132 BENGALI LITERATURE Barring a few independent works here and there these were all the best publications and the chief writers in Bengali between 1800 and 1825.! Even if we leave aside publications which are in- directly due to his instigation or encouragement, it will be seen that Carey’s share in the work was not inconsiderable. Besides the translation of the Bible and numerous Christian tracts, Carey’s works in Bengali con- sist chiefly of the following books :— Carey’s works in Bengali. (1) A Grammar of the Bengalee Language. Printed at the Mission Press. Serampore. 180]. (2nd Edition? with alterations 1805; 3rd Ed. 1815; 4th Ed. 1818; 5th Ed. 18435.) (2) Kathopakathan, or Colloguies or Dialogues in- tended to facilitate the acquiring of the Bengalee Language. Printed at the Mission Press. Serampore. August, 1 In Buchanan op, cit. there is a list of books printed during 1803 or in course of publication during the year 1804, at p. 238. In it we find mentioned a work, of which, however, there is no record in Roe- buck or anywhere else, viz. Translation of the Bhagabadgita from Sanscrit into Bengali by Chandi Charan Munsi. It is not known whether it ever saw the light. In Primit. Orient. vol. ii p.1-li, we find the entry of another publication, long supposed to be a missionary publication only and not mentioned in the official records whether of Buchanan or of Roebuck, viz. The Old and the New Testament, translated into the Bengali Language, in 2 vols. It seems to bea reprint of the Srirampur edition, or even the identical publication, transferred to the list of the publications of the Fort William College.
- The date of the 2nd Edition is given as ‘ before 1803’ in Buchanan,
op. cit. p. 222; E. Carey, op. cit. p. 474. But Grierson, Linguistic Survey, vol. v, pt. i, p. 24 says that the 2nd edition was published in 1805; and Wilson (Life and Labours cf Carey) corroborates it. In the tenth Memoir of the Srirampur mission, the date of the 2nd Ed. is given as 1805. Dinesh Ch. Sen (Hist. of Beng. Lit. p. 857) rather inaccurately states that the book passed through four editions before 1855.
