of your influence, and to the force of your example, I consider you entitled to the gratitude of your countrymen and the cordial acknowledgment of this Government."
Sir John Lawrence, the Viceroy, in addressing him on the same occasion said that it afforded him much pleasure to bestow upon him a suitable token of his approbation of his good services in this most excellent cause. The token took the form of a complete set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica inscribed in the Viceroy's own hand—
'Presented to Moulvi Abdul Latif in recognition of his services in promoting native education, especially the education of those who, like himself, belong to the Muhammadan religion.'
Calcutta, John Lawrence,
25th March, 1867. Governor-General."
In 1856 he had taken a leading part in promoting the Anglo-Persian establishment of the Calcutta Madrassa and later, finding this inadequate, he eagely assisted in founding the Presidency College. Speaking on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the college by Lord Northbrook on the 23rd of February 1873, Abdul Latif laid stress upon the fact that "before the Presidency College was created, the Hindu community had its own college for High English education: the Christian
