Common Thoughts on Serious Subjects; Being Addresses to the Elder Kumars of the Rajkumar College, Kathiawar

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1896. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... INTRODUCTION. THESE Addresses have been already printed in India, and translated into two native languages. They are now reproduced for English readers, for the following reasons. They admirably reflect the mind and character of the writer, a mind and character of singular beauty: his friends could desire for him no more fitting memorial. They illustrate, too, the spirit in which he undertook and carried on for twenty-five years the important and novel work of educating the princes and nobles of Kathiawar. Also, it is believed that their simplicity and seriousness and directness of speech and purpose will make them helpful to others, who may read them for guidance and counsel, as they were to many of those who heard them spoken. This short introduction is written to help the reader to realise why and to whom they were spoken, and what manner of man he was who spoke them. Chester Macnaghten was born in 1843. His grandfather, Sir Francis Macnaghten, was a Judge at Calcutta. His father, Mr. Elliot Macnaghtcn, went out at sixteen to India in 1823, after five years at Rugby, and became an officer of the Supreme Court at Calcutta. He left India in 1838, was elected a Director of the East India Company in 1841, and on the assumption of the Government of India by the Crown in 1859, became a member of the Secretary of State's Council. He was a man of much natural ability, quickness of perception, determination, and general force of character. These qualities Chester inherited, tempered by the sweet gentleness and absolute unselfishness of his mother, whose character was doubtless in his thoughts when he wrote the address entitled Gentle. His mind in boyhood and youth was bright and active, but his bodily health was feeble. He suffered severely and continually from ast...