rank. This is only to be obtained by means of a continued effort of the attention, an unwearied exertion of the mind; and the most effectual assistant of this exertion, is to learn to read and write. If a man be ignorant of this art, his knowledge can never extend beyond the narrow sphere of his own acquaintance; he can know nothing of the sun, the moon, and the stars, in the heavens above; nor of the various habits and customs of people of different ages and nations; of the animals, the fishes, the trees, the mountains, the countries, and of the seas, or of the earth beneath; he can know nothing of the arts and sciences; of calculation, and of reason;-all he can comprehend, compared with what he is capable of knowing, is not as an atom to the world. But if he has been taught these arts, without moving out of his own house, his mind may be carried beyond the boundaries of the earth; he may be led to entertain correct ideas of the heavens; he may become acquainted with people at the furthest extremity of the globe; he may teach himself the situation of various countries; he may inform himself of their history; he may learn how the various articles of commerce are produced: in fact, it is impossible to enumerate the advantages to be derived from such an acquisition.

"Viewing instruction in the arts of reading and writing, therefore, as the blessing which will ultimately lead to the greatest good, it is the wish of the English Government to confer it as extensively as possible in Bencoolen, and the adjacent countries. That this benevolent wish may be more expeditiously accomplished, an institution has been founded, which will receive scholars of every description, and of every age, from three to sixteen years. They are required to be present at the school-room in the morning at ten o'clock, and will be liberated at three in the afternoon. That no one may hesitate to send his children, from ignorance of what is taught, the school and books will be open at all times to examination, and if any objection should be made to any particular part of any subject inculcated, the person is at perfect liberty to withdraw his child. But having no other object in view, than the good of those for whom the establishment has been formed, it is not supposed that an objection of any description will be made : however, for the previous information of all who are likely to be influenced by this provision for the education of children, it is thought advisable to insert a slight sketch of the subjects it is intended to introduce. When a child first comes, his name will be inserted in

the list of scholars, and he will be expected to attend regularly. If he be ignorant of the alphabet, he will be put to learn the characters; after an acquaintance with which, he will be taught to learn to read, and write, upon sand, the various combinations with facility; he will be instructed in writing and spelling short and easy words; from which he will proceed to reading and writing simple lessons on history, on science and natural philosophy, on geography, on morality, on the produce of the arts, on the natural productions of the earth, and on many other subjects, which combine utility with entertainment; as he advances, he will be taught to write well on paper, and to calculate by means of figures, which will give him an advantage scarcely to be estimated in its value. He will continue to exercise himself in these various subjects, till they become familiar and easy, when he will be at liberty to pursue what course he or his parents may think most proper; but whatever be his object, with these acquisitions he will be amply qualified to obtain it. They will lay a foundation, upon which he may build a superstructure of whatever nature he wishes-a foundation that will endure, not only through the contracted space of our present state of existence, but one that will last to eternity.

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"Still further, that no obstacle whatever may remain to retard the progress of the institution, or prevent the general diffusion of good, it has been proposed to allow the children of those parents who cannot dispense with their services, a certain quantity of rice, which they will receive monthly. It will be issued at so much per day for every day they attend, but not for the days they are absent. Thus then, having commenced an institution at a great expense, for the sole good of the inhabitants, it is hoped that no one will be found to deprive himself or his children of the inestimable blessings it is calculated to afford."

These documents were immediately transmitted to the Governor, enclosed in a letter, in which the Committee thus unequivocally express their approbation of his honour's plan, for the general education of the native population.

"We cannot, however, conclude this communication without stating our conviction, that the plan is calculated for the radical improvement of the population: that the very backward, immoral, and depraved condition of society, points out the instruction of the rising generation as the most probable, if not the only, rational means of introducing a state of ultimate civilization: and that the absence of

violent bigotry, or prejudice in favour of existing opinions, holds out a fair prospect that but little serious obstruction will be found to impede the establishment and progress of the proposed institution.".

To this letter Sir Stamford Raffles replied on the 20th of the same month, approving of the preliminary measures of the committee for the establishment of the first school on the new system, and associating four native chiefs with the four European members of the Education Committee. On the 29th of September those chiefs attended in their official capacity; and we have great pleasure in extracting the following minutes of so interesting a meeting:

"The native members are now made most fully acquainted with the objects of the Institution, and with the steps that have as yet been taken towards its promotion. The advertisement announcing its establishment, which had been translated and printed, was submitted to them; and having been generally informed of the immediate and remote advantages contemplated from it, the following questions are put to them, with reference to local circumstances and peculiarities.

"Ques. 1. The repairs of the school, now in progress, will be completed in ten days, when it will be fit for the reception of one hundred boys;- is it your opinion that scholars to that number may soon be expected to offer themselves?

"Answ. We are convinced that candidates to that number, and much exceeding it, will soon present themselves; but exactly how soon we cannot say.

"Ques. 2. Do you think the people of the country generally will wish to avail themselves of the opportunity thus offered of educating their children?

"Answ. The advantages are so great and so obvious, that we have no doubt but they will gladly avail themselves of it.

"Ques. 3. Do you think any objections will exist to the eventual extension of the plan, by the general establishment of schools on the same principle?

"Answ. We do not foresee any: the more the thing is known and extended, the more it will be approved.

"Ques. 4. How is the education of youth at present conducted, and by whom?

"Answ. Education, in the neighbourhood of Bencoolen, and generally in the adjacent districts, is conducted at small schools, which are generally kept by priests, who

teach the children to read the Koran; but any competent person may teach at these schools.

"Ques. 5. What profit or advantage is derived by the priest, or person who teaches such a school?

"Answ. The course of education being completed, the usual fees for each scholar are twenty dollars, a suit of clothes, a large tray of yellow rice, and a plate of betel leaf; but some pay more, and some less, according to their

means.

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Ques. 6. What time does it usually take to complete this course of education?

years.

"Answ. On an average, about three "Ques. 7. What proportion of the children of the country are thus educated?

"Answ. About twenty in a hundred, that is, in the neighbourhood of Bencoolen; but in the interior there are no schools, and they learn nothing.

"Ques. 8. What description of information is communicated at these schools?

"Answ. As soon as they have learned their letters, they are taught to read the Koran; they also read fables or tales, and histories; they also are taught to write.

"Ques. 9. If such schools as this now establishing, where all kinds of knowledge are gratuitously communicated, should be generally instituted, do you think the present mode of education would be thereby affected, or fall into discredit or disuse?

"Answ. Our opinion is, that the present plan will supersede the old one.

"Ques. 10. If those children who are now instructed by priests, should quit their schools and resort to ours, might we not expect that the loss which would thus be sustained by their present masters, would render them hostile to our plan, and that their influence, open or secret, would be excited to oppose it?

"Answ. Whatever their private feeling might be, we do not think they would venture openly to oppose it. Their secret influence is not great.

"Ques. 11. Would it not, however, be advisable to invite into our school some of the best of the native teachers, that they may become acquainted with our system, with the view to their extending it by the establishment of new schools on the same plan?

"Answ. This plan would, no doubt, be advantageous, and we strongly recommend it.

"Ques. 12. You being persons possessing high rank and influence in the country, have it in your power to insure the complete success of the proposed plan, which you seem quite sensible has only the good of the people in view :may we depend on your taking an interest in it, and giving it every support?

"Answ. We do see the liberal and disinterested object of Government in the proposed plan, and we pledge ourselves to support it to the utmost of our ability.

"With reference to question 11th, Dyang Mabelak here requests to recommend a person who has been employed in instructing youth of the higher orders, as peculiarly fit for master in the present school.

"The committee receive the recommendation with pleasure, and measures are taken to communicate an invitation accordingly to the person alluded to.

"A letter, reporting on the necessity and advantage of generally educating the native population, the difficulty to be encountered, and the probable success and effects to be contemplated, is read and approved, and directed to be forwarded to the honourable the Lieutenant-Governor." That letter we extract entire :

To the Honourable Sir T. S. Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor.

HONOURABLE SIR,

"WE have now the honour to lay before you our promised observations on the points specially brought under notice in your letter of the 10th instant, viz.; The necessity and advantage of generally educating the native population, the difficulties to be encountered, and the probable success and effects to be contemplated. We are aware of the great importance of the subject thus brought before us, and of the difficulties that must attend its due consideration, and are fully sensible of our inability to do it justice :-we feel, however, deeply interested in the success of the proposed plan; we cherish concur in its benevolent and enlightened object; we heartily a lively anticipation of its happy results; and we shall esteem ourselves fortunate indeed, should our humble efforts conduce in any way to its prosperity. Under these feelings, and with these views, we enter on the subject; and however deficient our researches may be with regard to skill and ability, we pledge ourselves they shall not be wanting in zeal and perseverance, and that they shall be conducted with the utmost precision, impartiality, and fidelity.