many honours as barristers and candidates for the Civil Service. For instance, it was a Parsi gentleman, Mr. Mancherji Pestanji Kharegat, who occupied the first place in the final competitive examination for the Indian Civil Service, held in London in 1884. Another instance, in a different branch, may be cited of Mr. Rastamji Dhanjibhai Sethna, who, in open competition with all the students of the four Inns-of-Court in London, took several prizes, amounting in value to 160 guineas. These results show how fortunately their efforts have been crowned and rewarded. Parsis are now prominent in every walk of life in the Bombay Presidency for which talent and knowledge are the necessary passports. They are to be found not merely as barristers and teachers, but as members of the Civil Service, both covenanted and uncovenanted. In the latter capacity they serve as magistrates, revenue officers, and judges. Parsis are also well known-and I could mention many names in support of my statement-as physicians, engineers, and journalists, in all of which capacities they have distinguished themselves. The higher forms of literature remain to be attempted; but we may hope that writers of works worthy to live will appear in due time, although it is not impossible that their most successful attempts in a higher style will yet be made in the English language, which is, after all, not more foreign to them than the one they have adopted. These new pursuits have provided the Parsi community with an industrious and not impecunious means of livelihood. Among no other race in India is there a higher level of general prosperity. The poor are very few, and the beggar hardly exists. The loss of exceedingly great fortunes is hardly appreciated when there is so good an average of general welfare and contentment. have to deplore the loss of those kings of commerce who gave the Parsi name a world-wide reputation; but, on the other hand, we possess a contented community, living in a state free from the cares of life, which may well create a feeling of satisfaction among its members, and one of envy in those who regard so agreeable a condition of things.

We

The energy, I am justified in saying, which characterised the early Parsi merchants, has not departed from their descendants, although it has found vent in new directions. The Parsis have lost that share in the trade of Bombay which might almost be considered as their birthright; but they have succeeded in obtaining no inconsiderable compensation in other directions. They may almost claim additional credit for having successfully coped with new conditions, and for having asserted their ability in spheres more intellectual than the disposal of opium to the people of the far East. Other races, when deprived of one

opportunity which they knew how to take advantage of, would have succumbed to the fresh difficulties that necessarily presented themselves; but not so the Parsis. Even if they should never recover the position which they have lost as merchants, they have still a great career before them as official administrators under the Government, and as the enlighteners of coming generations among the peoples of India. In conclusion, I must add, that it would be an ungrateful omission if I neglected to state that the advantages which the Parsis, in common with the other races of India, now hold, and have long held, are exclusively due to the generous and beneficent policy of the English nation. It is unusual, I might almost say unprecedented, for the conquerors to give the subject so large and honourable a share in the conduct of public questions; but such is the glorious and remarkable character of the English administration of India. There are those who, because they have got much, complain because they have not got more. The Parsis are not of this kind. Satisfied with the conditions under which they exist, they are well content to believe that they hold their own future in their hands, and that time, the great healer of all wrongs, will bring in due course the realisation of all their just aspirations.

In the discussion which followed, part was taken by Mr. Mowat, Mr. Brandreth, Mr. T. H. Thornton, C.S.I., Mr. M. M. Bhownaggree, Mr. Martin Wood, Mr. Foggo, and Mr. Mull.

The Chairman then proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Framjee for his paper. In that he had been compelled to confine himself principally to the Parsis in their commercial relations; but he (the Chairman) might mention that they had distinguished themselves in many other ways; for instance, they had not lately been looked upon as a military race, but yet there was one old gentleman whom he knew a few years ago, who was a very distinguished native officer indeed. His name was Kursetjee Sett, and he was an officer of the Poonah Horse in 1817, and took part in the battle of Koregaon, one of the most gallant actions that ever reflected honour on the British flag and on the native army. For that service he was decorated, and for many years also did excellent service as a civil administrator. He was a man who might be considered as a typical example of what a Parsi could do in the military service if called upon. He could not refrain from again referring to Mr. Framjee's father, who was a great friend of his, as an instance of ability in civil administration. For many years Mr. Dosabhoy

Framjee had been a police magistrate in Bombay, and there were very few towns in which, from the mixture of races, and the number of what might be called the rough element, sailors and others, the duties of a police magistrate were more arduous, or required more tact, temper, and knowledge of the law and mankind. He was sure he expressed the opinion of every citizen of Bombay, both native and European, when he said not only had there not been a complaint of the way in which Mr. Dosabhoy Framjee performed his functions, but that he did so with the universal applause of the whole community. He had intended to say something in reply to the remark of one speaker on the immovability of the Parsis, but Mr. Thornton had entirely disposed of that argument, having pointed out that wherever Western civilisation appeared, its pioneer was the Parsi.

EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE WEST.

VI.—THE MIDDLE-CLASS (BOYS') SCHOOL, COWPER STREET,

CITY ROAD.

On Tuesday, the 12th May, a party of the members of the National Indian Association made a visit to a Middle-Class School in Cowper Street, City Road.

This School was started with the help of funds, amounting to about £60,000, subscribed by the merchants and traders of the City of London, and was incorporated by Royal Charter, 12th June, 1866. The ground upon which the School has been built cost £30,000, and about the same sum of money was expended on the building. It is a very well-ventilated building, with a spacious hall, in which all the boys of the School assemble every morning on arriving, and a nice open playground, although it is situated in the midst of streets. Unlike our Indian Schools, the rooms do not present a puritanic baldness, but are tastefully decorated with maps, pictures of men and events, and some very good drawings done by the students themselves.

The object of this School is "to provide for boys who are destined for commercial pursuits such a liberal course of instruction as will fit them for the work of life, as well as to educate them in those habits of thought and discipline which will best ensure their future success." The course of instruction

includes the English Language and Literature, History and Commercial Geography, Mathematics, Surveying, Writing, Book-keeping, Chemistry, Drawing (Engineering and Architectural), French, and Vocal Music, and the Elements of Physical Science. The students are required to pay a very small fee, at the rate of five guineas per annum.

Dr. Wormell, the Head-Master, took us into every class, and we found the students perfectly attentive to their lessons. The presence of a number of Indians did not at all seem to distract their attention. In an Indian School, the presence of a stranger, specially if an Englishman or an English lady, is quite enough to put a stop to all work, and to throw the whole class into an excitement which takes hours to subside. We saw several of the boys' copies written most carefully and with very great neatness. Orderliness and neatness, which pervaded every class, were the points which at once struck us, as these are unknown in Indian Schools. Not much stress is laid upon the study of classical or foreign languages in this School. The student, for all practical purposes, is required to learn what will help to fit him for his occupation in life; the object of the School being to make him, not learned but practical, not "a full man" but "a ready man." The education that this School offers is so useful, so cheap, and so well appreciated by the English middle classes, that there are at present about 1,000 boys on the roll. Some of the pupils travel daily from a considerable distance in order to avail themselves of the educational advantages afforded here.

At about 1 p.m., we saw the drill in the playground. The boys assembled there, with their mock wooden rifles, and for about half-an-hour had an exercise in drill like soldiers. We can at once see the usefulness of this drill, when we think of the agility that it gives to the limbs, the invigorating change that it offers after a certain amount of mental work, and the to keenness that it imparts to the appetite, which enables the boys enjoy their lunch all the more. A great point is made of physical education in this School, and there is no doubt that in the playground is, in a great measure, laid the groundwork of the moral and intellectual acquirements of the boys. In this respect again our Indian Schools afford us a very painful contrast. They have "all work and no play," and that is the secret of the stupidity which distinguishes our school boys from the rest of their fellow-beings.

Then again, as we learn from an extract of the Report of Mr. J. G. Fitch, one of H.M. Chief Inspectors of Schools, the School is maintained without any corporal punishment. This is a very important fact in regard to teaching. It shows that the disci

pline which pervades the whole School does not have its root in the fear with which the boys regard their masters, but rests upon the golden link of sympathy which exists between the teachers and the taught. The School which can maintain order and discipline without any corporal punishment, and which can, through sympathy, create in young minds a love of work, is certainly the fittest instrument for training up a race of welldisciplined, independent, and manly citizens. Of the many relics of barbarism which still exist in India, flogging in schools is also one. It is supposed that the true relation between a teacher and a pupil is that of a master and a slave. Such is the current belief of Indian parents and Indian masters, and we regret to say that in some of our schools the English teachers, who ought to know better, do not keep up the right spirit.

One thing which struck us very much with regard to this School was the variety of subjects which the course of instruction included. Everything which is at all calculated to draw out the mental faculties of young men is taught there. The education given in this School is not only intended to make the boys clever clerks, but also to serve some higher purposes. While on the one hand it makes them practical, well prepared for every kind of work, it on the other hand helps to create in them an interest, independent of immediate utility, in the higher departments of science and literature.

After seeing this School, we visited the Technical College, which was quite close to it, and of which we shall speak at some other time.

ONE OF THE PARTY.

EDUCATION IN A NATIVE STATE.

The Girls' School at Sawant Wady held its annual prize distribution some weeks ago. We take the account from the Times of India. Colonel Westropp, the Political Superintendent, and many of the Sirdars and leading native gentlemen of this small State showed their interest by being present, as well as some English gentlemen and ladies. His Highness the Sir Desai, and his wife the Princess Tarabai (daughter of Khunderao Gaikwar and of Jummabai, who was Rani-Regent of Baroda before the present Gaikwar was installed), honoured the institution by attending.

The Report was first read. It stated that the School was founded in 1867, by General Schneider, then Political Super