It may (as is not unlikely to be the case) that the Government have not hitherto found it worth their while to bestow much care or grant much Money, in sufficient return for their outlay, on Schools conducted by Missionary Societies. The present bias of these Schools is to inculcate English on account of premature removals caused by the great demand for English-speaking youths.
An Institution like St Paul's College, susceptible of a wider range of aims, depending mainly on funds collected in England for its support by individual collecting efforts, and unconnected at the present time with any public society - (I beg to submit) deserves the fostering encouragement of Government.
Your Excellency has been made aware in previous communications of the absence from the Colony of suitable English boys to form the materials of a respectable and efficient class of Interpreters. We have at present thirty-three pupils in the College, mostly varying from twelve to eighteen years of age; of whom seven pay for their board a monthly sum of from two to three Dollars each.
Our principal Chinese teacher is a graduate of the Kien-jin degree, well known at Hongkong from having formerly kept a superior College at Tsat-shan near Canton, previous to its capture by the local Triad Society Rebels. Your Excellency is too well aware of the high position of a Kien-jin graduate to render it necessary to be informed by me of the standing likely to be given to St. Paul's College by our having, about three months ago, secured his services.
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