The pleasure which a person feels in being able to converse upon any subject with those who have occasion to visit him, is very great. Many of the natives of this country [bengal], who are conversant with Europeans, are men of great respectability, well informed upon a variety of subjects, both commercial and literary, and able to mix in conversation with pleasure and advantage. Indeed, husbandmen, labourers, and people in the lowest stations, are often able to give that information on local affairs which every friend of science would be proud to obtain. The pleasure and advantage, therefore, of free conversation with all classes of people, will amply repay any person for the labour of acquiring the language.