Minute by Sir F. Currie, April 2, 1850

Minute, dated the 2nd April 1850, by Sir F. Currie

        I cordially concur with the Governor General as to the character of Mr. Bethune's proceedings, as to the propriety of giving every proper encouragement to the important undertaking of endeavouring to introduce female education, generally, among the natives of India, I think the suggestions contained in Mr. Bethune's letter to His Lordship unobjectionable, but care must be taken that the Mofussil officers do and say no more than is set down for them in their instructions, regarding the interest taken by Government in female education and their desire to promote it. If these instructions are carefully drawn and judiciously acted upon, I do not fear the alarm and other evil consequences anticipated by Sir John Littler.

        The natives throughout the country are quite aware that the Government scheme of Education is entirely unconnected with Missionary or other operations with a view to the introduction of Christianity.

F. CURRIE

From: Bureau of Education. Selections from Educational Records, Part II (1840-1859). Edited by J. A. Richey. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, 1922. Reprint. Delhi: National Archives of India, 1965, 58.