The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-30 00:00:00

MADRAS.

(No First Class.)
Second Class-1, Todd; 2, Binney; 3, Sim.
(No Third Class.)
Sir J. W. HOGG, the chairman, then rose and said,
—lt is impossible that I should speak from this chair
without a deep sense of the vast importance of that branch
of the service of. India for which you, gen'lemen, are
destined; nor without an impression of solemnity, de-
rived from the consideration that each one of you will be
called upon to discharge duties which involve the happi-
ness or misery of masses of mankind. Your qualifica-
tions to enter upon your course of studies here are tested
by a very stringent examination previously to admission;
subsequently a course of study, adapted to the end in
view, is prescribed, and a high standard must be attained.
If you fail to pass the required tests, you lose a term in
the first instance, and ultimately, if the failure continue,
you lose your appointments. I rejoice to know that such
serious penalties are rarely incurred. When they do
happen, they are painful evidences of the necessity im-
posed upon the Court of Directors to observe the
greatest vigilance in guarding against the admission of
unworthy or incompetent persons to the civil service of
India, for, while this institution presents great advan-
tages to the deserving, it acts, and was designed to act,
as a barrier to protect India from the engagement
of improper men in the conduct of any part of
public affairs. If your lot had been cast in this
country, we might possibly speculate on the future
improvement of those deficient in ability, application,
or principle; but, launched as you will be into the
discharge of responsible duties in a distant land, we
cannot incur risks or venture on experiments that may
compromise the interests of millions and the reputation
of. Government. The report which has been this day
made to us of the present state of the college is satis-
factory to the Court of Directors, and it is now my
pleasiug duty to express the cordial thanks of the Court
to the principal and professors for the zeal, ability, and
success with which they have applied themselves to aid
you in your studies and to sustain the reputation of the
college. It has always been our good fortune to secure
the services of men of the highest talent and attain-
ments' This was never mere conspicuous than at pre-
sent.—(Cheers.) I may here observe that your principal
and professors were all distinguished in their early
career. It was at your period of life that their talents
first developed themselves, and you will generally find
that talent and industry displayed in youth accompany
a man through life. Such is the case in this institu-
tion, and in the civil service of India a very recent
example may be adduced. Iti June, 1546, when occu-
pying this 'chair, I had the happiness to bestow the
highest distinctions which this institution can give on
Mr. Temple. He. gained four medals and four other
prizes. He had not been long at the college of Calcutta
before he gained the highest honours in the native lan-
guages. He was then immediately sent into our new
territories in the Punjab, and employed in assessing
the revenues. But a few days since I received a report
from the Government of India, stating that this
gentleman had already rendered most veluable services.
All this has occurred within the last six years. I need
scarcely observe that the field before you is 'eo exten-
sive, and the occupation so various and important, ss to
call forth all the efforts of the mind, and to bring all
your attainments into use. A man's character and
qualifications are soon discovered in India. His powers
are almost immediately called into action, and, although
some years must pass in positions comparatively subor-
dinate, yet his talents and industry cannot remain buried.
The able and the laborious, the painstaking and the
active 'public servant, however young, is soon known to
be such. He attracts the notice of his superiors, the
eyes of the Government are upon him, and ere long
promotion marks the estimation in which ho is held. In
India office is not conferred by favour. Let me impress
upon you that from the moment of your entering within
these wane your future success depends upon yourselves.
The Government cannot, if they would, appoint the in-
competent. They require in all the offices of State
men of capacity and intelligence, and the higher the
duties the greater the necessity imposed upon the Go-
vernment to Belem fit men for the discharge of them
Let me further say, that the natives of India aro making
rapid advances in intelligence and knowledge. I re-
' joice that it is so, and that, the local Government is
enabled to avail itself extensively of the service of the
natives in important offices. But the professors and the
students of this college mast be prepared fully to main-
tain their standard, and, if possible, to increase the pre-
sent qualifications. There will soon be competition be-
tween Europeans and natives, and the race will bo won
by the most competent. Remember, that it is the su-
premacy of the mind which enables us to hold India in
subjection to Great Britain.—(Cheers.) A primary and
indispensable qualification in all our servants is a know-
ledge of the native languages. Called upon to commu-
nicate with the natives in the courts upon nice points of
law, upon intricacies in the adjustment of landed rights,
—called upon, moreover, to administer justice in difficult
cases, and to weigh conflicting testimony, how can these
duties be discharged with any degree of efficiency or
satisfaction unless the officer be master of the language?
In this college you have the advantage of receiving
elementary instruction in the Oriental languages, and
this cannot fail, if duly improved, to be of the greatest
service to you upon your arrival in India, Yon are of
course aware that, after your arrival, you must pass a
strict examination in the language previously to your
being permitted to enter upon the public service, and
the length of the period requisite for this purpose
mainly depends upon the progress you have made
here. You have also the advantage of instruction
in leer and political economy. under the eminent
professors of these branches of study. It is impos-
sible to exaggerate their importance. •In this country
the bench is filled by men who have been in constant
practice at the bar. In India the case is different. The
qualifications of the future judge there are derived first
from elementary knowledge acquired here, and subsea
plena.), from information and experience while engaged
in discharging subordinate duties, especially in the
revenue department, and thus b3coming, acqu3inted with
the regulations of the Gpvernment, and the customs and
habits of the people. In the discharge of •your duties
you may at first find much in the peculiarities' of the
natives to irritate, and the influence of the climate may
tend to increase that irritation. But you must cautiously
guard against giving way to the infirmity of temper.
If uncontrolled it will gain the mastery, and its do-
minion will be fatal to your respect, your utility, and
your happiness.—(Cheers.) There is ono danger against
which I must emphatically warn you. I allude to ex-
travagance. It is essential to a civilian's promotion to
important offices that he should be independent in his
•pecuniary circumstances. This cannot be if his expendi-
ture exceed his means. One of the evils of. Indian life
is Ihe facility afforded to young men to borrow money.
Let me beseech you, as you value your happiness and
future welfare, never to yield to that temptation. You
will find your allowance amply sufficient for all that
you eau require to maintain your position as gentle.

[PRICE SD.

men, : and to make some provision for future
p
retirement.--(Hear, hear, and cheers.) You have
at this moment a most gratifying evidence of the
interest taken in the re p 4ralien of young men for our
civil service. An illaztrious member of the royal
di family,
-stinguished by tho moat zmilous devotion to
his own service, and
tzmerally by high character and
attainments, hZa done.ns the honour to be present on
this occasio"
to see hero many members of the committee now sitting
to investigate the affairs of India, in view to the deter-
mination of the important question which Parliament
will have shortly to decide, whether the East India Com-
pany shall continue to be invested with the administra-
tion of the territories of British India. I will only here
say .that, charged as we now aro with this important
duty, we endeavour to keep steadily in view, the happi-
ness of the millions for whore benefit the trust has been
committed to us. In accomplishing this
great p
wo claim the services of those who have been -urpose
here pre-
pared for their duties in India, and I humbly hope that,
through their Agency end under the blessing of Divine
Providence, the East.lndia Company may continue to
be the honoured instrument of raising the character
and. advancing the prosperity of the people of India.
Gentlemen, I bid you farewell, with the warmest
wishes for your success and happiness here and in
India.--(Loud cheers.)
At the close of the proceedings the directors and
their friends, having partaken of a very sumptuously
provided luncheon, returned by special train to town.