Page:Ramtanu Lahiri, Brahman and Reformer - A History of the Renaissance in Bengal.djvu/191

 the Hindu Metropolitan College was founded in Calcutta. It was set up with the object of injuring the Hindu College, the authorities of the latter having given umbrage to certain Hindu gentlemen of Calcutta by taking in as a pupil the son of a certain harlot, Hira Bulbul by name. Captain D. L. Richardson, no longer in Government service, was employed as principal of the new college in the palatial house of Babu Gopal Mullick at Sanduriapatty. The institution, under the able management of Babu Rajendra Datta of Bowbazar, soon attained considerable efficiency; and Keshub (Kesava) Chandra Sen and several other men of eminence were students here in their boyhood. But it worked only for a few years, and then became one of the things of the past.

To one more point of public importance we think it well to refer before closing this chapter—that is, the inauguration of the new educational policy of Government in 1855. The Court of Directors in 1854 sent a despatch, said to have been drawn up by John Stuart Mill, with the following instructions:—“The Governor-General should see: (1) that a separate Department in the administration of the country be organised as the Education Department; (2) that a University be established in each of the Presidency cities; (3) that Normal Schools be set up where expedient; (4) that the already existing Government educational establishments be kept going, and fresh ones be added to their number; (5) that middle-class schools be founded all through the country; (6) that a sound education be given to the natives in their vernacular languages, and measures be taken to found schools for the purpose; (7) that Government aid be given to schools and colleges founded by private enterprise.

The instructions of the Court of Directors were carried out the same year. The new Education Department