as contrasted with the high hopes with which they inspired the son from 1843 to 1853.
Before starting from Calcutta, Thomas Thomason had joined with other far-seeing and benevolent persons in urging on the Governor-General in Council the inauguration of some system of national instruction for the natives of India. This was to be imparted in the several vernaculars of the country, and was to have its literary foundation in the learned languages of the East. But it was to embrace Western knowledge also, and the ideas of European civilization. The superior portions of it were to extend to instruction in English. It was to include higher institutions, central and urban schools, and village schools. It was to utilize all existing and indigenous resources of an elementary character, and to engraft on them such organization as European experience might suggest. Considering the delays and difficulties which retarded the introduction of an educational system into India, as indeed into other countries more advantageously situated, we may feel refreshed by reading Thomas Thomason's recommendations made nearly eighty years ago. As he ever had in his thoughts the advancement of true religion, he must have believed that sound secular instruction would pave the way for religious teaching. In his enterprising spirit, his fearless benevolence, his catholic sympathies, this excellent chaplain showed himself to be far in advance of the statesmen in India at that time. He so far impressed the Governor-General
