it plainly impracticable to provide
sufficient number of interpreters
indeed
any
more than
07
an occasional
interpreter from such a source We can
suggest for this desirable end
no better
means than that now adopted of selecting
a suitable number
young
well educated Gentlemen from Colleges at Home
& granting
them a liberal allowance
for their support, during such time as may fully suffice for the acquisition of a knowledge of the language, rendering them competent to translate and interpret faithfully. Some beneficial modifications in the system there might undoubtedly be; such as
the liberal endowment of a Chinese professorship at Home in lieu
of the inadequate emoluments now afforded,
thus making it possible to select young
men in England who have already
made some advance in the language,
instead of at present choosing them on the test of
general proficiency and good Conduct &
bearing the expense of their Chinese education
at its Commencement. The scholars
so selected might
be subjected to an annual examination, and the
most advanced encouraged by
an addition to his stipend and a prior title to
promotion on the occurrence of a vacancy.
But these remarks are,
perhaps,
somewhat beside our duty,
and refer more
particularly to the second head
of enquiry whether Gentlemen selected in England could on their arrival in this
country be advantageously placed in
St. Paul's College - We
cannot recommend
such a step, but consider it preferable