Page:History of Bengali Literature in the Nineteenth Century.djvu/288

 264 BENGALI LITERATURE scholars and obtained the patronage of Lord Hastings. Mr. May however was soon cut off by death but his colleagues Messrs. Harley and Pearson, who also belonged to the same society, succeeded in keeping up his work by the offer of their services. Robert May ' compiled in 1817 an arithmetical table on the native model which was popularly known for a long time as May-Ganita. Harley supplemented May’s work John Harley or by his Ganitarka or গণিতাঙ্ক Harle. (d. 1822). (Chinsurah, 1819) compiled — on a mixed model.? Pearson’s works however, were of greater value and effect than any of these. He was a very industrious: ৮8 and voluminous writer and it is diffi- cult to draw up a complete list of his writings, of which the following seem to be the more important ones :— (1) পত্রকৌমুদী or Letters on Familiar Subjects con- taining 260 letters on domestic, commercial, and familiar subjects, zemindary accounts, and other forms in common use. 1819. 6th ed. in 1852. (Published by the School Book Society). (2) পাঠশালার ব্বিরণ or Schoolmaster’s Manual (Published by the School Book Society) 1819. Explains the Bell and Laneaster system. ‘ On the epitaph over Robert May’s remains are written the following words: “Inhis life he was especially engaged in promoting the best interests of the rising generation, by whom his name will long be held in endearing recollection.” (Bengal Obituary, p. 298), ‘#tftS (Gonito) or a Collection of Arithmetical Tables by R. May in’ Bengali, 8vo. Caleutta 1821. See Catalogue 17. 1. Co's Library. (1845), p, 268. 2. See also the works cited above in p. 263 footnote '. Also see Carey, Oriental Christian Biography, vol. i, pp. 368-71, May’s and Harley’s Arithmetic were republished by the School Book Society,