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AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF BOMBAY.

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Agricultural

and Horticultural Society of Western India, held at Baynes, Esq., Secretary to the Madras Horticultural Sothe Rooms of the Native Education Society, on Tues-ciety, announcing the formation of a sister institution at A letter dated Madras, 27th July, 1835, from C. H. day, the 5th January, 1836. proceedings on the formation of our Society, with a suitathat presidency, annexing copy of their proceedings, and ble reply were sent. requesting informations. Lithographed copies of our forwarding a ripe fruit of the annona muricata, or sour sop of the West Indies, grown in his garden at Mazagon. From seeds sent from Malacca by his friend Mr. Lewis, A letter from the Native President, Framjee Cawasjee, Esq., raised 3 plants of which the major part are on his estate at Powy, in Salsette. It is a valuable addition to our fruits, and merits further experiment and extention. Budding or grafting, with its indigenous congeners the squamos and reticulata may improve the fruit. A letter from Government regarding the improvement of the wool of this country. It appears that the coarse wool of the Deccan is exported to England. That in 1834, 335 bales, and in 1835 up to September, upwards of 1,500 bales were exported; London markets. This interesting circumstance renders 5d. to 6d. per lb. were expected to be realised in the it an object of considerable importance to improve the character of the wool, information which could be collected, was drawn up and sent in. In acknowledgment, the thanks of the Right Honorable the Governor in Council are requested A reply, containing all the to be conveyed to the Society for the very valuable information and judicious suggestions contained in that communication. The Honorable the Court of Directors have already been requested to send out a supply of Saxon and Merino sheep. A letter from J. S. Law, Esq., dated Surat, 24th September, 1835, acknowledging seeds, the seedlings from which he was about to distribute amongst the native gardeners who raise vegetables for the market; and noticing a tree he had met, with a specimen of the pterocarpus marsupium, from which gum kino may be obtained by incisions in the bark, but and evaporating it in the sun. ket, adds Mr. Law, is chiefly supplied from the more expeditiously from a strong decoction of the bark west coast of Africa with this drug, and it is there obtained from the pterocarpus erinaceus. The European marfurther notices a species of diospyrus perhaps D. Sylvatica or D. Cordifolia, common in the woods, which has a very palatable fruit, with a taste like that of a medlar; Mr. Law and like that fruit is not fit to eat till it begins to rot. " I think," continues he, introduce a few trees of it into the Society's garden to try if it is capable of improvement by cultivation." The tacca pinnatifida (a kind of rush) is also noticed as anoit would be worth while to ther indigenous plant deserving of mention. A mutritious focula

The President having taken the chair, the Secretary proceeded to read to the meeting the substance of the various communications received by the Society, since last meeting in May.--He commenced by noticing 1. A letter from Mr. Mutti, of Kootoor Bagh, near Poona, detailing the result of his experiments in the culture of the mulberry tree as a standard; which Mr. Mutti states to succeed so well in this country, that in 2 years the mulberry becomes so large, that trees planted at 16 feet from each other would touch with their branches and that each young tree will yield from 8 to 10 pucka seers of leaves (a pucka seer is about two pounds avoirdupois); and that they do not require to be watered more than once a month. It may therefore be anticipated that when full grown in four years, they will not require any water. deavors he has made, and proposes making, to induce Mr. Mutti then adverts to the enthe natives themselves to adopt a more improved method of growing mulberries, rearing silk worms, winding silk, and manufacturing silk piece goods. It is a point of very great importance that Mr. Mutti should be enabled to persevere effectually in his efforts till the time is fairly past when he anticipates the full benefit of his standard tree system will be proved; the prize, if he succeed, is far greater than the foss risked, and it would be cruel that the profits and great credit which may result from his perseverance should be reaped by others. Two natives, whom Mr. Mutti got to make silk for a manufacturer in Poona, obtained Rs 13 the pucca seer for the silk which was pronounced of excellent quality. Mr. M. also got a native to make silk handkerchiefs, and intends establishing at Kootoor a regular manufactory of similar kinds of cloth. A present to the Society of some seeds and bulbs received by Capt. Sir Charles Malcolm, R. N. from the Baron Von Ludwig at the Cape of Good Hope, was next noticed, with a request, that should any rare plants be found by the Society, some specimens be sent to the Baron. A packet of such seeds as were on hand was made up and sent accordingly. A paper from Dr. Lush, superintendent of the Dapooree Garden, containing observations upon the qualities of garden and vegetable seeds usually imported from England and the Cape, distinguishing those that are useful and necessary from those that are useless, and recommending only the former descriptions to be ordered in future and in larger quantities. Dr. L. further inquires whether the Society would be disposed to admit a class of distant subscribers, who, after giving a small donation to the Society, would be entitled to receive the whole annual amount of their subscriptions in good seed. On the first point, the thanks of the Society are eminently due to Dr. Lush, for communicating the result of his own experience respecting those seeds which answer best for this country, but in cases where the experience of gardeners in any other parts of the country may be in favor of English or Cape seed, which Dr. L.'s experience condemns, it would be well to obtain such from both sources. With regard to the second point, it does not appear from the smallness of subscription and the low price at which seeds are obtained, that the Society's present rules require alteration, subscribers being supplied with seeds at a reduction of 25 per cent. on the actual cost to the Society in their favour; on which it was moved by Dr. Lush, and seconded by Mr. Farish, that "the terms on which seeds are supplied to the members, be advertised in the report of this meeting for general information;" it is as follows:

Rule 9-That seeds and plants shall generally be sold to subscribers requiring them for their own use, at the cost prices; but the Committee shall be at liberty to fix higher prices, or to invite offers and accept the best when they may see reason in particular instances. ence not exceeding 25 per cent. being in such cases A prefergiven to subscribers over non-subscribers.

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been obtained from the neighbourhood of Bhewndy, so that it may probably be found near Bombay also. At the last meeting of the Society it was proposed that a prepared from the root. Specimens have Sub-Committee be appointed to select an appropriate spot for an experimental garden for the Society. A distinct subscription, named the Garden Fund, was entered upon, which realised the sum of Rs 3,175. A choice spot of ground of considerable extent adjoining Pareli Flag-staff hill (called Golungese Doongur by the natives) to the east, has been purchased, and Government have in the most liberal manner granted to the Society the adjacent mound or hillock to the east, rent free. The Society's garden therefore is now progressing to efficiency. It has been partly surrounded by a loose stone wall to mark the boundary. Roads are making through it. Two wells of excellent water have been completed and built up with pucka chunam and stone walls; and a bungalow for the accommodation of a Rs 40 per month, and the grounds are being put into European gardener erected. a state of preparation to receive plants. Donations of the business in Europe has been entertained at a salary of A gardener, brought up to rare plants, fruit trees, and ornamental flowers would prove acceptable. Many have been already received, ments: but many more will be necessary to complete which the Society records with grateful acknowledg the garden. The whole has been accomplished at an

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outlay of about Rs 7,500, inclusive of the purchase | yielded respectively 23, 19, 16, and 15 pucca seers of the ground, and arrangements for the proper ex-of leaves, the branches of which are strong enough penditure of the garden are entered into by the meeting. to bear 6 men climbing among them at the same time. A letter from the Superintendent of the Ashtagram Of silkworms, Mr. Mutti says "I have tried the small division of Mysore, mentioning that after several un-Chinese worm of 4 stages, which makes a sulphur successful attempts, owing to the destructive effects of cocoon generally in 30 days; answers remarkably well white ants, the Mauritius sugar-cane cuttings supplied and continues to breed all the year round without interthrough a member of our Society, had at length found a ruption." It requires about 12 pacca seers of leaves safe position in a garden of the country cane, where they (more or less) of the St. Helena mulberry to nourish 100 worms. Generally from 9,245 to 16,000 cocoons were thriving well, and promised to be eminently successful. The superior height and darker foliage of these are required to make one pucca seer of silk, but as the canes readily distinguish them from the country cane; natives become more expert in winding silk, waste of but the chief difference lies in the greater size of the cane cocoons will not be so great.-Mr. M. submits a prosand the number of shoots from one root, a fact which has pectus, shewing the expences incurred, and the benenot been sufficiently attended to here. The same gentle-fits derivable from one acre of land planted with 400 man also notices a palm tree from which a considerable mulberry trees, at the expiration of the 4th year of quantity of meal, resembling sago, has been obtained. the plantation, and concludes by observing that "should This palm is the mharr of the natives, or the canjota any person feel disposed to embark in a similar underurens, regarding which the late Dr. Roxburgh has the taking, and previous to so doing should wish to have following observations. Flor. Ind. Vol. III. pp. personal observation, he will at all times be most happy 625-626" It is a native of the various mountainous to give every information and assistance in his power: parts of India, where it grows to be one of the greatest and has two bungalows to allot, one as place of residence and most charming of this beautiful tribe of natural The Society is indebted to Mr. Mutti for his very order. It is highly valuable to the natives of the coun- interesting letter, and the valuable information it tries where it grows in plenty. The pith or farinaceous contains. It is perhaps to be regretted that such a fair part of the trunk of old trees is said to be equal to the opportunity of establishing a silk manufactory in all its best sago. It forms a part of the diet of the natives, branches, should be unheeded, and languish for want and during a famine they suffered little while those of means and sufficient encouragement.-A letter from trees lasted. I have reason to believe this substance to the Secretary to the Branch Society at Rajkote, stating be highly nutritious, and think as fully palateable the potatoes grown there this year to be the finest in as the sago we get from the Malay countries."-The India or any where else. They boil well, are mealy, tree is not uncommon in the ghauts of the Concan. and of exceeding good flavor. The weight of one was There are several in different parts of this island and 18 oz. 7 drams, 4 inches diameter, and 5 inches Colabah. It might perhaps be desirable to try by the long-Dr. Lush then rose and gave a very interesting statement of what had been done in the Deccan under process described, to obtain sago from one if procurable; and if found to answer, it might be more exten- his general superintendence in the manufacture of silk, sively grown; being a sure resource in times of famine. produced specimens of various degrees of raw silk made Another letter from Mr. Mutti, detailing the success by a Parsee, and also at Ahmednugger, where he stated which has hitherto attended his silk undertaking. The the demand to be constant. As Dr. Lush's valuable mulberry preferred by Mr. M. is the St. Helena species report on silk and mulberreis is about to be printed, given to him by Dr. Lush, which he rears as standards. more need not be said on the subject at present.-BomMr. M. has trees of 27 months growth, 4 of which bay Courier.

ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL.

On Wednesday evening the 6th January, the usual monthly meeting of the Society was held at the Society's Sir J. P. Grant. rooms, when Sir Charles D'Oyly, Mr. Blundel, and Dr. Sir Ben. Malkin. Falconer, superintendent of the Botanical Gardens at Seharunpore, were duly balloted for and elected members.

The Society then proceeded to elect the following gentlemen to constitute the Committee for the ensuing

year:

PRESIDENT.

The Hon. Sir E. Ryan.

VICE PRESIDENTS.

W. H. Macnaghten, Esq.
The Rev. Dr. Mill.

COMMITTEE OF PAPERS.

H. T. Prinsep, Esq.
Capt. Pemberton.
J. T. Pearson, Esq.
C. R. Trevelyan, Esq.
T. R. Colvin, Esq.

Capt. W. N. Forbes,
C. H. Cameron, Esq.
David Hare, Esq.
Ramcomul Sein.

The meeting then proceeded to general business and broke up about ten o'clock.-Englishman.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BOMBAY.

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Sabian; and that Hinduism was a religion of proselytism till little more than nine centuries ago. He supposes that Sabeism was followed by the modifications of its original tenets, now known as the faiths of Budha and Brahma; that the people who believed the last, occupied the banks of the Ganges and Hindustan proper, while those who professed the other, were on either bank of the Indus and in the south of India; that the two rival sects existed in amity for some time, till the Brahmins, having introduced castes and endeavoured to exalt themselves above their opponents, brought on the Mahabharat or great war, which happened posterior to the invasion of Alexander the Great. He maintains that though both these religions were in their origin nearly connected, the

greater antiquity is in favour of the Brahmins, or the orthodox followers of the Vedas; that the Buddhists were a sect, who abandoning the ordnances of the Vedas and the company of the Brahmins, adopted and altered an atheistical system, the origin of which may be traced back five centuries before the Christian era. He supposes that the reformation of orthodox Brahminism should be placed not long before the Christian era when the Brahmins by degrees came to personify the elements and the planets, and from giving expression to their sentiments in allegory wandered from the pure Theism, inculcated in the esoteric doctrines of Sadeism into a creed which acknowledged varied existencies of Divinity, upon which they speculated, till they fell into a system of meditation and mysticism, of which they declared the rewards to be liberation from this life, and immediate union with the first great and eternal cause.

is now known under the name of the Jain religion. To these Brahminized Buddhists he ascribes the execution of the sculpture in the cave of Elephanta, Ellora, Ajunta and Abu, in which their attempts at reconciling their own original tenets, with Brahminical mythology, are distinctly discernible.

The arguments are supported by an appeal to our general experience of the revolution of the world to the geographical distribution of the several tribes and nations to whom allusion is made, and by some quotations from Greek, Hindu, and Arab authorities.

The President in proposing the thanks of the meeting to Dr. Bird for his paper, which had been listened to with much interest, observed that while he was prepared to dispute some of its important positions, it was but fair that it should be laid before the learned world for a candid criticism, in the state in which it had been communicated to the Society.

With regard to the Jains, he contends that they were It was then proposed, in pursuance of a notification originally Buddhist nomedes of the N. E. of India, made at the last meeting, that the hour of the monthly whom the tide of Mahomeden invasion during the 7th meetings of the Soceity should be changed from 12 to 3 and 8th centuries of the Christian era drove amongst the o' clock, an hour which it was thought, would better Brahmins of the south, and who, endeavouring to recon- suit the convenience of members in general, and no cile the more objectionable parts of their own faith to objection having been offered, a resolution to that effect that of the Brahmins, amongst whom they came, gave was un animously agreed to and passed accordingly.— rise to a modification of the then Buddhist tenets which Bombay Courier.

ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE NATIVE EDUCATION SOCIETY OF BOMBAY.

several European gentlemen, who had made a habit of
attending, and themselves examined the scholars, had
expressed their warmest admiration at the extent and
solidity of the information evinced. So great and so
scientific and the general department, that the directors
considered the warmest commendations and thanks of
the society due to the masters, Mr. Bell and Mr. Hen-
derson, for their zealous and most successful labors.
The following resolutions were then passed.
Moved by Sir Herbert Compton, seconded by Fram-
jee Cowasjee, Esq.

This meeting took place on Saturday the 2d January, in the Soceity's rooms, and was very numerously attended. The Right Hon'ble the Governor was in the chair. Among the persons present were the Hon'ble the Chief Justice, the Members of Council, the Chief Secretary, the Ac-evident was the improvement in this school, both in the countant-General, the Civil Auditor, the Military Auditor-General, the Judge-Advocate-General, the President of the Literary Society, the Elphinstone Professors, and several other gentlemen, clerical, civil, and military. The native company included nearly all the most eminent members of the community, and presented an agreeable melange of costume, language, and religion. Parsees, Hindoos, Jains, Sunnees, Seeyas, all sat amicably intermingled. There were some names too of historical association; the descendant of the Nuwab of Bednore who fought and suffered for the British in the war with Tippoo Sahib; the sons of Gungadhur Shastree, whose assassination in some measure led to the last Marhatta war-and the representative of Naroba Autya, in whose possession the treasure of the Peshwa was seized after tors for their service in conducting the affairs of the "That the thanks of the meeting be given to the Directhe capture of Poona, all called up recollections, curi-Society, and that they be requested to continue in office." ously contrasting with the peaceful purpose of the present meeting.

two "

"That the report which has been read, be adopted as the report of the Society, and ordered to be printed." Moved by the Hon'ble Mr. Sutherland, seconded by Jemsetjee Jeejeebhoy, Esq.

The pupils of the Mahratta, Guzerathee, and HindoosMr. Wilson and the Rev. Mr. Stevenson. They read portanees schools were then successively examined by the Rev. tions of works in these several languages, explanatory of the system of English jurisprudence and similar practical matters; and answered very readily a strict cross-examination of the sense and grammatical construction of the passages -the result, in the opinion of the Examiners, evinced a very decided improvement on the last

year.

The Mathematical Department of the English school, under Mr. Bell, was next examined in the following order.

As soon as His Excellency had taken the chair, Capt. Pope, the secretary of the Society, read the Report of the Committee for the past year. In addition to a satisfactory statement of the Society's finances, this document noticed the completion of a new range of school rooms for the accommodation of the English school; the arrival of the Elphinstone Professors of Science and Belles Letters; the satisfactory progress in all the schools of the institution; and the election of four new "West" and 'Clare" Scholars. It also alluded to an offer made to the Society by Government to make an arrangement for employing some of its most qualified students in the public service in the districts, under the Revenue Commissoner; which arrangement, on mature consideration, it was thought not advisable to enter on immediately, as those phrases. In this examination the pupils were put through whose qualifications would have entitled them to be the whole circle of ordinary commercial language, and selected, the old West scholars, could not be spared in their explanation of the several terms, and their refrom the school till those recently elected were suffi-plies to the queries put incidentally to them, showed that cienly advanced to supply their places. In noticing the they possessed a very large stock of correct and minute English school, the Report stated that the progress made information on this most useful subject. had surpassed the warmest anticipations entertained at 2. The assistants and West scholars of last year, the last meeting. The master, in addition to the usual in the department of mathematics, were examined school hours, had instituted evening meetings for ex- on the demonstration of propositions selected from the aminations in science and general studies. These meet- first 6 books of Euclid, on trigonometry, mensuration ings were open to the public, and excited considerable of heights and distances, and of plane surfaces. These interest: they were well attended by the Natives; and they went through on the board with very great readiness

1. One of the lower classes, on commercial terms and

and exactness, to the evident surprise and pleasure of, in the different schools, after which the following resoluthe scientific gentlemen present. In Natural Philosophy, tion was passed. this class was examined on the principles of uniformly accelerated motion, and gave equal satisfaction.

3. The newly-elected West and Clare scholars were next examined on a variety of problems, and on the demonstration and useful applications of geometrical theo

rems.

1st. A recitation of a portion of Sheriden's speech on the Begum charge.

Ditto of the debate in the tragedy of Cato.

Ditto of a humorous lecture on law, -Bullum v.

Boatum.

Each recitation being followed by a copious and most successful examination on all the particulars of history, biography, geography, and general information in any way connected with the several subjects.

2d. The assistants and West scholars were examined on the general principles of civil law.

3d. The prize boys of the other classes in general history and geography.

The examination in this department exhibited the same results as those in the scientific,—in both instances bearing honourable testimony to the zeal and ability of the masters, and giving a fair promise of what this institution may yet achieve on the native mind. The above, however, would give but an imperfect idea of the real progress of this school: the class of subjects selected for examination was necessarily limited to a few out of many in which the scholars had been prepared. The time too had its bounds, and many who, in a small room and private examination would have been tempted to take part in the mental anatony, and probe the information of the students to the utmost, were here spell-bound by the genius loci and the august presence in which they

sat.

Moved by Jugonath Sunk ersett, Esq., seconded by Bommanjee Hormuajee, Esq.

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That the thanks of the meeting be given to the Right Honourable Sir Robert Grant, for his kindness in taking the chair, and his able conduct in it, on the present occasion."

After the scientific department of the English schooling at considerable length, and with great impressiveness. His Excellency hereupon rose and addressed the meethad been concluded, the examination of the general de- on the happy results of the day's proceedings, and the partment, under Mr. Henderson, was gone through in the general objects of the institution. After alluding to what following order: had passed at the last meeting, when his illustrious friend, the nobleman who had preceded him in the government, had presided at their proceedings, and bequeathed to him the cause of Native Education, he expressed the warm gratification he had felt and should ever feel, and pleasure which he felt in seeing on this occasion so while in office, in attending to the bequest, and the pride many of this great community, of all castes and classes, and religious persuasion, assembled around him, and heartily co-operating in support of this excellent institution, and of the cause of Native Education. The most sanguine anticipation indulged in on that occasion by his illustrious friend had been he would not say realized but far surpassed by the results of this day's examination. Of the progress of the scholars in the languages of India he was himself not competent to speak, but he had been informed by the learned gentlemen who had examined them, that there was a very decided improvment upon last year. Of the progress of the English school in all its departments, those who had heard the astonishing display of information, both in quantity and quality, which had just been made, could entertain but one opinion; for his own part he would acknowledge that he sometimes found it difficult to follow the scientific students in the rapid and easy manner in which they performed the several tasks assigned them; and that it was not merely a matter of rote, a part got up for display on this occasion, must be evident from the manner, the expression of countenance, the tones of voice, the intelligence and emulation, which marked the whole examination. Gratifying as this exhibition eminently was, he was anxious to impress upon the students that they must not rest there, but must press onward with renewed ardour to perfect the work so happily begun; they must not mistake the means for the end; these acquirements were after all but means plishments, but must not supersede the solid fruit, the true end of all education that mental discipline and high moral feeling which alone would fit for honorably fulfilling the duties of whatever station in life Providence might thereafter severally assign them. This was the great aim of all properly directed education, and unless this were attained, all the ornamental parts, however brillant-all intellectual acqusition, however dazzling, would be of little sterling value in life, like, the plumage of the bird they might serve to adorn, and elicit admiration, but the muscle and the nerve of the wing alone could confer safety and power, and upbear their owner in difficultles. He would wish it to be impressed on the native community generally, that success in this institution would be a passport to success elsewhere. He did not think that the most healthy state of public education where Government was obliged to hold out its patronage as an inducement and a reward. There was a state beyond, where education was prosecuted for its own sake, and knowledge sought for its intrinsic worth and he hoped that state would ere long come to pass! but there was an intermediate stage where the fostering hand of Government was necessary, and he would say shame on the Government which then held back from affording its encour agement. Under this view he was willing to offer all the aid to Native education that was in his power, and with this idea that offer had been made by the Government to this institution which he had no doubt would be eventually made available in one shape or other. He hoped, however, the day was not far distant when the members of this important community would seek to educate their children, not with the view of obtaining thereby a passport to subordinate employment under Government, but of qualifying them for taking that part in public life, and filling worthily those high offices, to which every great people should aspire.-Bombay Gazette.

Thus, in the lower branches, arithmetic and grammar,-in the higher, algebra and chemistry, and the his--they were accomplishments, and elegant accom tory and classification of literature, were necessarily omitted in the public examination. The writer of this sketch has been present at several of the private meetings alluded to in the report, and seen the pupils sifted most minutely by visitors of the first acquirements. In science, he has heard them examined on the principles of chemical attraction, the electro-chemical and anatomic theories, the ordinary operations of practical chemistry, and the nature and combinations of the various simple and compound substances which form the basis of the science. The same boys who worked out the mathematical problems at the public, he has seen at the private examinaons go through a series of interesting chemical experiments, and afterwards explain the rationale of each by diagrams on the board, with a clearness and quickness which were perfectly astonishing. The same lads he has heard deliver speeches from Demosthenes, Cicero, and Chatham,recite verses from the English poets, and then stand the brunt of all possible questions, arising out of the subject matter of their recitations ;-thus, for instance, he has heard a philippic of Demosthenes followed up by a sketeh of Philip's career, and the history of Greece at the period:-Philip soon merged in Alexander, and then followed Alexandria, Tyre, Arbela, Porus, Nicea, Nearchus, the Indus, the Ameers of Sinde, and the commerce of Bombay. What rendered the matter still more interesting was to find the same individual foremost in every exercise; thus the little lad Narayun Dinanath, who distinguished himself at the public examination, both in mathematics and civil law, was in the private meetings the best orator and the most skilful chemist.

To return, however, to the meeting. At the close of the examination, His Excellency distributed prizes to great number of boys who had distinguished themselves

MR. NORTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO SIR R. PALMER.

On Thursday, the 31st December, a special Court was held to administer the oaths of office to the new ChiefJustice, Sir R. B. COMYN; which ceremony drew together a crowded assemblage. The Royal patent was read by the Registrar, appointing Sir R. B. COMYN to the high post, and the oaths were then administered by Sir RALPH PALMER. On the completion of these formalities, Mr. NORTON, in the name of the Bar and the profession at large, pronounced, evidently under the influence of strong emotion, a farewell address to the learned and able Judge, who now retired from a Bench he had so long adorned, encircled by all the respect that pre-eminent talent and distinguished attainments can create, all the esteem that high character ensures, and all the affection and good will that the exercise of kindness and of conciliation invariably carry in their train. We copy the Conservative's report of the Advocate-General's address, and also Sir RALPH PALMER'S reply. The latter we need not characterize-it is correctly rendered in the report, and betrays its speaker's happy ease and terseness of expression, softened in the mould of an affecting farewell to those whom years of intercourse had made

in forms of familiar association.

Mr. NORTON rose and said,

Sir RALPH PALMER.

and which cannot fail of the most beneficial effect in rendering the paths of right clear and even.

due from me to those around me, due to my own feelings, But, my Lord, I should forget a most particular duty due most eminently to your Lordship-if I should omit to mention our sense of the undeviating urbanity which has throughout characterised your demeanour to every member of our profession. We, my Lord, in the conflicts, and agitations, and anxieties, almost inseparable from a zealous performance of our duties to those clients who have entrusted their essential or dearest interests to our advocacy-we may, in some passing and occasional moments, have swerved from that respect which is not only due to the Court, but has by us always been felt so to be. But your mind has never on these or any other occasions been shaken from its just propriety-it has never been moved from an indulgent bias towards in scrutiny, and the utmost kindness and consideration We have always experienced the utmost patience in manner. It may be a gratification to your lordship's reflection as it surely is to us who testify it, that the dignity of the Court, so far from having been thereby impaired or compromised, has by nothing been more maintained and upheld-and, with it, as a necessary consequence, the respectability, the reputation, and the honor of our profession.

us.

SIR RALPH PALMER REPLIED.

MR. ADVOCATE-GENERAL.

The whole profession-the Members of the Bar, the Officers of the Court, and the Solicitors-have assemMy Lord, we bid you farewell. We trust that this bled before the Court this day for the purpose of ex- expression of our unanimous sentiments and feelings, pressing their sentiments towards your Lordship on your coming from a profession to which you once belonged, retiring from the seat you have so long filled. They and which you will always hold in honor, will have its have been pleased to confide the honor of this task upon share, among other testimonies of public respect in your myself as their organ. I will not pretend to do adequate pleasing recollections of the time past in India. In that justice either to their feelings, or my own, on this occasassurance, in the name of those around me-1 may vension-but I am certain I shall faithfully represent them, ture to add, from the sympathy I observe throughout when I state that these feelings comprise the sincerest this Court in all I am uttering, in the name of the pubregret at the loss they are about to sustain, and the warm-eminence in public stations, which for the future service lic of this Presidency-I wish you every success, every est wishes for your future welfare and prosperity of our country, your Lordship may yet be called to fill. Many of us have witnessed the benefits of your presidency over this Court for a long period-some have experienced them during the whole of your Lordship's career in India. It would not befit us, relatively situated as we are before your Lordship and the Court, to say 1 am indeed most highly flattered by the sentiments any thing which should have even the appearance of a which in the name of the profession you have now been critical sanction of that learning and efficiency which pleased to express; and to know that I carry with me has characterised your judicial administration. But we on my retirement from this Bench, the good wishes and cannot be unmindful of these qualities. We cannot be kind feelings of those with whom I have co-operated in insensible how much has been owing to your Lordship- the administration of justice in this country, will, I asassisted as you have been by the learned judge now about sure you, be to me a never-failing source of extreme sato occupy your seat, and whom the profession and the tisfaction. Partiality, however, and private friendship public congratulate as your successor-aided also, as have led you to express yourself in terms,-and to ascribe you have been, by that able and most esteemed judge to me merits, to which in conscience I feel that I am whose loss we have had so much reason to deplore-that not entitled. To an honest and zealous endeavour to the course of Justice has flowed, not in a scanty rill discharge, to the best of my abilities, the duties of the leaving half the channel of the law waste and dry-not high office, with which I have been invested, I hope I in rapid turbulence so as to sweep away and destroy may without arrogance lay claim-but to no more, for landmarks-but in a deep, an equal, and a copious if the result has indeed been such as you have described, stream, dispensing wide and real benefit over the whole-grateful as I must feel in having been in any degree surface of the community.

If I might venture to particularize I should be led to select that elaborate care and solidity which have distinguished all your decisions on the equity side of this Court. The whole profession, and those who come after us, must always feel that, in the pronouncing those judgments, your mind has been actuated by wider and nobler objects than the mere disposal of the questions before the Court, or even the dispensing requisite and ample justice, as between the parties. They have been made the vehicles of sound professional instruction. They have been made a boon and a valuable and lasting contribution to the just administration of the national law. The practitioners in this Court, and indeed the public at large (for their interests must ever be bound up with those of the efficient and pure administration of justice in the national Courts) must owe a perpetual debt to your Lordship for those Decrees, which have formed a mass of precedents in judicial Equity, the best digested perhaps of any the Indian Courts can boast of,

instrumental towards promoting it-you and every one who has attended this Court must know that I have not worked single handed, and most justly therefore have you referred to the aid which has been afforded to me, not only by him who is now no more, but during the whole progress of my labours by that able and ever ready colleague, under whose presiding influence, I may justice in this Court is henceforward to be administered. now congratulate the public no less than yourselves, that But above all, if we have judged righteous judgment, to Him alone be the praise who makes the understanding to know and the heart to maintain the truth.

With regard to what you have been pleased to attribute to me as urbanity, if any thing deserving that term, has been evinced in my conduct on this Bench-am I not bound to confess that the courtesy, the kindness-and the respect that I have uniformly received from the Bar

the Solicitors and every Officer of this Court, have demanded such a return from me as of right-that it has been yours not " de gratia" but " de jure."

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