to their arguments. I was convinced that it might. As to my
ability, they could not satisfy me; but they insisted upon it that they
must be the judges of that. I therefore consented, with fear and
trembling. They proposed me that day, or the next, to the
Governor-General, who is patron and visitor of the college. They told
him that I had been a missionary in the country for seven years or
more; and as a missionary I was appointed to the office. A clause had
been inserted in the statutes to accommodate those who are not of the
Church of England (for all professors are to take certain oaths, and
make declarations); but, for the accommodation of such, two other names
were inserted, viz., lecturers and teachers, who are not included under
that obligation. When I was proposed, his lordship asked if I was well
affected to the state, and capable of fulfilling the duties of the
station; to which Mr. B. replied that he should never have proposed me
if he had had the smallest doubt on those heads. I wonder how people
can have such favourable ideas of me. I certainly am not disaffected
to the state; but the other is not clear to me.

"When the appointment was made, I saw that I had a very important
charge committed to me, and no books or helps of any kind to assist me.
I therefore set about compiling a grammar, which is now half printed.
I got Ram Basu to compose a history of one of their kings, the first
prose book ever written in the Bengali language; which we are also
printing. Our pundit has also nearly translated the Sanskrit fables,
one or two of which Brother Thomas sent you, which we are also going to
publish, These, with Mr. Foster's vocabulary, will prepare the way to
reading their poetical books; so that I hope this difficulty will be
gotten through. But my ignorance of the way of conducting collegiate
exercises is a great weight upon my mind. I have thirteen students in
my class; I lecture twice a week, and have nearly gone through one
term, not quite two months. It began 4th May. Most of the students
have gotten through the accidents, and some have begun to translate
Bengali into English. The examination begins this week. I am also
appointed teacher of the Sanskrit language; and though no students have
yet entered in that class, yet I must prepare for it. I am, therefore,
writing a grammar of that language, which I must also print, if I
should be able to get through with it, and perhaps a dictionary, wh