Mr. Mills on Tuesday raised a debate on the merits
of the scheme of examination now adopted for the Indian Civil Service. He thought too many subjects were given, and was inclined to strike out English literature and Oriental languages. Sir Charles Wood, Lord Stanley, Mr. Grant Duff, and most of the Indians in the House took part in the debate, and the general opinion seemed to be in this wise. Competitive examination works very well in the abstract, but there is a tendency to cramming, the subjects are too numerous, their multitude compels lads to leave school too early, and more supervision is required during the two years spent in London between nomination and final appointment. We con- fess we think the general objection sound, and that the new generation runs some risk of being injured by the over-severe and over-rapiclatudy these examinations entail. This defect could, how- ever, be Noisily cured by limiting the range, and especially by striking out all those branches, such as botany, which encourage men to acquire lists of facts, instead of disciplining their powers. Capacity for speed, not pace itself, is the point with colts.
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