Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/503

460 arrived at Calcutta, after visiting the other important cities and towns of India. It was in the house of this Miss's father, Mr. Carpenter, a clergyman of Bristol, that Raja Ram Mohan Ray had put up and died. Miss Carpenter was, at that time, a young girl. It is said that it was Ram Mohan who first instilled into the tender heart of this girl a love and good-will for this poor country. Subsequently this sentiment of hers towards a subject race of ancient civilisation was fostered greatly by the eloquence of Keshub Chunder Sen, one of the greatest orators that the country ever produced, with whom she had formed a great friendship. Shortly after her arrival in Calcutta, she expressed a desire to make acquaintance of the truly patriotic Vidyasagar. Mr. Atkinson, the then Director of Public Instruction, addressed to Vidyasagar a letter on the subject, which ran as follows:—

"27 Novr. 1866.

"My dear Pundit,

"Miss Carpenter whose name you are no doubt acquainted with, is anxious to make your acquaintance and to talk to you about her projects for furthering Female Education in India; could you come at the Bethune School to meet her on Thursday morning about half past 11 O'clock? I am going to take her there at that time for a first visit which is intended to be quite of a private character, and it would be as good opportunity to