Page:Macaula yʼs minutes on education in India, written in the years 1835, 1836 and 1837 (IA dli.csl.7615).pdf/50

Rh ginners proceed. But, after a certaip time, it is not a good way of proceeding. To think in the language which we learn is the great object. A good French scholar never translates in his mind, he thinks in French. And I have no doubt that our native pupils who speak and write English best think in English, and would often be utterly unable to turn into Bengali a sentence of Locke or Hume which they understand as well as we do. I have suggested a slight alteration in pencil.—[Book L. page 202.] 12th December, 1837.

The Supreme Government request advice as to the best means of promoting instruction in Civil Engineering.—I am rather inclined to think that the best course would be to establish a school of Engineering and Surveying at Calcutta. It might be formed on a plan somewhat similar to that of the Medical College; though at a smaller expense. I should think it pernicious to connect it with the Hindu College, because the Hindu College admits only Hindus and is closed against Mahomedans, East Indians, Europeans, Parsees, and other classes. I would follow as nearly as possible the pattern of the Medical College, except that I would give no stipends. Young men now study medicine at the Medical College, while their general education is still going on at the Hindu College. The first student at the Hindu College was a favorite pupil of Dr. Baily. In the same manner, young men may attend the school of Surveying and Civil Engineering while they are still studying at the Hindu College or at the Madrassa.

I would also institute a class of students of Surveying and Civil Engineering at the Hooghly College, as the funds will afford it. This is all that now occurs to me.—[Book O. page 113.] 19th May, 1837.

Surveying.— I have every disposition to encourage Surveying, but I cannot consent to make it obligatory on every student of the higher classes at the Hindu College that he shall qualify himself to be a Surveyor, I think that the right course is to give a good general education and to make it obligatory on the students to attend to those pursuits without which they cannot be good surveyors, good physicians or good judges. But I would no more require them all to learn surveying, than I would require them all to learn physic or to learn law. The best student at the Hindu College is also a distinguished student at the Medical College. Would it be reasonable to require him to study surveying as well as medicine?

A certain knowledge of mathematics is an essential part of a liberal education. But expertness in surveying land is of little use to a person who is to be a physician or a vakeel. And the only effect of our compelling a Medical student to practice