Page:Macaula yʼs minutes on education in India, written in the years 1835, 1836 and 1837 (IA dli.csl.7615).pdf/92

Rh other objections mentioned by the local Committee seem to be decisive: and, even if they were not so, I think that we can expect little good from a school, of which the master is forced on the Local Committee, and is personally disagreeable to them.

I agree with Mr. Sutherland. But I should wish the examination not to be altogether confined to Arithmetic and Mathematics. A few simple questions in History and Geography should also be asked.

On looking again at what Mr. Sutherland proposed, I see that he intends to examine Mr. * * * in literature. This is quite proper.

Certainly, as Mr. Sutherland says, this is far from a great performance, yet I really think it above par. The young man seems to have a general notion of ancient and modern history; and as to his mistaking for, and sending Orassus to Spain instead of Syria, I am afraid that we must wait long for masters, if we wait for gentlemen who will commit no such mistakes.

I should like to be satisfied that he can perform and teach the common operations of arithmetic, then I would certainly engage him.

Mr. B. perhaps is not quite equal to Mr. F. But I think that, in the present state of the market, he may pass muster.

Mr. ——————’s letter asking for re-examination.—Mr. Sutherland has some reason to complain. I would certainly not ask him to examine every rejected candidate a few days after rejection, 18th July, 1837.

When Mr. Sutherland was called on to examine men too frequently, he says—

“I submit, but without grumbling that the frequency of examinations would press hard on me.”

I agree with Mr. Sutherland, except that I am not quite clear about the expediency of sending Mr. Montague to Chittagong. Ajmere, I think, is not filled up. And I should imagine that to be the more important station. But others are better judges than I am on that subject.

Necessity of obtaining Masters from England.—We seem to be quite at a stand here. We must certainly not lose Mr. Montague. I do not see my way to any better arrangement than that which Mr. Sutherland proposes.

But I am every day more and more convinced that, as our operations extend, and as our schools multiply, it will become more and more necessary for us to take some course for procuring a regular supply of good masters from England. At present we are forced to put up with the leavings of every other trade and profession. A missionary who becomes tired