| Description | 30 Dec: Has been ill for past month; has consulted the bishop about use of Phipps' gift, while keeping ultimate responsibility in his own hands; is most anxious to establish a grammar school; Calcutta [Kolkata] can offer but imperfect education and at the boarding schools children are given false idea of their social status; last Jun the bishop drew up plan for school, based on the plan of Edinburgh Academy, the money to be raised in shares of 250 rupees bearing 5% interest; 40 shares were taken up and the school opened 6 Jun; boarding department was established totally distinct from the education department; the schoolmaster is a Scot, who has been ordained deacon by the bishop and there are 88 pupils, charges being 8 rupees a month for tuition and 20 rupees a month for board and lodging; ground has been purchased in Juan Bruar Street at the crossing of the great road, just behind the Mohammedan college; the whole is vested in the bishop as trustee, for the purpose of a grammar school for men; the chief justice and Lord W. Bentinck are enthusiastic supporters; the total cost will be about 25,000 rupees, of which 15,000 rupees will be a gift and the rest will be raised as shares, the profit of which will form a fund for improvements; at Howrah a church has been built and a chapel at the free school with 3,000 rupees of the gift; a clergyman is to be headmaster there; another 1,000 rupees has gone to St. James' School, where 80 boys are taught free; 500 rupees have gone to settling 16 families on small farms at Burdwan; a similar scheme is afoot for Culna; Corrie will send a detailed statement later; his letter having been delayed until 15 Jan 1831 he can report an additional 20 boys at the High School making 108 in all |