are few public institutions at this Presidency which have not shared largely in your bounty. Neither is it necessary to dwell upon the benefits which the trade of this port has derived from the enterprise and magnitude of your commercial operations; nor to point out the great extent to which you have availed yourself of the means of doing good, derived from your mercantile knowledge and experience, joined to a conciliatory disposition and the probity of your character, as well as from your position in the native community, by arranging differences and settling disputes, so as to save the parties from the evils of a tedious and expensive litigation. But we would allude to these circumstances merely to show the grounds of the high estimation in which you are universally held, and of the feelings which have induced us to express our gratification at the distinction which has been conferred upon you-a gratification which derives no small addition from the consideration of your being one of the principal members of our community.

To commemorate this auspicious event, we request your permission to apply a sum of money which we have subscribed, in forming a fund, to be designated "Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy's Translation Fund," and to be vested in trustees for the purpose of being appropriated in defraying the expenses of translating into the Goozerattee language such books from the European and Asiatic languages, whether ancient or modern, as may be approved of by the Committee, to be by them published and distributed gratis, or at a low price, among the Parsee community, in furtherance of the education of our people, of which you have ever been a warm friend and zealous patron.

We subscribe ourselves, with sentiments of esteem and respect, sir, your faithful and obliged servants,

NOWROJEE JAMSETJEE WADIA,

FRAMJEE COWASJEE BANNAJEE,

DADABHOY PESTONJEE WADIA,

CURSETJEE COWASJEE,

CURSETJEE ARDASEERJEE, and 932 others.

After the reading of this address, another was presented in the name of the native inhabitants of Poona and its vicinage; and then Sir Jamsetjee replied in a manner perfectly unparalleled in the history of such occasions.

MY DEAR FRIENDS:-I feel deeply grateful to you for the address which you have just presented to me; so distinguished a mark of the esteem of my fellowcountrymen is an honor of which I, and those who are most dear to me, may justly be proud.

To have been selected by my sovereign as the native through whom she was graciously pleased to extend the order of knighthood to her Indian subjects, was, and ever must be, a source of deep personal gratification to myself. But to receive the congratulations of my fellow-countrymen in a manner at once so kind and flattering, to have this auspicious event commemorated by the creation of a charity, to be connected with my name, and in the objects of which I so cordially concur, is a source of inward pride and satisfaction, which, rising higher than the gratification of mere worldly titles, will live with me to my dying day.

Your too kind and favorable mention of my acts of charity has much affected me. The only merit I have a right to claim for them is, that they proceeded from a pure and heartfelt desire, out of the abundance of which Providence has blessed me, to ameliorate the condition of my fellow creatures. With this no unworthy motive was mixed; I sought neither public honors nor private applause, and conscious of a singleness of purpose, I have long since had my reward. When, therefore, Her Majesty's most gracious intentions were communicated to me, I felt deeply gratified that I had unconsciously been the means of eliciting so signal a mark of the good feelings of England towards the people of India, and it is in this light that I prefer to consider the distinguished honor Her Majesty has conferred upon me, and that also which I have received at your hands this day. Nothing could please me more than the purposes to which you propose to devote

the fuuds that have been subscribed. I shall ever wish my name to be connected with every endeavor to diffuse knowledge among our people; and the surest way to incite them to elevate and improve themselves, to fit them to appreciate the blessings of the government under which they live, and to deserve those honors which have now for the first time been extended to India, is to spread far and wide among them, gratuitously or in a cheap form, translations into our language of the most approved authors. Connected with this subject is a scheme that I have long contemplated for relieving the distresses of the Parsee poor, of Bombay, Surat, and its neighborhood. You know full well the state of misery in which many of our people are living, and the hopeless ignorance in which their children are permitted to grow up. My object is to create a fund, the interest of which shall be applied towards relieving the indigent of our people, and the edu cation of their children; and I now propose to invest the sum of 300,000 rupees in the Public Securities, and place it at the disposal of trustees, who, with the interest, shall carry out the object I have mentioned; and this trust, I hope, you will take under your care.

And now, my dear friends, let me once again thank you for your kindness. There is nothing I value so highly as the good opinion of my countrymen, nor anything I more anxiously desire than their welfare and happiness.

The result of this very striking and happy reply, which must have overcome Sir Jamsetjee's audience with the deepest surprise and astonishment, and which resembles more some delightful Arabian Nights Story, than an actual reality, belonging to our selfish and unromantic commercial times, has appeared in the establishment of a Parsee Benevolent Institution, which we found last year to be in active operation, established upon a wide and sound basis, and productive of very great good. In many of its details, it would be well worthy of imitation, even in our enlightened and liberal community.

It will have been noticed that, in the address presented to Sir Jamsetjee, reference is made to his gift of a hundred and fifty thousand rupees for the establishment of a hospital for all classes. It was in January, 1843, that the corner-stone of this hospital was laid. It was finished shortly after. It is a beautiful Gothic building, containing accommodations for 300 patients, and besides being one of the most useful institutions of the city of Bombay, is now one of its chief ornaments. Sir Jamsetjee expended at least 170,000 rupees in its erection, and the government have liberally contributed to its support. It is well worthy of a detailed description; but the good works of this man have been so many that it would take a volume to describe them all as they deserve.

We copy, however, a portion of the beautiful inscription upon the plate set upon the corner-stone, as an illustration of Sir Jamsetjee's character, and of the creed of enlightened Parsees.

This edifice was erected

BY SIR JAMSETJEE JEEJEEBHOY, KNIGHT,

The first native of India honored with British Knighthood,
Who thus hoped to perform a pleasing duty

Towards his government, his country, and his people:
And in solemn remembrance of blessings bestowed, to present this,
His offering of religious gratitude, to
ALMIGHTY GOD,

The Father in Heaven-of the Christian-the Hindoo-
Mohammedan-and the Parsee,

With humble, earnest prayer, for his continued care and blessing
Upon his children, his family, his tribe, and his country.

Before the year was out, Sir Jamsetjee received another mark of the approbation of the British Government, in the shape of a gold medal, set with diamonds, "in honor," ran the inscription upon it, "of his munificence and his patriotism." In presenting it to him, the Governor of Bombay, Sir George Arthur, said:

I could not, Sir Jamsetjee, with perfect satisfaction to myself, perform the pleasing task which has devolved upon me, without instituting some inquiry as to what were the acts of munificence, and what the deeds of patriotism to which the inscription refers. I learnt, after very careful inquiries, that the sums you had publicly given, and which were mostly expended in useful works for the general benefit of the country, amounted to the amazing sum of upwards of 900,000 rupees, or more than £90,000 sterling. Well, indeed, might her majesty's government designate such liberality as acts of "munificence" and deeds of "paIn inquiring what were the instances of public munificence by which you had distinguished yourself, it was impossible for me to avoid gaining an insight into your acts of private charity; and according to the best information I have been able to procure, through inquiries made with every desire to avoid hurting your feelings, I have learned that your private charities, though so bestowed that many of them are unknown even to the members of your own family, have been nearly as unbounded.

triotism!"

This eulogy, gratifying as it must have been, coming from the Governor of Bombay, was by no means extravagant. At this very time, Sir Jamsetjee was engaged in carrying through two other works of the greatest public utility, beneficial alike to all classes of the community. The first of these was the construction of a dam and causeway, connecting the islands of Bombay and Salsette. Bombay is one of a numerous group of islands which fringe the Malabar coast. It is about seven miles in length, and three in breadth. Possessing exquisite beauty, its shore opening into quiet bays and inlets, bordered with cocoa-palms, or jutting out in rocky and bold promontories, upon which the waves swell and break, it yet is miserably barren, and its crowded population have to depend for all the daily necessaries of life upon a supply from Salsette and the mainland. The principal line of traffic, running through Salsette, was separated from Bombay by a narrow but dangerous ferry, which at some periods became entirely impassable, and was exposed to frequent accidents, owing to the violent rush of water through the contracted channel. This was not only the occasion of loss of life, but it subjected to great suffering those passengers who might be detained without shelter, exposed to all the inclemency of the weather, and caused extreme inconvenience to the inhabitants of Bombay, who might thus be cut off from an important portion of their supplies. It had been often proposed to bridge the ferry accross; but the funds of the government were too much occupied, for the most part in military objects, and there was too little public spirit in the community, to allow of the proposal being carried into execution. At last, by the benevolence of a single individual, the work was done. It was commenced in 1843, and in April, 1845, an admirable bridge connected with a causeway, extending in united length for more than half a mile, and built with every regard to stability and convenience, was opened to the public. The event was commemorated by an impressive celebration, and we copy from Sir George Arthur's speech on the occasion, the remarkable story of the building of this work. Addressing Sir Jamsetjee, before a crowded audience of natives and Europeans, he said :

It gives me sincere pleasure to address you on this occasion, after having passed over the noble causeway which, through the munificence of your family, has been

erected for the benefit of the public. I myself, as well as every person present. can bear testimony to the value of this splendid and most useful work. It affords me, therefore, high gratification to address you, for I have to speak on a subject which is interesting to us all-to every one now present-and its interest is best proved by this numerous assembly. As the exact circumstances under which this causeway has been constructed may not be known to all the company, I shall give a short explanatory history of the undertaking. Some years ago, the gov ernment of this Presidency, seeing the advantages of a regular communication between the islands of Bombay and Salsette, and being anxious to connect the towns of Mahim and Bandora by a causeway, had the ground surveyed, plans taken, and the estimates of the probable expense of the proposed work calculated. The expenses of such an undertaking, it was reported, would be 67,000 rupees. The expenses of government at the time being very great, the matter was allowed to remain in abeyance until a more favorable opportunity should arise, it not being considered of so great importance as other proposed improvements then before the government. This took place some years ago, and the plans remained unexecuted until the monsoon of 1841, I believe, when a distressing accident occurred at the ferry here. A boat was swamped, and a number of poor natives, I think about 15, lost their lives. This distressing accident was of course a subject of conversation amongst the people, and came to the ears of Lady Jamsetjee, who was greatly pained at its consequences to the families of the sufferers. She spoke to you and asked you, why the Government did not endeavor to remedy an evil which was the cause of such misery among the poor of Salsette? The answer was, that the government was fully occupied in other matters of importance, and that, according to the estimates, it would not only require the large sum already stated, but, moreover, that a second estimate had been made out, by which it was calculated that a further sum would be required, amounting altogether to one lakh of rupees. "Let the consent of the government be obtained," was the answer of this noble-minded woman, "and I will defray all expenses." The consent of government was then obtained, and the work commenced; but it was soon discovered that further sums would be necessary to bring it to completion. Ap plication was made to the Court of Directors for their aid and co-operation, when they, with the liberality which has always characterized their proceedings, when called upon to assist the benevolent natives in their good undertakings, gave their assent. Various other sums were however required, and still supplied by Lady Jamsetjee, till at length, after an expenditure of 155,000 rupees, the structure was completed. It was then suggested that so handsome a structure demanded an equally handsome approach to it, for which it was calculated a sum of 20,000 rupees would be required, which further expenditure was entirely defrayed by that noble-minded person, Lady Jamsetjee. Thus, after an expenditure of 175,000 rupees, has this great and most useful work been perfected, which reflects so great an honor on the kind, the charitable, the benevolent lady, who has thus conferred a lasting benefit on the inhabitants of these islands, whether rich or poor; but more especially by the poorer classes has this great benefit been felt, as by this noble donation their means of transit have been rendered permanently secure, and their lives insured to them from danger. As they have not the opportunity of rendering their thanks to Lady Jamsetjee in person, I am sure you will all unite with me in thanking her in their name, and so perpetuate this noble deed. I this day propose that the causeway henceforth bear the name of "LADY JAMSETJEE'S CAUSEWAY.

The causeway was well named. It will preserve, we trust, for many ages the remembrance of Lady Jamsetjee, and serve as the memorial of a deed which will appear most striking, and most worthy of grateful recollection, to those who are best acquainted with Oriental life. The instances in which woman assumes her true place in the East are so rare; her kindly, universal, sympathies are so commonly crushed by false customs; her love is so often degraded, and all the nobler qualities of her heart so frequently lost-that when she shows herself as she ought to be, as she by nature is, she de

serves our highest respect, admiration, and honor, and her beautiful example gains our warmest gratitude.

The other public work with which Sir Jamsetjee was occupied, while this causeway was being constructed, was the procuring for the city of Poona a regular supply of water. Poona, which was once the capital of the Maratta State, and is still a considerable place, is situated on a high table-land, and is exposed to frequent and long droughts, during which there was frequent suffering from want of this necessary of life. Two considerable streams unite not far from the city; but their bed lies much below the plain on which it is built, and at seasons when they are the fullest, water could be raised from them only with difficulty. It was determined to dam the streams below their point of union, so as to secure at all periods of the year a sufficient supply, and to connect the pond thus formed by suitable works with a reservoir at the city, 9,000 feet in distance from the dam, and elevated 112 feet above it. During the seven months of annual drought, the streams fill but a small portion of their channel; but "in June and July, after a heavy fall of rain, they will sometimes rise as much as from fifteen to twenty feet in hight in twenty-four hours." The difficulty of erecting a wall eighteen feet high and eight hundred and fifty feet long, strong enough to resist such a flood, may be imagined. Plans were obtained from England, and the dam was completed in 1845; "but cholera had broken out in the neighborhood, and but a few people could be got to work, so that it was nearly a month later in being finished than was expected. The river came down a fortnight sooner than was looked for-the very day the work was completed, and before the mortar had hardened sufficiently to withstand the shock-and the whole gave way. It was rebuilt, and again burst through in 1847; and it is now (1849) once more being reconstructed." This last time, we believe, the attempt has succeeded, and Poona has gained one of the greatest blessings that can be bestowed on any city, and more especially on one within the tropics. On this work Sir Jamsetjee must have expended at least 200,000 rupees.

In 1847, Sir Jamsetjee erected at Bombay a dhurmsalla, or hostelry, for the accommodation of the poor travelers, whom business or necessity brings to the city, and who, arriving in great numbers, often had no place of abode or shelter. It is a large and well-constructed building, affording accommodation for three hundred persons. Not content with erecting it at a cost of 80,000 rupees, Sir Jamsetjee endowed it with 50,000 more for its permanent support, and to this endowment Lady Jamsetjee added a further sum of 20,000 rupees.

Our long list of charities, seeming almost fabulous from their number, their variety, and their amount, is not yet nearly at an end; but our space compels us to bring the account to a close. Not a year has passed without being marked by some act of Sir Jamsetjee's munificence. The schools at Calcutta and Bombay, the benevolent societies, the public works in all parts of the country, have all been aided by his wide-spread charity. No bigoted faith, no false feeling of nationality, no narrow standard of judgment, no contracted theory of duty, has ruled his efforts for the good of mankindbut his high and generous nature

"Grasps the whole worlds of reason, life, and sense,

In one close system of benevolence."