the Student Interpreters in Her Majesty's
Consular Service for China-
Such Cadets, if sent to Peking, would have there many advantages which Hongkong and Canton do not afford. They would have the special advantage of supervision by Sir Robert Hart; and they would derive benefit from the emulation arising from competition with other Student Interpreters. They would further have an opportunity of getting the best possible grounding in the intricacies of Chinese official correspondence, Etiquette, and life, and finally
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they would have in Peking a far better chance of obtaining superior native teaching than anywhere in South China. It would, however, not be necessary in the case of such Cadets, that they should continue their studies in Peking for the same length of time as is required in the case of Student Interpreters in H.M. Consular Service, viz., eighteen months; this period passed in Peking would, in my opinion, suffice, provided that these Cadets, on their return from Peking, were sent to
Canton for eighteen months or more
to