Perhaps I need not have entered so minutely into an account of the school at this time, because the examining Committee appointed at the last Annual Meeting, has (one or more of them) visited the school every month during the year, except this. I need not say how much obliged we are to these gentlemen for the trouble they have taken in these monthly examinations. I trust they will give you their own impressions of the course we have been pursuing, and of which they have been eye-witnesses.

Having, Gentlemen, received your unanimous ascent to my proposal to visit the United States, on account of the health of my family, I cannot conclude without briefly expressing my sense of obligation for the uniform kindness and consideration which I have met with at the hands of the Trustees-I might also say, the members of this Society. My suggestions have never been set aside without proper deliberation. Your ready approval of almost all of them, has made me feel that I was not labouring in a work uncared for, and thus lightened my burdens, brightened my hopes, and every way added to my happiness. I part with you now with deep regret at the necessity of doing so, as well as at the cause which makes it necessary. Away from this spot, I shall not be at home. Having been habituated to care for this school for almost eight years, I cannot forget it in my absence. I hope and pray that it may flourish and prosper to an unexampled degree in time to come, and that it may be enlarged to suitable dimensions, so as more effectually to promote the great end of the Morrison Education Society, the enlightement of China.

Gentlemen, your

MORRISON HILL, 14th September, 1846.

I am,

obedient servant, S. R. BROWN.

The Trustees have received from the examining Committee, Messrs. Shortrede, Cairns, and Bush, two Reports,-one from the pen of Mr. Cairns, the other from that of Mr. Shortrede; and we are happy to find in them unequivocal approbation and concurrence of opinion regarding the course pursued in the instruction and training of the pupils. The sentiments of the Committee will be best conveyed by giving both; omitting only a few of their introductory and concluding remarks:

REPORTS OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE.

No. 1.-BY JOHN CAIRNS, ESQ., ON BEHALF OF

HIMSELF AND F. T. Bus., Esq.

GENTLEMEN,—It was early decided that it would be preferable to have a fixed day for the examinations, and the evening of the second Friday of each month was considered most convenient. On two occasions only the Committee did not meet-once during the New Year holidays, and once when the Overland Mail arrived the same evening that the Meeting was to be held.

At first, the examinations were general on all the subjects which the pupils had learned. This was found to be attended with disadvantages, and it was considered preferable to take up on each occasion the subject which had engaged their attention during the preceding month. By these means the scholar could answer more readily questions on a subject which had recently engaged his attention, a greater quantity of matter could consequently be gone over in a time necessarily limited, and the Examinators could mark more clearly from month to month the progress that had been made.

Without entering into details, I am happy to express in the most unqualified manner the satisfaction which I felt in witnessing the unwearied care and patience which was apparent on the part of Mr. Brown and his assistant Mr. Macy in their instructions, and the skill and judgment they displayed in communicating to those under their charge a sound European education, every step of which the pupil was made to understand thoroughly before he advanced to another. The cheerful demeanour of the children shewed sufficiently that learning was presented to them in the most attractive form; with the alacrity with which they went through the tasks laid before them by the Committee, with no signs of dislike or even listlessness, though frequently at a late hour, and certainly beyond their usual time for going to bed, shewed they had imbibed a portion of the zeal of their instructors, and felt deeply interested in what was going on.

Though taking a part in all that was going on, the classes of Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry more particularly engaged my attention. In all three 1 have no hesitation in stating my belief, that, notwithstanding the difficulties with which they had to contend, more especially that of learning in a language of which they are not completely masters, the progress of these classes was as great as I should have expected to see in the same number of my countrymen, and I would have considered it creditable to them. Difficult questions

in Fractions were readily solved, great alacrity was exhibited in mental Arithmetic, and the first four books of Eucild were thoroughly mastered. As an example how little of all this was acquired by rote, I may mention, that the boy to whom a proposition was given to demonstrate, in drawing the figure for himself never used the same letters that are given in the book, which indeed he did not seem to know without referring to it.

In conclusion allow me to state my thorough conviction of the usefulness of the establishment, as the most effectual means yet resorted to for communicating useful and Christian knowledge to the Chinese. I trust that as such it will meet the continued countenance and support of all the Foreigners in China; and though all that has yet been done, and probably all that any of us may ever see done, may aptly be compared to the "handful of wheat sown on the tops of the mountains," I confidently anticipate that this handful will increase and multiply, until hill and valley over the extent of the land shall teem with one abundant harvest of civilization, sound morality, and Christianity in its purest form.

I am, your obedient servant,
JOHN CAIRNS.

HONGKONG, 30th September, 1846.

No. 2.-BY ANDREW SHORTRede, Esq.

As one of the Committee of Examinators, I have much pleasure in recording the great satisfaction derived from the discharge of the duties assigned to us at the last Annual Meeting of the Society.

The second Friday of the month having been fixed upon as the most convenient evening for all parties, every Meeting has been attended by one or more of the Committee; and probably no better proof could be afforded of the interest the Institution is calculated to excite in those who will take the trouble to acquaint themselves with its objects, and mark its progress.

At first, from the natural diffidence of the boys before strangers, and the novelty of the Committee's position-being comparatively ignorant of the characters and attainments of the scholars-some little difficulty was experienced in the mode of procedure; but that the superior practical knowledge of Mr. Brown, and the aptitude of the boys theinselves, speedily enabled the Committee to overcome; and a system was laid down, which has since been adhered to, with, it is hoped, good effect. The Examination-in-chief has been conduct

VOL XV. NO. X11.

ed by Mr. Brown, latterly efficiently assisted by Mr. Macy, the Committee indicating such subjects and suggesting such questions as appeared to them advisable; and in this task they have been kindly assisted by friends to the Institution, who have occasionally attended the Meetings. Thus, without being distracted with unconnected questions, the extent of the pupils' acquirements has been shewn, an interest in their studies has been kept alive, and new modes of thinking have been suggested to them.

In one respect the good effects of the Monthly Examinations may, it is thought, be not altogether unmarked by those who have been in the habit of attending the Annual Meeting. I do not here refer to the advancement made in learning, for that might be looked for from another year's study of apt pupils under able and judicious teachers; but would point more particularly to the increased confidence and self-reliance which has been thus engendered. In any country, and under any circumstances, it would abash boys enjoying the highest advantages to undergo an examination on a variety of subjects, through the medium of a language they are conscious of being very imperfectly acquainted with, while it is the mother tongue of their examinators; but when the trial is to be gone through by these boys, taken from the lower and ignorant classes, imbued with all the old and deep rooted prejudices of their countrymen, and unable practically to understand the utility, or even the full meaning of much that has been told them since they entered the Institution, it is not wonderful they should appear diffident and confused, and perhaps receive less credit than they are entitled to from strangers.

In addition to the ordinary curriculum of the school, embracing besides their own language, English and English Grammar, Composition, Geography, Arithmetic, and Writing, some of the more advanced pupils have during the year made considerable progress in Algebra and Geometry, and manifested ample capacity for acquiring the exact sciences. Latterly another interesting branch of knowledge has been opened up to them by the kindness of Dr. Balfour, who has delivered a short course of lectures on Chemistry.

I am inclined to suggest that a more comprehensive course of study might now be advantageously introduced into the school, and perhaps some means by which this might be effected, may occur to Mr. Brown during his approaching visit to America and England.

ART. III. Steam communication between China and the west; as maintained by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company and the British Lords of the Admiralty; rates of postage; passage, &c.

AMONG the improvements of the present age, the increased facilities of intercommunication between the Eastern and Western portion of our globe are not the least worthy of a record in our pages.

December 26th, 1844, an agreement was formed between the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company and the British Lords of the Admiralty, respecting the conveyance of mails between Suez and Calcutta, and between Point de Galle (Ceylon ) and China.

The mails were to come on from Suez to Aden in 144 hours, and to remain there 48 hours; thence to Galle in 247 hours, or (if they did not touch at Galle) to Trincomalee in 282 hours, and to remain 48 hours, and thence in 35 to Madras,-or to remain at Galle 48 hours, and in 60 reach Madras; or, if they touched at both places, they were to reach Trincomalee in 34 hours from Galle, remain 12, and be at Madras in 35 hours; to reach Penang 140 hours from Galle, or 137 from Trincomalee; in 45 to go on to Singapore; stop there 48, and reach Hongkong in 170 hours.

Thus if by de Galle, from Suez to Hongkong, running 144+ 247+140+45+170=746 hours; stopping 48+48+48=144 hours, or in all, 37 days and 2 hours were to be the limits.

The contract is to be in force for seven years from the 1st January 1845, and then twelve months' notice of discontinuance to be given before the contract shall cease. Between Ceylon and China the communication commenced on the 1st of August, 1845, with vessels of 250 horse power. The steamers were to be of 250 horse power till June 1846, and then 400 horse power, and to leave Hongkong on the 1st of every month, except in May, June and July,—then 5 days earlier.

In the main essentials, so far as the public is concerned, the experiment has been satisfactory. With but one exception the Steamers, bearing the Mails, have come on safely and in good time. We subjoin the established rates of postage, &c., and shall feel much obliged, if any one interested, will give us details so as to show the principal advantages of this mode of communication.