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 66 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF BENGALI BOOKS. 295. Vividdrtha Sangraha, 1851, annually IRe. 8 as., by Rajendra Lai Mittra. Roz. & Co. Published by the Vernacular Literature Committee, each monthly No. contains 16 pp. 4to., and is illustrated by 3 or 4 plates, procured from Knight in England, on subjects of history, science, or natural history ; the work is carried out on the plan of the London Penny Magazine. 296. Vidutsahini Patrika, monthly, pp. 9, 1 an., Ser. p., 1855, Essays. PEEZODZCALS-NEWSPAFCaS. The History of the Bengali Newspaper Press, shews that the love of " something new" exists among the Bengalis as among the Athenians of old. In 1816, the BENGAL GA- ZETTE was started by Gangadhar Bhattacharjea, who had gained much money by popular editions of the Vidya Sundar J&etal and other works, illustrated with wood cuts, the paper was short lived. The Serampur Darpan, on August the 21st, 1818, broke through the stagnation of ages. The Governor General, Lord Hastings, at once patronised it by letting it pass at i the post charge of the English newspapers, and his successor, Lord Amherst, subscribed for 100 copies, which were sent to the Government offices. It elicited a vast amount of correspondence from natives on mofussil society and circulated in every Zillah in Bengal and in 60 stations. In 1840, the Editor, J. Marshman, owing to other duties, was obliged to give it up. The following year several natives revived it, but it soon sunk in their hands. The Kaumadi, 1819, was started by Bhabani Banerjea and Bam Mohun Bay, it advocated female education and an improved medical treatment, but on Sati being op- posed in it, the Chandrika and superstition came out in opposition, in 1822 the Chandrika was for many years the Native Times of Calcutta, (started as the advocate of idolatry and the Sati,) a bi-weekly. In 1823 th Timir Nashak, by Krishnamohan Das, W., lasted sever e years. . About 1825 the Banga Dttf, by Nil Ratna Halda Dewan the Salt Board, many able extracts from the Shastras, lasted till 1839. In 1830, Sudhakar, w., by Premchand Ray. In 1831, Sabharajendra y by Moulvi AU Mola, in Persian and Bengali. —SukTiakar, The Gyananeshwan, a. b., W., edited by Rasik