A History of the Mahrattas v2.c59.54

v2.c59.54

feeding and bestowing on Bramins, as an atonement for sin.¹ Many poor Bramins, however, had become greatly dependent on this charity, and therefore to have stopped it at once would have been inconsistent with the humane munificence which pervaded every act of the British Government in the conquered territory; but to have continued that promiscuous alms to all Bramins, who chose to collect at Poona for the purpose, would have been a wasteful, and in many respects a useless and pernicious expenditure. It was at first, therefore, bestowed under certain limitations; the portion assigned to men of learning was duly distributed; and, that the benefit to the country might be rendered more essentially important, as the donations at the Dukshina were circumscribed, a Hindoo college² was instituted at Poona, where the minds of the youth might acquire such instruction in their own way, as they are disposed to receive in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, &c.; and pains were taken to erase from their elementary books of ethics such principles of morality as have a dangerous or a doubtful tendency. Though the institution of the college, which was committed to Mr. Chaplin, was at first regarded with some signs of distrust, before the end of 1822 there were one hundred and forty three Bramins, students or candidates for admission, even before fit teachers for all the branches had been found.