Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/144

 less capable of learning, their intellects are not less subtle, their ability to acquire knowledge not less keen than those of their brethren in the West. Sure I am that if they embraced the advantages of modern inventions they would compete successfully with the manufactures of any part of the world. It is in the right application—the prudent application of invention which are sufficiently numerous, that scientific education will be most profitably directed. And this is but one illustration of the benefits to be derived from a study of science, because there is, as you know well, in the study of the laws of gravitation, in the right estimation of the powers by which we are surrounded, in the knowledge of the component parts of the soil, in the improvement of agriculture, and in the knowledge of chemistry, botany, and so forth, abundant exercise for inventive genius and scientific success, which cannot fail to be profitable if we only rightly turn our attention to these subjects. Again, the science of astronomy will do much to wipe away the superstition which the best of the Natives of this country deplore as much as we do, to teach the people that the heavenly bodies move in a wonderful way indeed, but do not exercise malign influences on man^s existence. In trying to do away with superstition we do not want to interfere with any man's religion, but simply to teach those truths which we are all seeking.

You can profit by many branches of education, because in our colleges we have been aided and equipped by funds liberally given by beneficent persons, scholarships and fellowships are endowed, and professors are paid, partially indeed by the State, but in the largest proportion by private benefactions. I find in the Elphinstone College, which, I suppose, occupies the most prominent place amongst our colleges, there are eight well-paid professors of art and other branches, but for physical science there is but one, and he is not paid so highly as the others. Well, that shows that the sinews of war are wanted; and backing up, as I do most earnestly, the appeal not made for the first time, believe that we shall not have to appeal in vain. I notice also in the report that an increasing number of students are coming up for examination from the Provincial Colleges.

Now, gentlemen, it is not to-day, when 1 am still at the commencement of my term of office, that I should attempt to express matured opinions upon the education of this Presidency, the education conducted under the auspices of this University; but the time will come, I hope, when I shall render myself better acquainted with every part of the Presidency. You can readily understand that the