118. Under these circumstances, we stated our opinion that we considered the most practical method for Government to adopt, would be to request the different Judges and detached Assistant Judges to exert their influence in raising subscriptions among the Natives for the purpose of establishing such libraries. We at the same time stated our readiness to present a copy of each of our vernacular publications to every Native library within the Presidency, on application being made to this effect. It seemed impossible for us, in the present state of our finances, to afford any further assistance, or to offer any suggestions involving outlay from the educational grant, but we at the same time stated that if your Lordship's Government were pleased to incur a small extra expenditure, it would be well to supply each library in the Deccan with useful and interesting publications in the shape of Marahti periodicals, such as "Dnyanprasarak" and "Bodh Sauger," and each library in Gujerat with similar periodicals in that language.

119. Libraries of this nature have been formed at Ahmednuggur, Poona, Belgaum, Surat, and Ahmedabad; and we have supplied each with a copy of our publications, and with maps. We then suggested the advantage of being supplied with periodical reports of the working of these institutions; and we have received reports from the libraries at Ahmedabad, Ahmednuggur, Poona, and Baroda. The following table will give, at a glance, the leading particulars relative to the number of subscribers, and the number of books:

Further particulars will be found in Appendix No. 8.

120. In the present state of Native literature, and with the present scanty stock of standard Native works, we do not expect any great degree of benefit to arise immediately; but in principle, at all events, such libraries seem calculated to diffuse in the course of time much of the general knowledge of Europe among the masses of Indian society. They are at the same time calculated to create a market for translators and publishers, and to excite a taste for literature.

BOOK DEPOSITORIES

OF THE ELPHINSTONE INSTITUTION AND POONA
SANSKRIT COLLEGE.

121 In our last report we mentioned the objects for which these depositories had been formed, and we also named the towns in the interior in which we had considered it advisable to establish branch depositories. We will now briefly mention the additions which have since then been made to our stock of vernacular books.

122. The following works were printed in Bombay during the period now under review, or were passing through the press at its close, on account of the depository of the Elphinstone Institution :

3. Catechism of the History of the Marahtas. 4,000

4. Outlines of Geography

5. Moral Class Book

6. Æsop's Fables (new edition)..

5,000

3,000

2,000

124. The following work was lithographed at the German Mission Press at Mangalore, on account of the depository of the Elphinstone Institution :

126. The following works in Marahti were lithographed at the press of the Poona College during the period under review, or were passing through the press at its close :

17. Bal Viakarn, or Catechism of Grammar 18. Ank Lipi

20. Prabodh Chandrodaya (in part)

19. Lipidhara, or First Book

21. Amar Kosh, 1st Kand (in part)

...

22. History of England, 2nd Vol. (in part).... 23. Balmitra, 2nd Vol. (in part)

127. In connection with this subject we have to offer our warm acknowledgements to Colonel Jervis, Professor

1,000

1,000

2,000

Green, Major Candy, and the German Missionaries, for their able assistance in various works of translation.

128. As the Superintendent of the Poona Sanskrit College is also Marahti Translator, we think it only just to Major Candy to detail briefly the different works he has been engaged on in his latter capacity during the period under review :—

1. Revisal of the Vernacular Reader, or Wachan Path Mala, and preparation for the press.

2. A work on Punctuation.

3. Thorough revision of Esop's Fables.

4. Translation of 35 additional Fables, and a Life of Æsop added to the former.

5. The preparation of Niti Bodh Katha, viz. a thorough revision of Niti Katha and Bodh Katha, and the two made into one.

6. Examination of, and report on an introduction to the Physical Sciences, the Pund Namah, and the Principles of Morality, in verse.

7. Examination of, and report on the little work called the "Scholar."

8. Revision of Bal Shastri's Introduction to the History

of India.

9. Revision of Balmitra.

10. A compilation of a Manual of Geography.

The

chapters on the size and shape of the earth, and on the division of land and water, with the general geography of Asia, and particular description of several countries in it, have been prepared. When the remaining countries of Asia have been described, and the whole revised, the 1st volume will be ready.

129. Besides these works, the English and Marahti exercises of the senior students have occupied a good deal of Major Candy's time.