Page:Henry Derozio, the Eurasian, poet, teacher, and journalist. With appendices (IA henryderozioeura00edwarich).pdf/52

According to Dr. Smith[] such was the notoriety of the Hindoo College that the fame of its infidelity reached even America, and an enterprising publisher "issued a cheap octavo edition of a thousand copies and shipped the whole to the Calcutta market These were all bought at once at two shillings a copy; and such was the continued demand for the worst of the treatises that eight rupees (sixteen shillings) were vainly offered for it." In this connexion, a reference is given to the Calcutta Christian Observer for August 1832. On turning to the Christian Observer all we find is the following note: "Hume's works were then read with avidity; also Tom Paine's 'Age of Reason,' for a copy of which 8 Rs. were offered by some of the pupils — Ed." We venture to rehearse the story of the introduction of Tom Paine's works to Calcutta as told in the columns of the Sumachar Durpun for July 1832. It may be interesting to state, that the Durpun was a bi-weekly journal, published in English and Bengalee, and was the most useful of all the native papers then published. It was issued from the Mission Press of Serampore, and edited by Dr. Marshman. While interfering little in religious discussions, it nevertheless opposed Hindoo bigotry and intolerance. Its articles were distinguished by good temper and discretion. In the pages of the