The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-19 00:00:00

772

vision attained, by having a uniform official
language, and a single list of employes for
general service throughout the state. It was
only towards the close of the Delhi empire
that this policy was departed from, and the
separation of the empire into fragments en-

sued.
What the Mogul conquerors, our prede-
cessors, did in the matter of education we can
do if we choose, and there cannot be a doubt
but that, by adopting a similar plan, we shall
attain a like success. Instead, then, of di.
minishing our English scholarships, whether
in ruimber or value, we must add greatly to
them in both respects. We must establish, as
occasion offers, English teacherships for every
considerable school in India, A knowledge of
English must in the outset be made a decided
ground of preference, and ultimately a sine qua
non, iu every native candidate for public em-
ployment, English being eventually introduced
as the official language of every district under
our rule. The situations open practically as
well as theoretically to natives should be
greatly increased in number and in emolu-
ment; only those offices being absolutely re-
served for Europeans to which political powers
are attached, and which, for a time at least, it
would be unwise to entrust to native hands.
There is nothing to prevent our greatly improv-
ing the position of the native races without
in any way relaxing the grasp we hold on
India ; indeed, the best way of strengthening
that grasp is to draw the bonds of union
between us closer—the necessary result of a
common language, and of a more liberal treat-
ment of the higher classes, whom it should be
the object of a sensible Government to attract
to the service of the State, instead of repelling
them from it.
Acting on principles such as these, we
have no doubt whatever that the fullest
and completest success might be attained.
The public service would be immeasurably
improved, our hold on India would be
strengthened, and India would soon be Euro-
peanised in intellect, in habits, and in tastes.
The studies commenced from necessity, carried
on from rivalry, and completed in the prose-
cution of ambition, would, as in Europe, leave
sufficient traces on the mind to produce that
love of knowledge for its own sake and active
thirst of inquiry and intellectual cultivation
which can only with the extinction of the
intellect be extinguished in any thoroughly-
educated man. Such a policy, however, as we
have sketched is, we fear, far beyond the limited
scope of vision which nature has accorded to
the present President of the India Board. We
have little doubt, therefore, that India will be
left in its ignorance, uninstructed and unre-
generated, while the " Headships of the Edu-
cational department " will, after the usual
Indian fashion, be converted into pleasant
sinecures, and the moths and the worms of
the secretariat at Calcutta will be allowed to
dispose as they please of the Education
Despatch of Sir Charles Wood.

The Conference of Vienna is to reassemble in
about a week, on the invitation of Count Buol. Itis
stated that the object of the Conference is to declare
that the propositions of France and England are in
conformity with the protocol of Vienna, and to ascer
tain the most fitting means to ensure the existence
of Turkey, and to connect it with the general balance
of power in Europe.
Letters from St. Petersburg mention that the im-
mediate issue of a proclamation by the Emperor
Nicholas was generally expected.

The annual report of the commissioners for build-
ing new .•hurches has just been published. In their
last rep art the commissioners stated that 547 churches
had been completed, in which accommodation had
been provided for 550,833 persons, including 328,852
free seats for the use of the poor. The present one
informs us that 23 churches in addition have been
since completed. In these 23 churches accommoda-
tion has been provided for 14,897 persons, including
9,723 free seats for the use of the poor. Thus, in
the whole, 670 churches have now been completed,
and provision has therein been made for 505,780 per-
sons, including 338,575 free seats for the use of the
poor. There are besides, 27 new churches in the
course of erection.