Page:On the education of the people of India (IA oneducationofpeo00trevrich).pdf/174

160 passes into its coffers. Its civil and military establishments are on the largest scale. The mercantile, medical, sacerdotal, and other professions, which absorb the greater part of our English youth of the middle class, are either held in low esteem, or are confined, at present, to particular castes; and almost the only idea which a liberally educated native has of rising in life, is by attaching himself to the public service. The Government, therefore, by the power which it possesses of stimulating and directing the minds of those who look forward to public employ, is able to stimulate and direct the mind of the whole nation. The candidates for situations in the public service comprise the largest and best portion of the educated class; and the educated class always draws after it the rest of the people.

A plan has lately been suggested to the Su-