Page:History of Bengali Literature in the Nineteenth Century.djvu/176

 152 BENGALI LITERATURE devise, characteristic denominations for the products of the animal and vegetable world peculiar to the East. The objection taken to this Dictionary on aveount of its bulk, was subsequently removed by the publication of an abridgement, prepared under ak er abridge- Carey’s own superintendence by J. Marshman and printed in 16271. Most of the compound and derivative terms were omitted and the publication was reduced to a thick octavo volume. Although this abridgement has the advantage of being more readily consulted, it does not however by any means obviate the necessity of the original which must be regarded as a standard work on the subject until replaced by a better one. In order to make a final estimate of Carey’s position in the history of modern Bengali literature it would be necessary to take into account other Estimate of the Writers who flourished in this period ee and character and with respect to whom his posi- 0 arey as a writer of Bengali. tion must be determined; yet it is hoped that a few words here would not be out of place. It may be observed that Carey never claimed anything for himself save the credit of having worked zealously and assiduously. He said to his nephew Eustace. his future biographer: “If after my removal any one should think it worth while to write my life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If he give me credit His self-estimate ; : 423 2 te 21 of being a plodder he will describe Nn me justly. Anything beyond this 1 This is in 2 vols. The first volume is an abridgement of the preceding Dictionary of Carey.-(Bengali-English) ; the second is a Dictionary, English and Bengali, compiled by J. C. Marshman. 1st Ed, vol. I, 1827: vol. II, 1828; 4th Ed. 1847.