Fragmented three-page folded letter (first page blank) Geikie to Muir found in Warth's 1896 file in the archives of the Geological Survey of India. Interpolated words and letters [thus]; missing lines or words as dots [----].

University of Edinburgh

22 March 1886

To Sir William Muir,

Dear Sir William,

I write on behalf of a former distinguished student of mine who is ambitious of getting employment in the the Geological Survey of India or under the Indian Ed[u]cational Department.

Parvati Nath Datta the student referred to [is] a native of Bengal who in 1880, at a competititive examina[tion]in Calcutta , obtained a Gilchrist Scholarship tenable for [--] years. he came to this country , and studied (in 1882) Che[mistry] under Prof. Williamson of University College, where he also worked in Physics under Prof. G. Carey Forster, and in Zool[ogy]under E. Ray Lancaster. He also attended (in 1883) Biological Courses at the Normal School of Science and Royal School of Mines at South Kensington , and at the class E[xami]nation stood 2nd in the lists, and obtained a First [class] certificate from Professor Huxley.

Shortly afterwards Mr. Datta came to Edinburgh where he studied under me the subjects of Geology, Mineralogy, and Petrology. In my class of Geology and Mineralogy he took the Medal with high percentage of 9[--] marks; and in my summer Course (dealing with field [of] Structural Geology) he likewise obtained the class medal wi[th] the high percentage of 96 marks. In my Laboratory he a[gain] greatly distinguished himself, and took the prize for Petrolo[gic]al work.

Mr Datta-----ived so much originality and enthusiasm in m[iner]al studies, that I invite[d] him to work in my laboratory as long as he remain[ed in] town - a privilege of which he gladly availed himself [and] thus had an opportunity of making a more extended -------aquaintance with minerals, rocks and fossils: and I --- him special instructions in the art of constructing and----ing geological maps and Sections. He told me his ambition was to get an appointment on the Geological Survey of India,----my long experience as an officer of the geological Survey of [E]ngland enabled me to give him such training for the field, most requisite for the successful prosecution of Geological [Sur]vey work. He accompanied me on many excursions into the [cou]ntry and I was most pleased with his aptitude--------.geological structure.

After leaving me Mr. Datta returned to London [to com]plete his examination for the Bachelor of Science degree [at] the University of London, and succeded in passing the ------l examination in the First Division - his subjects ----g Geology, Chemistry and Botany. At the B.Sc. Honor----examination he passed First class in geology.

I am naturally much interested in this young aspirant for public service. He is far away the most [or]iginal of his countrymen whom I have yet met [at] this University. Indeed very few students (of [Brit]ish Nationality) have equalled him, and none have surpassed [hi]m in originality and in special aptitude for geological [s]tudy and research.

I shall be glad if you can bring his name [to th]e authorities of the India Office. He tells me that [he] must return home. It is my sincere belief that [he] would be a real acquisition to the Staff of the Indian [S]urvey. Now I hope either in this or in some other way the [se]rvices of so competent a native will be obtained for the

--Indian Civil Department

I am dear Sir William

Yours truly

Sd/ James Geikie

William Muir K.C.S.I, D.C.K. etc

Principal of the University

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