Page:A General Biography of Bengal Celebrities Vol 1.djvu/62

HIS CHARACTER. 53 HIS RELIGION, AND IDEAS ABOUT MEN, AND MANNERS. Mr. Bonnerjee believes that all established religions are good in their own way, and that it is the height , of folly for a man born in one religion to change it for another. Once he had an inclination to become a christian, but after a good deal of study of theological books, he changed his mind. Charity, he says, should be the highest guiding principle of every man ; " and the best religious man is he who serves ,his country well. He is much opposed to the Hindoo joint- family system which, in his opinion, is the parent of all litigations in the country. As regards female education, he is strongly of opinion that no female should be given in marriage before she is thoroughly well educated.- He intends his daughters to be trained as lady doctors. HIS CHARACTER. The highest and noblest feature of his character is that he delights, in doing good to others without making any fuss about it. He acts according to the sacred gospel truth that "let not thy left hand know, what thy right hand does." He is affable, courteous, and kind to all. The greatest service he rendered to the cause of the freedom of the Press in this country is well illustrated. by his noble defence of Mr. Robert Knight the veteran editor of the Statesman and the Friend of India in the well-known defamation case of Mr. Hugh Miller vs: Robert Knight. If there is any man among the Anglo-Indian editors in India who has, by his fearless and able advocacy of the ca*use of India, won the gratitude of the Indians, it is Mr. Robert Knight. To put down and ruin this old friend of India, a base machination hatched up a conspiracy against him, and gentle Reader ! who it was that came