Page:Narrative of a journey through the upper provinces of India etc. (Volume III.).djvu/399

Rh best and safest way, as the work of private persons alone, and although not forbidden, in no degree encouraged by Government. In the meantime, and as an useful auxiliary to the Missionaries, the establishment of elementary schools for the lower classes and for females, is going on to a very great extent, and might be carried to any conceiveable extent to which our pecuniary means would carry us. Nor is there any measure from which I anticipate more speedy benefit than the elevation of the rising generation of females to their natural rank in society, and giving them, (which is all that, in any of our schools, we as yet venture to give,) the lessons of general morality extracted from the Gospel, without any direct religious instruction. These schools, such of them at least as I have any concern with, are carried on without any help from Government. Government has, however, been very liberal in its grants, both to a Society for National Education, and in the institution and support of two Colleges of Hindoo students of riper age, the one at Benares, the other at Calcutta. But I do not think any of these institutions, in the way after which they are at present conducted, likely to do much good. In the elementary schools supported by the former, through a very causeless and ridiculous fear of giving offence to the natives, they have forbidden the use of the Scriptures or any extracts from them, though the moral lessons of the Gospel are read by all Hindoos who can get hold of them, without scruple, and with much attention; and though their exclusion is tantamount