5-9
am told), a definite feeeling mgainst the higher education of
Chinese, dua lergely to a fear that they would supplant British.
Se disastrous did this state of things appear to me alike as
regards British influence for goed in China, and from the point of
view of our trade, that I took up the project of a University, though
the majority of British opinion was opposed to it, Its salient
characteristics were!. It was residential; English was the mediuAM
of instruction; Chinese from China and elsewhere were welcomed; it
was affiliated to Oxford and Cambridge and students were discouraged
from going to England until they had graduated and their characters
were to a large extent formed,
It had been our hope to create a Chinese Faculty with the
object of training zen for high administrative and political office in
China who would act as a counterpoise to American influenca; but
though supported by both Pekin and Canton who runde generous contribum
tions and rent students, this hope has never been fulfilled, and the
University has been in chronie financial difficulties, The eireim
stances of its foundation precluded an adequate endowment. This was
a risk deliberately accepted,
Apart from a man of 45,000 to pay off debts owing to the
University by Chinese students, a sup of £250,000 only has been
allotted to the University from the Boxer Indemnity, (Mr. Ammry I think
was in favour of at least a million). The interest on this sum would
be $10,000 at west, and this will not suffice to do much more than
mast the existing deficit due to the fall in silver which has halved
the salaries of the Staff, and provide some scholarships. The Hongkong
Government which now gives a very heavy subvention ($350,000) 18
unwilling that a new faculty (e.g. Chinese) should be started unless
assured that it will be self supporting.