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and forsaken persons into their house. At last, one day, Mrs. Dás expressed to her husband her desire to erect a párá (properly a sort of hamlet or small group of dwellings) in which they could live and could shelter those Brahmo families who were in straitened circumstances. Mr. Dás accordingly bought a piece of land, built a new house on it, and removed thither with these indigent Brahmos, some of whom are still living in the same place. When (apparently about three years later) the Dás's left Barisal the parting between Mrs. Dás and her protégés was a heart-rending scene, so deeply was she beloved by them."

After they settled in Calcutta Mr. and Mrs. Dás continued their works of kindness, taking into their own house many young widows of respectable families, and Kulin girls who had escaped from the oppressions of their lot in Hindu homes. Mrs. Dás maintained these young women with the care of a mother. "Besides this, several young gentlemen when going to study in England, left their wives under her care, and she gladly undertook to look after their welfare and education. Whenever any good opportunity offered of educating her daughters she embraced it to educate these other girls also. When Miss Akroyd (now Mrs. Beveridge) established the Hindu Ladies' School in Calcutta, in November, 1873, Mrs. Dás sent to that school not only her own daughters, but her protégées also. Most of the pupils in fact came from the Dás household." Extracts are given in the biography from grateful letters that some of these girls wrote later from different parts of India, where they had settled, expressing the happy confidence and affection that they had felt towards their disinterested benefactress.

"It should be added that although she devoted herself so much to the welfare of others, she was never careless about that of her own family. Her love to her husband and children were very great. She thought herself very fortunate to have such a husband, and had scarcely ever differed from him. She brought up her children very carefully, and both she and her husband paid almost more attention to the education of their daughters than to that of their sons, knowing that good educational insti

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tutions were available for the boys, while there were none for the girls. It was this which made Mr. and Mrs. Dás so anxious to help the Hindu Ladies' School.' When in June, 1876, the 'Bengal Ladies' School' was started by the efforts of Mr. Dás and Mr. A. M. Bose, Mrs. Dás's joy knew no bounds. Now we have a school of our own,' she said, 'take care to conduct it well. The girls must be prepared here for the Entrance Examination.' She used to tell her own daughters, You need not be the least anxious or afraid; learn as long as you like; your father is doing so much for you, see that you do not disappoint his hopes.' * All too soon came the end. In November, 1876, three days after giving birth to her seventh child, the generous and gentle mother was taken from her happy home. * The grief which her death caused to her family and friends was inexpressible, and the loss to the small band of true Brahmo reformers is one which will be feltfor years to come."

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"The second edition of the Memoir contains a pleasing portrait of Mrs. Dás, and also several letters written to the biographer by well-known readers of the first edition, adding interesting personal reminiscences of her conversation and life. The volume closes with a collection of memorial verses, written upon her by four or five of her friends. The book will be very useful in India, by presenting the simple picture of a life' such as Mrs. Dás's, which, by showing what one most womanly and noble-hearted woman actually achieved, may rouse both young and old, maiden and man, to cast off despair and cowardice, and do what in them lies to help their country."

THE TANJORE PALACE CROWN OF INDIA REMEMBRANCER AND COMPENDIUM OF INTELLIGENCE. By the Secretaries of the "God Bless the Queen Empress Association."

WE have received from Tanjore this prettily bound almanac. It was originally intended for private circulation among those who had attended the Durbar held lately in honour of Her Majesty's birthday, "but others whose opinion the authors value desired a more extended circulation." It contains a good

deal of compressed information about European and Indian States, the various calendars and eras, Christian, Mahomedan and Hindu festivals, &c., as well as special facts relating to Tanjore and its officers. The Princess, as an indication of her loyalty, has formed an Association under the title of "God Bless the Queen Empress Association," the primary object of which is "to celebrate the birthday of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen Empress of the Indian Empire as a day of rejoicing in all houses dependant for their support on Her Highness the Princess of Tanjore." The almanac is brought out by the Secretaries of the Association, and it must have been compiled with considerable care and trouble. It is put forth in a spirit of loyalty to Her Majesty, for which sentiment the Princess of Tanjore is renowned.

INDIAN INTELLIGENCE.

We have received the Report for 1878 of the Gujerat Vernacular Society from its Hon. Sec., Rao Sahib Mahipatram Rupram Nilkanth, which was read at the annual meeting, held in August last year, at Ahmedabad. This Society has before been mentioned in this Journal. It was founded over thirty years ago by several European and native gentlemen for the encouragement of vernacular literature and education, by publishing books and prize essays, presenting books to libraries, &c. In the last year 4,600 books were sold, the greater part being publications of the Society, and the following new ones were printed during the year :-Means of making Gujerat prosperous; Good wishes to the Empress of India, in verse; Invasion of India by Hunarkhan ; Buddhi Prakash, a monthly magazine. Prizes have been offered, but not yet adjudicated, for essays on various social subjects. The Secretary addressed the meeting on the objects of the Society, describing the good it had done and was doing, and urging that more members should join it. It was announced that Mr. Hurivalabhdass Balgovinddass, of Bombay, had left. by his will rs. 2000 to the Society, on condition that this sum should form a Prize Fund for essays on social improvement.

The Bethune Society, at Calcutta, has held several meetings in its last session. Lectures were delivered on the following subjects: The Chemistry of Combustion, by Mr. Pedlar; the Vestiges of Foreign Relations in the Ancient Records of India, by Dr. K. M. Bannerji; Female Education in the Zenana, by Babu Kali Charan Bannerji, M.A.; the Prospects of Educated Natives, by Mr. Surendra Nath Bannerji; the Physical Effects of Famine, by Dr. McLeod; the Place of Natural Science in a System of Liberal Education, by Nagendra Nath Ghose, Esq. There was also an extra meeting for an address by Father Rivington on Mental Development. The meetings were well attended, and some of the subjects were warmly discussed.

A congratulatory address to His Highness the Nawab of Bahawalpore was presented by the Executive Committee of the Punjaub University College, through Dr. Leitner, the Registrar, on the occasion of his investiture with full powers as a ruling chief. The address refers to the munificence of the young Nawab, in regard to education, in endowing a valuable Oriental scholarship, and erecting mainly at his own cost a building at Lahore where literary meetings are held. The Mahomedan Association of Lahore also presented an address through their Secretary, Muhammad Barkat Ali Khan Bahadur, recognising the Nawab's liberality to the Mahomedan community.

Some young Bengalees of good education have lately established an Association at Royna, in Burdwan, Bengal, called the Men and Women's National Improvement Association. We presume from the name that it is to a society with somewhat similar aims as that at Ahareetolla, in Calcutta, that the liberal Maharani Surnomoye of Cossimbazar has lately made a donation of rs. 2000. The objects of the Association at Royna are stated to be the same as those of the National Indian Association. Babu Rajendro Nath Dutta has been appointed its Hon. Sec., and he is trying energetically to spread improved ideas among the poorer population on social, moral and physical questions.

The examiners for the B.A. degree at the University of Bombay have awarded the Cobden Club's Silver Medal for

Political Economy to Rustain Kharshedji Cama, of St. Xavier's College.

The Viceroy lately attended the distribution of prizes at the Mayo College, Ajmeer. The princes and chiefs of Rajputana have contributed liberally to this college, and there are now eight or nine handsome stone buildings where the pupils from the different states are lodged. A college is being constructed at the expense of the British Government, from designs of Major Munt, R.E. This building will chiefly consist of white marble. The number of admissions has risen to 61, and 38 pupils are actually on the rolls. The Viceroy stated that the Maharao, Rajah of Ulwar, had shown his gratitude to the institution where he received education by the erection of a pair of gates at the cost of rs. 10,000, and that the Mahárája of Jeypur had made generous gifts to the college. The Rao of Masuda gave rs. 200 for prizes on this occasion, the third donation from him of the kind.

We regret to have to record the death of Mrs. Gajapathi Rao, wife of the Hon. G. N. Gajapathi Rao, Madras. She was an accomplished lady, and had received much assistance in her education from European governesses. The Madras Times writes:- "She was introduced to Madras society by the Lady Anna Gore Langton and Mrs. Carmichael, and was a universal favourite among her friends and acquaintances; her amiability and her kindly disposition were of a kind seldom met with. It is worthy of remark that the deceased lady was the first native lady in the Madras Presidency who mixed in European society. The example she set is worthy of imitation by other native ladies. Much sympathy is felt for the worthy and Honourable G. N. Gajapathi Rao by all classes of the community."

A Bengali magazine for ladies, The Bamabodhini Patrika (teacher of women), which had ceased for more than a year, has now, we are glad to learn, been revived. This is one among other signs of the growth of culture among native ladies at Calcutta. The magazine contains instructive articles on foreign countries, on natural science, on education, and also some fiction and poetry. It is to be hoped that much encouragement will be shown to this useful publication.

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