and Dante, who are altogether guiltless of having perused even a page of the Latin grammar. Many too,who, in acquiring the Bengáli, have paid some attention, more or less, to the language of the Brahmans, have not pursued and do not desire to pursue the study far enough to become competent to distinguish those portions of the vocabulary which are peculiar to each, or the several applications, in one or the other, of common terms. To both these classes it must prove alike vexatious and unsafe to have recourse to this treasury of words;' vexatious, because