Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/97

 what I see, that the old saying," a little learning is a dangerous thing" is not sufficiently borne in mind. Too many young men seem to think that when once they can put B.A. or even F.A. after their names, they are equal to discuss almost any subject, and to criticize and censure any authority, be it the Government of the country or the local head of the village. A smattering of many subjects can only be useful when there is one great fixed object of life, round which such scintillations of knowledge may sparkle, and to which they may perhaps add lustre; but a mere smattering of many subjects without such support can only mislead and deceive the possessor, and render him weak if not despicable in the eyes of all true men. Study you must if you wish to become men. Let me commend, to your careful perusal the speech of the new Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh, so full of sound advice to all students, and in which there is one caution which seems to me so peculiarly appropriate to the mass of the educated youth in this country, that I feel I cannot do better than conclude these observations with it. Lord Derby's words are:—"There is nothing more common among those who have read a little and thought a little than the union of strong convictions with very narrow intelligence ; and next to the absence of conviction altogether, there is no mental condition that is socially less desirable or politically more dangerous."



Gentlemen of the Senate,—I have been quite unexpectedly called on to preside over the present Convocation. His Excellency the Chancellor had expressed his intention of so doing, but the press of work which the sad scarcity in the Deccan and Southern Mahratta country has thrown upon him, added to the hasty visit of the Governor of Madras, with whom he has had to confer, has rendered it at the last moment impossible for His Excellency to take the chair on the present occasion. I will read a letter to my address which I received on Saturday evening from the Chancellor, announcing his inability to attend, and at the same time communicating to the Senate his good wishes for the prosperity of the University:- ", 13th January 1877.

"My dear Mr. Vice-Chancellor,—I am sure you will fed that I would not lightly, for many reasons, make the request I am about to do. But i must assure you that from the time of my leaving Bombay for Delhi up to the present moment, I really 