Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/126

Rh the different vernaculars of the country. The competitive Civil Service examination had not then been introduced. The students of the Halibury College had to pass an examination in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, &c. before their appointment, and those that failed to pass it, had to go back to Europe. These civilians were then called the 'Writers of the East India Company,' and the house where they lodged were called after them, the 'Writers'-Building.' In the midst of this building, there was the Fort William College with its office. In this office were employed a 'Head Writer' or 'Cashier', and under him, two to three clerks to do clerical work. Besides these, a Hindu Pandit and a Mahomedan Maulavi were employed as teachers. The former Head Pandit, Madhusudan Tarkalankar having died, the post was vacant. Mr. Marshal], the Secretary to the College, was on the look-out for a qualified man. He set his eyes on Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, whom he had known for many years, while he was Secretary to the Sanskrit College, to be uncommonly intelligent, exceedingly laborious, highly persevering, and generally proficient in every branch. He called personally at the Sanskrit College, and enquired for Vidyasagar of Jay Narayan Tarkapanchanan, who, in his turn, informed Thakurdas, Vidyasagar's father, of everything. Vidyasagar was, at this