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In the hope of abating
this evil I last
year
determined
to defray at the public expense
the cost
of
teachers
for every
public officer learning the language - about £25 per
Annum each. Three
Government Clerks have
availed
themselves
of
the
offer, but I am not disposed on further reflection to think that much good can be effected by
this
measure.
To learn Chinese two things
are requisite - first,
that
the Student shall not be
above a
certain age; secondly,
that he shall
give
his
undivided attention to the
task, and in this enervating climate six hours drudgery
in an
Office leaves neither
mind nor
body fitted for
that close application which
is necessary for acquiring so difficult a language
as Chinese.
I have therefore after
much consideration prepared
the
accompanying Sketch
$
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