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John Branston Esq
Boddington, Biggleswade
Assistant Under Secretary of State for the Colonies
17 June 1850
Rec'd 19 JUL 1850
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 14th inst., enclosing me a copy of your Letter No. 179 of 4 June from Hongkong, and inviting my observations on the question of over-pressure in Victoria College, Hongkong.
Victoria College is independent of the rule requiring 200 attendances as a qualification for examination, as this rule applies in cases where the Government makes a Grant in Aid of the expenses of a school under management independent of the Govt., whereas Victoria College is entirely supported and controlled by the Govt. The College is open for 234-238 days, or nearly two-thirds of the year. I could not recommend any reduction of this very reasonable period of study.
The danger of overpressure is one, which I have always been ready to recognise. My experience since January 12 would lead me to state confidently that as regards Victoria College there is no systematic over-pressure.
European and Portuguese (natives of China) boys are, as a rule, distinguished by great inclination for study. The Chinese, on the other hand, are averse to close application.
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