I last examined him, and his power of expressing himself on ordinary subjects idiomatically was improved.
Chinese - I frequently see Mr. Solares' teacher, who assures me that Mr. Holmes is in earnest to learn the language. I believe he is so, and wish he had more time to devote to the study.
On the same day, Messrs Deane, Tonnochy, and Smith came with me from 11 am to 2 P.M., when I set them the exercises herewith enclosed. Mr Deane and Mr. Smith accomplished the whole of them. Mr. Tonnochy had not time to do the 5th. The translations of the two passages into English were mainly equal merit; very creditable to them all, but in no case without mistakes.
None of them attempted to give the Colloquial in Chinese Characters. I did not expect, indeed, that they would be able to do so. They all wrote it however, with English letters, so as to show a considerable familiarity with the vernacular. Here M = Tonnochy and W. Smith were superior to Mr. Deane, and of about equal merit.
Mr Smith's translation of the little bit of English was superior to Mr Deane's, and showed that he is rapidly acquiring the idioms of the Chinese language, and learning to develope his thoughts in the order and way natural to the Chinese.