Dinnanathji, employed an intelligent Brahmin to ascertain the total number of vernacular schools in the island, and he has furnished a list showing the number of schools, with their localities, and the number of boys attending them. His inquiries extended to the schools in the Fort, and those situated in the Native town, extending as far as Girgaum, Kammatti-poora, Byculla, and Mazagon.

These returns show that there are 17 indigenous schools in the Fort, of which 12 are taught by Brahmin Mehtajis, and five by Parsi Mehtajis; and they contain about 960 boys; and 75 vernacular schools outside the Fort, including the Government, Missionary, and the indigenous schools, containing about 3,594, making a total of 4,554 boys. If we add to this number the total number of boys learning English, which, according to the returns, amounts to 1,255 boys, the total of boys receiving English or vernacular education will amount to.... 5,809 Add to this the number of boys receiving no education. 1,716

And the total number of boys in the districts of the island under consideration will amount to

7,525

It is the opinion of the Sub-Committee that the indigenous vernacular schools should not be supplanted, but every encouragement should be afforded to facilitate their improvement. With this view, the Chairman, the Secretary, and some of the other Members, visited several of these schools, and told the Schoolmasters that if they admitted into the schools such children of the poor as were unable to pay for their education, they would receive from the Committee a small allowance for every boy so admitted by them.

It was found that the rate of fees exacted by the Puntojis varied from a quarter to half a Rupee. But there is one Marathi school which particularly attracted the notice of the Committee. It is situated on the Pallow Road, opposite to the house of the Chairman. The Schoolmaster, Narayen Shastri, is a well-educated Shastri; and boys educated in his school are sometimes sent to pass their examination in the Elphinstone Institution, preparatory to their being admitted into the English school of that Institution. The rate of fees levied by him varies from one Rupee to two

Rupees a month; and there were about half a dozen boys of rich parents paying two Rupees per month.

An infant school has been established by the Secretary in the New Line Street, and it is intended to attach to it a school for the poor. It is sanguinely hoped that the expenses of both these schools will be paid by contributions by the residents in that neighbourhood.

The Chairman has undertaken to establish a Marathi experimental school in Girgaum, near Chowpatty, where it is ascertained that a number of poor people are living, and where such a school is probably required.

It is also intended to establish a similar school at Kamatti-poora, a locality inhabited by a great many of the poorer working classes. The Hon'ble Sir Erskine Perry kindly attended almost all the Meetings of the Sub-Committee, and favored them with his valuable advice in prosecuting the object of the Committee.

On the 23rd of March last he sent to the Committee a plan for framing district schools, for which many thanks are due to him:

A copy of the document is sent herewith, for the information of the Board.

A meeting was lately held by some of the influential Bania gentlemen of this island, to take into consideration the education of their females, no Bania girls having as yet attended any of the female schools established by the Students' Literary and Scientific Society. One of the members of our Sub-Committee, Vurjivandas Madowdas, and several other members of his large and influential family, were present at the meeting; and after a good deal of discussion, the meeting resolved that female schools for the education of their girls should be established. In conclusion, I beg to observe that the information herein furnished is only an approximation to a correct statistical account of the island on this subject, which cannot be expected to be supplied in the present instance, as this is the first attempt of the kind ever made in this island; but it is sanguinely hoped by the Committee that by continuing to prosecute the inquiries in which they are still en

gaged, they would be able at no distant period to furnish a more accurate account of the subjects treated in this report.

I remain, Sir,

12th May 1851,

Your most obedient Servant,

(Signed) JUGONNATH SUNKERSETT,

Chairman.

PLAN FOR FORMING DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

1. A district, superintended (say) by Jugonnath Shunkersett, Esq., is found to contain so many (say 400) children of both sexes, without education; of these, it may be hoped that with proper care 200 may be induced to attend school.

2. If this is so, there are materials for four schools of 50 each, one of which, it may be taken, will be established by Jugonnath, and three more will be required. The first step, then, will be to select those intelligent, zealous Native gentlemen who will each undertake the responsibility of establishing and maintaining a school, and each of these schools might be well denominated Jugonnath District School,-Narayen District School, &c. &c.

3. Having secured the co-operation of such individuals, a paper of instructions might be given, as follows::

The expense of a district school may be calculated at— 1, Puntoji,

2, Bhut, or Andearo,

3, Waterman,

4, Rent.

Books will be supplied by the Board of Education, gratis. To meet the expenses of such schools, collect the names of the opulent residents, grand jurors, and others in the district, and circulate a book with their names inserted, asking for monthly support. All the inhabitant householders, also, should be applied to in like manner monthly, with a subscription book in Gujrathi or Marahti, stating the object of the district schools; and the address of the Board, when this Committee was founded, and which is already in print, may perhaps answer the purpose.

4. The success of this plan depends entirely on some zealous individual undertaking the duties above described for each school.

Mankind generally are sluggish, lazy, selfish, but have the seeds of good in them, and if attacked personally by appeals to their good feelings, will generally co-operate in schemes for improvement. In each district such zealous individuals as I describe are certainly to be found; and it is the business of the Committee to find them out.

5. If all personal exertions on the part of the District Committee may fail to get pecuniary support, their application to the Board, stating the circumstances, should be made. But so long as a rupee is to be got, either from the public or the Board, the school for the poor should be established.

(Signed) E. P.

March 23rd 1851.

The Public Works Commission requests to be favored with the views of the Board of Education upon the causes of the failure that ensued in carrying out the Board's intention to have a class of Civil Engineer pupils, large enough to supply annually twelve persons qualified for the public Service.

2. Supposing a want of sufficient encouragement to have been one of the causes, what scale of salaries, and what other advantages would, in the Board's opinion, induce candidates to come forward?

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

(Signed) THOS. GAISFORD, Captain, Secretary to the Public Works Commission.

Το

SIR,

No. 313 of 1851.

Board of Education, Bombay, 29th May 1851.

CAPTAIN T. GAISFORD,

Secretary to the Public Works Commission.

I am directed by the Board of Education to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 27, dated 30th ultimo, relative to certain points connected with the late class of Civil Engineers.

2. In reply, I am directed, in the first place, to take this opportunity of explaining the history of this class. It was founded on the recommendation of Colonel Dickinson, when Chief Engi