which it lay, (See Plate No. 8). Caldwell had a fine house at Kodaikkanal (See Plate No. 9).

Dr. Caldwell’s wife’s name was Eliza. She was the daughter of Rev. Charles Mault of the London Mission Society at Nagerkoil. The marriage took place in India when Caldwell was 29 years old. She taught in the girls school at Idayangudi and catered to the needs of the sick. She was fluent in colloquial Tamil which she imbibed at the school in Nagerkoil and later was a source of rich colloquial information to her husband.

Dr. R. P. Sethu Pillai in his history of Dr. Caldwell⁹ says that he had three children, one boy and two girls. The boy was Addington who took up medicine and went over to Australia. The girls were Louisa and Wyatt. Louisa died an early death. One is, according to the article “Tamil Popular Poetry”¹⁰ led to conclude that Caldwell probably had another son by name Robert Charles. In the first paper the son writes “………….. I have taken the more magnificent rendering, a rendering which represents the inner spirit of the original and which, by the way has the sanction of my father the Rev. Dr. Caldwell.” From this, we can probably conclude that there was one more son, who was apparently interested in Tamil like his renowned father.

During his term of office, Caldwell visited his native country thrice, but as his closing years began to set in, he spent his time with his daughter at Kodaikkanal where he died. He was removed subsequently to Idayangudi for burial. This happened in 1891.

Bishop Caldwell was most widely known. A man of wide and varied knowledge, he has left behind a monumental work on the Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian languages which is yet to be surpassed for its wide references, penetrative analysis, precise study and comparative contrast. He was familiar with nearly eighteen different languages. His literary interests and works did not hamper his Missionary work which was dear to him. He performed in this

9. R. P. Sethu Pillai, “Caldwell Iyer” 1944; Pp. 74-75.

10. “Indian Antiquary“- April 5th, 1872; July 5th, 1872.