Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/64

 vowels and consonants. Now in July, 1856, when the Widow Marriage Act was passed, he printed his Charitavali, a collection of short biographical sketches of famous men of the West who had risen from poverty and obscurity to opulence and power.

His friend and patron Dr. Mouat, Secretary to the Education Council, now left for home on leave. Mr. F. J. Halliday, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (1854-'59), entirely recast the educational policy of the province and abolished the Council of Education. In its place he was desired by the Court of Directors to constitute a Department of Public Instruction. Vidyasagar requested him to select a man of special distinction and great experience to control and direct the department. A young, untried civilian, Mr. Gordon Young, was finally chosen in 1855. Mr. Halliday stated that Mr. Young would be the nominal head of the department, while he himself would do everything; and asked Vidyasagar to