John Wilson

“ We deliberately include the English among the classical languages. Jacob Grimm has justly pronounced it one of the most noble ever used for human utterance. It contains wonderful and undying creations and compositions, such as those of our Shakespeare and Milton, which will be read and studied to the ends of the earth. The Persian language. I much regret that we have not yet included the Persian in the list of our prescribed classical languages. The proposal to put it in this position was lost in the Senate only by a single vote ”

“ Translations made from English into the Oriental languages, and from the Oriental languages into English, are certainly a test of the knowledge of English, as well as are the questions put and answered only in English. Our most satisfactory examination in Arts this year was that for the degree of B.A., at which 20 of 46 candidates passed. The other examinations do not require any special remark. The public, I think, may have confidence, from the very strictness practised, in the proficiency of our graduates, to whatever faculty they belong. ”

“ Independently of the improvement of their observational powers, our young men, by such a study of the works of God as I now venture to recommend, would confer great advantages on their native land. We may be assured that the mineral resources of India will not be fully discovered and brought to light till the sons of India themselves receive at least such an amount of elementary instruction as that at which I have just hinted. ”

“ University: I would say that the list of our Fellows represents every class of the community, European and Native, able to do it service, including, besides those appointed jure dignitatis, gentlemen of University culture and training; of intimate acquaintance with the Oriental languages, manners, and customs; of legal, scientific, medical and engineering skill and experience; of special influence in large sections of the native community; of generous liberality to the University as an institution; of qualification as examiners of our entrants and candidates for degrees ”

“ Now, when we have obtained such an extended constituency as that which we possess, the annual appointments to the Senate need not perhaps be so large as they have been for some years past. It is a great mistake to appoint to our Fellowship gentlemen, whether Natives or Europeans, for the mere enhancement of their social position in the community. ”

“ Candidates are entitled to the benefit of each of their answers in so far as they are correct, while deductions, of course, are to be made for errors and defects. Possibly the instructions given to the examiners by the Syndicate should be extended, or a conference of certain classes of examiners held, as of those both in the first and second languages, before the questions to be given are printed, and before the results of examination are declared. ”

“ I distinctly see, both from the feeling which I observe among students and the improving appearances of the colleges, a great increase of graduates in Medicine, Law, and Civil Engineering, who doubtless will promptly obtain employment and remuneration for the services which they may render to Government or the community. ”

“ It is through it that we have to arrive at the definite meaning of many Zend and Pehlvi words still but imperfectly understood.
⁠Of our professional studies, legal, medical, and engineering, Professional Studies. modifications founded on experience will doubtless require from time to time to be made. ”