Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/216

Rh determine the truth. Vidyasagar did make no attempts in that direction. He has painted Serajuddowla in the same light as Marshman. His Library has a good collection of many valuable historical works. If he had taken pains to study them carefully, he would probably have arrived at a very different conclusion. In fact, it is very doubtful whether there was any such thing as a Black Hole. On the whole, there is ample evidence to show, that Serajuddowla was not as cruel or impolitic, as he has been painted by European authors. Some say, that Vidyasagar had a great mind to write a complete history of India in Bengali, and, for that purpose, he had collected the historical books long after the compilation of his History of Bengal. But ill-health and infirmity prevented him from carrying the project into effect.

In March, 1849, the post of the "Head-writer and Treasurer" of the Fort William College fell vacant on the resignation of Babu Durga Charan Banarji. The reader is already aware, that it was Vidyasagar who had secured Durga Charan Babu the post, and that the latter attended the Medical College lectures as an out-student. Under the rules of the College, Durga Charan Babu was not permitted to appear at the medical examinations and obtain a diploma. But he had acquired a great proficiency in the healing art, and, in 1849, he set himself up as an independent medical practitioner. He soon won a great reputation.