Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/990

 Evidence before the select Com- mittee, On Educa- tion, Broad sympathy and cosmo- ' politan views. 944 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE, [ Chap. the Select Committee of the House of Commons in England regarding the Judicial and Revenue system of India and his essay on the European colonisation show a masterly grasp of the subject as also the vast range of his study and minute observation in every detail of the administrative questions of the country, upon which the British press bestowed at the time their highest encom- iums. His writing materially assisted the Govern- ment in enacting legislation for the administration of the country on a more solid and efficacious basis. His letter on the question of education preceded the memorable minute of Lord Macaulay and sounded the key note of the future educational policy of the Government. In fact in every department of thought, calcu- lated to advance the cause of his countrymen, his creat intelligence and zealous advocacy of all that he considered right have left a powerful im- press. In all movements, whether of social or poli- tical nature, the start that he gave to the enlightened Hindu Society of Bengal has kept it going forward up to the present. Thoroughly acquainted with the political conditions in Europe, the sympathy of his great mind went forth to the cause of liberty and freedom, wherever it was at stake. His humane feelings were also as cosmopolitan. When on one occasion he attended divine worship at Carter Lane Chapel, the Minister was reading a letter from a clergyman in that quarter describing the sufferings of the poor people in the west of Ire- land, then in a_ state of lamentable distress. Writes Mr. Poter on the occasion “the tears that fell from his, (Raja's) eyes declared how deeply