Appointment of Chaplains as members of Local Committees.—I am truly glad to see how well our School is going on at Dacca. To the appointment of Major Blackull there can be no objection. As to Mr. Shephard, I must own that, though I would by no means exclude Chaplains, as such, from the Local Committees, yet I do not think that the mere circumstance of being a Chaplain is a recommendation. In all such cases I should like to have some assurance that the individual is not a person likely to be hurried beyond the limits of discretion by feelings which, however laudable, we are not at liberty to indulge in our public capacity. But though I think that this ought to be our general rule, I will not object to the appointment of Mr. Shephard.—[Book H. page 99.] 15th August, 1835.
The system of mutual instruction.—The system of mutual instruction is not I conceive, by any means fitted for teaching the sciences. But whatever is mere matter of memory and does not require the exercise of the reasoning powers, such as the vocabulary of a language, may be taught by that system. I admit that you cannot with advantage teach the higher mathematics in that way. But the English language can be taught and taught very well and effectually, in that way. The English language, I conceive, is the great avenue by which the people of this country must arrive at all valuable knowledge. A native, without that language, can never have more than a smattering of science: and it is well if even that smattering be free from error. A native, with that language has ready access to full and accurate information on every subject, and will be able, if his natural talents are great, to make very considerable advances in knowledge, even without the aid of a teacher. By the system of mutual instruction, we shall be able to impart a knowledge of that language to a much greater number of pupils than by any other arrangement.
I earnestly hope that the Committee will try the experiment. Without some such arrangement, our means will not enable us to educate one-tenth of those who will apply to us for instruction.
The only proposition now before us is, that Mr. Trevelyan be, permitted to publish extracts from Mr. Clift’s letter. I can see no objection to his doing so.—[Book H. page 139.] 20th October, 1835.
Introduction of the Monitorial system in the Dacca School.—It seems very singular that the Local Committee should have forwarded Mr. Ridge’s application without expressing any opinion whatever, as to the expediency of what he proposes. The necessity for engaging an assistant, the qualifications of Mr. Gunn, and the propriety of hiring a house are matters about
