Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 590

1841.

Morrison Education Society.

573

had been so long studied, are to this day unasked and unanswered in any work on Chinese philology in the English language. The ques- tions are simple, but the answers none has given. They meet the student at the outset of his course, and are ever and anon recurring, till the philosophic mind is tired of leaping chasms in its way.

"The existence of these terræ incognite in the Chinese language renders it incumbent on those that are now engaged in the study of it, and especially one who undertakes to carry out the enlarged views of the Morrison Education Society, to devote immediate and unre- mitted attention to subjects that have so long remained uninvestigat- ed, until he has done all in his power to place them before the world in their true light. From these remarks, the committee can judge of the expediency and wisdom of their early recommendation, that their educational agent should devote much of his first years to study. I have followed it with the earnest wish to prepare myself to be as useful as possible in the cause of the Society.

"In English studies the boys have made creditable advances since they were visited by the trustees on the 4th of March. Two of them have nearly gone through a vol, of 274 pages on geography, besides a smaller work previously, and the other four have pursued the small work abovementioned, and about half of Parley's Geography. In the science of numbers, they have first studied a work on mental arith- metic, and have since proceeded in Gordon's book, through the fun- damental processes of written arithmetic, to reduction, and compound. addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Twice a week. they have spent a portion of the day in learning to write with the pen. As in every other school, there are diversities of talent here, and different degrees of natural adaptation to the various branches of learning. Still, as a whole, I am persuaded that their progress will. be gratifying to the friends of the Society. In reading, there has been a marked improvement, as also in speaking English, and in composition during the last five months. The Rev. Mr. Milne and the lady of the Rev. Mr. Boone deserve much for the talent and faithfulness they have exhibited in their training, during the period of my ab sence at Singapore and Malacca. The moral character of the boys, struck me at once as being decidedly improved. There is more truthfulness, regularity of habits, conscientiousness, and gra- titude for the benefits they receive, than I have ever seen before among them. These things, too, are not by any means the minor objects of their education. All that adds to the formation of excel- lence in character is most highly to be prized. I am afraid to be