CHAP. VIII - RESIDENCE IN INDIA, AND APPOINTMENT AS PROFESSOR OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM

Summary

Immediately on landing Dr. Dinwiddie delivered the despatches, and on the 30th, at the levee, was introduced to Sir John Shore, the Governor-General, who was particularly curious about the Chinese mission. For this purpose the Doctor was invited to dine with His Excellency on the following day; it also afforded an opportunity of talking over the state of business in India. By this time, he had delivered his letters of introduction, and was altogether pleased with his prospects. He was, however, landed in what was considered the most expensive city in the world, and where every exertion he could put forth would be requisite to gain success. His letters proved of great service, and, receiving ample encouragement, he lost no time in preparing, under the patronage of His Excellency, the Governor-General, for a course of lectures in experimental philosophy, which at once established his fame and independence in Bengal. To use his own words:—“My success at Canton enabled me to procure a credit on Calcutta for a small sum sufficient to set matters afloat. I opened a subscription, and in the course of a few weeks had the pleasure of delivering my introductory lecture to a company of one hundred and eighty of the first ladies and gentlemen in the settlement. The subscription was one hundred rupees, which, if remitted to England, at the present rate of exchange, would amount to £2,250. the greatest sum that, probably, ever was received for one course in any part of the world.”