( 3 ) one of the Vernaculars of India recognized by the Senate, and (ii) a subject for original composition in one of the Vernaculars recognized by the senate, text books being recommended as models of style. 6. We now come to the first proposal. It has been broadly objected that "encouragement of the study of the vernaculars is not a prime function of the University." It is unnecessary for us to go into the history of the establishment of the Calcutta University, though it may not be amiss to mention here that the Court of Directors in their famous Education Despatch of 1854, stated that the object they had in view was to impart knowledge in European science, literature, and philosophy to the people of India, and not to teach the English language only. It can scarcely be denied that the knowledge of European science and philosophy at least in the lower standards, will be more largely disseminated through the medium of the vernacular languages. A large majoritv of the gentlemen whom we have consulted are dead against the first proposal and even the modified form of that proposal does not commend itself to the majority. Their objections may be summarized as follow :- (a) That there is a want of suitable vernacular tex-books which can take the place of English text-books. (b) That the several vernacular languages in Bengal alone are in different stages of development, and some of them are still rude and have little, if any, literature of their own. Either the candidates must be examined in those vernacular languages only which possess a rich literature, or they must be examined in their own vernaculars however rude they may be. In the former case, the less developed vernaculars will suffer by the official adoption of comparatively rich vernaculars and in the latter case, the standard of education will be lowered. (c) That most of the Entrance Students instructed on the vernacular basis will be unable to compete for the F. A., the standards of which are not contemplated to be altered (d) That a student brought up in a school on a vernacular basis does not learn English so well as a student getting his instruction through the medium of the English tongue. (e) That one of the chief objects of English education being the ex tended employment of the natives of the country in the public services or in the learned professions, in all of which a knowledge of the English tongue is essential, any measure calculated to weaken the students in English, must be retrograde and reactionary, . (f) It has also been asserted that, 'as one of the useful purposes which English education was expected to perform, via :-to enrich vernacu
