CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6] — Page 327

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

320

and Men? Mess? Odell and Oliver, who had for some time given their gratuitous services to the College, met them here on that day at my request to afford them every opportunity and aid in examining the pupils and informing themselves of their view. They doubtless have reported to your Excellency their opinion of the then state of the College, and to that report I beg leave to refer you. I regret to state that causes already in operation have since that time increased the withdrawal of all our more advanced pupils. The unsettled state of China, the stream of Chinese emigration to other Countries, and the high wages which even a partially educated youth, speaking a little English, can command in the Colony, have combined in causing the removal of all the Chinese youth who had made satisfactory progress; and those who now remain, have been only for a short period under instruction, varying generally from a few months to three years only.

Chinese youths in the College are also of that age, which renders necessary their contemporaneous instruction in their own language and books. Under these circumstances, it would require many years to bring a Chinese youth to that point of Chinese learning and English grammatical composition, which would realize the ideal standard apparently existing in your Excellency's mind. The present difficulties in the way of education are seen in the facility with which Chinese boys turn to pecuniary advantage even a partial and imperfect acquaintance with English, are obstacles of a most serious

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320 and Men? Mess? Odell and Oliver, who had for some time given their gratuitous services to the College, met them here on that day at my request to afford them every opportunity and aid in examining the pupils and informing themselves of their view. They doubtless have reported to your Excellency their opinion of the then state of the College, and to that report I beg leave to refer you. I regret to state that causes already in operation have since that time increased the withdrawal of all our more advanced pupils. The unsettled state of China, the stream of Chinese emigration to other Countries, and the high wages which even a partially educated youth, speaking a little English, can command in the Colony, have combined in causing the removal of all the Chinese youth who had made satisfactory progress; and those who now remain, have been only for a short period under instruction, varying generally from a few months to three years only. Chinese youths in the College are also of that age, which renders necessary their contemporaneous instruction in their own language and books. Under these circumstances, it would require many years to bring a Chinese youth to that point of Chinese learning and English grammatical composition, which would realize the ideal standard apparently existing in your Excellency's mind. The present difficulties in the way of education are seen in the facility with which Chinese boys turn to pecuniary advantage even a partial and imperfect acquaintance with English, are obstacles of a most serious
Baseline (Original)
320 and Men? Mess? Odell and Oliver, whe had for some time · given their gratuitons Services to to the bellege, met them here ou C that day at my request to afford them every opportunity and aid in essa examining their view. the pupils and informing They doubtless have reported to yours Excellency their opinion of the then state of the College, and to that report I beg leave to refer you up to that sote- -date for the- information of the Secretary of State- - to state that causes them already Iregret to in operation have since that time increased in causing the withdrawal of all our more advanced pupils The unsettled state of China, the stream of Chinese Cenigration to other Countries, - and the high wages - which even a speaking - partially educated a little English - youth; caw Command in the Colony, - have combined in causing the removal of all the Chinese youth who had made satis, ws; and those satisfactory progress; who now remain, have been only fore short- perisa under instruction, varying geverally from a few months to three Chinese that age. 1 years only. youths in the botany are also of and ploss, which renders ders necessary their co-temporaneous instruction in their language and books. Under these fircumstances, it would require many. years to bring a Chinese youth to that point · of Chinese learning and English grammatical composition, which would realize the ideal standard apparently suisting in your The present- Excellency's mind - in the way of education difficulties in the Houghing. in as seen in the facility with whick Chinese boys Aurw to pecuniary advantage ever a rtial al and imperfect acquaintance partial with English, are obstacles of a most serious
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320

and Men? Mess? Odell and Oliver, whe

had for some time

· given their gratuitons

Services to

to the

bellege,

met them here ou

C

that day at my request to afford them

every opportunity and aid in essa

examining

their view.

the pupils and informing

They doubtless have reported to yours Excellency their opinion of the then state

of the College, and to that report I beg leave to refer you up to that sote-

-date for

the-

information of the Secretary of State-

- to state that causes them already

Iregret to

in operation have since that time increased

in causing

the withdrawal of all our more advanced pupils The unsettled state of China, the stream of Chinese Cenigration to other Countries, - and the high wages -

which even a

speaking

- partially educated

a little English

-

youth;

caw Command

in the Colony, - have combined in causing

the removal of all the Chinese youth who

had made satis,

ws; and those

satisfactory progress;

who now remain, have been only fore short-

perisa under instruction, varying geverally

from a few months to three

Chinese

that age.

1 years only. youths in the botany are also of

and ploss, which renders

ders necessary

their co-temporaneous instruction in their

language

and books. Under these

fircumstances, it would require many.

years to bring a Chinese youth to that point

· of Chinese learning and English grammatical composition, which would realize the ideal standard apparently suisting in your The present-

Excellency's mind -

in the way of education

difficulties in the Houghing.

in

as seen in the facility with whick Chinese boys Aurw to pecuniary advantage

ever a

rtial

al and imperfect acquaintance

partial

with English,

are obstacles of a most serious

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