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appear little affected , and treat the occurrence in the same manner as the closing in of night , hat wild aninials are usually greatly perplexed and terrified . Mowers close their petals , and reopen thern on tlie reappearance of light , and sometimes dew is Mr Hind , who observed the eclipse of 1 S 51 at Kavelsborg , remarked that during the totality " the entire landscape was overspread with an unnatural sloom , persons around him assumed an unearthly cadaverous aspect ; the distant sea appeared of a lurid , red ; the so uthern heavens had a sombre purple hue , the place of the sun being indicated only by the corona ; the northern heavens had an intense violet hue and appeared very near . On the east and west of the northern meridrian bands of light of a yellowish crimson colour were seen , which gradually faded away into the unnatural purple of the sky , producing an effect which can never be effaced from the memory , though no description could give an idea of its awful grandeur . " Captain Biddulph , another observer of the same eclipse , estimatedthe darkness to be moreintense than that of the preceding midnight , and Mr . Stainstreet was unable to mark the places of the red prominences usually seen surrounding the sun and moon during a total eclipse upon a card on which a circle of four inches -was drawn strongly with Indian ink . Other observers , however , do not seem to have considered the darkness so great . Professor Smyth , at the Island of Bues , states that though the impression of darkness on the senses was that of something darker than the ordinary night , yet that it was not very intense ; that small print could be read , and the marks of a pencil in sketching seen . The phenomena attending the forthcoming eclipse -will not , of course , be so magnificent as if the eclipse were absolutely total , but still some remarkable effects may be expected . A large solar eclipse is a very rare occurrence , and it is much to be regretted that such a remarkable one as that of Monday should take place at a season of the year at which , the weather is so precarious as it is at present . The eclipse may be viewed through one or more pieces of coloured glass—dark blue is preferable . These glasses will so diminish the light of the sun , that it may be observed without pain to the eye . . If coloured glasses cannot be procured , a piece of window glass , smoked over with the flame of a candle , will be found advantageous . Observers not well skilled iu delicate astronomical observations , will do well to follow Mr . Hind ' s advice , aud not attempt' to use telescopes . The principal effects are visible with the miked eye , or with the assistance of coloured glasses—effects which will , most probably , be lost sight of in looking for the telescopic phenomena , which arc very uncertain and difficult of observation . The best position for an observer is , of course , near the central line of the eclipse , and , as before stated , Swindon is considered , to bo the most advantageous point of this line , and one easy of access from London . Persons who aro unable to observe the eclipse elsewhere than in London , should select an elevated position in the outskirts , so as to command a good view of the town and country , and be able to mark the effect of the eclipse on each . The ' Suggestions' of the British Association for the observation of tho eclipse of 1851 will apply in part to this one . The observer is recommended to notico , among other things , whether bushes of light radiato from the corona ; iu what number and direction j whether there are beams iu the direction of tho ecliptic , iu the form of pyramids , with tho buses united at the buu , in tho manner of tlio zodiacal light 3 -whether there ia a red baud of Light near tho horizon or any part of it ; whether any plants ( as the sensitivo plant , the convolvulus , or the silk-tree acacia ) closo thoir leaves or petals ; whether animals appear frightened ; whether dew or fog is formed ; also whether the light of tho sun appears to sweep over tho country ; and whether there in any fluctuation of light on tho ground or on walls , The last appearance is very rcmurkablo , and 1 ms been repeatedly observed . At . about ton minutes before ouo , tho sky will begin to assume- a cliirk-olivo or — -purplo-ti « t 5-thorolouua-will- 'f ? i ow > ' -bliiok-au < . l- « tippeajr ~ vcry near , and some of tho other unearthly and almost supornatural phonoinona attending a tohil eclipse of tho sun will bo exhibited . li is expected that this eclipso will lie very woll obsoryed . It is tho only one which will bo nearly total in England during tho present , century , and tho most ; considerable of any thai will luko place prior to August 10 , Wb 7 . EuANCltt II . BiUxKU .
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SPECIAL LETTERS FROM INDIA . ( IYom a Military Correspondent ^ Nagpore , January 19 , 1858 . I want no sweeping changes ; I have no wish to see a native , however distinguished , thrust with ostentatious liberality into the Supreme or the Legislative Council , or seated on the bench of tlie Sudder Adawlut . There are many more modest situations than these , especially in the judicial department , for which natives might easily be found , who arc much better qualified , in every respect , than ninety-nine out of a hundred of those ' covenanted civil servants , who alone and . all of whom are at present eligible , and all of whom are supposed , by virtue of their ' covenants , ' to be qualified for all appointments , fiscal , judicial , and . diplomatic . I do not wish to see any unqualified person , English or native , placed in any office , or any qualified person prematurely discarded ; but I do wish , that the doors shall be opened to merit , and that the repeatedly enacted provision that no person is to be ineligible to any appointment on account of caste , creed , or colour , shall cease to be a mere clap-trap formula and become a living verity . I don't want to see any grand comprehensive scheme for general education . Government schools and stipendiary instruction attract the wrong sort of people , and cultivate an objectionable breed of priggish upstarts . Do not let us have an unnatural system of forcing , but try to encourage a natural growth . Every one complains that the ' Young-Bengal ' class is superficial iu its acquirements , flipp ' ant and presuming in manners and conversation . There may be some injustice in the general censure , and there are undoubtedly numerous striking and conspicuous exceptions ; but I suspect there is considerable truth in it ; and I attribute these apparently objectionable results of English education , partly to the antagonistic feelings and deportment caused by the almost universally haughty and supercilious manner of our countrymen towards natives , and especially towards educated natives , but in a much greater degree to the fact that English education has hitherto affected the wrong classes . There is no inducement held out to persons of recognized rank and wealth to give their children a good English education . Such persons will not allow their sons to commence life in a position little , if at all , raised above that of a menial servant , with but few prospects of rising , after many years of hunible and laborious service , to tlie rank of a native judge on very insufficient -pay—the highest prize attainableana with no prospect of ever rising to tho level in rank or authority of the youngest covenanted civilian in tho service . Could we induce men of rank by an equitable and reasonablo admission of qualified natives to educate their sons for the higher branches of the public service , we should obtain a class of young men of dignified manners , with considerable self-respect , and with a position in society which would bo some guarantee for their integrity and independence . Such young men would not be inflated by their novel acquirements , they would not bo drawn out of their natural element , but would have a recognized right to associato with English gentlemen , without rtiforenco to that edu- cation which would render them more congenial and more equal aa companions . To tho low-born Baboo an English education , picked up at a Government or a Missionary school , may be his solo dis- tiuction and his sole stock in trade . Ho is liable to bo unduly pufl ' ed-up , and unduly anxious to turn hia acquirements to proiltablo account . To the young man of rank , hia English education is merely an honourable and useful accomplishment tuua means of influence . It must not be supposed that 1 lay any peculiar stress upon this point , much loss that I would exclude any person from employment , or from competition for employment , on account of hia cnate or coiiuoxioua , ^ ju _ lndia- » aiiiy-jnqr . o ^ . Uuiu-JC—wo uld—iur rj England ; but I believe tlint those who can qualify themselves without extraneous aid will in general bo found to bo better qualified , both morally and intellectually , than those who havo boon raised above their ordinary sphere by charity schooling , public or private , by Government scholarships , or ulhor arlillciul machinery . Men of decided aunius , and oven of extraordinary talent , may bo loft to work their way upwards ; , ut loasl the Qavorunutfit
] ] ; , , ; , ¦ , ( ] , , < , has no special faculty for drawing them from their obscurity in their early youth . It is obvious that my firm opinion of tlie expediency and duty of requiring a hi g h degree of pro-( ficieucy in English learning is totally incompatible with the advocacy of any measure for the immediate or speedy admission of any large number of : natives to a higher sphere of action- The greatest eaution would ue necessary at first . The work of a generation cannot be done in a single year or lustrum , but sure foundations cannot be laid too soon . The gradual process of absorption and decay of the old system would allow time for the selection of materials and the solid construction of the new . Even with their present imperfect education and inadequate income , many natives have shown themselves to be able , acute , and upri g ht in the performance of the duty of judge . This is the department of all others in which English officials are found to be the least competent ; and for obvious reasons they must , cceteris paribus—that is , even if equally well trained and practised in legal affairs with the native judges—continue to be inferior tothe latter hi the power of deciding with facility on the trustworthiness of evidence giver * in . the vernacular language of the country . There are brilliant exceptions in favour of the European judges ; but on the other hand there have been , and still are , many flagrant cases of incompetency among them . And I may confidently assert tliat there has never yet been a fair specimen of a first-rate native judge , educated as such an official ought to be , placed upon the Bench . There are native pleaders at Calcutta of first-rate ability , but the salaries and the position offered to native judges are not sufficient to tempt them from their lucrative practice and from metropolitan society . It appears most probable , therefore , that in tlus department the Government would first find an opportunity of manifesting its future policy , by promoting a deserving native to a . high and honourable position . And surely the most safe and most noble gift from the ruler to the subject , the most certain pledge of confidence on the one hand , and the strongest tie of allegiance on the other , is the privilege of having independent and native-born judges . And these respectable and erudite men would be the first to come closely and intimately in contact with Englishmen , and thus initiate that human fellowship between the races without which our mission to the East will for ever remain barren and dark . If we are not there as instructors , why are we ia India at all ? Much as the feelings of the higher class of natives have been embittered against us , the English character is regarded with decided admiration and reverence , v ery many of them are doubtful , many of them are fully conscious of much that is unreasonable , immoral , and degrading in their religions , manners , and customs , such as polygamy , the toreod ignorance and seclusion of women , and the prohibition of a second marriage to widows . They yearn to penetrate the mystery of English honour and loyalty , the decency without restraint , and freedom from that mutual jealousy and enmity which so often distract their own family and sooial intercourse . But whither are they to turn for support ? The abandonment of some very vile custom may involve loss of casto ; and loss of caste is loss of friends and relations . And none but those of high rank aud fortune could hope ( even if they became Christians ) to reoeive a friendly reception from the English . Indeed , so long as tho Government refuses to allow them to rise to positions of respectability , denies them the opportunity of elevating themselves , how can the English community accord them socM rauk P But undoubtedly the great reason after all for this estrangement ia , that so few of them aro fit or congenial companions for us . English education will make thorn so . There is little reason to fear that ; clover , welleducated natives in the possession of official rank aud good saJaries will have any diluoulty in finding their way into society . Nor can it bo doubted that ; tho judgments and opinions of their English friond . s would oxcrciso a groat iufiuouco and control over their public and private conduct It is by hit Discourse with Europeans , by familiarity with tlifir literatuvo 7 lvubi 1 ; s-ot -though 1 ) -ancHasterti > ttti- 'a-groati- ™ - ethical aud social revolution may bo comnioucou . Let us show thorn , if wo aro not nfraid to iuvito comparison , the superior lovo and harmony of our homes , tho simplicity and doceiioy of our manners , aud tho elevating nature of European fiuo arts , ot our employments , studies , aud roorcatious . They will gain by tho lesson ; wo shall not loso by becoming conscious of our true position as examples and instructors , and by tho consequent duty of tvt-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 13, 1858, page 243, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2234/page/3/
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