Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/889

 VII.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. = 847 during successive ages. They came to loot. or judge criminals—restore rights or seize them ; that was in the eyes of the Hindus the true function of their foreign sovereigns. The Mussalmans_ had come with the Koran, but often with a dagger also, as an alternative for the acceptance of their faith ; those that failed to be convinced were sometimes forcibly served with beef and made converts. But here came a people who showed real anxiety to ameliorate the condition of the people. ০ Bent on high motives of philanthropy and love, they did not apply force but used gentle persuasion. Besides they showed a great anxiety to give to our countrymen the sort of education which they had not yet had, notwithstanding their higher flights in theology and metaphysics. A class of philanthro- pic men, whose mission was the propaganda of the great love of their master, Jesus Christ,—the mis- sionaries in the earlier stages of British rule did for our country and her literature what we can not too highly eulogise. They approached with love and so touched the heart of the people. Dr. Carey called us semi-barbarians in a letter to a friend, but he had no contempt for the people ; it was a dond fide statement which we may very well excuse, when we know that he was truly inspired with the spirit of Christian love for his fellowmen and did not mean to abuse. This love touched the heart of the Bengalis. In fact the ardour, with which the mis- sionaries andeven some members of the Civil Service commenced their self-imposed task of educating the masses and ameliorating their condition, elicits our unqualified respect and admiration. The first Bengali types in the country were those em-