br 》や বঙ্গভাষা ও সাহিত্য much light on the social history of that part of Bengal, where they took their rise. Their importance as additional material for the history of the rise and development of modern Bengali needs no emphasis. Dr. Sen asserts that he has evidence that a considerable volume of balladpoetry still remains to be collected from the singers, and other Sources, not only in Mymensingh but also in other districts of Bengal. The financial difficulties of the University, however, make it impossible for Dr. Sen to arrange for a systematic Search for these ballads on reasonable scale. It is obvious that, with one solitary worker in the field collecting the ballads, progress must be slow. Dr. Sen has, therefore, appealed to me for financial assistance to enable him to prosecute these researches with additional agents and on a systematic plan. For this purpose a sum of Rs. 5OOO is required immediately, while a larger amount still will be required to meet the cost of printing the ballads subsequently. A total sum of Rs. ISOOO would place the work on a sound footing for some time, enabling Dr. Sen to carry out systematic researches on a wider Scale, and subsequently to coit and publish the poems in a Worthy manner. After a life-time of devotion to his mother tongue Dr. Sen assures us that nothing but the limited financial resources available to him prevents. from enriching the Bengali language by a large volume of hitherto un poems of a remarkable and important character. I am sure that the and culture of Bengal will regard it as a pious and patriotic duty to assist Dr. Sen to complete what may prove to be the most remarkable of his many services to his mother tongue, and they will regard it as a point of honour that the proposed extension of his work should be financed not from official sources but from the private gener sity of those wi se literature his researches are enriching. As the suum is a comparatively small one, I do not think that a general appeal to the public is necessary or desirable. If the facts are brought to the notice of a limited number of gentlemen intercsted in the language, literature and history of Bengal, I am sure they will readily provide the amou: it that is necessary for the prosecution of Dr. Sen's researches, I know that an interest in literature and the arts is traditional in your family, and that you personally appreciate the value and importance of Dr. Sen's work. I, therefore, feel that I can confidently appeal to you to undertake the duty of collecting the Rs. 15ooo required.”شستگیص alth
