50 Memorandum on Education in China. [No. 1. 



advanced to a higher class and the glorious study of Confucius is 

 opeued to him. 



By the time he has learnt the four books by heart, and has read 

 some of the commentaries upon them, he has finished the curriculum 

 of study taught at ordinary schools, and, unless his family think his 

 talents are sufficient to promise success at the examinations, his 

 course of study ; returning to his family utterly deficient in all 

 scientific knowledge, believing that the world is flat, and that three 

 quarters of it are Chinese, ignorant of Mathematics and caring 

 little how far it is to the moon, but fully impressed with the truths 

 that honesty is the best policy, that if you would be respected, 

 you must respect others, that it is your duty to honor your parents 

 and lay down your life for your prince, that you should never do 

 wrong under any circumstances whatever, that you will do more by 

 reforming yourself than by seeking to improve others, and that it 

 is advantageous to tell the truth to your friends. 



Should, however, the student shew signs of talent, his family 

 subscribe to hire a tutor for him to read with, or he offers himself 

 as a candidate for admission at one of the Government Schools, 

 where, if successful, he has the advantage of receiving the instruction 

 of the best masters, gratis, until he is qualified to try for a degree. 



In these Schools, the Masters of which receive salaries varying 

 from 4 to 40 Pounds a month, the books written by the ancient 

 sages, edited by Confucius, are read with the numerous commen- 

 taries upon them, and the living commentary history, is studied ; 

 here too they are first initiated into the mystery of paraphrasing 

 the moral maxims of the ancients and of writing themes upon them. 



They now go in for their first degree, being equally able to 

 compete if they have studied at home instead of at these public 

 Colleges, and if successful, their education is thenceforth the care of 

 the State. Educational Officers being appointed to assist and direct 

 them, keeping up the spirit of emulation in them by frequent trials 

 and examinations. 



Many, however, now give up their studies, seeking employment 

 as teachers in the schools or as tutors in private families and some- 

 times sacrificing their pride to their covetousness, becoming clerks 

 in Public Offices. 



