The system of education adopted holds a due me dium betwixt the strictness of our public schools and the laxity of the English universities. Upon being appointed, which is unfortunately too much an affair of patronage on the part of the directors, each youth must, previous to his admission, produce a testimo nial from his schoolmaster, and pass an examination in Greek and Latin, and arithmetic, before the prin cipal professors. This previous examination at once prevents persons from offering themselves, who have not received the usual school education of the higher classes of society ; and those who offer themselves, and are found deficient, are remanded till another period of admission. The lectures of the different professors in the college are given in a manner to make previous preparation necessary, and to encou rage most effectually habits of industry and applica tion. In their substance, they embrace the import ant subjects of Classical Literature, the Oriental Lan guages, the elements of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, the Laws of England, General History, and Political Economy.
At the commencement of the institution, it was feared by some persons that this variety would too much distract the attention of the students at the age of sixteen or seventeen, and prevent them from making a satisfactory progress in any department ; but instances of distinguished success have proved that this variety has not only been useful to them in rendering a methodical arrangement of their hours of study more necessary, but has decidedly contri buted to enlarge, invigorate, and mature their un derstandings.
On all the important subjects above enumerated. examinations take place twice in the year. These examinations, which continue twelve days, are con ducted upon the plan of the great public and colle giate examinations in the universities, particularly of Cambridge, with such improvements as expe rience has suggested. The questions given are framed with a view to ascertain the degree of pro gress and actual proficiency in each particular de partment on the subjects studied during the pre ceding term ; and the answers, in all cases that will admit of it, are given in writing, in the presence of the professors, and without the possibility of a re ference to books. After the examination in any particular department is over, the professor in that department reviews, at his leisure, all the papers that he has received, and places, as nearly as he can, each individual in the numerical order of his rela tive merit, and in certain divisions implying his degree of positive merit. These arrangements are all subject to the control of the whole collegiate body. They require considerable time and atten tion, and are executed with scrupulous care and strict impartiality.
Besides the classifications above mentioned, prise medals, books, and honorary distinctions, are award ed to those who are the heads of classes, or as high as second, third, fourth, or fifth, in two, three, four, or five departments.
These means of exciting emulation and industry have been attended with great success. Those who have come to college tolerably good scholars, have often, during their stay of two years, made such ad vances in the classical department, as would have done them great credit if they had devoted to it the main part of their time ; whilst the contemporary honours which they have obtained in other depart ments have sufficiently proved that their attention was not confined to one study ;. and many who had come from public and private schools at sixteen, with such low classical attainments, as appeared to indicate a want either of capacity or application, have shown, by their subsequent progress even in the classical department, and still more by their ex ertions in others, that a new field and new stimulants had wrought a most beneficial change in their feel.' ings and habits, and had awakened energies of which they were before scarcely conscious.
It has been found at some periods extremely diffi cult to maintain the requisite discipline, owing chiefly to the tenacity of the directors concerning their pa tronage. Those who have nominated a youth to the college, and to the subsequent place of a Writer in India, were unwilling to risk the loss of so va luable an appointment, by placing the power of ex pulsion for misconduct in the hands of the profes sors. This seems to have been the real cause of the disorders which have occurred, and which have come before the pUblic with most exaggerated cir cumstances. The whole proceedings of the college are regularly laid before a committee of the direc tors ; and that body certainly has not confided suffi cient powers to the heads of the college to enable them to enforce due discipline. Their authority has, indeed, been recently somewhat extended, but with out greater power, the college can scarcely be ex pected to become so beneficial to our Indian Em pire, as the high talents of the professors, in the list of whom are the illustrious names of Sir James Mackintosh and Mr Malthus, give the public a right to expect.
The course of study continues two years, and commences at such an age, that the students may be ready to proceed to India by the time they are eighteen or nineteen years old ; and having begun the study of the Oriental languages, they are pre pared to prosecute them in Calcutta, so as to pro ceed to their official appointments by the time they have attained the age of twenty or twenty-one.