Page:Macaula yʼs minutes on education in India, written in the years 1835, 1836 and 1837 (IA dli.csl.7615).pdf/99

 them interesting in many cases to an Englishman. But in those recollections and associations the natives of India do not participate. A lion rampart with a folio in his paw, with a man standing on each side of him, with a telescope over his head, and with a Persian motto under his feet must seem to them either very mysterious or very absurd.

I should have thought too that rigid Mahomedans would have entertained religious objections to the proposed device. But on this point other gentlemen are better qualified to judge.

I quite approve of the plan of going to Hooghly, though I will not promise to go myself. Will Sir Edward Ryan fix a day?—[Page 33.] 22nd August, 1836.

Holidays.—I see that the question of holidays has already been settled, and, as I think, in a proper manner. What I proposed on that subject is therefore unnecessary.—[Page 36.]

Stipendiary school boys of 30 years old.—If ever there was a place of education in which stipends were evidently useless, that place is the Hooghly College. We have a greater number of pupils thronging thither than we can find buildings to hold or masters to teach, and yet it is proposed that we should offer bounties to bring in others. As to those who are receiving stipends, I feel some doubt. That men of thirty and thirty-five should be supported in this way seems very absurd, and still more when we find that these have large families, which are subsisting on the funds designed for education. As to the plea of poverty, it will never be wanting under such a system. We make these people helpless beggars by our imprudent relief. Look at No. 10 for example. He has been living on a stipend eleven years. He is near thirty, and we are told that he will not have completed his education for four years to come. Moghal Jan, again (No. 1) is near thirty. He has been paid to learn something during twelve years, we are told that he is lazy and stupid. But there are hopes that in four years more he may have completed his course of study.

We have had quite enough of these lazy, stupid, school-boys of thirty. I would tell Dr. Wise that his proposal cannot be listened to. As to the existing students, I would at once strike off all but the four whom Dr. Wise proposes to retain; and those I would allow to remain on the list only as matter of charity. I would let No. 5 who is 30, draw his stipend for two years, and the others who are younger, but all above 20, for three years, and then I would have done with the stipendiary system for ever.—[Page 40.] 9th September, 1836.

Concerning the purchase of ground for building a College.—We are greatly obliged to our Secretary and to Mr. Trevelyan