HARDINGE]

_Sir Henry Hardinge to Queen Victoria._

_23rd November 1844._

Sir Henry Hardinge[34] with his most humble duty to your Majesty,
humbly submits for your Majesty's consideration the following
observations on the state of affairs in this large portion of your
Majesty's dominions.

The return of peace has also increased the desire of the native
population to receive the advantages of English education. The
literature of the West is the most favourite study amongst the Hindoos
in their schools and colleges. They will discuss with accuracy the
most important events in British History. Boys of fifteen years of
age, black in colour, will recite the most favourite passages
from Shakespeare, ably quoting the notes of the English and German
commentators. They excel in mathematics, and in legal subtleties their
acuteness is most extraordinary.

In order to reward native talent and render it practically useful to
the State, Sir Henry Hardinge, after due deliberation, has issued a
resolution, by which the most meritorious students will be appointed
to fill the public offices which fall vacant throughout Bengal.

This encouragement has been received by the Hindoo population with the
greatest gratitude. The studies in the Mohammedan schools and colleges
have hitherto been confined to Arabic, the Koran, and abstruse studies
relating to their religion, having always shown a marked aversion to
English literature. Since the publication of the Resolution they have
at once determined to change their system in order to participate in
the benefits held out to native merit of every sect.

It is impossible throughout your Majesty's immense Empire to employ
the number of highly paid European civil servants which the public
service requires. This deficiency is the great evil of British
Administration. By dispersing annually a proportion of well-educated
natives throughout the provinces, under British superintendence,
well-founded hopes are entertained that prejudices may gradually
disappear, the public service be improved, and attachment to British
institutions increased....

Sir Henry Hardinge, in closing these observations, most humbly
ventures to assure your Majesty that he anticipates no occurrence as
probable, by which the tranquillity of this portion of your Majesty's
dominions is likely to be disturbed.

H. HARDINGE.

[Footnote 34: Governor-General of India, in succession to Lord
Ellenborough.]