Page:History, Design and Present State of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions.djvu/154

lized and consolidated. The arrangement alluded to was the appointment by Government in July 1823, of a General Committee of public instruction. The members of this Committee, of which Mr. Harington, whose benevolent exertions in the cause of native education are well known, is president, have been selected from the most enlightened individuals of the Company’s Service; and when the talents, ability, experience and discretion of these gentlemen are considered, together with their intimate acquaintance with the language, manners, habits and ways of thinking of the natives, it will be difficult to form exaggerated expectations of the beneficial result of their labors. After ascertaining the state of public education under this Presidency, the attention of the Committee will be engaged in considering, and from time to time submitting to Government the suggestion of such measures as it may appear expedient to adopt with a view to the better education of the people, to the introduction of useful knowledge, including the sciences and arts of Europe, and to the improvement of their moral character. The Committee are authorized to exercise through Sub Committees or individual Members,