The study of the Chinese Official Style of correspondence has not been introduced. There are AD apprentice teachers, nor is there a sufficient number of easy English books on common subjects. An ungrammatical English version of a Chinese book is available, and easy matters can be interpreted orally in the Canton dialect. The monitorial system is regularly adopted.
The first class have proceeded through the Common rules of arithmetic into fractions and decimal fractions. They have a creditable acquaintance with geography and English grammar, having gone through their text books on these subjects. They have a good knowledge of gospel history and of the Old Testament history as far as the reigns of the kings. In English History, they are reading the reign of William III.
They have translated the Fahid classic from Chinese into English and vice versa. They can give a tolerably correct Chinese version in the colloquial style on matters of daily life.
The Grant from Government of £250 a year informs us that, in the year 1851, and in accordance with its stipulation that the Governor of Hongkong should be at liberty to nominate six boys, that number of nominations was in the first instance made; but the peculiar condition and circumstances of the Colony were discovered to be such that it was impossible to find a sufficient number of European lads likely to realize the object of the Government in their selection, so that three of those chosen were Chinese.