Page:History of Bengali Literature in the Nineteenth Century.djvu/280

 256 BENGALI LITERATURE and noble aim to open up a useful though neglected field of knowledge and culture. We cannot but speak with almiration of the work of these early missionary writers in all departments of useful knowledge, and we may be forgiven if we dwell rather long on this early Bengali treatise on a scientific subject. The object of this publication is thus given in the Preface: “ Mr. Marshman having proposed some years ago to publish an original serie: of elementary works on history and science, for the use of youths in India, I count it a privileze to be associated with him in the undertaking and cheerfully promised ‘o furnish such parts of the series as was more intimately connected with my own studies. Other engagements have retarded the execution of our project, much against our will. He has therefore been able to do no more than bring out the first part of his Brief Survey of History, and now, at length, I am permitted to add to it this first volume of the Principles of Chemistry.” With the object of teaching rudiments of the science to the Indian youth in view, Mack thought it best to write his work in Bengali, searcely fit though it was for the expression of scientific ideas. “Be it understood,” he says, “the native youths of India are those for whom we chiefly labour; and _ their own tongue is the great instrument by which we hope to enlighten them.” The book, chiefly meant to be a text- book, for which however its style is difficult enough, was compiled chiefly from the notes of lectures which the writer delivered to bis pupils in Caleutta and Srirampur. It is hardly necessary to speak any thing of its language ...0..L have preferred, therefore, expressing the European terms in Bengalee character, merely changing the words into the prefixes and terminology, so as decently to incorporate the new language.” For a sketch of John Mack’s life, see Carey, Oriental Christian Biography, yol. i., pp. 282-286. Also Bengal Obituary.