Page:Macaula yʼs minutes on education in India, written in the years 1835, 1836 and 1837 (IA dli.csl.7615).pdf/86

Rh the expediency of having these chemical lectures. On the contrary, in that very able report which he has sent round with this book, he distinctly states that such lectures ought to be delivered. Nothing in his minute seems to indicate any change of opinion. He objects to Mr. Sutherland’s proposition solely, if I understand his reasoning, because Dr. Bramley cannot, without inconsistency, apply for the assistance of a chemical lecturer. I own that I feel much more desirous to establish a really useful and flourishing Medical institution than to hold Dr. Bramley to anything that he may have formerly proposed. Nor can I consent to punish the Indian people for that gentleman’s inconsistency.

I speak with great submission to the judgment of Dr. Grant on every professional subject. If Dr. Grant had declared his opinion that chemical lectures would be useless, or that Dr. O'Shaughnessy was incompetent to deliver them, I should have voted against the proposition. But as Dr. Grant evidently thinks the lectures essential to a good medical school, as he makes no objection to the proposed lecturer, and as the only reason which he assigns for not acceding to the application is, that the application cannot consistently come from Dr. Bramley, I cannot but vote for recommending the proposition to Government.—[Book I. page 25.] 11th July, 1835.

Stipends in the Medical College.—I have no hesitation in giving it as my opinion that the same reasons which have induced the Government to abolish the system of giving stipends in other departments of education apply, for the most part, to the Medical College. Indeed some of them apply with peculiar force to the case of the Medical College. To give a youth a good Medical education is to give him the means of supporting himself in comfort. And it seems unnecessary to pay him for leave to give him the means of supporting himself in comfort. I should at least recommend that the experiment should be tried of not filling up the scholarships as they fall vacant.—[Book I page 35.] 21st July, 1835.

Farther minute on stipends in the Medical College.—What I would propose is a middle course. Let us not at present recommend to Government to abolish the stipends. But let none that may become vacant be filled up till we have re-considered the question and satisfied ourselves that the state of the College absolutely requires a departure from what I think a most wholesome general rule.—[Book I. page 43.] 7th August, 1835.

Stipendiaries.—I hardly know what to say. These youths are already receiving stipends and I really think that we are entitled, in return for those stipends, to expect gratuitous