Page:On the education of the people of India (IA oneducationofpeo00trevrich).pdf/43

Rh that “times are much changed, and the difficulties that stood in the way appear no longer insurmountable;” and they considered a knowledge of the English language to be a necessary previous qualification in the pupils, “because that language combines within itself the circle of all the sciences, and incalculable wealth of printed works and illustrations; circumstances that give it obvious advantages over the oriental languages, in which are only to be found the crudest elements of science, or the most irrational substitutes for it.”

This point, however, was not attained without encountering a sharp opposition. The superintendent of the medical institution, a learned and enthusiastic orientalist, set in array the arguments of his party, and confidently predicted the failure of every attempt to remodel the institution on the principles advocated by the medical committee. The Rev. Mr. (now Doctor), to whom the cause of sound learning and true religion in the East is deeply indebted, took up the opposite side. The battle which had been so well contested in the education committee was fought over again in this new field; but I must refer to the extract from the medical committee’s report in the appendix for the substance of what was said on both sides.