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[C. 536.] Price 8s. 4d.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin William Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, - Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin Henry Charles Keith Marquess of Lansdowne, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir John Lubbock, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Bernhard Samuelson, Esquire, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Sharpey, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Professor of Natural History in the Royal School of Mines, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Allen Miller, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Chemistry in Kings College, London, - and Our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Gabriel Stokes, Esquire, Master of Arts, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, Greeting:

Whereas We have deemed it expedient for divers good causes and considerations that a Commission should forthwith issue to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science and to Inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose.

Now Know Ye that We reposing great Trust and Confidence in your Ability and Discretion have nominated constituted and appointed and do by these Presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said William, Duke of Devonshire Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne - Sir John Lubbock - Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth - Bernhard Samuelson - William Sharpey - Thomas Henry Huxley - William Allen Miller - and George Gabriel Stokes - to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And for the better enabling you to carry Our Royal Intentions into effect We do by these Presents authorize and empower you or any three or more of you to call before you or any three or more of you such persons as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration and also to call for and examine all such Books Documents Papers or Records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Our Commission and to Inquire of and concerning the Premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And Our further Will and Pleasure is that you or any three or more of you do Report to Us under your Hands and Seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the Duties hereby imposed upon you) your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify unto Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do.

And We do further Will and Command and by these Presents ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and that you Our said Commissioners or any three or more of you shall and may from time to time proceed in the

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execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents We do hereby authorize and empower you to appoint a Secretary to this Our Commission to attend you whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Eighteenth day of May 1870, in the Thirty-third year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Henry John Stephen Smith, Esquire, Master of Arts, Savilian Professor of Geometry in Our University of Oxford, Greeting:

Whereas We did by Warrant, under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the Eighteenth Day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy, appoint Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin, William, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin, Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne, together with the several Gentlemen therein named, to be Our Commissioners to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose: And whereas since the issue of the said Warrant William Allen Miller, Doctor of Medicine, one of the Commissioners thereby appointed, hath deceased:

Now Know Ye, that We, reposing great Trust and Confidence in Your Zeal, Discretion, and Integrity, have authorized and appointed, and do by these Presents authorize and appoint you the said Henry John Stephen Smith to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to, and together with, the Commissioners now acting under the above-mentioned Royal Warrant.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the First Day of December 1870, in the Thirty-Fourth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

Professor Henry John Stephen Smith, M.A.,
To be a Commissioner for inquiring into
Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty the following First Report:

1. We have heard the evidence of witnesses in reference to the following subjects, forming part of our inquiry, viz. the Royal School of Mines, the Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland, the Mining Record Office, and the Museum of Practical Geology, at present located in Jermyn Street; and also concerning the Royal College of Chemistry, at present lodged in a building in Oxford Street; which institutions are under one head, entitled Director-General of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland and Director of the Royal School of Mines.

2. There is no necessary connexion between the direction of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland and the government of the Royal School of Mines.

3. The Royal School of Mines and the Royal College of Chemistry, which practically constitute one School of Pure and Applied Science, are not organized in such a manner as to enable them to perform efficiently the work for which they were originally, or are, at present, intended. We base this conclusion upon three grounds: (a) the absence of a chair of Mathematics, (b) the absence of Physical or Biological Laboratories in which students can receive practical instruction, (c) the insufficiency of accommodation in the Royal College of Chemistry.

4. The Officers of the Geological Survey are greatly hindered in their work by want of accommodation; for although their number has been quintupled during the last 20 years, the space originally allotted to them has not been increased.

5. The space allotted to the Mining Record Office is already insufficient for the proper reception and arrangement of the valuable series of documents accumulated there; and for the accommodation of the public who desire to consult them.

6. The collections in the Museum of Practical Geology require greater space for their proper display than is at present afforded.

7. In order to provide a remedy for the inconveniences which have been enumerated, we recommend: (a) That the Building in Jermyn Street be given up to the Survey and to the Museum, with the reservation that the Lectures to Working Men be delivered as heretofore in the Theatre; (b) That the building in Oxford Street be vacated by the Royal College of Chemistry; and (c) That the Mining Record Office be lodged with the Statistical Department of the Board of Trade; or, failing accommodation there, in the building now occupied by the Royal College of Chemistry.

8. Without expressing any opinion, at present, as to the policy of Government Schools of Science, your Commissioners, having to deal with the Royal School of Mines and the Royal College of Chemistry as Institutions which have existed for 20 years, and which, during that period, have turned out a large number of well-instructed Students, consider that such steps should be taken as may be necessary to render their Teaching thoroughly efficient.

9. With this object we recommend that the two Institutions be consolidated; that Mathematics be added to the Courses of Instruction now given; and that sufficient Laboratories and Assistance for giving Practical Instruction in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, be provided.

10. The Institution thus formed (herein-after called the "Science School") may be conveniently and efficiently governed by a Council of Professors, one of that body acting as Dean.

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11. We have further heard evidence concerning the Buildings at South Kensington, now nearly completed, and intended for the reception of a projected School of Naval Architecture and Science; and we recommend that the Science School should be accommodated in these buildings. We have given careful attention to the considerations in favour of the retention in Jermyn Street of the Technical Instruction in certain Branches, but we are of opinion that these considerations are outweighed by the great advantages to be derived from concentration.

12. We have further heard evidence concerning the Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, now conducted at South Kensington; and we recommend that the theoretical instruction of that school should in future be given in the Science School, the general instruction in Mathematics, Physical Science, and Mechanical Drawing, thus becoming common to both schools. We also recommend that no additional buildings, and no reconstruction of the temporary buildings at present occupied by the Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, should be undertaken, until a Further Report has been received from this Commission.

13. We have further heard evidence concerning the system of teaching Elementary Science under the Science and Art Department; and we are of opinion that the Quality of the Instruction given under this Department would be greatly improved if the teachers received Practical Instruction in Elementary Science. Such instruction has, indeed, already been given with marked advantage, although only to a limited extent. The Science School will be available for the instruction of many Science Teachers throughout the country; but we reserve for a Further Report any expression of opinion as to the precise character of such Instruction, and as to the conditions under which it shall be accessible.

14. The organization of, and accommodation required by the Science School (including its Technical Branches), and the Royal School of Naval Architecture, will be dealt with in detail in a Further Report.

All which we humbly submit for Your Majesty's gracious consideration.

(Signed)

DEVONSHIRE.
LANSDOWNE.
JOHN LUBBOCK.
J. P. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH.
B. SAMUELSON.
W. SHARPEY.
THOMAS H. HUXLEY.
G. G. STOKES.
HENRY J. S. SMITH.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY:

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty the following Report on the Organization of the Science School referred to in our First Report, and on the accommodation of that School in the new buildings at South Kensington.

1. Your Commissioners recommend that the Science School be represented before the Board of the Science and Art Department by its Dean, as the Royal School of Mines has been hitherto represented by its Director.

2. We recommend that the Council of Professors shall have power, subject to the approval of the Board, to provide for the due maintenance of discipline in the general school and technical schools; the discipline of the students of the Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering remaining under the Principal of that School.

3. We consider that such modifications as to the conditions of admission to the courses, as well as such re-arrangement of the courses as may be rendered expedient by the consolidation of the Schools recommended in the First Report of the Commission, should be considered and reported on to the Committee of Council on Education by the Council of Professors, due regard being had to the maintenance of its character as a School for Special Scientific Instruction. Such re-arrangement should admit of provision being made for the continuance and extension of the instruction given to Elementary Science Teachers during the summer months.

4. With reference to the assistance required by the Professors, we recommend that this subject should also be considered by the Council of Professors, and reported on by them to the Committee of Council on Education, due regard being had to the necessity of practical instruction, and to the suggestion in the previous paragraph concerning the instruction to be given to Science Teachers.

5. Your Commissioners find that the new buildings at South Kensington will afford sufficient space as regards lecture theatres, class rooms, and laboratories, for the theoretical and practical instruction of a large accession of students. A Committee of Your Commissioners have inspected the new buildings with special reference to the accommodation that will be afforded, and the Secretary, at their request, has applied to the several Professors for information as to the space that they require.

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The Committee having reported the results of their inspection and inquiry, Your Commissioners suggest the following general appropriation, considering that the detailed allotment of rooms had better be left to the Professors themselves:

All which we humbly submit for Your Majesty's gracious consideration.

(Signed)

DEVONSHIRE.
LANSDOWNE.
JOHN LUBBOCK.
J. P. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH.
B. SAMUELSON.
W. SHARPEY.
G. G. STOKES.
HENRY J. S. SMITH.
*T. H. HUXLEY.

J. NORMAN LOCKYER,
Secretary.
28th February 1872.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty the following Report on Scientific Instruction in Training Colleges and Elementary Day Schools under the Education Department, and in Science Classes under the Science and Art Department.

1. In dealing with the Scientific Instruction in Training Colleges and Elementary Day Schools, Your Commissioners have, in the first place, enquired what provision was made for such instruction before the introduction of the Revised Code in 1861.

2. With respect to the Training Colleges, we find that instruction in the elements of science was given to students in their second year. The Committee of Council on Education made grants in aid of the stipends of masters specially qualified to teach the elements of science. In some training colleges a sound, though limited, instruction in the elements of some branches of physical science was thus added to the usual instruction in elementary mathematics. In the model schools attached to the training colleges the students were practised in teaching the rudiments of science, chiefly, though not exclusively, in illustration of appropriate lessons in reading and geography, with obvious advantage in the increase of the intelligence of the scholars and of their interest in their schoolwork. Such instruction enabled skilful teachers to make the lessons the occasion of conveying important explanations of natural phenomena, and some rudimentary acquaintance with the most easily understood laws of nature; although neither in the training colleges, nor in the model schools attached to them, were the methods of communicating the rudiments of scientific knowledge by means of systematised object lessons always sufficiently cultivated. The scientific instruction received by the teachers in the training colleges was, however, of great value irrespectively of such use in the rudimentary lessons; for all such knowledge tends to enlarge the intelligence of the teacher, and enables him to give better and more interesting instruction.

3. With respect to the Elementary Schools, we find, as a consequence also of the instruction thus afforded to the teachers, that it was the practice formerly, more generally than at present, in the best of such schools to give, either in separate oral lessons or as parts of the illustrations of the reading lessons, general outlines of physical geography, some of the more prominent facts in astronomy, and instruction in those parts of domestic and social economy which affect the health of families and communities. In some remarkable schools more extensive instruction of this character was given, just as more advanced literary culture was given in others. Under Professor Henslow, for instance, botany was found an excellent method of training the powers of observation and the intelligence. In like manner, in a school comprising, besides the children of labourers, the children of small farmers and tradesmen, Dean Dawes* gave instruction in applied mathematics and mechanics, as well as in some of the elements of experimental physics.

4. It is, no doubt, true that the success obtained in these schools was due to the guidance and the direct personal teaching of men of superior education, having an earnest and even singular interest in the attainment of this result, and a capacity much beyond the average of that of elementary school teachers. We concur, however, in Canon

*See Canon Moseley's Report on King's Somborne School in the "Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education", for 1847-48, Vol. I., p. 7.

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Moseley's opinion that, even without such exceptional advantages, the system pursued in these schools may be conducted by well-trained teachers of average capacity with good effect. Indeed, we have the evidence of highly competent authorities to show that the scientific instruction which was given by ordinary elementary school teachers, before the introduction of the Revised Code in 1861, was in many cases sound and valuable in itself and beneficial to the pupils.

5. In order to show more distinctly the state of Scientific Instruction in Training Colleges and Elementary Schools before 1861, we proceed to give some extracts from the evidence of the Rev. Dr. Rigg, Principal of the Wesleyan Training College, Westminster, and of the Rev. Canon Cromwell, Principal of St. Mark's College, Chelsea.

6. In the earliest schemes of the Training Colleges, arrangements were made that the students should have such a basis of scientific instruction as, in the words of Dr. Rigg, would enable them to give the children in "elementary schools information on various points of science which at that time were not generally taught in the school reading books, and, therefore, could only be done by oral lessons. The subjects were such as these: the structure and habits of remarkable animals and plants, short explanations of various scientific principles involved in manufacturing processes, as, for instance, the construction of some common machines, involving, of course, the principles of mechanics; together with points in physiology, as bearing on the preservation of health; instruction with regard to our own body and its organs; the atmosphere, and other such topics." In order to prepare the teachers for giving such instruction, the promoters of the Wesleyan Training College at Westminster, at its foundation, spent £200 "in purchasing scientific apparatus". " Pure and mixed mathematics "were, up to 1862, taught to an extent about equal to that required for a B.A. degree of the London University. One half of the second year's male students received some sort of systematic instruction in the elements of physics, and the other half in mathematics."

7. The Rev. Canon Cromwell states, that, "between 1851 and 1861, there was a very great change both in the amount of assistance that the Government gave, and also in the character of the candidates who came for admission. The Minutes of 1846 began to tell on the Colleges. Those minutes provided for a system of apprenticeships to schoolmasters all over the country. The cleverest boys in the schools were selected to become pupil teachers. They received special instruction at the hands of masters, and for that instruction the masters were paid a certain sum by the Government. The result was, that the schoolmasters were stimulated to give as much instruction as they possibly could to their pupils, and the pupils came up to the College, in 1851 and subsequent years, with a very fair amount of mathematical knowledge. They came with a thorough knowledge of arithmetic, in all its branches, applied as well as theoretical, with a knowledge of algebra as far as simple equations, and sometimes as far as quadratic equations, with a knowledge of the first two books of Euclid, as a necessary condition of admission, and very often they brought up four books of Euclid, and not unfrequently they came up with some knowledge of Latin. There was here a good foundation upon which subsequent knowledge could be built. Such were the qualifications for admission into the college between the years 1851 and 1861; and during that time instruction was given in applied mechanics, in chemistry, in hydrostatics, and in optics. A laboratory was established, and a regularly paid and competent teacher was employed. Models of all the ordinary machines were bought, and the students were instructed in applied mechanics. Drawing was so taught as to be applied to the arts. The drawing master was an engineer of considerable experience, and a perfect enthusiast in the way of practical education." "I should say that in the year 1854, at the representation, I think, of Canon Moseley, who was once Professor of Mathematics at King's College, special encouragement was given to the teaching of applied science in Normal Colleges, by the establishment of lectureships for competent instructors, and those lectureships could not be obtained unless the lecturers passed a special examination before, I think, the Civil Service Commissioners. Every lecturer who did so pass (for instance, in chemistry, or in applied mechanics, or in any other subject of science) received £100 a year from Government, in addition to the salary which he received from the Council or Committee of his College. That grant gave a very great stimulus to scientific instruction in the various Colleges. That £100 a year was not paid, however, unless the lecturer continued to give satisfaction at the annual inspection of the College by one of Her Majesty's Inspectors. One of the Inspectors during a part of that period was Professor Moseley, and during the other part of that period Bishop Temple was Inspector."

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These lecturers "taught solely in the College, and it was a condition they should have a fair salary from the College as well as the £100 augmentation from the Government." "A College of 30 could not have more than one lecturer, and a College of 100 not more than three lecturers."

8. We now proceed to consider the influence of the Revised Code of 1861, which introduced the system of individual examination, proposed in the Minute of 1853. While we approve the principle that the grants to schools should be determined to a considerable extent by the results of individual examination, we are of opinion that the limitation of such examination to the subjects of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic unfortunately narrowed the instruction given in Elementary Schools; and that this change, together with the lower standard adopted in the training and examination of Pupil Teachers, and the curtailment of the Syllabus of the Training Colleges, exercised a prejudicial effect on the education of the country.

9. Dr. Rigg observes that "if the Revised Code is considered to be identified merely with the principle of individual examination in schools, I do not doubt that, from the principle of individual examination in schools, very good results have followed; but that principle was recommended before the Revised Code was in existence." It had been previously recommended "that a certain proportion of the grant should be made dependent on individual examination", and a Minute had been drawn for that purpose in 1853, but not carried out; "therefore, I do not consider that the principle of payment after ascertainment of results was really the principle of the Revised Code. I think that the principle of the Revised Code was to restrict education as far as possible within the limits of those particular subjects on which payment was made. That was the governing principle of the Revised Code, especially as originally propounded in Parliament, and to discourage everything in the nature of higher education, and broader education, and deeper education; that it looked, in fact, to mechanical instruction in what are considered the three principal rudimentary branches. I have no doubt at all that many children were more or less neglected, and that in order to cure that, individual examination was necessary; but I believe that individual examination might have been had without the general spirit and scope of the Revised Code."

Dr. Rigg also expresses his opinion that the tendency of the Revised Code was to compress the school age within very narrow limits, to discourage children attending school after 10 or 11 years of age, and to restrict the education of the children within hard and narrow lines."

10. The same witness also states, that though, between 1862 and 1867, scientific instruction was never given up in the Training Colleges, "there is no doubt that from 1862 everything suffered; our infant school processes suffered, and everything suffered more or less, perhaps owing as much to panic as to anything else; but many things were sacrificed in, I do not say the majority, but in a considerable proportion, of our schools, to what were considered to be paying results."

11. Canon Cromwell confirms this evidence by stating, "that before 1861 the inspectors were called upon to inspect in all the subjects which were taught in a school; but after 1861, as a rule, they did not examine except in those subjects which were prescribed by the Code of 1861 and 1862 reading, writing, and arithmetic, and some religious knowledge. That change caused the schoolmasters to cease from giving instruction in extra subjects."

12. In reference to Pupil Teachers and Training Colleges, Canon Cromwell states: In the year 1861 a great change took place. The amount of instruction encouraged and paid for in the Training Colleges was very much reduced, and those lectureships to which I have referred were all of them abolished. The Government has, for many years past, been in the habit of drawing up a Syllabus of the course of instruction to be followed in the various Training Colleges. That syllabus was very much curtailed in 1862. The special subjects, such as applied mechanics, physical science, and the higher mathematics, were all struck out, and the syllabus was reduced almost to the level that might be attained by a really clever boy in the first class of a good national school. The students were expected to have a certain amount of religious knowledge, geography, history, arithmetic, and two books of Euclid. At the same time, the amount of instruction given to pupil teachers all over the country was also diminished, because no longer were the masters and mistresses paid for giving instruction to pupil teachers, and the result was, that, in

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many cases, scarcely any instruction has since been given. In most of the Normal Colleges, certainly at St. Mark's, and at Durham, where I was at the time, we struggled against that reduction in the subjects of the syllabus. We tried to retain the higher standard as long as it was possible with the students; we taught more things in the Colleges than the Government required; but year by year we found that the pupils who came in were worse and worse prepared, so that, at last, it was almost impossible to give anything more than the Government syllabus demanded."

"The syllabus is almost the same that it has been since 1861. Under it, the pupil teachers, instead of being required to bring two books of Euclid into the College, are only expected to bring up one book, and, instead of being expected to go through simple equations, they are now not expected to have any knowledge of algebra; so that the whole standard, everywhere, from the National School up to the Training College, has been reduced in amount, making it extremely difficult for us to continue the higher style of education in the Training Colleges. The time given to the instruction of pupil teachers in each week was also reduced. Prior to 1861, the pupil teachers were to receive one and a half hours' instruction on five days in the week, or seven and a half hours' instruction in each week; but, subsequently to 1861, a pupil teacher was only required to have one hour a day, or five hours a week. But time was not the only thing that was reduced; the teachers had not the same interest or zeal in the matter, because they were no longer paid as before."

"The pupil teachers might be instructed in the evening school along with the ordinary scholars, and that almost reduced the instruction to the level of an ordinary evening school."

13. The general apprehension inspired by all these changes, rendered the profession of schoolmaster less popular. The education of the pupil teachers was generally impaired, fewer candidates were apprenticed, and the number of those who resorted to the Training Colleges fell off. So that, Canon Cromwell says, "in the spring of 1869, instead of having 50 or 60 candidates for admission, we had, I think, only 34; and the College, instead of having 104 inmates, had less than 80 inmates. The Highbury Training College and the Chichester Training College were entirely closed; and the Colleges at Chester, York, Durham, Culham, Peterborough, and Exeter were scarcely half full. It was the case almost all over the country. The number of pupil teachers fell [at one period] from 13,000 to 6,000."

14. It is right, however, to point out that the consequences to which we have referred have been in part obviated by the operation of the system introduced by the Science and Art Department. So strong was the conviction of the Principals of certain of the Training Colleges, that elementary scientific knowledge was of great value to their students, that, in the absence of any assistance from the Education Department, they prepared their students for the May Examinations of the Science and Art Department, and permitted them to attend those examinations, thus qualifying themselves to earn grants under that Department.

15. Thus, Dr. Rigg, speaking of the Wesleyan Training College at Westminster, says, that "in 1868, 1869, and 1870, the encouragement given by the Science and Art Department had begun to tell so powerfully, that instruction was fully restored in those scientific subjects, and some classes of students in the Westminster Training College were presented for the May Examinations of the Science and Art Department, and there will be a large number of them this year. The subjects selected for such examinations were physical geography, inorganic chemistry, elementary mathematics, and, in part, theoretical mechanics, and, this year, animal physiology. Those were prepared as being in some relation to the ordinary course of training presented by the Committee of Council on Education. The female students attempted nothing more than physical geography. Of course, that includes some instruction about the habits of plants, and about geology, and so forth. Some of the male students took four subjects, but the majority of them took only three."

16. Among the impediments to higher instruction in Training Colleges, besides the restricted range of the syllabus of studies, the absence of sufficient indication of the objects and limits of the examination papers is also the subject of important evidence from Dr. Rigg, and Canon Cromwell. Dr. Rigg represents that the Principals or Committees of Training Colleges have slender opportunities of making any "deliberate representations upon the subject to the Committee of Council". We are of opinion that occasional conferences on the syllabus might be useful, in giving the Department the aid of the practical experience of Principals, of Inspectors, and of Men of Science.

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17. The New Code of 1871 does not affect the Training Colleges except so far as relates to religious inspection, and, from the evidence we have taken, we fear it will practically have little effect in widening the range of the education in elementary schools; that, as heretofore, the grants will, in future, be almost wholly given for reading, writing, and arithmetic; and that little encouragement will be afforded to the study of other subjects, even of history and geography.

18. It is true that grants of 3s each are offered for proficiency in any two "extra subjects", under which term the Committee of the Privy Council on Education include everything except reading, writing, and arithmetic; but no children can earn these grants unless they are presented for examination in Standards IV - VI, and pass a satisfactory examination in two out of the three compulsory subjects. Now, no child can be presented in the first standard until it is seven years old, so that the fourth will not be passed before the 11th year. For children of this age, the standards for the extra subjects, as laid down in the schedule of the New Code (p. 19), seem to us very low. For instance, in geography the requirements are "a knowledge of the chief divisions of the world and of the meaning of a map"; while, in history, the master is instructed to "select some chief event of importance in the history of England since the Conquest, and let the children know something about it in detail." The requirements in the other extra subjects are not more difficult, and we are of opinion that such examinations might easily be passed by children at an earlier age than 11, and that the grants for extra subjects might, therefore, be advantageously thrown open at an earlier period at any rate, to children who are going in for the third standard. Such a modification in the Code could not interfere with the instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic, because the grant for extra subjects is contingent on success in two out of the three elementary subjects. As regards the younger children, also, we consider that Her Majesty's Inspectors should be directed to satisfy themselves that such elementary lessons are given as would prepare the minds of the children for the more advanced instruction which will follow.

19. We now come to the case of the elder children. Those who are presented in Standards IV - VI may offer themselves for examination, and, if successful, will earn the grants of 3s. each offered for proficiency in any two extra subjects. But, on the other hand, it appears to us that the encouragement thus apparently held out is rendered, to a great extent, illusory by the other conditions of the Code. To make this clear, it is necessary to state the manner in which, under the Code, grants are earned. The sum of 6s. is granted for each scholar on account of attendance, and 4s. each for the three subjects, making 12s. for reading, writing, and arithmetic. Thus, each scholar can earn 18s., apart from extra subjects, and as 14s. a head (or 15s. where music is taught) is the maximum payable, it is evident that schools can earn the whole amount without teaching any of the so-called extra subjects.

20. Indeed, it is obvious that if 75 per cent of the children pass in reading, writing, and arithmetic, the school will earn the maximum grant, and, in fairly good schools, this amount of success has been, and we doubt not will be, attained without difficulty. Nor do we think it would be desirable that the standards should be raised in such a manner as to reduce the passes below this proportion; such a course would, we think, tend to discourage both the masters and pupils. The last Report of the Education Department shows* that the existing schools did, in fact, earn last year almost the full grant, without any assistance from the extra subjects, and those schools which are unable to pass the children in the elementary subjects are certainly not likely to be successful in others of a more advanced character.

21. We do not wish to underrate, in any way, the necessity of careful instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic, as the very foundation of education; but we do not believe that the introduction of extra subjects would in any way interfere with it. Mr. Lingen, then Secretary to the Committee of Council on Education, stated before Mr. Samuelson's Committee on Scientific Instruction, in answer to Mr. Dixon,† that those schools in which extra subjects are introduced are most successful in teaching reading and writing; and Mr. Moseley, in his Report on the King's Somborne School, expressed his opinion that the slowness with which children in our elementary schools learn to read

*The total number of children qualified to earn grants was 1,090,611 (1. c. p. viii.). The number presented for examination was 887,041, of whom 810,911 passed in reading, 792,480 in writing, and 707,381 in arithmetic.

†Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee, Qu. 756, p. 40.

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is in some degree to he attributed to the unwise concentration of the labours of the school on so few subjects. With these opinions we are disposed to concur.

22. Although we are not at present prepared to recommend any change in the existing system under which the number of extra subjects is limited and the choice left to the school managers, we trust that the time may not be far distant when it may be possible to introduce a more systematic programme of instruction in elementary science.

23. Meanwhile, we submit that the scale of payments in boys' and girls' schools might be so arranged as to encourage the regularity of the attendance of the scholars; to promote the employment of a sufficient staff of teachers; and to ensure the success of the teaching of the three elementary subjects, while a sufficient reward was given for proficiency in the extra subjects. Even without altering the maximum of 15s., we conceive that scales of payment might be adopted by which it would be possible to afford adequate encouragement to humble rural schools; to increase the general intelligence of the scholars in all schools, and thus to make success in the teaching of the rudiments more certain, while the range of instruction was enlarged, and the standard raised.

24. From a consideration of the evidence we are of opinion that instruction in the elements of natural science can be, and eventually ought to be, made an essential part of the course of instruction in every elementary school.

25. The instruction to which we refer, though scientific in substance, should, in form, be devoid of needless technicality, and should be almost wholly confined to such facts as can be brought under the direct observation of the scholar. It should, in fact, be conveyed by object lessons, so arranged and methodized as to give an intelligent idea of those more prominent phenomena which lie around every child, and which he is apt to pass by without notice.

26. A course of object lessons of the nature here indicated could be given even to the junior classes of elementary schools, not only without in any way interfering with the efficiency of other instruction, but with the effect of aiding the general development of the intelligence of the children; and similar advantages would attend teaching of a like kind, but of a somewhat more advanced character, in the senior classes.

27. Canon Cromwell sets forth the nature and extent of rudimentary scientific instruction which can be given in elementary schools with teachers properly trained. "I know, by experience, that the elements of physical geography can be very well taught almost throughout the school." "Another subject which I find can be generally taught is drawing." "It is very useful because, as we all know, many boys go from the elementary school to various building trades or designing trades", or to "engineers' and machinists' offices". "I should like also to have mensuration taught generally." Also "a certain amount of natural science of an elementary character, remembering that it must always be given in a concrete shape with plenty of illustrations." "I think that boys should be familiar with some of the simple machines and instruments, which could be explained to them by ordinary models, and they should know something of the common properties of matter - chemical attraction, capillary attraction, and so forth."

28. The scientific instruction thus afforded would, within the narrow limits to which it extends, give a sound acquaintance with the elements of physical science. It would, therefore, possess very considerable intrinsic value, especially in localities in which classes under the Science Department have not been established; while in those places in which Science classes are accessible, it would render the additional service of preparing the scholars for them, and thus enable the teachers to raise the standard of their instruction.

29. It is of great importance to remember that in order to render the scientific instruction in elementary schools as successful as possible, the teachers must not only have acquired the needful amount of scientific knowledge, but must also have been carefully trained in the special methods of teaching science.

30. A reasonable hope may be entertained that, as the methods of instruction are improved, and the skill of the principal and assistant teachers increases, the standard reached by very young children in infant schools may be much raised without any undue pressure. Moreover, if some of the principal objects for which the Education Act of 1870 was passed be attained, the greater regularity of the attendance of children at school; the economy of time attained by better teaching, and a larger staff of teachers;

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and the prolongation of the school age; will afford greater facilities for the introduction of elementary scientific instruction in the sense already explained.

31. In any case, there can be no good reason why such Elementary Scientific Instruction as has long been given in the Primary Schools of Germany and Switzerland should not be bestowed upon English children. The Report of Mr. Samuelson's Committee entirely confirms this opinion.

32. The London* and Liverpool School Boards have recently determined to make elementary physical science and social economy essential subjects in all the schools which they provide, and their example will not improbably be followed by other school boards.

33. While we are clearly of opinion that scientific instruction should form a substantial part of the curriculum of Training Colleges, we feel the great difficulty which arises from the present condition of the general instruction in those Colleges, as disclosed by the Reports of the Inspectors for the years 1870-71, extracts from which we have placed in a footnote.†

*The following is extracted from The First Report of the Scheme of the Education Committee of the School Board for London, p. 4.

Battersea "The students of the second year fell below a fair standard of proficiency in grammar and mental arithmetic."
Carmarthen "The students of the second year ...fell below a fair standard in mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, political economy, and Euclid. Their penmanship was also very inferior to what is needed to qualify a good teacher."
Carnarvon "The students of the Second year ... did not pass creditably in ... mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, or school management."
Chelsea - St. Mark's College "The students of the second year ... did not reach a fair standard in mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, and Euclid. Their penmanship, also, judged by the copy setting, was of very low quality."
Cheltenham Training College "The students of the second year ... did not acquit themselves creditably in English grammar, ... mental arithmetic, English composition, and geography."
Chester Diocesan Training School "The examination at Christmas shows that the students ... fell below a creditable standard of proficiency in mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, and economy."
Culham Training School for Masters "The students of the second year ... were below a fair standard in mental arithmetic and English grammar."
Durham Training College for Masters "The students of the second year ... did badly in ... mental arithmetic, grammar, geography, history, and Euclid."
Exeter Training College for Masters "The students of the second year did not reach a fair standard in these subjects: mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, and Euclid. The copy setting (penmanship) of both years was very poor, the second year even being worse than the men in their first year."
Peterborough Training College for Masters "The students of the second year did not reach a fair proficiency in mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, or Euclid. In penmanship neither years did as well as they ought to do for schoolmasters; the second year was in this respect inferior to the first."
Saltley Training College for Schoolmasters "The students of the second year fell below a fair standard in ... mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history. In penmanship they got a very low mark." [footnote continues on next page]

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34. We have recorded the evidence which has been given as to the changes in the conditions of the grants of the Committee of Council on Education which interfered with the efficiency of the instruction of Pupil Teachers in Elementary Schools, and caused the colleges to be supplied with students imperfectly prepared, which deprived them of a staff of special teachers, which curtailed the syllabus, and reduced the standard of acquirements in the examination for certificates. In so far as these circumstances affect the preparation of teachers on subjects other than scientific, they fall within our province only because they militate against the introduction of the elementary forms of scientific

[footnote continued from previous page] Winchester Training College for Schoolmasters "The students of the second year fell below a fair standard in mental arithmetic (although in this subject they gained more marks than many colleges), grammar, geography, and Euclid."
York and Ripon Training College for Masters "The students of the second year fell below a fair standard in mental arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, and Euclid."

Extracts from a Report, for the Year 1870, by Her Majesty's Inspector, Matthew Arnold, Esq., D.C.I., on the Training Schools of the British and Foreign School Society in the Borough Road for Schoolmasters, and at Stockwell for Schoolmistresses:

Borough Road College "For the second year students I find that the weak points are geometry, mental arithmetic, geography, and grammar. Less than 27 per cent reached the mark of fair in Euclid, less than 14 per cent in mental arithmetic, less than 5 per cent in geography, and less than 3 per cent in grammar. The results in these matters with the second year students of 1869 were better as regards Euclid and grammar, slightly worse as regards mental arithmetic and geography. Grammar, mental arithmetic, and economy are the weak points with the first year students this time. ... With the Stockwell students also mental arithmetic is a weak point."

Extracts from the Report, for the Year 1870, by Her Majesty's Inspector, Scott Nasmyth Stokes, Esq., on the Roman Catholic Training School at Hammersmith for Schoolmasters:

"The results of the ordinary examination held in December 1870, show that the second -year students obtained ... moderate marks for history and Euclid; and they were found imperfect in mental arithmetic, grammar, and economy, since in those subjects none got even fair marks."

"The students of the first year ... were judged to be imperfect in mental arithmetic, grammar, and economy."

Extract from the Report, for the Year 1870, by Her Majesty's Inspector, James Cumming, Esq., LL.D., on the Free Church Training School, Edinburgh:

"In considering the tabulated results of the examination in reference to the different subjects of study, the conclusions are partly satisfactory, and partly of a somewhat perplexing if not startling nature. In regard to the most essential subjects, the reading, writing, arithmetic, religious knowledge, and teaching power, the results are generally good, with, perhaps, some deduction in the penmanship of the female students. But according to the table, while in composition 88 per cent of the senior females, and 84 per cent of the junior females, as well as 66 per cent of the junior male students, have passed creditably, not one individual of the senior male students has passed as excellent, as good, or even as fair; the percentage is an absolute blank. A similar result appears as to geography. Such a result would require very anxious consideration and inquiry on the part of the conductors of the institution, and would no doubt receive it, were it not so very extraordinary as to excite the suspicion that there must be some mistake. I am assured that this is not the case, and I can therefore only direct attention to the striking fact."

[title page]

[C.-868.] Price 8d.

[page ii]

[page iii]

VICTORIA R.

Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin William Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, - Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin Henry Charles Keith Marquess of Lansdowne, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir John Lubbock, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Bernhard Samuelson, Esquire, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Sharpey, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Professor of Natural History in the Royal School of Mines, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Allen Miller, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Chemistry in Kings College, London, - and Our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Gabriel Stokes, Esquire, Master of Arts, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, Greeting:

Whereas We have deemed it expedient for divers good causes and considerations that a Commission should forthwith issue to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science and to Inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose.

Now Know Ye that We reposing great Trust and Confidence in your Ability and Discretion have nominated constituted and appointed and do by these Presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said William, Duke of Devonshire - Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne - Sir John Lubbock - Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth - Bernhard Samuelson - William Sharpey - Thomas Henry Huxley - William Allen Miller - and George Gabriel Stokes - to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And for the better enabling you to carry Our Royal Intentions into effect We do by these Presents authorize and empower you or any three or more of you to call before you or any three or more of you such persons as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration and also to call for and examine all such Books Documents Papers or Records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Our Commission and to Inquire of and concerning the Premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And our further Will and Pleasure is that you or any three or more of you do Report to Us under your Hands and Seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the Duties hereby imposed upon you) your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify unto Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do.

And We do further Will and Command and by these Presents ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and that you Our said Commissioners or any three or more of you shall and may from time to time proceed in the

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execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents We do hereby authorize and empower you to appoint a Secretary to this Our Commission to attend you whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Eighteenth day of May 1870, in the Thirty-third year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen. Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Henry John Stephen Smith, Esquire, Master of Arts, Savilian Professor of Geometry in Our University of Oxford, Greeting:

Whereas We did by Warrant, under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the Eighteenth Day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy, appoint Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin, William, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin, Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne, together with the several Gentlemen therein named, to be Our Commissioners to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose: And whereas since the issue of the said Warrant William Allen Miller, Doctor of Medicine, one of the Commissioners thereby appointed, hath deceased:

Now Know Ye, that We, reposing great Trust and Confidence in Your Zeal, Discretion, and Integrity, have authorized and appointed, and do by these Presents authorize and appoint you the said Henry John Stephen Smith to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to, and together with, the Commissioners now acting under the above-mentioned Royal Warrant.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the First Day of December 1870, in the Thirty-Fourth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

Professor Henry John Stephen Smith, M.A.,
To be a Commissioner for inquiring into
    Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty the following Report on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

We have received a large amount of valuable information from persons well acquainted with, and deeply interested in, the progress of Scientific Education and Research within these two Universities; and the evidence thus placed at our disposal contains not only a full account of the present state of scientific study in them, but also much that is suggestive of hope for the future.

In reporting on this evidence, we desire at the very outset to guard against a possible misconception. Our use of the term Science in this Report is limited, by the scope of the duties assigned to us, to the Sciences of Organic and inorganic Nature, including under that general designation the Sciences of Number and Magnitude, together with those which depend on Observation and Experiment; but excluding the Mental add Moral Sciences, as well as all those parts of human knowledge and culture which are not usually regarded as having any scientific character. In dealing with the relations of the Universities to Science, we shall use the word in this restricted sense; and we can refer only in a very secondary manner to the equally important duties which such academical bodies owe to literature and learning, and to education in other than purely scientific directions. Nor must it be supposed that in referring only incidentally, as we shall have to do, to subjects which justly form a large part of the business of a University, we intend in any manner to undervalue them, or even to suggest any comparison between the place which they occupy in University Education and that which has hitherto been assigned, or which ought hereafter to he assigned, to training in the methods of Science. Least of all should we wish to imply that there is any antagonism between the literary and scientific branches of education and research; it is rather our conviction that neither branch can be neglected without grave detriment to the other; and that a University in which the Mathematician, the Experimental Philosopher, and the Biologist are actively engaged in the endeavour to advance human knowledge in their own provinces, is not on that account less likely to be productive of original labours in the fields of Literature and Learning.

For the sake of convenience we have classified the subjects referred to in the evidence under the following heads:

I. The Courses of Study and the Examinations.
II. The Professoriate.
III. The Scientific Institutions within the Universities.
IV. The Colleges.
V. The Relation Of the Universities to Technical Education, and to Education for Scientific Professions.
VI. The Duty of the Universities and the Colleges with regard to the Advancement of Science.

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1. Neither at Oxford nor at Cambridge is there at present any University Matriculation Examination. At Oxford, its place is usually supplied by a College Entrance Examination, of which the subjects to a certain extent, and the standard to a very great extent, vary in the different Colleges. With regard to the Unattached Students who are allowed to reside without belonging to any College or Hall, the Censors are authorised to impose, and do impose, an Entrance Examination in lieu of that required by the college authorities; it is understood, however, that the standard of the Censors' examination is not intended to be a very high one. At Cambridge, Trinity College stood, till lately, alone in having an Entrance Examination; one has recently been established at Trinity Hall. When there is no entrance examination, the tutors require a certificate of fitness from a Master of Arts of Cambridge or Oxford. The regulations respecting Unattached Students are entrusted by the University to a Board Constituted for the purpose.

2. At both Universities the question has been frequently raised, and it has been brought before us in the evidence, whether it would be desirable to institute a University Matriculation Examination, and if so, what should be the subjects of examination, and what standard of attainment should be required? The question is one of a double aspect, affecting the Public and First Grade Schools on the one hand, as much as the Universities on the other. It is not improbable that the Masters of the Public and other Schools would prefer to see a Uniform matriculation standard sanctioned by the Universities, instead of having to prepare their pupils, as at present, for examinations requiring such various degrees of proficiency as the College Entrance Examinations. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that the advantage which the schools would thus obtain would, so far, at least, as Oxford is concerned, be more apparent than real, inasmuch as those colleges which now maintain a high entrance standard would most probably refuse to accept the University Matriculation Examination in the place of their own severer test; and thus the inconveniences arising from the alleged uncertainties and fluctuations of the present entrance examinations would not really be got rid of; while a new inconvenience would be superadded in the co-existence of two examinations, one by the College and one by the University, both being intended to test the same thing - the fitness of the candidate to enter upon a course of University study.

3. But independently of the well-founded claim for a more uniform and satisfactory test than any now existing of the proficiency of a schoolboy when his school studies are just ending, there appears to be a growing disposition on the part of many Masters of Schools to admit the Universities to a larger share in the direct guidance of school studies than is at present conceded to them. One way of supplying such guidance would be to institute a Matriculation Examination, at which, in all probability, if the Universities should offer no objection, a certain number of pupils would offer themselves who had no intention of continuing their studies as resident students. So long as the older Universities abstain from instituting a Matriculation Examination (or some equivalent examination, such as that which we shall presently propose), they do, pro tanto, neglect the function which is most usefully and efficiently discharged by the University of London, that, namely, of systematising and stimulating education in a large number of schools.

4. It is, however, contended by those, whether masters of schools or others, who are opposed to an organised matriculation system, that the enormous indirect influence which the university curriculum and the later University examinations exercise over the course of school instruction is sufficient for all useful purposes; and that more is gained by leaving to the schools their present freedom, than by attempting to enforce the same course of study upon all. A common objection to a Matriculation Examination is based upon the fear that if the standard were low it would exercise a depressing rather than an elevating influence on the schools; and that if it were high it would be exclusive, and would keep away from the Universities a certain number of students who at present find their way to them. If it were only the careless and the idle who would thus be rejected, the Universities would be by so much the gainers; but there are cases of a very different kind and deserving of much more consideration. A young man may have a fair share of rough untrained ability, but if his circumstances have not enabled him to enjoy the advantage of a good secondary education, he may easily find himself worsted in an examination which ought to be adapted to test boys from the upper forms of the best schools in the country. This objection (which, indeed, would be much weakened, if secondary education in England were more satisfactorily organised than it

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is) might, to a certain extent, be obviated by so arranging the examination as to admit of a certain number of options between different subjects, so that no one would be rejected who could give satisfactory proof of his fitness to profit by academical instruction in any one of its more important branches. It may be mentioned that at Oxford students are usually required by their Colleges to pass their Responsions at the end of the first term of their residence, and may pass it before coming into residence at all, though they may also postpone it for a year. The elasticity of this arrangement is thought to have some advantages as compared with the "hard-and-fast" line of a Matriculation Examination.

5. While we fully appreciate the importance of the Matriculation Examination as conducted at the University of London, which is essentially an examining body, we are of opinion that as regards Oxford arid Cambridge, which are teaching as well as examining bodies, an examination on leaving school, analogous, in some respects, to the Abiturienten Examen in Germany, would be open to fewer objections than a Matriculation Examination on entering the University, and would possess great advantages of its own. Such a "Leaving Examination" could only be established by the co-ordinate action of the Universities on the one hand, and the First Grade Schools on the other; unless, indeed, the duty should be undertaken by Government, in which case the control of the examination would, in all probability, be entirely withdrawn from the Universities. At the present moment the two Universities have expressed their willingness to undertake the examination of First Grade Schools; and with the view of taking immediate action in the matter, a Delegacy has been appointed at Oxford, and a Syndicate at Cambridge, with power to form a Joint Committee representing the two Universities. In the present state of the negotiation, however, it might be premature to assume that the plan will be accepted by all the First Grade Schools.

6. We prefer a "Leaving Examination" to an Examination at Matriculation for the following reasons:

7. The education of a great number of the pupils of a First Grade School ceases when they leave the school. What is wanted in the interest of this large class of boys is an examination supplying not only a standard in accordance with which their school teaching may be directed, but a test whether that teaching has been efficient. A satisfactory standard is supplied by such a matriculation examination as that of the University of London. But, as it must be presumed that only a certain proportion of the senior boys in any school present themselves for matriculation, that examination fails to afford an adequate test of the general merits of a school, because it is applied only to selected candidates from the school, and not to all the senior boys without exception. It might be desirable, in a "Leaving Examination", to allow of more than one standard of proficiency, and it is altogether improbable that the lowest of the standards allowed could be kept as high as the present standard of the Matriculation Examination at the University of London. But, however this might be, the result of a "Leaving Examination" would supply the best conceivable criterion of the goodness or badness of the teaching given in a school, because it would (as a general rule) he undergone by all the senior boys alike, and would place on record the proportion of successes to failures.

8. These considerations have satisfied us that a "Leaving Examination" might exercise a most beneficial influence upon the First Grade Schools, by reaching a class of pupils who never proceed to any University examination at all. But we also conceive that the "Leaving Examination" might be so arranged as to harmonise with the system of University instruction, and might thus be made equally suitable to those students who intend to pursue a University course. It would, we think, be very undesirable to make admission to the Universities depend on the passing of the "Leaving Examination"; on the contrary, we should wish the opportunities of entering the Universities to continue as unrestricted as they are at present. But the "Leaving Examination" might serve to mark the limit between school studies and University studies, so that the student whose performance in the examination had come up to a certain standard, might be supposed to have acquired such an amount of general culture and scientific knowledge as to entitle him, thenceforward, to be left as free us possible to choose for himself among the great lines of literary or scientific study. At the same time we should recommend that a student who should, for any reason, be unable to offer himself for a "Leaving Examination", or who should fail to attain the required standard, should not suffer any disadvantage at the University, beyond that of incurring the obligation to pass an equivalent examination at some later period in his course.

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9. We are of opinion that it is of the utmost importance for the future of scientific education in England, that, in case such an examination should be instituted, those parts of science which are suitable to form part of the education of boys should be fully recognised in it. We feel it necessary to insist strongly upon this point, because any disparagement of science, in comparison with other subjects, in an examination intended for schoolboys upon leaving school, would put insurmountable obstacles in the way of the efforts that are now being made to procure the more general recognition of certain scientific subjects as parts of the ordinary work of a school. Whether, in such an examination, any specified subjects should be made compulsory, or whether, in every case, an option should be allowed between different subjects, are questions which may be safely left to the Universities and the Schools. But we could not approve the institution of a Leaving Examination in which classical or mathematical subjects alone were rendered obligatory, while no similar requirement was made with regard to any part of the sciences of observation and experiment. Such a "præjudicium" against science would not only exercise an influence adverse to some of the best tendencies at present observable in the schools, but would greatly detract from that impartiality which the Universities should endeavour to maintain with regard to all the great branches of human knowledge.

10. As to the curriculum of study to he prescribed to the student when he has once been admitted to the University, there is less divergence of opinion than there is as to the conditions under which he should be admitted. There is a general concurrence among the witnesses, that the student, at an early period of his academical course, should be left free to choose for himself among the principal lines of study, and should not be hampered and distracted by being compelled to pass examinations in subjects having no direct bearing on his own immediate pursuits. Mr. Pattison, indeed, would go further, and would insist on the course of the scientific student being free from the very beginning, without the University requiring him to devote any time to literary studies, or expecting him to pass any examination whatever in non-scientific subjects. He says, "I would propose that when a young man comes up to the University, it should be open to him to matriculate at once as a scientific student; that he should not be checked in that career at any point by a classical requirement; that if he chooses to enter as a scientific student, the University should know nothing of him but as a scientific student, and that it should not throw what I may call a bar in his way by seeing whether he knows anything of Greek or Latin. A young man does not usually come to the University until 18, more usually it is 19, but 18 is the earliest age, and by that time I think that a good school might have laid a sufficient groundwork in literature, either classical or modern, and that there would be quite enough to do in the three years during which he is in the University, to conduct him through a course of mathematics and natural science." Again, to the question if he "would allow a young man who had had no literary training whatever to enter himself on the scientific side in the University of Oxford"? Pattison answers, "As far as the University is concerned, I would have the University take no cognizance of that matter if he chooses to enter as a scientific student. I would have the University take no cognizance of any literary attainments. Whether you should require the schools to certify themselves in any way of a man's literary attainments, is a different question; but I would not have the University put a barrier in his way at the beginning." Mr. Pattison would also dispense with the Matriculation Examination, "in order to avoid the waste of time which now occurs in preparing for subjects which are not afterwards to be studied."

11. On the other hand. Professor J. C. Adams in answer to the question, "You would not wish mathematics and physics to be studied to the exclusion of literary culture?" replies, "Certainly not. I think that literary culture is extremely important, that without it the mind is apt to become narrowed, especially if it be exclusively devoted to material objects, and that in consequence even physical studies themselves are likely to be pursued with less success. I should not, therefore, be at all in favour of establishing separate schools of science where the scientific studies should take the place of literary or of mathematical studies." He does not, however, consider it imperative that classical and physical studies should both be carried on to the end of an undergraduate's course; for in reply to the question, "At a certain period, do you think that classics might be laid aside, and the student's attention might be devoted to mathematlcs and physical science?" he says, "After a certain time, and after a certain amount of culture had been insured, I should be disposed to allow that." From his

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answer to the preceding question it would appear that he contemplated the requirement of the "previous examination" as sufficient. When this evidence was given the regular time at which a student was obliged to present himself for the Previous Examination was in his third term.

12. We have already stated that, in our opinion, it is essential that some evidence of literary culture should be required by the University from every student; and in the interests of science itself we should not be disposed to see the standard of literary attainment which is expected from the scientific student placed at too low a level, rather, we regret that a principle so sound in itself should receive only a one-sided application; and admitting, as we do, that literary cultivation, up to a certain point, is indispensable for the scientific student, we are of opinion that, in like manner, evidence of corresponding scientific culture should be required from the student of Classical Literature or of Theology. The Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford appears to admit that the present system is indefensible, when he says, "It may very fairly be retorted on this plan which I have just suggested, 'then you require Literature as a condition of taking a degree, but you do not require Science'. I should be inclined to require from everyone a certain amount of Science before he took his degree. I should put the different individuals on the same footing in that respect. ... I think I would wish to leave it in this way, that I am prepared to demand Latin and Greek and a fair amount of Science of everyone; but I am not prepared to say, considering the small amount of Physical Science that is at present taught in the country, that I would make the amounts equivalent."

13.Since the greater part of the evidence relating to the Universities was received, the University of Oxford has been engaged in remodelling its Examination System, the general effect of the changes being to carry out, to a certain extent at least, the views laid before us by the Witnesses, and to allow a greater freedom of choice between different branches of study than had previously been conceded. According to the Statute now coming into force, every scientific student who wishes to obtain the degree of Bachelor of Arts has to pass three examinations in non-scientific subjects; the first, Responsions, at the end of his first term; the second, Moderations, at the end of his fourth term; the third, an examination in Divinity (or in substituted matter) for which he cannot offer himself before his twelfth term. If it be admitted that a certain proficiency in both Greek and Latin is to be expected from a University Student of Science - a question on which we do not propose to express any opinion in this Report - the amount required at Responsions and Moderations will probably not be regarded as excessive; while the early period at which these examinations may be passed leaves him free to attend to his scientific work during that portion of his University residence which is by far the most valuable, as being not only the longest, but also the latest in point of time. In fact, if a student pass Moderations in his fourth term, he has two full years before he can offer himself for an examination in Honours; and, if he pleases, he may prolong this period to two and a half or to three years. Nor is this all; for if he has obtained an Honour in any one of the Honour Schools at the Final Examination, he acquires the right to offer himself for examination in any other honour school as late as his twentieth term. Thus, a Student in Natural Science who should obtain a fourth class in the School of Mathematics would have nearly four years, after passing Moderations, which he might devote almost without interruption to his scientific work.

14. As, however, a University course of five or even of four years is of inconvenient length, it would be very desirable for the scientific student to obtain the privilege of passing Moderations as soon as he finds himself prepared for that examination, instead of passing it, as at present, at the end of the first year. The effect of this alteration would be, not to lower the standard of literary acquirement at present expected from him, but simply to give him the opportunity of showing, at the earliest period possible, that he can satisfy the requirements of that standard. The anticipation of a classical examination at the end of the first year not unfrequently altogether prevents a student from settling down with proper regularity to his scientific work; not to mention the obvious tendency of the arrangement to unduly lengthen the course of those students who, at first coming up, could pass both examinations without difficulty. It must be admitted that if this change were introduced, the University would combine, to a much greater decree than at present, the two advantages of maintaining the stringency of its literary requirements, and of leaving the scientific curriculum unfettered, almost from the commencement of the student's residence. But if, as we have already recommended, a "Leaving Examination" should be instituted in connexion with the University, it would seem certain that the most satisfactory mode of securing these two objects conjointly would be to require

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in that examination whatever amount of literary attainment might be thought desirable; so that the scientific student who had shown the requisite literary proficiency in the "Leaving Examination" would find himself absolutely free, except so far as the examination in Divinity is concerned, from the first moment of his entrance to the University, to devote his whole time and energy to his scientific studies. And we are of opinion that any system which does not concede, from the first, this freedom to those students of science who have given proofs of sufficient literary acquirements, involves an interference with their course of study which in many cases is prejudicial.

15. In the University of Cambridge a wide option as to choice of subjects of study on the part of the students already exists. After passing the "Previous Examination" including certain additional subjects for candidates for honours, such students are free to devote themselves entirely to that branch of study in which they aspire to honours; and should they succeed in obtaining them, or even be declared by the examiners to have answered sufficiently well to deserve an ordinary degree, they may obtain their degree without the necessity of reverting to any other branch of study. And the tendency which of late years has existed to allow a student to pass the previous examination at a continually earlier period of his course has culminated in a regulation recently passed whereby he can present himself for examination even in his first term of residence, by a regulation similar to that existing at Oxford, a Student of Natural Science who obtains honours in either mathematics or physics may offer himself for examination for honours in natural science a year later than the normal time.

16. It will be seen, from what has been said, that the arrangements of the University of Cambridge do allow, and those of the University of Oxford might, without much difficulty, be so modified as to allow, nearly complete freedom to scientific students. On the other hand, it is important to bear in mind that, if we except the requirement at Cambridge of Elementary Mechanics, nothing is done, at any part of the course in either University, to exact from all students alike any knowledge, however small, of the elements of the sciences of experiment and observation. Such obligatory subjects of study appear to be viewed with increasing disfavour by the authorities in the Universities. Nor is the reason far to seek. It is found that while work which a student chooses for himself is well done, that which he is forced to do, and does against the grain, is ill done, and is comparatively unprofitable to him. Indeed, if the Universities are left to themselves in the matter, it is much more probable that the literary tests now required from scientific students will be lowered, it may be even beyond what is desirable, than that any now requirement of a minimum of scientific knowledge will be imposed on Students of Classics, or Divinity, or Laws. For a body of teachers to maintain such a requirement would be very difficult, on account of the intense repugnance with which it would he regarded by a large number of the best students. If, in spite of the traditions of three centuries, it has become an open question whether Greek should be a compulsory subject of University education, it may well be considered that it would be difficult, if, indeed, it were desirable, to give an obligatory character to any other study. In all recent changes in the system of University teaching and University examinations, it is impossible not to recognise a tendency in the direction of that complete freedom of study which is so ably advocated in the evidence of Mr. Pattison; nor can we escape the conclusion that this tendency will receive and ought to receive yet further development. We think, therefore, that the literary student should retain a freedom of choice similar to that which we have already insisted on as being of the first importance to the student of science. But, just as we should require the student of science to give evidence, in his "Leaving Examination", of sufficient literary culture, so we should expect the student of literature to give proof of corresponding scientific knowledge in the same examination; failure to pass the examination involving, in the case of both classes of students alike, not exclusion from the University, but only the obligation to pass an equivalent examination at some subsequent period of the University course.

17. Should the Universities ultimately adopt the principle of allowing the student, on his first coming into residence, to choose for himself the branch of study to which he will devote himself, it is earnestly to be hoped that when that time arrives, the state of secondary education in the schools of the country may be such as to enable the student to exercise his choice with intelligence and discrimination. Some opportunity should have been afforded to him, during his work at school, of acquainting himself, to a certain degree, with the objects and methods of more than one of the typical branches of human knowledge. Unless some such breadth of view has presided over the teaching given to the student at school, the best-intentioned youth, when he comes to the University, is only too likely to run on in the old grooves of his school training, and, from the mere influence of habit, to forego the exercise of a well-advised choice between

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the different lines of study that are put before him. It must always be remembered that up to a certain point in the pupil's development, the subjects of education are of necessity compulsory, and must be selected by the teacher for him; and while it is desirable that when this point is once passed, a wide latitude of selection should be allowed to the student, it is of no less importance that the compulsory subjects, in which he receives his previous training, should be rightly chosen for him. It is not easy to see how the Universities can retain any influence or control over that previous training if they allow themselves to become great schools of highly specialized branches of knowledge, without insisting, in the case of all their students alike, on certain elementary attainments which ought to be the common property of all educated men. Such influence and control over secondary education is an important function of the universities, and we are of opinion that they ought to justify their claim to it by requiring certain definite literary and scientific attainments from all their students alike; although it should be left to the student himself to determine whether he will offer evidence of these attainments before entering the University, or as soon after entering it as he may see fit.

18. The separation of the scientific curriculum from the literary one, which, at both Universities, has almost become an accomplished fact, has given rise to the suggestion that in the case of science students, degrees in science might be taken in the place of degrees in arts. So far as the proposed substitution of the degree of Bachelor of Science for the present degree of Bachelor of Arts is concerned, the opinion of the witnesses whom we have examined does not appear to be favourable to the change. While attributing the utmost importance to the independent existence of a scientific curriculum, they regard the institution of separate degrees in science as a matter of very subordinate interest, and as turning, in fact, on the value likely to be attached to a new name in comparison with an old one. Viewing the matter in this light, they apprehend that it might be a positive disadvantage to the science students to give them the degree of Bachelor in Science instead of the old degree in Arts, the position of which, in the eyes of the public, has been established by long lapse of time. Moreover, there is reason to believe that the science students themselves would not care to see a line drawn between them and their fellow students in classics and literature.

19. These objections, however, do not apply to the institution of higher degrees in science, to be obtained only after the ordinary degree in arts. And it has been suggested, though not by witnesses specially connected with Oxford or Cambridge, that the older Universities might, at no very distant period, imitate the example of the University of London, by instituting a Doctorate in Science; requiring, however, that candidates for this degree should not merely show proficiency of knowledge as tested by examination, but should also offer some original contribution to science. We shall return to this suggestion, to which we attach much importance.

20. We are also of opinion that, in addition to the College Scholarships, University Scholarships in Natural Science should be founded at both Universities; scholarships comparable to those which already exist for various branches of classical learning, and, at Oxford, of mathematical science.

21. At Oxford the Hertford Scholarship for Latin literature and the Ireland Scholarship for Greek and Latin, of which the first is accessible to candidates who have not been matriculated for more than two years, and the second to candidates who have not been matriculated for more than four years, have been found of the greatest use in maintaining a high level of Greek and Latin scholarship among the candidates for honours in the University. The same service is rendered to Mathematics by the Junior Mathematical Scholarship, for which candidates can compete until the end of their second year, and by the Senior Mathematical Scholarship, which is intended for students who have already taken their degree. It must be remembered that in the University of Oxford the examinations for honours are not competitive; and although there is no evidence before us to show a desire on the part of the University to abandon its present system, and to adopt a competitive one instead, it is felt that the introduction of the principle of competition by means of the examinations for the University Scholarships, reacts in a most favourable manner upon the examinations for degrees; and that the standard of merit to be expected from a candidate for a first class in the classical and mathematical examinations is maintained by means of the competition for the scholarships at a higher level than in all probability it would otherwise attain.

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22. To carry out this principle with reference to the examinations in science, we should wish to see three University Scholarships offered every year; one in Physics, one in Chemistry and one in Biology. It would probably be desirable to fix the time up to which candidates might compete for these scholarships somewhat late in the academical course. The prospect of obtaining a University Scholarship is so great an incentive to exertion, and the honour, quite apart from the pecuniary value, is so highly prized, that we should expect a considerable impulse to be thus given.

23. In connexion with this proposal it may be proper to mention three Foundations which already exist and which have for their object the encouragement of certain special branches of scientific study: (1) The Radcliffe Travelling Fellowships, of the value of £200 per annum for three years, of which one is filled up every year by a competitive examination in Medicine. Candidates are required to declare that they intend to graduate in medicine and to travel abroad with a view to their improvement in that study; but if no candidate of sufficient merit complies with these conditions, the competition is thrown open to all candidates who have satisfied certain other academical requirements. (2) The Burdett Coutts Scholarships for Geology, of which one is offered every year, the subjects of examination being geology generally, and so much of experimental physics, chemistry, and biology as is necessary for the understanding of geological science. Candidates must have passed all the examinations required for the degree of Bachelor of Arts. (3) The Johnson Memorial Medal, which is awarded once in every four years for an Essay on some prescribed Astronomical or Meteorological subject.

Although all of these foundations appeal to us useful in their different directions, they cannot be regarded as rendering the same services to scientific education which might be expected from the three university Scholarships which we should desire to see founded.

24. At Cambridge the system of arranging the names of those who obtain honours in the various triposes in order of merit renders the competition so keen in the cases of mathematics and classics, for which Honour Triposes have long been established, that in these subjects the additional stimulus of University Scholarships seems hardly required. There are various University Scholarships for Classics, but none for Mathematics, and yet there is no lack of energy in the prosecution of mathematical study. Indeed, until lately the Mathematical Tripos was much more popular than the Classical, notwithstanding the disadvantage at which mathematics were placed as compared with Classics in respect to University Scholarships: of late the numbers on the two lists have been more nearly equal. The Natural Sciences Tripos has not hitherto proved nearly so attractive. We think that until its position is more firmly established, the establishment of University Scholarships for Natural Science would foster its growth.

25. At Cambridge, as at Oxford, certain Foundations exist having for their object the encouragement of Scientific Study or Research - (1) Two Smith's Prizes are awarded annually to the two commencing Bachelors of Arts who are deemed the best proficients in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. (2) The Adams Prize is offered every second year to the author of the best Essay on some subject of Pure Mathematics, Astronomy, or other branch of Natural Philosophy. (3) The Sedgwick Prize is offered every third year for the best Essay on some subject in Geology or the kindred sciences. (4) The pensions charged by Mr. Worts upon his estate for the remuneration of two Travelling Bachelors of Arts, have been converted into a fund from which the University may make grants from time to time, by Grace of the Senate, for the promotion or encouragement of investigations in foreign countries.

Of these foundations the first is so far blended with the Mathematical Tripos that it seems to exert little independent influence; the second and third are rather of a nature to reward study, pursued subsequently to the regular Academical Course, than to operate as a stimulus to undergraduates; the fourth is exceedingly wide in its scope, and rather enables the University to carry out, from time to time, certain desirable objects than acts directly as a stimulus to exertion. Hence none of these foundations, useful as they are in their way, fulfil in any degree the office of a University Scholarship.

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26. Our attention has been especially directed to the following questions relating to the Professoriate:

I. What should be the number of Professors, and with what assistance should they be provided?
II. What duties should be assigned to them, with special reference to the question whether both teaching and original research should be included in those duties?
III. What should be the mode of their appointment?
IV. What should be their emoluments, and how should such emoluments be provided?
V. Should a Council of Science be organized for University purposes?

27. The following is a schedule of the Scientific Professorships in the University of Oxford:

28. Certain older Professorships have now disappeared: thus the Aldrichian Professorship of the Practice of Medicine is now united with the Regius Professorship of Medicine, but although the Clinical Professorship is at present held by the Regius Professor of Medicine, the two offices are not united.

The Tomlins Prælectorship of Anatomy and the Aldrichian Professorship of Anatomy are now united with the Linacre Professorship, their joint stipends being charged with the salary of a Demonstrator of Anatomy, who is also Keeper of the Physiological Collection in the University Museum.

The Aldrichian Professorship of Chemistry was suppressed at the time of the first appointment to the Waynflete Professorship in 1865, and its stipend is now applied to the payment of a Demonstrator of Chemistry.

Besides these two Demonstratorships of Anatomy and Chemistry, the University has also provided a Demonstrator of Experimental Philosophy.

29. The following is a statement of the Professorial Lectures during the Academical year 1872-73.

[title page]

[C.-884.] Price 6d.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin William Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, - Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin Henry Charles Keith Marquess of Lansdowne, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir John Lubbock, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Bernhard Samuelson, Esquire, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Sharpey, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Professor of Natural History in the Royal School of Mines, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Allen Miller, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Chemistry in Kings College, London, - and Our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Gabriel Stokes, Esquire, Master of Arts, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, Greeting:

Whereas We have deemed it expedient for divers good causes and considerations that a Commission should forthwith issue to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science and to Inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose.

Now Know Ye that We reposing great Trust and Confidence in your Ability and Discretion have nominated constituted and appointed and do by these Presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said William, Duke of Devonshire - Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne - Sir John Lubbock - Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth - Bernhard Samuelson - William Sharpey - Thomas Henry Huxley - William Allen Miller - and George Gabriel Stokes - to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And for the better enabling you to carry Our Royal Intentions into effect We do by these Presents authorize and empower you or any three or more of you to call before you or any three or more of you such persons as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration and also to call for and examine all such Books Documents Papers or Records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Our Commission and to Inquire of and concerning the Premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And our further Will and Pleasure is that you or any three or more of you do Report to Us under your Hands and Seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the Duties hereby imposed upon you) your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify unto Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do.

And We do further Will and Command and by these Presents ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and that you Our said Commissioners or any three or more of you shall and may from time to time proceed in the

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execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents We do hereby authorize and empower you to appoint a Secretary to this Our Commission to attend you whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Eighteenth day of May 1870, in the Thirty-third year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Henry John Stephen Smith, Esquire, Master of Arts, Savilian Professor of Geometry in Our University of Oxford, Greeting:

Whereas We did by Warrant, under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the Eighteenth Day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy, appoint Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin, William, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin, Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne, together with the several Gentlemen therein named, to be Our Commissioners to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose: And whereas since the issue of the said Warrant William Allen Miller, Doctor of Medicine, one of the Commissioners thereby appointed, hath deceased:

Now Know Ye, that We, reposing great Trust and Confidence in Your Zeal, Discretion, and Integrity, have authorized and appointed, and do by these Presents authorize and appoint you the said Henry John Stephen Smith to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to, and together with, the Commissioners now acting under the above-mentioned Royal Warrant.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the First Day of December 1870, in the Thirty-Fourth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

Professor Henry John Stephen Smith, M.A.,
To be a Commissioner for inquiring into
Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science.

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MAY IT PLEASE Y OUR MAJESTY,

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty the following Report respecting the National Scientific Museums and Collections and the Scientific Portions of the National Museums of a General Character.

For the sake of convenience we have classified the subjects referred to in the Evidence under the following heads:

I. The British Museum.
II. The Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
III. The National Botanical Collections and Gardens
IV. The Museum of Practical Geology.
V. The South Kensington Museum, and its Branch Museum at Bethnal Green.
VI. Other Scientific Collections.
VII. Public Lectures in connection with Museums.

1. Our Inquiries concerning the British Museum have had reference mainly to the Natural History Collections (including the Mineralogical Collection), which, it has been determined, are to be transferred to a new Building now being erected for their reception at South Kensington.

2. The British Museum is Governed by a Board of Trustees, These are 50 in number: 25 are Trustees ex officio, one is nominated by the Crown, nine are Representatives of the Families of Benefactors, and the remaining 15 are elected by those otherwise appointed.* Among the ex-officio Trustees are the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord

*The following is the Official List of the Trustees for 1873:

Right Hon. Sir David Dundas , Sir Philip de Malpas G. Egerton, Bart., M.P.; Duke of Somerset, K.G.; Right Hon. Earl Russell, K.G.; Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.; Right Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole, M.P.; Viscount Eversley; Right Hon, Benjamin Disraeli, M.P.; Right Hon. Robert Lowe, M.P.; Duke of Argyll, K.T.; Bishop of Winchester; Duke of Devonshire, K.G.; Lord Acton; Viscount Ossington; and Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, Bart.

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Chancellor, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, who are named Principal Trustees, and with whom rests the appointment to all Offices m the Museum except the Office of Principal Librarian, to which the Crown appoints. The remaining Official Trustees are certain Chief Officers of State, with the Presidents of the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries, the College of Physicians, and the Royal Academy. The General Body annually appoint 15 of their number, who, with the three Principal Trustees, form a Standing Committee for carrying on the Ordinary Government of the Museum. The Standing Committee appoint, from among themselves or from the General Body, Sub-Committees for special Superintendence of the several branches of the Establishment, one being for Natural History. The Sub-Committees report their opinions and recommendations to the Standing Committee.

3. The Natural History Collections form four Departments: Zoology, Botany, Geology, and Mineralogy. Each is under the charge of a Keeper or Head, under whom are Assistants and subordinate officers. The whole are placed under a Superintendent, who at present is Professor Owen. His duties are -

(1) "To exercise a general Superintendence over the Departments of Natural History; to transmit to the Principal Librarian the Reports of the Keepers of each Department, accompanied by such remarks as he may think proper for the information of the Standing Committee; to suggest such improvements as, in his judgment, may increase the Scientific value and general utility of the collections; and, within the first fortnight after Christmas of every year, to lay before the Standing Committee an Annual Report on the condition of the Collections under his Superintendence.

(2) To be the Editor of such Catalogues and other Scientific Publications as shall be entrusted to him by the Standing Committee; and to see that they are prepared and printed in a proper manner, and in accordance wIth such directions as may, from time to time, be given to him by the Standing Committee.

(3) To take care that the officers, assistants, attendants, and servants of each Department be regular in their attendance and perform their proper duties; and to report every omission in this respect to the Principal Librarian."

5. The Sub-Committee on Natural History, as constituted in 1871, consisted of the Duke of Argyll, Earl Cadogan, Viscount Eversley, the Bishop of Winchester, Sir Philip Egerton, Sir Roderick Murchison, Sir Edward Sabine, Sir James Alderson, and George Annesley, Esq. The Sub-Committee may communicate directly with the Superintendent, the Keepers and other officers, and may make Recommendations to the Standing Committee; which Recommendations, if adopted by that Committee, are embodied in Minutes. These Minutes, as well as other orders and directions of the Standing Committee, are transmitted by the Principal Librarian to the respective Keepers, a copy being also communicated by him to the Superintendent.

6. As we have already stated, all appointments of officers, except that of Principal Librarian, are made by the three Principal Trustees; these, however, have the advantage of learning the opinion of the Standing Committee as to the eligibility of candidates, after that Committee has consulted the Heads of the respective Departments, and deliberated on the matter.

7. The funds applied to the maintenance of the Museum, whether derived from property belonging to the Institution, or voted by Parliament, are entirely under the management of the Trustees. The estimates to be submitted to the Treasury are named under their direction, and the vote is moved by some one of their number who is a Member of the House of Commons.

8. The opinions expressed in the Evidence laid before us concerning the Constitution and Functions of the Governing Body have been widely different. Sir Philip Grey Egerton, who has had long experience as a Trustee, considers that the general or routine business of the Museum is thoroughly well conducted through the Standing Committee, and he would recommend no fundamental change in the Constitution of the Board of Trustees; but he would confine the duty of the General Body of Trustees to an annual inspection of the Museum, and the appointment of the Standing Committee, to whom the whole management of the Museum should be entrusted for the ensuing year. At the same

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time, he thinks that Natural History is not sufficiently represented on the Board of Trustees, and that the defect should be remedied by appointing more men of scientific eminence as Trustees when vacancies occur, so as to keep up a due representation of Natural Science in the Standing Committee; by which, or by a Board similarly constituted, including both men of science and men of experience in business, a Natural History Museum could, in his opinion, be best administered; there being under them a Scientific Head or Director over the whole Natural History Establishment, with a seat at the Board.

9. Other witnesses whom we have examined have generally expressed unfavourable opinions respecting the Constitution of the Governing Body, and especially consider that Science is not adequately represented. In their view it is unsatisfactory that the National Collections should be managed by a body of gentlemen whose time is in most cases fully occupied by other important duties, and the majority of whom are not selected with reference to any special qualifications for such a post. These objections are, in their opinion, but partially obviated by, the appointment of a Standing Committee and Sub-Committees. Moreover, it is held to be singularly inappropriate that the three important Personages who are the Principal Trustees, occupied as they are in the discharge of the highest functions in Church and State, should be burdened with the duty of making appointments to offices of every grade in the British Museum.

10. It has accordingly been recommended by various witnesses that the British Museum should be placed under the direct control of some responsible Government Authority - a Minister of Public Instruction, if such an office be created, or, in existing circumstances, the Lord President of the Council; that the administration of the Natural History Department should be confided to a Director appointed by the Crown and immediately accountable to the Minister; that the Director should be an accomplished Naturalist; that the Keepers of Collections and the other officers of the establishment should be subject to his control and direction; that the different officers, at least those holding the higher appointments, should be appointed by the Minister, on the recommendation of the Director, or after receiving a report from him; and that the Director, with suitable aid, should regulate and control the expenditure and prepare the estimates for the approval of the Minister, to be by him submitted to the Treasury and brought before Parliament.

11. It has been further suggested that in addition to the arrangements above indicated it would be advantageous to appoint a Board of Visitors, who should inspect the Collections at stated times, and, in communication with the Director, acquaint themselves with the working of the Establishment, recording the result in Minutes to be transmitted by the Director to the Minister. The Board of Visitors need not be a large Body, and it has been recommended that, besides men of general accomplishment and knowledge of affairs, it should include Members specially acquainted with Natural History, and that to secure this end, a certain number might, from time to time, be nominated by the Royal Society and the several Natural History Societies of the Metropolis.

12. After due consideration of the question, Your Commissioners are of opinion that the objections to the present System of Government of the British Museum by a Board of Trustees, as at present constituted, so far as relates to the Natural History Collections, are well founded; and we have been unable to discover that the system is attended by any compensating advantages.

13. We accordingly recommend that the occasion of the removal of those Collections to a separate building in a different locality should be taken advantage of to effect a change in the Governing Authority and Official Administration of the Natural History Division of the Museum, in the sense indicated by several of the witnesses.

We further recommend -

14. That a Director of the National Collections of the Natural History Department should be appointed by the Crown, and should have the entire Administration of the Establishment, under the control of a Minister of State, to whom he should be immediately responsible; that the Keepers of Collections should be responsible to the Director; that the appointments (if Keepers and other Scientific Officers should be made by the Minister after communication with the Director and with the Board of Visitors (herein-after referred to); and that the Director should prepare the Estimates

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to be submitted, after consultation with the Board of Visitors, for the approval of the Minister.

15. That the present Superintendent be the first Director.

16. That a Board of Visitors be constituted. That this Board be nominated in part by the Crown, in part by the Royal and certain other Scientific Societies of the Metropolis, and, in the first instance, in part also by the Board of Trustees; that the Members be appointed for a limited period, but be re-eligible; that the Board of Visitors should make Annual Reports to the Minister, to be laid before Parliament, on the Condition, Management, and Requirements of the Museum; and that they should be empowered to give Advice on any points affecting its Administration to the Minister.

17. It is no part of the duty of the Commission to attempt to define the boundary between the Scientific and the Art Collections of the Museum; but we conclude that the Collections to be left in Bloomsbury will have reference, in the main, rather to Literature and Art than to Science, and that the Collections at South Kensington will be exclusively Scientific; we have, therefore, confined ourselves to the question of the Government of the latter Collections.

18. The evidence which we have received, however, leaves no doubt upon our minds that the Banksian Library ought to follow the Botanical Collections to South Kensington, On this point Mr. Carruthers says:

It would be absolutely necessary [to have a subsidiary library, if the Botanical and other Natural History Collections are removed to South Kensington]; and I believe that unless the value of the herbarium were to be greatly destroyed, the Banksian Library will be required to form a portion of that subsidiary library; inasmuch as the Banksian Collection was in continual use while the Banksian Herbarium was being formed, and the volumes that form that library were annotated by the workers in the herbarium, so that if the books were left behind and the plants separated anywhere from the annotations on the books, the value of the plants in their cross references to books would be completely destroyed.

19. The Natural History Collections of the British Museum are not only open to the general public on certain days of the week, but, being intended to supply materials for study and research, are accessible, at certain other times, to Students of Science, specially qualified, for the more minute and elaborate examination of specimens. We consider it of importance that this purpose of the National Establishment should be steadily kept in view, and carried out in the most effectual manner. To this end it is essential that ample accommodation should be provided in the New Building for properly qualified persons desirous of using the Collections for a Scientific Object. With a view to affording increased facilities for this purpose, It has been pointed out by some of the witnesses conversant with the management of Museums, that the admission of students need not, as at present, be restricted to private days; and that, by adopting a certain mode of constructing the cases in which specimens are exhibited, it would be quite practicable to enable Students to carry on their scientific work at the same time that the Galleries are frequented by the Public. The method they propose is described in their Evidence: it consists in making the glazed cases to open at the back, so as to be accessible from the working rooms, whilst they are effectually and permanently closed towards the public Galleries. Without pronouncing an opinion as to the general applicability of this proposal, we think that it should receive careful consideration when the fittings of the new Natural History Galleries are planned.

20. Under the present head we call attention to an opinion expressed by several witnesses as to the distribution of the contents of the Museum best calculated to meet the wants of Students and General Visitors respectively. It is held that the object should not be the display of the Natural History treasures in detail, but rather the exhibition of a Selection of Typical Specimens, adequately representing the several departments, for general study; the rest being reserved, and accessible under appropriate arrangements, for the purposes of special Scientific Investigation. In this view we entirely concur, and we would especially direct attention to the very decided opinion on this question given by Professor Phillips.

21. The Special Collections of Botany and Mineralogy are further referred to in a subsequent part of this Report.

22. This Collection of Human, Comparative, and Morbid Anatomy was founded in the last century by the celebrated John Hunter. After his decease the Hunterian Collection

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was purchased by the Government, and placed in the keeping of the Royal College of Surgeons, subject to periodical inspection by a Board of Trustees, which is kept up by co-optation of new members as vacancies occur. Since the Collection came into the possession of the College, it has been vastly extended and enriched, and is now probably the most complete and best arranged museum of its kind in existence. It is freely accessible to Students; and Lectures to Members of the College, to which any person interested readily obtains admission, are delivered, on Comparative Anatomy, by the Conservator, Professor Flower, and, on surgical subjects, by Fellows of the College appointed to that duty, from time to time, by the Council.

23. For the purchase of the original or Hunterian Collection, and in grants for buildings, the Nation has contributed £57,500 towards the expense of this Museum; but the entire expense of its maintenance and continued extension, amounting to about £2,500 a year, is discharged by the College out of the fees payable by candidates who pass the Examination for the College Diploma; and the aggregate sum which has been thus expended far exceeds that supplied by the State.

24. The Comparative Anatomy Division of this Museum, besides a great Osteological Collection, contains an extensive series of preparations of the internal organs and other dissected parts of animals, preserved in spirits. Preparations of this description are requisite for a well grounded study of Zoology; and as no such series exists in the British Museum, this part of the College of Surgeons' Museum may be regarded as supplemental to it. But although it might seem, on this account, desirable to incorporate the Comparative Anatomy Division of the College of Surgeons' Museum, in whole or in part, with the Zoological Collections of the British Museum, there appear to be serious objections to such a measure. For, in the first place, by far the greater part of the collection in question being the property of the College of Surgeons, a very large outlay of public money would be required for the purchase of it, were the College willing to part with it, which we have no reason to think probable. Again, so large an increase of spirit-preparations in the British Museum would increase the risk of destruction in case of fire; and, lastly, the transference of the Comparative Anatomy Collection to South Kensington would render it much less conveniently accessible than it is at present to Students attending the Medical Schools, who now make use of it.

25. Should the fund at the disposal of the College, owing to changes in Medical Legislation, or from any other cause, prove inadequate for the efficient Maintenance and continued extension of the Museum, we are of opinion that it should receive support from the State as an Institution intimately connected with the progress of Biological Science in this country. At the same time, there seems to be no sufficient reason why it should, in such a case, pass from the custody and management of the College, under which it has so long and so greatly prospered.

26. Two Institutions for the promotion of Botanical Science are at present supported by the State in or near the Metropolis. Of these, one is lodged in the British Museum, under the charge of the Keeper of Botany; the other at the Royal Gardens, Kew, under the Director of the Gardens.

27. From the date of its Foundation in the year 1755, the British Museum has contained a collection of dried plants, the most valuable part of which, at that time, was the Sloanian Herbarium; but Botany is said by the celebrated botanist, the late Mr. Robert Brown, to have been almost entirely neglected in the British Museum, from the death of Dr. Solander, in 1782, until the year 1827. In the latter year, however, the Botanical Collection was made into an Independent Department, of which Mr. Brown was appointed Keeper; and the Banksian Herbarium, devised to Mr. Brown during his life by Sir Joseph Banks, was provided with accommodation in the Museum. The Collections were at the same time opened to general scientific visitors two days a week, and to foreign botanists visiting England five days a week.

28. The collection, as it now exists, consists of -

a. The general herbarium.
b. The British herbarium.
c. Various separate herbaria of historical interest.

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a. The fruit collection.
b. The collection of gums, resins, and other natural products.
c. The general collection, consisting of the larger specimens chiefly exhibited to the public; and
d. The microscopical preparations, illustrating the minute structure of recent and fossil plants.

30 Additions are made to the Collection, by purchase, at the discretion of the Keeper, subject to the approval of the Trustees, and by donation.

31. At present the full staff of the Botanical Department is a Keeper and two Assistants, and its cost, during the financial year 1870-71, was £1,767.

32. With respect to the magnitude and scientific importance of the Herbarium, the Keeper of Botany has expressed the following opinion:

I believe that our British Museum herbarium is unequalled in the world; and that is not only the opinion which I myself have formed, for I am not very extensively acquainted with herbaria abroad, but it is the universal testimony of men who have become sufficiently acquainted with the British Museum herbarium to form an opinion worth considering.

I believe that the British Museum is visited by all the foreign botanists that come to this country. ... I find amongst the foreign botanists, who have been in the habit of visiting the museum, the names of Cosson, Baillon, Triana, and Welwitsch, who have been here during the year 1871.

34. In the year 1838, a Committee was appointed by the Treasury to Inquire into the Management of the Royal Gardens, and that Committee desired the late Dr. Lindley, aided by Messrs. Paxton and Wilson, to Report upon the Condition of the Gardens, and make Recommendations for their future Administration. In consequence, a "Report upon the present condition of the Botanical Gardens at Kew, with Recommendations for their future Administration" was drawn up by Dr. Lindley, and was published as a Parliamentary paper in 1840.

35. According to this Report, the Garden (including the Arboretum) occupied 15 acres, and the collection of herbaceous plants was stated to be then "inconsiderable". The Reporter states that "no attempt has been made till lately to name the multitudes of rare plants it comprehends, and thus to render it a place of public utility"; and, further, "What names are to be found in the Garden have been furnished by Mr. Smith, the Foreman, and the Director [Mr. Aiton] does not hold himself answerable for them. This was most particularly inquired into, and most distinctly avowed; so that by far the most difficult part of the duty of the principal officer - a duty on the perfect execution of which the credit and utility of the Garden essentially depend - a duty which can be only executed properly by a man of high scientific attainments, aided by an extensive herbarium and a considerable library; this most important duty is thrust upon a foreman, paid small weekly wages for cultivating plants, who, whatever his zeal and assiduity may be (and in this case they have been such as to deserve the greatest praise), has no sufficient means of executing such an office."

36. Dr. Lindley recommended that the Royal Gardens at Kew should become public property, and be converted into a National Botanical Garden, and brought into close official relations with the Botanical Gardens of the Colonies; that at least 30 acres should be added to the gardens, and considerable additions be made to the houses; that everything should be systematically arranged and named; that there should be nurseries for the propagation of plants for Government exportation or for public purposes; that gratuitous Lectures should be given upon Botany in a popular form, but not as a regular academical course; and that the most beautiful specimens of the Vegetable Kingdom should be carefully preserved for exhibition. He further urged the necessity of providing an extensive herbarium and a considerable library.

37. The Royal Gardens became public property in the year 1840, and most of Dr. Lindley's other recommendations were carried into effect by Sir William Hooker, who was appointed Director of the Gardens in that year.

38. The Gardens at Kew were unprovided with any public herbarium or scientific library when Sir William Hooker took charge of them. As Dr. Lindley's "Report"

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shows, the naming of the plants was insufficiently attended to by his predecessors. The new and rare plants in the gardens, before Sir William Hooker's time, were named partly by the use of a herbarium in the gardens, which was broken up before their transference to the Nation, and partly by the aid of the Banksian Herbarium.

39. Sir William Hooker brought a large private herbarium (which Mr. Bentham terms the richest in Britain) and library to Kew, and these were increased, at his own expense, until his death in 1865. After his death, the herbarium and library were purchased by the Government at a valuation, and have been added to the public herbarium at Kew, which was founded in 1854, when Mr. Bentham presented his large private collection of plants and botanical library to the Nation.

40. In regard to the work done at Kew at the present time, the latter gentleman, who is one of our most eminent botanists, and who has been for many years wen acquainted with Foreign Botanical Establishments, observes:

1. For the close study of plants - the only sound foundation upon which the science of botany can be usefully established - for their accurate determination and practical classification, the requisites are: that the herbarium should be as rich as possible, not only as to the genera and species, but as to the variations of all sorts and repetitions of the same form from different localities and stations; that the herbarium should be a single one, the geographical arrangement being kept in subservience to the scientific classification, and without any detached smaller herbaria, except such definite historical ones as only require occasional reference like the books of a library; that there should be good accommodation for the sorting of unnamed collections anti fresh arrivals, ample means for the dissection and examination of specimens not only by the staff of the establishment, but also by scientific botanists in general, who, under special regulations, are allowed to work in the herbarium, and store rooms for duplicates required for exchanges, &c.; that there should be in the same suite of rooms as the herbarium a botanical library, as complete as possible, and a series of drawings of plants, also as complete as possible; that the herbarium should be in close connexion with the National Collection of living plants; and that it should be under the keepership of a resident scientific botanist, with the requisite staff of scientific assistants. All these essentials are at present afforded by the herbarium at Kew, in a degree far beyond what can be met with in any other establishment at home or abroad.

42. At present the Gardens occupy 300 acres, and are estimated to contain 20,000 species of plants; and the following Statement of the operations carried on at Kew is taken from a Memorial (signed by many eminent scientific men) presented to the First Lord of the Treasury in 1872.

In no particular does England stand more conspicuously superior to all other countries than in the possession of Kew. The establishment is not only without a rival, but there is no approach to rivalry as regards the extent, importance, or scientific results of its operations. Upwards of 130 volumes on all branches of botany, including a most important series of Colonial Floras, but excluding many weighty contributions to scientific societies and journals, have issued from Kew. To these are to be added guide books and official papers. This vast literature has been produced and published through the efforts of the Directors of Kew, for the most part at no expense whatever to the Nation.

To these labours is to be added the correspondence of the Directors with all parts of the world, a mere selection from which, now bound together at Kew, embraces some 40,000 letters addressed to the Directors, and for the most part answered with their own hands.

During the 10 years from 1863 to 1872 inclusive, the number of living plants sent from Kew to various parts of the world has been doubled, amounting on an average to 8,000 or 9,000 annually. Of seeds ripened at Kew, or obtained by the Director from various parts of the world, the annual average distributed amounts to about 7,000.

Of the practical value of these labours, the introduction of the Cinchona plant into India, Ceylon, and Jamaica, the commercial success of which is established, constitutes one of many illustrations. The introduction of ipecacuanha is another.

n India upwards of 30 gardeners, trained at Kew, are now employed in forestry, cotton, tea, and cinchona plantations; Government gardens, &c., and a far greater number are usefully employed in other parts of the world.

By the joint efforts of the Directors, a series of complete Floras of India and the Colonies was set on foot at Kew, of which those of the West Indies, all the Australian Colonies, New Zealand, Tropical Africa, the Cape Colonies, and British India, are completed or in progress. These are standard works of inestimable value to the countries whose plants they describe, as well as to scientific travellers and institutions in Europe.

Of museums proper, apart from the herbarium, there are three; they were designed primarily to illustrate to the public the uses to which plants are put, by exhibiting specimens that illustrate useful plants; maps showing their distribution, diagrams showing their structure, and specimens of the products which they afford. They are arranged scientifically, according to the natural system, and, as far as we have procured them, all the products of the plants are shown. At the same time it is the receptacle for all specimens that are not fitted to be kept in an herbarium; for instance, there are certain fruits of no known economic value. which are interesting from their structure or from their appearance, but whIch, though they are not of economic value, are placed in the museum, because they could not be put into the herbarium. The arrangement of the herbarium is similar to that of a library. Thus the museums serve a double object. They are ancillary to the herbarium in containing specimens not fit to be placed in the herbarium, and they are instructive to the public, inasmuch as they show the uses to which the plants of all Natural Orders are put.

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44. There is no competition between the Kew and South Kensington Museums; for the Museum at South Kensington consists chiefly of manufactured articles arranged according to their uses. At Kew the fibres used for textile fabrics are arranged under the Natural Order to which each belongs; the European flax going into the case illustrating the Natural Order to which the flax plant belongs, the New Zealand flax under another order, and the hemp under a third; but at South Kensington all the flaxes would be brought together. At Kew little is shown beyond the raw product and one or two manufactured articles to attract public attention immediately to its uses. South Kensington, on the other hand, affords a complete illustration of the uses of Vegetables as applied to Arts and Manufactures, arranged under their applications.

45. The collection of numerous Vegetable Products in the Food Museum at South Kensington is totally different in object from the Kew Economic Museum, and cannot be said to be intended for the promotion of Botanical Science.

46. Besides the Director, who has charge of the whole Establishment at Kew, the Staff consists of a Keeper of the herbaria and library, two Assistants, a Clerk, a Curator of the Museums, and two Attendants, whose pay altogether amounts to £1,792 a year.

47. Three distinct methods of dealing with the two Botanical Establishments now maintained at the expense of the State - the one in the British Museum, and the other in the Royal Gardens at Kew - have been put before us by the witnesses who have given evidence.

1. The first proposal is that of the Keeper of Botany in the British Museum, Mr. Carruthers, who thinks that the best way would be to keep both collections at their full efficiency; but that, if only one great National Herbarium is to exist, it should be lodged in the British Museum., and that Mr. Bentham's collection should be transferred to the British Museum, a second Herbarium of a subordinate character, for use in the Garden and Museum, being provided at Kew. Mr. Carruthers is of opinion that all Collections purchased by the Government, or made at Government expense, should be sent to the British Museum and worked out there, and that the Kew Botanical Library should be transferred to the British Museum.

2. The second proposal is that of the Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew, Dr. Hooker, who agrees with Mr. Carruthers, that the Herbarium at the British Museum and that at Kew should both be maintained in a state of efficiency.

But, in disagreement with the Keeper of Botany in the British Museum, the Director of Kew Gardens recommends that Kew should be the site of the principal National Herbarium; and that it should remain, as heretofore, the centre to which the collections made at the expense of the Government are sent, worked out, and published.

Dr. Hooker further recommends that the Collection in the British Museum should be of a subordinate character to that at Kew, and should be arranged chiefly with a view to Geographical Distribution and to the needs of Botanical Palaeontology.

Dr. Hooker does not suggest the transference of any of the Collections now in the British Museum to Kew; on the contrary, he proposes to recruit the British Museum Collection from that at Kew; nor does he think it necessary that any part of the Library of the British Museum should be transferred to Kew.

3. The third proposal is that made by the Superintendent of the Natural History Collections in the British Museum, Professor Owen, to the effect that the Herbarium at Kew should be altogether transferred to the British Museum; and that it should be the duty of the Director of the Royal Gardens to occupy himself exclusively with Physiological and Horticultural Botany.

48. As respects this last proposal, we have already shown that, in the opinion of Dr. Lindley, Mr. Bentham, Mr. Carruthers (the Keeper of Botany in the British Museum), and other eminent Botanists, the possession of an extensive Herbarium is indispensable for the efficiency of the Kew Establishment. In this opinion we concur, and we cannot, therefore, recommend, as proposed by Professor Owen, that the Kew Herbarium or any portion of it should be transferred to the British Museum.

49. With respect to the first and second propositions, we have now not to consider what arrangement might be theoretically best if the Botanical Establishments supported by the Government were to be organized de novo; but to recognize the fact that two such Establishments have grown up, each of which is doing its own special work efficiently.

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We do not think it advisable to interfere with existing arrangements, which are working satisfactorily, for the mere sake of administrative symmetry.

50. The two proposals under discussion, much as they diverge in some respects, agree in advocating the continued existence of two Herbaria, one at the British Museum, and the other at Kew. All Botanists are of opinion that Kew needs a Herbarium. Dr. Lindley, whose opinion we have already quoted, and than whom there could be no more competent judge, 35 years ago urged the necessity of an "extensive herbarium and a considerable library" for Kew; and the Keeper of Botany in the British Museum expressly speaks of "the great waste of time which would be incurred in consulting a herbarium at a distance". On the other hand, no one has suggested that the British Museum should be deprived of its Herbarium, and the Director of Kew Gardens, as we have seen, proposes to increase that Herbarium.

51. The Keeper of Botany in the British Museum has made suggestions as to the best mode of uniting the two Herbaria, if such a course should be deemed desirable; but he has also stated reasons for the separate maintenance of these two Herbaria, which appear to be so conclusive in favour of that course that we recapitulate them here.

1. "The two herbaria already exist, and are to a considerable extent parallel collections." In other words, the collections are to a considerable extent in duplicate, and, so far, nothing could be gained by bringing them together in one place.

2. "The two herbaria have been under different management, and, to some extent, express different results of the 'close study of plants'. The important bearing of this consideration on Botanical Science in Britain can scarcely be overrated."

3. "The objects of the herbaria are fundamentally different, and in as far as they fulfil their objects they are employed for totally different purposes."

4. "The practical difficulties in the administration of two separate, and, to some extent, independent herbaria would be numerous and serious; and, in the course of time, a condition of things similar to what at present exists would result."

5. "It is not an unimportant consideration that the continued separate existence of these two great herbaria is a great security against their destruction by fire."

6. "The expense of the two herbaria is very small. I am unacquainted with the amount granted for Kew Herbarium, but it cannot greatly differ from that required by the National Herbarium, which amounted for the financial year lately completed to £1,767. I know of no way in which the country can at once advance the interests of Science and encourage its students at a smaller cost and with more important results, than by maintaining in their full efficiency the two Botanical Collections at present existing."

52. In this, as in other cases, we conceive that the State may be asked to aid Science with those Appliances which are out of the reach of private enterprise, and as such we regard the Herbaria at the British Museum and at Kew, each of which, being supported by the State, is as much entitled as the other to the name of a "National Collection". And the evidence which has been laid before us leaves us no alternative but to recommend that these two Botanical Collections, the maintenance of neither of which involves any considerable cost, should not be merged into one, but that both be kept in a state of efficiency, and that the special scientific direction which each has spontaneously taken should be retained.

53. As a matter of fact, the Botanical Department of the British Museum, under its present able Keeper, has inclined in the direction of Botanical Palæontology - a direction rendered particularly convenient and appropriate by the existence of a large and valuable collection of Fossil Plants in the Museum; no less, as a matter of fact, under the late and present Directors of the Royal Gardens, has the Herbarium at Kew become the most complete apparatus for the cultivation of Systematic Botany in existence. It is the centre to which Botanists flock from all parts of the world, and with which Botanists of all parts of the world are kept in communication by a system of Correspondence, of vast extent, which could only have been organized by means of the exceptional physical strength and mental capacity of successive Directors.

54. It may be said that if the Kew Herbarium is to remain a great National Scientific Herbarium, the accommodation to be given to Botany in the new building at South Kensington is excessive. But we do not think that such will prove to be the case. In the first place, we should not be disposed unduly to limit the power of the Keeper of Botany in the British Museum to purchase systematic collections for purposes of palæontological comparison; and, in the second place, it would be highly useful to have a geographically arranged collection in the British Museum as the complement of the purely systematically arranged collection at Kew.

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55. We think it desirable, then, that the collection at the British Museum should be maintained and arranged with special reference to the Geographical Distribution of Plants and to Palæontology; and that the collection at Kew should be maintained and arranged with especial reference to Systematic Botany. And we are of opinion that all collections of recent plants made by Government Expeditions should, in the first instance, be sent to Kew, to be there worked out and distributed, a set being reserved for the British Museum; and that all collections of fossil plants made by Government Expeditions should be sent to the British Museum.

56. It has been suggested to us that some part of the resources of Kew might be advantageously directed towards the advancement of the science of Botanical Physiology, and the Director of the Gardens states that he has "repeatedly urged young experimenters to commence, offering them facilities; but the difficulty with them has always been to give the time and get funds to support themselves."

57. We agree with the Director in thinking that it is highly desirable that opportunities for the pursuit of investigations in Physiological Botany should be afforded at Kew to those persons who may be inclined to follow that branch of science.

58. The Museum of Practical Geology is administered by a Director, who is responsible to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council on Education.

The primary object of this Museum is to exhibit the industrial applications of Geology and the kindred sciences, with special reference to the mineral resources of this Country and its Dependencies; and the Collection of British fossil and rock specimens, illustrating the Geological Survey of Great Britain. The following collections are comprised in the Museum:

(a) Specimens of British building stones, polished marbles and other ornamental stones, used for constructive and decorative purposes.

(b) A collection of British, Colonial, and Foreign Minerals, specially selected for their economic value, or for their importance to the Student of Mineralogy, Geology, and Mining.

(c) A Metallurgical Series, comprising specimens illustrating the smelting of ores and the industrial applications of metals and metallurgical products.

(d) Models of mines and mining machinery, with examples of mining tools; models of ore-dressing apparatus, furnaces, and metallurgical appliances, with geological and topographical models of special localities.

(e) A collection of specimens showing the technological applications of clays, and fully representing the history and present position of British Ceramic Art; with illustrations of manufactures in glass and enamels.

(f) The Palæontological Collections, embracing a large series of British fossils, stratigraphically arranged. .

(g) A Petrological Collection, comprising specimens of the Igneous, Metamorphic, and Stratified Rocks of Great Britain.

(h) A Library of upwards of 20,000 volumes, including works on all those branches of Science which find illustration in the Collections exhibited in the Museum.

59. The Museum is open gratuitously to the public on Mondays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., and on the other days of the week (Friday excepted) from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. during the months of November, December, January, and February; and until 5 p.m. during the remainder of the year, with the exception of one month's vacation from the 10th of August to the 10th of September. It is in evidence before us that the evening opening of this Museum is attended with considerable expense without corresponding advantage.

60. It is evident that the Collections of Minerals in this Museum are closely allied to the Mineralogical Collections of the British Museum, which it is proposed shall hereafter find a place in the New Natural History Museum.

61. In a Paper printed as an Appendix to our first volume of Evidence, Professor N. Story-Maskelyne, the present Keeper of the Mineralogical Department of the British Museum, expresses the opinion that the juxtaposition of Mineralogical and Biological Collections is not now considered so important as formerly.

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So long as the British Museum might be retained in its integrity, or its collections might be re-grouped into distinct divisions at the present locality, the mineral collection would seem to be in its place among them. But when once a separation of a part of these collections from the rest is determined on, the logical position of a collection of minerals in the midst of a series of biological collections assumes a new and very questionable phase.

The division of created things into animal, vegetable, and mineral is no longer exhaustive; it no longer represents the whole world known to science. Organic chemistry and the sciences that deal in organisms treat of certain forms of matter that are organic from one point of view and yet are not organic from another, and even inorganic chemistry deals in substances that can only be called mineral by using the word in what must, even in the present age, be termed an ambiguous sense. The place of a collection of minerals is certainly either by the side of the crystallised products of the laboratory, that is to say, it should aid in illustrating the science of chemistry; or that place is to be found where minerals are most completely studied, technically as well as scientifically, that is to say, where mining is especially taught.

The best and most practical destination for the Mineral Department of the British Museum: under the supposed change in the distribution of the collections , and I think this is equally so, whether the objects embraced in my collection be confined, as at present, to natural minerals, or whether the limits of that collection be enlarged in the manner I have proposed, so as to embrace artificially formed 'mineral' or chemical products. ...

Under any circumstances, a gallery must be built to contain the mineralogical collection, and the cost of building it will not be very different, whether it be associated with the Biological Museum or with the School of Mines. But I beg to place on record, and in the hands of Her Majesty's Commissioners, my strong opinion that the least appropriate destination of this collection would be in association with a Biological Museum.

64. The South Kensington Museum is administered by a Director who is responsible to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council on Education.

65. Though, from special circumstances, the Art Collections of this Museum have been, up to the present time, most developed, it has contained, from its earliest days, several Collections of a Scientific Nature. Those at present existing are:

1. The Food Collection.
2. The Animal Products Collection.
3. The Structure and Building Materials Collection.
4. Models of Machinery, Ships, and Military and Naval Appliances.
5. Collections illustrating Economic Entomology and Forestry.
6. Collections illustrating Fish Culture.
7. The Educational Collections.
8. The Patent Museum.

66. This Collection, which was commenced in 1858, has been formed with a view to showing first, the chemical composition of the various substances used as food; secondly, the sources from which all varieties of food are obtained; and, thirdly, the various substances used for adulteration, and the best methods of detecting them.

A duplicate Collection of the chemical analyses of food is used for circulation among country Schools, and large descriptive labels are supplied to the Managers of country Museums who may apply for them.

67. This Collection was established by the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, who observed that, whilst the public possessed in the Museums of Kew and Jermyn Street Collections illustrative of the Economic Applications of Mineral and Vegetable Sub-

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stances, there was no representation of the uses of the Animal Kingdom. The Collection consists of Animal Substances employed in Textile Manufactures and Clothing; substances used for domestic and ornamental purposes; Pigments and Dyes yielded by animals; Animal substances used in Pharmacy and in Perfumery; and the application of waste matters, together with Illustrations of the Processes of Manufacture.

We have been informed that for want of space this Collection has been but little developed of late years.

68. This Collection had its origin in a large number of models and specimens which were presented to the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 at its close. In 1859 the Collection had become so extensive from gifts, especially from the Exhibitions in London and Paris, that the Classified Catalogue formed a most useful book of reference on the subject, and was largely sold as such.

The Collection consists of the following objects: Building Stones; Marbles and Slates; Cements and Plasters; Bricks of every description; Tiles for roofing, flooring, and wall decoration; Terra Cottas; Drain-pipes; Asphalte and Bitumen; Iron and Metal Work; Woods applicable to building purposes; Glass, and its application; Models of Buildings and Construction; Paperhangings; Papier-maché Work; Architectural Drawings and Plans.

69. In connexion with this Museum, numerous experiments on the strength of materials have been carried on, the results of which have been published in the Catalogues.

70. This Collection consists principally of Models of Marine Engines, Ships, and Guns.

But there are also specimens and models of machinery of a different character, such as the Jacquard Loom, the Whitworth Measuring Machine, and the Babbage Calculating Machine.

71. A Collection of Economic Entomology is now in course of formation. It is intended to enable the public to distinguish insects injurious to man from those that work to his advantage, and to illustrate the best means of destroying those which are injurious, or of mitigating the ravages committed by them.

This Collection, in its relation to Forestry, contains specimens of the various kinds of timber attacked by insects, the insects themselves in various stages of growth, and the appearance of the foliage and bark when attacked. The best known means of destroying the insects are also indicated.

72. This Collection illustrates the artificial breeding of fish, the protection of rivers, methods of capture of fish, &c. All or nearly all the Collection belongs to Mr. Buckland (Inspector of Salmon Fisheries). It is on loan to the Museum.

73. These Collections comprise: 1. A Library of Books bearing on Education in which Education in Science is largely represented, and 2. A Collection of School Furniture and Fittings, Philosophical Instruments, Apparatus for Scientific and other Instruction, specimens and diagrams of Natural History, including Mineralogy and Geology, and other Educational Appliances, such as drawing materials, &c.

74. The origin of the Library and Collections is due to an Educational Exhibition formed by the Society of Arts, and held in St. Martin's Hall in the summer of 1854. When this Exhibition closed, many of the contents, English and Foreign, were placed by the Exhibitors at the disposal of the Society, and a strong desire was expressed that it should become a Permanent Institution. The Collection thus formed was offered to and accepted by the Government.

75. The chief Manufacturers of Educational Appliances and Publishers of School Books have largely contributed, and numerous gifts have been received from Foreign Governments, especially at the close of the Exhibitions of 1862 and 1871. In consequence of

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the great demand for Educational Works on Scientific Subjects, the vote for purchases has of late years been largely expended in strengthening the Library and Collections in this direction.

76. Special Collections of Apparatus for Teaching the various branches of Science have lately been formed. Duplicate sets of these are circulated in the country.

77. The total number of books and pamphlets in the Library exceeds 30,000.

78. A Reading Room, ill-adapted and much too small for the purpose, as it has been stated in evidence, is attached to the Library. It is open during the same hours as the Museum, and is chiefly frequented by students, teachers, clergymen, school managers, and others who wish to consult special books, or to become acquainted with the best Educational Works on the various subjects.

79. In connexion with the South Kensington Museum, but under the Control of the Commissioners of Patents, there is also a Patent Museum, consisting of a Collection of patented and other inventions, ill-accommodated in a building which is much too small for the proper display of the Objects. The Collection belongs partly to the Commissioners of Patents, partly to the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, and partly to private: persons: it contains many most interesting specimens, especially a series illustrating the History of the Steam Engine from its earliest days.

80. We consider it our duty to point out the striking contrast afforded by the British Museum Collections, dealing with Biology, Geology, and Mineralogy; the Jermyn Street Collections, dealing with Geology (Scientific and Economic), Mineralogy, Mining, and Metallurgy; the Kew Collections, dealing with Botany, on the one hand; and, on the other hand, the. Collections in the Scientific Department of the South Kensington Museum (including the Patent Museum), where alone has any attempt been made to collect together, in a Museum, Objects Illustrating the Experimental Sciences.

81. While it is a matter of congratulation that the British Museum contains one of the finest and largest Collections in existence illustrative of Biological Science, it is to be regretted that there is at present no National Collection of the Instruments used in the Investigation of Mechanical, Chemical, or Physical Laws; although such Collections are of great importance to persons interested in the Experimental Sciences.

82. We consider that the recent progress in these Sciences, and the daily increasing demand for knowledge concerning them, make it desirable that the National Collections should be extended in this direction, so as to meet a great Scientific Requirement which cannot be provided for in any other way.

83. The defect in our Collections to which we have referred is, indeed, already keenly felt by Teachers of Science. If a Teacher of any branch of Experimental Science wishes to inspect any Physical Instrument not in his possession, as a Teacher of Literature would a book, or a Teacher of Biology would a specimen, there is no place in the country where he can do it.

84. We are assured by high authorities that, on the Continent, Collections of Scientific Apparatus, when combined with Lectures accessible to workmen, have exerted a very beneficial influence on the development of the skill of artisans employed in making such instruments.

85. Lord Salisbury, in Evidence before us, has stated:

There is another point in which I think that the Government might give an advantage of an educational kind to Scientific Research. It would be desirable, if it were possible, to provide the means of giving Scientific Instruction to Instrument Makers. My impression is that their importance to the conduct of scientific research is scarcely sufficiently recognised by the public, and that it is, I will not say quite, but almost of equal importance, to have highly educated and cultivated scientific instrument makers, as to have highly educated scientific thinkers.

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87. On this point we have received interesting Evidence from Colonel Strange:

What is your opinion as to the need of a museum of scientific instruments, and apparatus, and machines, and tools used in the arts? - I think that that is a very important branch of the subject indeed. I need scarcely allude to the great importance that is attached to that on the Continent. The name of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers will suggest it at once, which is the very best evidence indeed that I could produce. I have often visited it with great interest and profit. Moreover, I believe there are several others in Paris, some of more recent establishment, of the same kind; I look upon that as a most necessary part of any scientific system. No Scientific System can be complete without examples of the apparatus that are being used in all branches of Science, both in England and abroad, and on that point I speak from experience of the great use that such a museum would be. ... If there were a great Museum, such as I suggest, containing all the new developments in instruments, and in machines and tools, to which I could resort, I should be able to introduce modifications with far greater confidence, and it would be an enormous assistance to me individually. I find very few persons who have really studied what I will venture to call the physiology of instruments and apparatus, and such persons would derive very great advantage, I think, from being able to go to an establishment where large collections of apparatus of different dates and the products of different minds were collected together in one view, some of which would contain some desideratum of which they were in search. I think, if they had such a collection to go to, it would materially aid them in the choice of the apparatus that they required, and would tend enormously to advance exact experiments. There is no doubt that some years ago there was no nation that could compete at all with England in such matters, but we have taught the rest of the world, and the pupil has now become somewhat in advance, in many directions, of his master. Also the spread of scientific education on the Continent has tended to the application of more sound principles of construction in such things than with us.

89. That Committee gave, in the following terms, their conception of the nature of the "General Museum of Mechanical Inventions", the establishment of which they contemplated:

It appears to your Committee that the chief purpose of a General Museum is to illustrate and explain the commencement, progress, and present position of the most important branches of mechanical invention; to show the chief steps by which the most remarkable machines have reached their present degree of excellence; to convey interesting and useful information, and to stimulate invention.

Your Committee consider that the principal object of the fees payable under the provisions of the Patent Law Amendment Act, was to provide for the proper working of that Measure, and not for the purpose of increasing the general revenue of the country. Without entering upon the question whether or not a claim exists to have the surplus exclusively devoted to the purposes of the Act of 1852, your Committee are of opinion, that for the future the annual surplus revenue accruing from the operation of that Act, should be so applied to the extent which may be necessary.

92. We consider that this Fund, which is derived in great part from the Applications of Scientific Principles to various uses in the Arts and Industries of the Country, would be very properly spent in bettering some of the conditions on which invention and discovery depend; and we are of opinion that, among the uses to which such a Fund could be most advantageously applied, the Establishment of such a Museum of Scientific Apparatus as that which we contemplate, would rank among the most important; and we are convinced that such a Museum would have a material influence upon the spread of Scientific Instruction throughout the country, and would, therefore, largely foster Invention and Discovery.

93. We accordingly recommend the formation of a Collection of Physical and Mechanical Instruments; and we submit for consideration whether it may not be expedient that this Collection, the Collection of the Patent Museum, and of the Scientific and Educational Department of the South Kensington Museum should be united and placed under the authority of a Minister of State.

94. Whether this union be effected or not, we are of opinion that it is desirable that the Scientific Collections now placed at South Kensington should be subjected to a critical revision with a view to restricting them to such objects as are of National Interest or Utility.

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95. The only Public Scientific Museums and Botanic Gardens besides those already referred to which receive direct aid for their maintenance from the Government are the Edinburgh and the Dublin Museums, and the Botanic Gardens of those cities. The Edinburgh Museum consists of a Scientific and also of an Industrial Collection. The Natural History Collection, formed by the University of Edinburgh, was some years ago handed over to the Government, and was lodged in the same building with the Industrial Museum, adjoining the University, and placed under the general charge of the Professor of Natural History, as Regius Keeper, and of the Director of the Industrial Museum, an officer appointed by and responsible to the Science and Art Department of the Privy Council.

96. Evidence has been brought before us on the Condition and Management of the Natural History Collection so transferred; but as we have been informed that the Education Department had appointed a Commission to which it had committed the prosecution of the Inquiry into the Management of the Industrial Museum in Edinburgh, and that the Commission so appointed had Reported; and, further, that the Department had taken administrative action on their Report; we are of opinion that the further investigation of questions concerning the Management of this Museum has been removed from our hands. We have, therefore, felt it to be our duty to omit whatever passages in the Evidence relating to matters of fact respecting this Museum have been controverted before that Special Commission.

97. The arrangement recommended by the Special Commissioners and adopted by the Government is the appointment of a fully qualified Naturalist, under the administrative control of the Director of the Museum, as Curator of the Scientific Collections; the Regius Professor in the University being relieved of his responsibility as Regius Keeper.

98. The Royal Dublin Society act as Trustees of the Museum of Natural History (including Mineralogy and Geology), of the Botanic Gardens and Botanical Museum, Glasnevin, and of the Library, and are responsible for their Administration. These establishments are wholly supported by public funds, provided for annually in the Estimates of the Science and Art Department. The Agricultural Museum is supported by the Royal Dublin Society out of its own funds.

99. The Institution in St. Stephen's Green, formerly known as the Museum of Irish Industry, has ceased to exist under that name; and the School of Science applied to Mining and the Arts, which was attached to it, has been converted into a Royal College of Science. All the Collections of the Industrial Museum (with the exception of the Portlock Collections of Irish Flora and Fauna, which have been transferred to the Royal Dublin Society) are still retained, and, with the Collections of the Geological Survey, are exhibited in the building in St. Stephen's Green. The Collections comprise objects illustrative of building materials, mining, metallurgy, and fuel; of ceramic and glass manufactures; and of vegetable and chemical products. These Collections are in charge of the Curator of the Museum. The Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland has charge of the Palæontological and Rock Collections: the former has been made by the Geological Survey; the latter purchased, out of the funds of the Museum, to illustrate Lectures and for the use of the Officers of the Survey.

100. Besides the Museums and Collections which receive aid from the Government, there exist in various parts of the United Kingdom Local Museums, supported from independent sources. Most, if not all, of these include Natural History Collections, often associated with other objects, especially with specimens illustrative of Archæology and Ethnology, and sometimes of the Industrial Arts.

101. Some of these are under the government of Municipal Bodies; some are maintained by the inhabitants of the locality, and are managed by Committees or Governors elected by the Contributors; while others are connected with Scientific Societies or Naturalists' Clubs.

102. Certain of the great Towns possess Museums of considerable extent, and arranged with skill and care. We may refer to those of the Manchester Natural History and Geological Societies, which, associated as they now are, with a College possessing an efficient Staff of Scientific Professors, are able to afford important assistance, not only in illustration of their lectures, but also to the independent studies of advanced Students.

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However, even in the case of many of the larger and more important Museums, many specimens are often required for the completion of their series.

103. The Museums of less important Towns are generally very incomplete. They too often consist of specimens unconnected with each other, the gifts of travellers possessing little or no knowledge of Natural History. When they are the result of the labours of some local Naturalist, or of some Provincial Society, they are of exceptional, and sometimes of great, value; but such Collections are rare.

104. It cannot be doubted that Local Museums greatly tend to create and diffuse a taste for Natural History Studies; but if they are to become useful in promoting such studies, and for the purposes of instruction, it is essential that they should contain typical specimens illustrative of Geology, Botany, and Zoology; and, also, as far as possible, a Collection illustrating the recent and fossil Zoology, Botany, and Geology of the district.

105. Museums of this character might be used most advantageously for purposes of class instruction, and for demonstrations by competent scientific persons.

106. In our Second Report, on Elementary Scientific Instruction, we insisted on the importance of more practical Scientific Teaching in Laboratories, and on the illustration by specimens of all instruction in the Natural Sciences depending on Observation. Consequently, we recommended that greater facilities should be given to obtain grants for buildings and for museum fittings [p. xxix. vol. 1.]. We suggested that whenever a Provincial Science School had attained such a degree of efficiency as to be capable of being organised as the centre of a group of Elementary Science Classes, it should be enabled, among other things, to provide a supply of specimens for the illustration or instruction in those classes.

107. In many towns of considerable population, there are no Museums, or only such as are worthless for purposes of even popular instruction. Yet some of these towns are, as is shown by the Evidence submitted to Your Commissioners, well fitted by situation to become centres of Scientific Instruction to considerable groups of population. On the Coalfields a town containing 30,000 or 40,000 inhabitants is, not unfrequently, the centre of a group of smaller towns existing within a radius of from five to ten miles, and, to a great extent, connected by railways. Within this area, the population is often as numerous as from 100,000 to 150,000. If a Science School, provided with Laboratories and a Typical Museum, existed in such a centre, it would exercise a most important influence on the Scientific Education of the District. The Museum would also be eminently attractive and humanizing as a place of popular resort.

108. We, therefore, consider that the Establishment of such Museums, where they do not exist, as well as their maintenance and improvement where they have already been formed, should be promoted by Aid from the State.

109. The aid here recommended might either take the form of grants of money (as has been already suggested in our Second Report), or of contributions of specimens coming into the possession of the Government which may not be required by the British Museum or other Public Collections.

110. We would point out that the latter proposal is in accordance with one of a series of Recommendations made in 1857 by the Committee which assists the Council of the Royal Society in the administration of the Fund for the Promotion of Science known as the "Government Grant". These recommendations were approved by the Council and communicated to the Prime Minister of the day, in answer to an inquiry as to the measures which could be adopted by the Government or by Parliament with a view to improve the position of Science, or its Cultivators, in this country.

The Recommendation in question was as follows: "That duplicate specimens from the British Museum, and other Institutions supported at the public expense, be distributed to Provincial Museums." This was in pursuance of a previous Recommendation to encourage the formation of Provincial Museums and Libraries.

111. A difference of opinion prevails among the witnesses as to the possibility of carrying out this Recommendation. Mr. Winter Jones and others connected with the British

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Museum have pointed out that the number of duplicates or redundant specimens is insignificant, and it appears not to be the usual practice to acquire duplicates, or to accept them when offered as a gift, as such duplicates are looked upon as an incumbrance; whilst the few which are preserved, as being especially valuable, are utilized for exchanges, and are thus to be reckoned as part of the resources of the establishment. It is further urged that the determination of duplicates is a work of difficulty, consuming time and labour, and that were they to be habitually received in large numbers, and were the task of assorting them and distributing them to Local Institutions to be thrown upon the officers of the Museum, the regular business of the establishment would be injuriously interfered with, unless an adequate addition were made to the working staff.

112. Dr. Günther, of the British Museum, a high authority in all that relates to the Management of Natural History Collections, while he is strongly in favour of encouraging and aiding Provincial Museums, considers that the most useful and economical mode of bestowing aid would be by grants of money, to purchase from the dealers in objects of Natural History such specimens as may be required, and he believes that, from the now extended traffic in those objects. there would be no difficulty in procuring in that way all that would probably be wanted.

113. Professor Owen and Professor Maskelyne are decidedly in favour of employing the agency of the British Museum in distributing specimens to Provincial Institutions, and Professor Maskelyne is satisfied that there would be no difficulty in carrying out the plan as regards his own Department.

114. Professor Phillips (Professor of Geology in the University of Oxford), while attaching no importance to the occasional transfer of duplicates from the Metropolitan to Local Museums, considers that it would be quite possible for the Metropolitan Museum to undertake to supply Local Museums with well-arranged Typical Collections, and that the assistance thus afforded would be of great advantage.

115. We are of opinion, on a careful examination of the whole question, that the organization of any systematic distribution of specimens would present considerable difficulties.

116. We consider, indeed, that the authorities of the British Museum should be empowered to dispose, by gift, in favour of Local Museums, of any specimens which may be ascertained to be duplicates, and which can be dealt with by the present Staff. But we cannot conceal from ourselves that, though the extensive Colonial Dependencies of this Country, and its universally diffused commerce, make it the centre to which should naturally flow specimens from every quarter of the world, the organization of the machinery for collecting, naming, and distributing duplicates on any large scale, involves a task far more formidable than is apparent at first sight. So laborious a work could not be imposed on the present Officers of the British Museum; for extensive correspondence would be necessary to secure the collection of specimens, and much time would have to be devoted to their discrimination and classification in Typical Collections. Nor could the distribution of specimens for the maintenance of Provincial Museums be systematically and successfully carried out on such a plan without the aid of Inspectors, charged with the Classification and Arrangement of the Local Collections, and who, thus becoming acquainted with their wants, would be able, in the Department of Collection and Distribution, to provide for the supply of what was locally deficient.

While we thus point out what is the task involved in carrying the Recommendations of the Witnesses into effect, we repeat the expression of our conviction, that, without some method of collection and distribution, or some efficient supervision, Provincial Museums will probably generally continue to he, as most of them now are, very inadequately supplied with specimens, imperfectly arranged, and insufficient to prove in any way a source either of popular attraction, or of more complete instruction.

117 . We recommend, therefore, that, in connexion with the Science and Art Department, qualified Naturalists be appointed to direct the collection of specimens in order to supply whatever deficiencies exist in the more important Provincial Museums; and, also, in order to organize Typical Museums, to be sent by the Department of Science and Art into the Provinces to such Science Schools as are reported to be likely to make them efficient instruments in the instruction of their own Classes, or to form and conduct subordinate classes in the surrounding country, to which specimens could be lent for the illustration of courses of teaching.

118. The Department of Science and Art has already had some experience of the conditions on which grants of Apparatus for Instruction in Experimental Science can be

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usefully made; and that Department would determine under what regulations Typical Museums could be lent, or more permanently founded.

119. Whenever it was seen to be expedient, in accordance with the suggestions of Professor Phillips and other witnesses, to organize a System of Inspection of Provincial Museums, such inspection could be accomplished at little expense. Scientific men, living in the Provinces, would be eminently qualified for the duty of inspecting Local Museums. They would report on their deficiencies as typical collections for purposes of instruction; they would ascertain to what extent they were usefully employed, and whether the conditions attached to the loan or grant from the Department of Science and Art were fulfilled. These Reports would aid the Department in its administration.

120. The possibility of extending the usefulness of the Natural History Collections in the British Museum, by the delivery of Lectures, has been brought before us in Evidence. On this point, we have first to state that, of late years, parties of working men, accompanied by one or more gentlemen who take an interest in their instruction, have on several occasions attended at the Museum, to have the benefit of Demonstrations by Professor Owen and others of the Officers, explanatory of the principal objects in one or more of the galleries. The service performed by the officers is entirely voluntary. This use of the Museum has not been attended by any inconvenience, and has been warmly approved and encouraged by the Trustees.

121. As to the expediency, however, of giving regular Courses of Formal Lectures, the views entertained by highly competent witnesses are widely divergent.

122. Professor Owen, Professor Flower, Dr. Günther, and (with some qualifications) Dr. Sclater, have all expressed opinions favourable to the delivery of "Lectures" by the Keepers or Assistant Keepers of the British Museum, but it is important to observe that these witnesses attach very different meanings to the word "Lectures".

123. Professor Owen understands by this term Elementary Courses of Lectures, open to the public without charge, and of a character adapted to afford Instruction to the Teachers of Elementary Schools, and proposes that 12 distinct Courses of such Lectures should be available to them; each course consisting of 24 lectures to be given by Officers of the Museum.

124. Professor Flower (Conservator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons), on the contrary, understands by "Lectures" Advanced Lectures. The Lecturer is "to select some subject he happens to be working at in his duty of arranging or cataloguing the collection under his care, and to give a short course of lectures on that particular subject". Professor Flower is not of opinion that the British Museum is a proper place for giving Elementary Instruction, and says "at all events the Officers of the Museum would not be the right persons to give it".

125. Dr. Günther (Assistant Keeper of the Department of Zoology in the British Museum) advocates a far more extensive System of Lecturing than either Professor Owen or Professor Flower.

First, a regular Course of Elementary Instruction to Students, such as is given in the Universities, accompanied by practical work.
Secondly, Lectures for the general public, such as are given at the Royal Institution.
Thirdly, Demonstrations of a popular character in the Galleries of the Museum.

127. Dr. Sclater (Secretary of the Zoological Society of London), though in favour of having Lectures at the Museum (or in its immediate vicinity), would not have mere Elementary Instruction given by the Keepers, and thinks it would be "very objectionable" to connect the teaching absolutely with the office of Curator.

128. Again, Mr. Waterhouse (Keeper of the Department of Geology in the British Museum), whose experience as a Curator is as great as that of any of these gentlemen, does "not think it at all desirable" that Keepers or other officers of the Museum should lecture, and is of opinion that lecturing would "interfere very much with their ordinary duties".

129. And Mr. Winter Jones, the Principal Librarian of the British Museum, considers

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that the delivery of lectures "is not consistent with the proper performance of the duties" of the Keepers.

130. Professor Maskelyne (Keeper of the Department of Mineralogy in the British Museum) would preclude Formal Lectures in the Museum, but would allow a Lecturer to meet his class there to illustrate lectures he may have given elsewhere, by demonstrations in the galleries of specimens which, from their size or value, could not be exhibited in his lecture room. Professor Maskelyne considers that if a Keeper has an aptitude, and also opportunities, for delivering lectures, he should be encouraged to do so, but not in the Museum; and he would altogether disapprove of appointing a Keeper simply or chiefly because he was a good Lecturer.

131. With regard to the Demonstrations given in the Natural History Galleries, we are of opinion that though they tend to increase not only the attractions but the usefulness of the Museum, the delivery of such Demonstrations should be in no degree obligatory on the present or future staff of Keepers, and should not receive such a development as to interfere with the discharge of the proper duties of any officer of the Museum.

132. But while favourable to the continuance of such Demonstrations, we are by no means prepared to recommend the institution, in the Museum, of Systematic Courses of Lectures; in fact, on this question we find our opinion to be entirely in accordance with the conclusions arrived at by the Royal Commissioners appointed, in 1847, to Inquire into the Constitution and Government of the British Museum, as stated in the following extract from their Report, page 35.

At Q. 2717, and elsewhere in the course of Professor Owen's evidence, will be found some observations on the expediency of introducing the practice of lectures illustrative of the collections of the Museum. In favour of the introduction of this practice, the instances are cited of the Hunterian Collection, and that of the Jardin des Plantes and other Continental Institutions, We are of opinion, as regards the Museum, that however undeniable the advantages which might be derived from some of its collections, as materials for oral illustration, it would not be desirable either to place these collections for such purpose at the disposal of lecturers not attached to the Museum, or to add to the present duties of its officers the obligation of lecturing. We consider the Museum as essentially a repository for the conservation and arrangement of a vast variety or material objects, from which men of science, literature, and art may derive assistance to their researches. We believe that the task of its superintendence and management, with a view to this main purpose alone, is sufficient to engross the time and the ability of its own officers, and that the full attainment of that purpose might be in some degree hazarded by the pursuit of every adventitious advantage which might appear of possible attainment through the instrumentality of its stores. Without desiring to limit the discretion of the Trustees in dealing with any suggestions of this nature, we cannot take upon ourselves to recommend the systematic adoption of the practice in question, nor to advise that any building in the nature of a theatre or lecture-room should form part of any future additions to the Museum.

134. In accordance, moreover, with the view we take of the proper purposes of the Museum, we are not favourable even to the modified proposal that Lectures should be given in the Establishment by persons specially employed for that duty who are not on the Official Staff; and, indeed, we do not see that any special advantage would be gained by delivering Natural History Lectures at the British Museum; for, as the valuable specimens in the Galleries ought not to be subjected to the risk of rough usage in a Lecture Theatre, and as Special Collections would, therefore, be required for teaching, these might as well be provided and used elsewhere.

135. In considering the question of the modes of turning Natural History Museums to account as places of Instruction, it must not be forgotten that much may be done towards this end by other means than by the delivery of Lectures. By the skilful selection and arrangement of the specimens exhibited to the public; by providing Descriptive Labels instead of the meagre indication of names at present adopted; and, above all, by supplying Explanatory Catalogues suited to the wants of unscientific people, the public might be enabled to teach themselves with as much efficiency as they would be taught by the majority of Lecturers, and with far less trouble and inconvenience than are involved in the Attendance on Lectures.

136. We have formed a decided opinion that Keepers and other Scientific Officers in charge of the Collection ought not to be diverted from their proper business, which

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is the naming, arrangement, and cataloguing of the specimens, by being required or expected to give lectures. The National Collection of Natural History should represent as completely as possible the totality of the forms of animals and plants, both living and fossil; and these forms ought all to be named, described, arranged, and catalogued. The task of bringing the National Collection into this ideal state of perfection is assuredly of sufficient magnitude to occupy for very many years to come the full working power of the staff of Keepers and Assistants.

137. Those whose duty or inclination it is to act as interpreters between Science and the general public should have full opportunity for doing their excellent and useful work; on the other hand, those whose duty it is to instruct the student, not only in the facts, but in the methods of Science, and those, whose no less laborious task it is to discriminate and put in order the endless variety of Natural Objects, so that they may become accessible and useful to the advanced worker, should be enabled to perform these functions without the hindrance and distraction of popular lecturing.

138. The objections, which we have just pointed out to the delivery of systematic courses of lectures in connexion with the Natural History Collections of the British Museum, do not apply with equal force to Provincial Museums, the collections of which are incomparably smaller, are of a different character, and exist for different objects; and we are of opinion that it would be of great advantage for the diffusion of scientific knowledge, that arrangements should be made for giving courses of Scientific Lectures in such Provincial Museums of Natural History as have Typical Collections of specimens, and are provided with convenient Lecture Rooms. These Lectures should be explanatory of the contents of the Museum, and accessible to all classes on the payment of a small fee. But it is not desirable that the duty of giving such lectures should be, ex officio, incumbent upon the Curator, on whose time, especially in the larger Provincial Museums, there are many pressing claims; and, if the specimens are to be largely used for educational purposes, a special collection should be formed for use in the Lecture Room.

139. Again, the objections to the organisation of Systematic Courses of Lectures in connexion with Museums of Natural History do not apply to those Museums, whether Metropolitan or Provincial, which contain Collections of Physical, Mechanical, and Chemical Apparatus; of Geometrical Models; or of Models illustrating the progress of invention in Machinery and in Manufacturing Processes. The objects deposited in such Collections being already fully known, and having simply to be catalogued and kept in order, the work of the Curator is to a great extent mechanical, and his time, if the Collection is not a very large one, would be well employed in making it intelligible, and, therefore, useful, to the public.

140. In accordance with this view, we think it desirable that Courses of Lectures should be given at South Kensington in connexion with the Collection of Physical and Mechanical Instruments, the establishment of which we have recommended. The object of these courses should be to illustrate the progress of Scientific and Mechanical Invention by exhibiting and explaining the improvements from time to time introduced into the instruments and methods employed in Scientific Research, and in the applications of Scientific Discovery to National Industries. The Lectures should not have an elementary character, and should be given, as occasion may arise, by persons selected on account of their special acquaintance with the most recent developments of some important branch of Science.

141. The importance of the question raised by the proposal to organise Courses of Lectures in connexion with Museums, induces us to submit in this place some further recommendations with regard to it. We have felt it our duty to express our disapproval of this proposal, so far as the great National Collections of Natural History are concerned. We also consider it to be indispensable to the maintenance of a high standard of scientific instruction, that the lectures and class teaching given in Colleges and Schools of Science should have that strictly scientific character which alone can meet the requirements of the regular Students of such Institutions; and this opinion is corroborated by the evidence* given to us by some of the most eminent Teachers and Investigators. But we are anxious that it should be clearly understood that we do not underrate the usefulness of popular Lectures on Science, although we are convinced that they ought not to form any necessary part of the business of the working staff of a great National Museum, or of an Institution for the Training of Students. On the contrary, we have arrived at the conclusion that

*Vide Qu. 1174. Qu. 2793 et seq.

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Lectures on Science, accessible to all classes on payment of a small fee, should be organised in the great centres of population; and we are of opinion that the establishment of such Lectures should be promoted by the Government. In the Metropolis, Lectures on Experimental and Natural Science have already been founded by the Government, and, though tried upon a very limited scale, the experiment has been attended with complete success. We recommend, therefore, that, in the first instance, a greater development should be given to this system of instruction.

142. The Lectures should be of two kinds:

First. Lectures of an elementary character on the General Principles and most important Facts of Science.
Secondly. Lectures specially intended to familiarize the working classes with the Applications of Science to the Arts; and Industries of the Country.

144. The importance of Lectures of the first kind, as a powerful means of diffusing knowledge among the masses of the people, and thereby elevating their condition and making them more useful members of the community, is so generally admitted, that we do not propose to dwell on it here. But the object sought to be attained by Lectures of the second kind is a more special one; and we are induced to recommend the institution of such Lectures chiefly by the following considerations:

145. We have elsewhere stated our opinion that Instruction in the Application of Science to the Arts and Industries of the Country should not be largely mixed with the courses delivered from purely Scientific Chairs. The immediate objects sought to be attained by a purely Scientific Course, and by one applied to the Arts, are so far dissimilar, that each can only be effectually promoted by separate modes of instruction. It must, moreover, be borne in mind that the distance which separates the Strictly Scientific Course and its Laboratory from the Workshop or "Colourshop" of the Manufactory is very great, and that the education of many of our artisans is at present so rudimentary, that even if they had the time they have not the culture necessary to enable them to derive much advantage from a complete Scientific Course. What is required, therefore, is a form of instruction intermediate between pure Science and the manipulations of industry, which may spread scientific knowledge among workmen, and, by rendering the relations of Science and Industry familiar to them, promote the improvement of manufacturing processes and the progress of invention.

146. A large proportion of the workmen attending the proposed Lectures will probably have received preliminary instruction in the Elementary Science Classes already founded in connexion with the Science and Art Department. We have recommended that this instruction be made more efficient by the establishment of Laboratories and Museums, which we have suggested should be founded in connexion with Schools of Science in the centre of groups of such classes. The instruction thus provided would form a fitting preparation for the proposed courses, and many workmen would by these successive means be enabled to grasp the whole theory of the application of Science to their own branch of Industry.

147. Courses of Lectures of the kind which we are here contemplating have been conducted in Paris in connexion with the "Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers", an Institution the foundation of which was begun in the year 1775. Its scope and purpose are explained in detail in a Memorandum by our Secretary, which is appended to this Report, but we may briefly state that it is a great Collection of Geometrical and Mechanical Models, of Physical and Chemical Instruments, and of Machinery illustrative of the Progress of Invention. In the Theatre of the "Conservatoire", no fewer than 14 Courses of Lectures are given by very eminent Professors on the following topics: Geometry applied to the Arts; Descriptive Geometry; Mechanics applied to the Arts; Civil Constructions; Physics applied to the Arts; General Chemistry in its relations to Industry; Industrial Chemistry; Chemistry applied to Dyeing, Pottery, and Glass; Agricultural Chemistry and Chemical Analysis; Agriculture; Agricultural Works and Rural Engineering; Spinning and Weaving; Political Economy and Industrial Legislation; Industrial and Statistical Economy.

148. Each Professor gives two lectures weekly in the evening to suit the convenience of the artisans, by whom they are chiefly attended. The Lectures are intended to

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show the application of Science to practice; to render accessible to the workman such portions of scientific knowledge as are most directly germane to his work; and finally to bring under notice and to explain the latest refinements of invention exhibited in the Museum.

149. From a communication received from General Morin, the Director, we learn that almost all the Courses embrace a considerable range of matter, of which the whole can only be gone through in two or three, sometimes more, years; but each yearly Course begins with an exposition of the principles, or, at all events, a reminder of them, before the special subjects of the course are discussed.

150. That the classes for whom these lectures are intended appreciate them is beyond a doubt, no fewer than 250,000 persons having attended the courses of last year; and it seems as little open to question that such instruction must have had a most beneficial effect.

151. In bringing thus prominently forward the example of the "Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers", we do not necessarily imply that its arrangements are in all respects suitable for imitation in this country. Instruction on many of the topics dealt with in the fourteen courses of lectures might be given as well in other places as in a Technical Museum. But it is obviously convenient that lectures on Mechanical and Physical Instruments, and on Machinery, should be given within the building which contains the objects described - objects which are not easily moved, and the inspection of which is a needful supplement to diagrams and descriptions.

152. In making the foregoing remarks we have been guided by two convictions.

The first, that the diffusion among the people of a general knowledge of Science is in itself an object of great importance, and that, in particular, an acquaintance with the manner in which abstract science is brought to bear upon industrial occupations is of the greatest moment to the working classes of this country, not merely as tending directly to increase the skill of the artisan in his handicraft, but as the best means of awakening his intelligence, by forcing him to reflect upon the general laws which are exemplified by the processes with which he is familiar in his daily life.

The second, that no real Advancement of Knowledge and none of the higher benefits from Science as Educational Discipline are to be hoped for from merely general and occasional Scientific Instruction, whether it be derived from books or from lectures, but that such Advancement and benefits will result only from systematic and sustained study.

153. While, therefore, we deprecate the notion that no Scientific Institution ought to be supported by the State unless it contributes directly in some way or other to the Instruction or Entertainment of the General Public, we advocate the fullest extension of Popular Instruction in Science, whether by Lectures in connexion with Public Museums suited for such purposes, or otherwise.

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154. In concluding that part of the Inquiry Entrusted to Your Commissioners which has reference to Scientific Museums, we deem it advisable to Summarise the Recommendations which we have considered it expedient to make.

With regard to the Natural History Collections of the British Museum, we recommend:

I. That the occasion of the Removal of these Collections to the New Buildings now being erected at South Kensington for their reception, be taken advantage of to effect a change in the Governing Authority and Official Administration of that Division of the Museum.

II. That a Director of the National Collections should be appointed by the Crown, and should have the entire Administration of the Establishment, under the control of a Minister of State, to whom he should be immediately responsible; and that the Keepers of Collections, should be responsible to the Director. That the Appointments of Keepers and other Scientific Officers should be made by the Minister, after communication with the Director and with the Board of Visitors (hereinafter referred to). And that the Director should prepare the Estimates, to be submitted, after consultation with the Board of Visitors, for the approval of the Minister.

III. That the present Superintendent be the first Director.

IV. That a Board of Visitors be constituted. That the Board be nominated, in part by the Crown, in part by the Royal and certain other Scientific Societies of the Metropolis, and, in the first instance, in part also by the Board of Trustees; the Members to be appointed for a limited period, but to be re-eligible; and that the Board of Visitors should make Annual Reports to the Minister, to be laid before Parliament, on the Condition, Management, and Requirements of the Museum, and should be empowered to give him advice, on any points affecting its Administration.

V. That, should the fund at the disposal of the College, owing to changes in Medical Legislation, or from any other cause, prove inadequate for the efficient Maintenance and continued Extension of the Museum, it should receive support from the State, as an Institution intimately connected with the progress of Biological Science in this Country.

VI. That the Collections at the British Museum be maintained and arranged with special reference to the Geographical Distribution of Plants and to Palæontology; and that the Collections at Kew be maintained and arranged with special reference to Systematic Botany.

VII. That all Collections of Recent Plants made by Government Expeditions be, in the first instance, sent to Kew, to be there worked out and distributed, a set being reserved for the British Museum; and that all Collections of Fossil Plants made by Government Expeditions be sent to the British Museum.

VIII. That opportunities for the pursuit of Investigations in Physiological Botany should be afforded in the Royal Gardens at Kew.

IX. The formation of a Collection of Physical and Mechanical Instruments; and we submit for consideration whether it may not be expedient that this Collection, the Collection of the Patent Museum, and that of the Scientific and Educational Department of the South Kensington Museum, should be united and placed under the Authority of a Minister of State.

X. That, in connexion with the Science and Art Section of the Education Department, qualified Naturalists be appointed to direct the collection of Specimens in order to supply whatever deficiencies exist in the more important Provincial Museums;

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and, also, in order to organize Typical Museums, to be sent by the Department of Science and Art into the Provinces to such Science Schools as may be reported to be likely to make them efficient instruments of Scientific Instruction.

XI. That a System of Inspection of Provincial Museums be organized with a view of reporting on their condition, and on the extent to which they are usefully employed, and whether the conditions of the Loan or Grant from the Department of Science and Art have been fulfilled.

XII. That Courses of Lectures be given in connexion with the Collection of Physical and Mechanical Instruments, the establishment of which we have proposed, the object of these Lectures being to illustrate the progress of Scientific and Mechanical Discovery and Invention.

XIII. That the establishment of Lectures on Science, accessible to all classes on the payment of a small fee, should be promoted by the Government in the great centres of population.

XIV. That, in the first instance, with the view of carrying out the preceding recommendation, the system of instruction of this kind, which has already been established by the Government in the Metropolis, should be developed by the institution of Courses of Lectures on the principal Branches of Experimental and Natural Science.

XV. That the proposed Lectures be of two kinds. First: Lectures of an elementary character on the General Principles and most important Facts of Science. Secondly: Lectures specially intended for the Working Classes on the Application of Science to the Arts and Industries of the Country.

(Signed)

DEVONSHIRE.
LANSDOWNE.
JOHN LUBBOCK.
J. P. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH.
W. SHARPEY.
T. H. HUXLEY.
G. G. STOKES.
HENRY J. S. SMITH.
*B. SAMUELSON. (Feb. 16th 1874.)

LANSDOWNE.

J. NORMAN LOCKYER,
Secretary.
January 16th, 1874.

*Having taken a part in the deliberations which led to this Report, my signature has been appended to it after its presentation to the Queen, only on account of my unavoidable absence from England when it was presented.

B. SAMUELSON.

[title page]

[C.-1087.] Price 6d.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin William Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, - Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin Henry Charles Keith Marquess of Lansdowne, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir John Lubbock, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Bernhard Samuelson, Esquire, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Sharpey, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Professor of Natural History in the Royal School of Mines, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Allen Miller, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Chemistry in Kings College, London, - and Our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Gabriel Stokes, Esquire, Master of Arts, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, Greeting:

Whereas We have deemed it expedient for divers good causes and considerations that a Commission should forthwith issue to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science and to Inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose.

Now Know Ye that We reposing great Trust and Confidence in your Ability and Discretion have nominated constituted and appointed and do by these Presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said William, Duke of Devonshire - Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne - Sir John Lubbock - Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth - Bernhard Samuelson - William Sharpey - Thomas Henry Huxley - William Allen Miller - and George Gabriel Stokes - to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And for the better enabling you to carry Our Royal Intentions into effect We do by these Presents authorize and empower you or any three or more of you to call before you or any three or more of you such persons as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration and also to call for and examine all such Books Documents Papers or Records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Our Commission and to Inquire of and concerning the Premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And our further Will and Pleasure is that you or any three or more of you do Report to Us under your Hands and Seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the Duties hereby imposed upon you) your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify unto Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do.

And We do further Will and Command and by these Presents ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and that you Our said Commissioners or any three or more of you shall and may from time to time proceed in the

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execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents We do hereby authorize and empower you to appoint a Secretary to this Our Commission to attend you whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Eighteenth day of May 1870, in the Thirty-third year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen. Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Henry John Stephen Smith, Esquire, Master of Arts, Savilian Professor of Geometry in Our University of Oxford, Greeting:

Whereas We did by Warrant, under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the Eighteenth Day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy, appoint Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin, William, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin, Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne, together with the several Gentlemen therein named, to be Our Commissioners to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose: And whereas since the issue of the said Warrant William Allen Miller, Doctor of Medicine, one of the Commissioners thereby appointed, hath deceased:

Now Know Ye, that We, reposing great Trust and Confidence in Your Zeal, Discretion, and Integrity, have authorized and appointed, and do by these Presents authorize and appoint you the said Henry John Stephen Smith to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to, and together with, the Commissioners now acting under the above-mentioned Royal Warrant.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the First Day of December 1870, in the Thirty-Fourth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

Professor Henry John Stephen Smith, M.A.,
To be a Commissioner for inquiring into
    Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

We, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty, in continuation of our former Reports, the following Report on certain Institutions of recent voluntary origin and mainly dependent on voluntary support, which have made arrangements for Advanced Instruction in Science.

The Institutions of this description to which our attention has been directed, and with regard to which we have taken Evidence, are the following:

I. The Two Metropolitan Colleges, viz.:
    University College.
    King's College.
II. The Owens College, Manchester.
III. The College of Physical Science, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
IV. The Catholic University of Ireland.

1. The history of this Institution, as briefly stated in its Calendar, is as follows:

It was founded in the year 1826, and opened on the 1st of October 1828, under the title of The University of London. It was incorporated as University College, London, by a Royal Charter dated the 28th of November 1836, which was annulled by an Act of Parliament passed on the 24th of June 1869, whereby the College was re-incorporated with additional powers and divested of its proprietary character. The purpose of the College, as expressed in the Act, is "to afford, at a moderate expense, the means of education in Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts, and in the knowledge required for admission to the Medical and Legal Professions, and in particular for so affording the means of obtaining the education required for the purpose of taking the degrees now or hereafter granted by the University of London."

2. The College was in the first instance constituted as a joint stock company, and the original deed of settlement provided for a dividend not exceeding 4 per cent on the share capital. But, as a matter of fact, no dividend was ever paid, the expenditure of the College having from the very first absorbed the whole of the receipts from that portion of the fees paid by the students which was applicable to the purposes of a dividend. The title of "The University of London", which was at first assumed by the Institution, did not carry with it any of the privileges of an University, or the power of granting degrees. On the 26th of March 1835 the House of Commons adopted by a large majority an address to the Crown, praying that a Charter of Incorporation might be granted to "the University of London", containing the power of conferring degrees, other than degrees in Medicine and Divinity. Instead of giving this power, the Government determined to found a new Institution, the present University of London; and it was proposed to the College, or University of London, as it was then called, that it should give up its title in favour of the new Institution then about to be founded, and should take instead the title of "University College, London". This proposal the Council recommended the proprietors to accept, and it was accordingly accepted by them. It was one of the conditions of the agreement between the College and the Government, when the original title was given up, that the Institution should be incorporated by a Royal Charter. It would seem that it was intended that this Charter should extinguish the pecuniary rights of the proprietors. These rights were, however, not formally cancelled, and provision was made for the transference of the shares; although all reference to any pecuniary advantage to be derived from the possession of the shares was left out of the Charter. At a subsequent period doubts were entertained as to whether the Charter had so effectually extinguished the proprietary rights as to prevent them from becoming inconvenient at some future time; and the College, with the

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unanimous approval of the proprietors at a General Meeting, determined to apply, and did successfully apply, for a private Act of Parliament to settle the question. The main object of the University College Act of 1869 was to secure the extinction of the proprietary rights, but at the same time the powers of the Institution were enlarged in several directions. It then obtained the power, which it had not before, of instructing women as well as men in the College, and also of giving instruction in the Fine Arts. The Act also gives the College a licence of mortmain up to a rackrent value of £10,000 per annum, exclusive of its freehold site in London.

3. By the provisions of the University College Act the government of the College is intrusted to a Council elected by a General Meeting of its members. The Members of the College consist, first of the Governors, secondly of the Fellows, and thirdly of the Life Governors. The Governors represent the registered proprietors of the shares in the College, as it was constituted under the Royal Charter; and, although all their pecuniary rights have been abolished, the right of proprietorship is still so far preserved that every Governor has the privilege of nominating by writing under his hand some person, subject to the approval of the Council, to replace him in his lifetime, or to succeed him after his death as Governor. No such power of transmission is given to the Fellows or to the Life Governors. The Fellows are former or actual Students of the College, nominated by the Council, and admitted by a General Meeting of the Members. The Life Governors are similarly nominated, either by the Council, or by twenty members of the College, and are admitted by a general meeting. They are not, however, necessarily former students of the College, but must be persons having special claims to the distinction, which special claims the Council, or the nominators, are required to state in writing at the time when the nomination is made. The Council consists of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and not more than twenty-one or less than sixteen other members, to be elected at a general meeting, out of the members of the College. Six of the members of the Council retire every year, but are re-eligible.

4. The powers of the Council are very wide; it has "the sole and entire management and superintendence of the College, as well relating to the income and funds thereof as to the teaching of the various branches of literature, science, and art therein, and the appointment, suspension, and dismissal of professors, lecturers, and teachers, and all other the affairs and concerns thereof." The Council also has the government of the Hospital, which has been established in connexion with the College, and the control of its funds. The power of making byelaws, however, rests with the General Meeting of the Members.

5. The byelaws at present in force provide that no professor or holder of any other place of emolument in the College or Hospital shall hold the office of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, member of the Council, or Auditor, without vacating his professorship or other place of emolument. The effect of this byelaw is to exclude the professors, individually as well as collectively, from any direct share in the government of the College; but at the same time by another byelaw the professorial body is constituted into a Senate, which possesses no powers under the Act of Parliament, and which occupies with regard to the Council the position of a purely consultative body. The Senate is empowered to make suggestions to the Council with regard to the general management of the College, and especially of the libraries and the museum. Further, whenever a professorship or lectureship is vacant, the Council is required by the byelaws to communicate to the Senate the names of all the candidates, with their testimonials; or, if an advertisement has been dispensed with, the name and testimonials, if any, of any person whose appointment is under consideration. The Senate report their opinion, with their reasons, to the Council, and no appointment to a permanent professorship is to be made by the Council until either a report has been made to the Council, or until the time appointed for making it has expired. Similarly, the powers of the Council in removing any professor, lecturer, or teacher, are limited by the requirement that the Council should previously send to the Senate a written statement of the grounds on which his removal is proposed, and should request the opinion of the Senate thereupon. This scheme of government possesses several obvious advantages, and has been found in practice to work very well. The Council naturally attaches great weight to the opinion of the Senate on any academic question; and the Professors thus exercise a very substantial, though indirect, control over the management of the College as a place of education, while at the same time they are relieved from the duty of attending to the details of its financial business.

6. The expenditure of the College on Capital account up to the year 1870, amounted to £202,287, and was incurred as shown in the following statement:

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7. The whole of this expenditure has been defrayed out of the original share capital of the College, and out of the sums that have been either given or bequeathed to it for general purposes from time to time. A portion of these expenses, viz., the items of £18,393 for expenditure beyond the College share of fees, and £10,180 paid to professors in augmentation of fees and for annuities and pensions, were not properly chargeable against the capital of the College, as they represent ordinary expenditure, which ought to have been defrayed out of the annual revenue; but the Council considered themselves justified, and no doubt were justified, in trenching upon the capital of the College for the purpose of maintaining its efficiency. In addition to the capital sum which has been expended as shown above, there are endowments arising out of various bequests which produced, in 1870, an annual income of £2,978. Of this income £2,276 is appropriated to special purposes. No assistance has ever been received from any Government grant.

8. A school into which boys are admitted at any age between seven and fifteen has been established in connexion with University College. It forms a distinct branch of the College, and its pupils are entirely separated from the students. The Head Master is appointed and is removable in the same manner in all respects as a Professor of the College, and is subject to the control and regulations of the Council. The numbers of the school during the last few years have rapidly augmented, and the instruction in Mathematics and in some branches of Natural Science has received a very considerable development. The connexion with the School is of unquestionable advantage to the College, as a large and increasing proportion of well-prepared pupils pass from the former to the latter. The establishment of the School must originally have involved a large outlay; but during the last few years the College, in a financial point of view, has not been a loser but a gainer to a slight extent by the maintenance of the School. We are informed that the financial relations between the two branches of the Institution have "recently been carefully investigated by the School Committee of the Council, and it has thus been ascertained that for the last five years - the most prosperous in the history of the School - the net amount received from the School by the College for its general purposes has been only an average of £982 6s 8d per annum. But even this is subject to a large deduction for rent, which may be moderately estimated at £750 a year for the south wing, and of £150 for the portion of the main building still occupied by the School. Thus the actual profit derived from the School is reduced to about £100 a year."

9. There are three Faculties in University College: (1) of Arts and Laws, (2) of Science, (3) of Medicine. There is also a Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering.

10. The number of Professorships in the first two Faculties is thirty-one. Of these the scientific chairs are the eleven following: (1) a Professorship of Mathematics, (2) of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, (3) and (4) of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry (these two chairs being at present held by the same professor), (5) of Physics, (6) of Engineering, (7) of Zoology, (8) of Botany, (9) of Geology and Mineralogy, (10) of Physiology, (11) of Practical Physiology and Histology. There is, besides, a Professorship of Architecture and Construction. Of these eleven professorships, one only is endowed, Mr. T. J. Phillips Jodrell having lately presented to the College the sum of £7,500 for a permanent endowment of the Chair of Physiology. Mr. Jodrell's object in founding this endowment, as stated in the deed of foundation, was to "promote the study of Human Physiology in University College, London, and especially to encourage original research in combination with professorial teaching", and "to ensure such a provision for the professorship as shall induce men of eminence and ability, who may be willing to cultivate science for its own sake, to forego more lucrative sources of emolument, and to undertake the office on the condition of devoting to original research, either in connexion with this professorship, or any other work of a kindred nature which shall be essential and auxiliary to such research, all the time that can be

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spared from the work of a lecture room." The report of the Council on February the 25th, 1874, states that Mr. Jodrell has signified his intention of presenting the College with a further sum of £500 to be applied, under the direction of the Jodrell Professor of Human Physiology, in the purchase exclusively of such additional apparatus as may be required for the effectual prosecution of original research, and that this sum will be paid over to the College as soon as provision has been made for the reception of the apparatus, arrangements for making which provision are now in progress. With the exception of this recent benefaction, the College can hardly be said to possess any endowment whatever the revenue of which is properly applicable to the support of its Scientific Faculty. The Professor of Geology, however, receives £31 per annum from the Goldsmid Fund.

11. The courses of study, as indicated in the programmes of the professorial lectures, appear to be carefully arranged with a view to the requirements both of elementary and of advanced students. Great importance is attached to the laboratory instruction in Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology.

12. The College has but few Scholarships or Exhibitions, and of these none are appropriated exclusively to scientific subjects.

13. The College possesses a valuable Library, consisting of upwards of 68,000 volumes and 16,000 pamphlets, a great part of which has been derived from gifts and bequests. Within the last few years the libraries of Mr. James Morris and of Mr. J. T. Graves, the latter containing a splendid collection of works on Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy, have been bequeathed to the College.

14. The Report of the Council already referred to states that during the Session of 1873-74 the number of pupils was 1542; of these 893 were Students in the College, and 649 Pupils in the School. Of the Students, 322 belonged to the Faculty of Medicine. In the Faculties of Arts and Laws and of Science there were 571. The fees received, exclusive of those for clinical instruction, amounted to £24,266 10s 6d, this sum consisting of the following items:

15. The total payments out of these fees to the professors, teachers, and masters amounted to £16,904 8s. 6d, leaving £7,362 2s for the College share of fees.

16. In addition to the above-stated amount of fees, the sum of £2,010 7s 0d was received for clinical instruction in the Hospital, but these fees, as has always been the practice in this hospital, were devoted to the support of the hospital. The preamble of the University College Act recites that in the year 1832 the College appropriated "a certain portion of its land for the erection thereon of a Hospital in connexion with the Medical School of the College, and the Council obtained subscriptions from the proprietors of the College and others, whereby the North London or University College Hospital was erected on the said land, and the said hospital has since been supported by annual subscriptions, and by donations and bequests, and also by means of the fees of students of the College attending the hospital, which fees have for that purpose been relinquished by the medical officers of the hospital appointed by the Council; and the government of the hospital and of its funds since its foundation has been in the hands of the Council, who have from time to time made and altered the rules for the management thereof; and the College is now possessed of considerable investments for the benefit of the hospital." It may be added that in 1838 the College gave £500 as a contribution towards building one of the wings of the Hospital. As to the present financial relations of the Hospital to the College, the Secretary, Mr. Robson, states that -

The College discharges gratuitously all the duties of Trustee for the hospital; it manages the investments of the hospital funds, conducts the correspondence connected therewith; acts as the guardian of the legal rights of the charity, and in various other ways carries on what may be called its external affairs, defraying out of its own funds the expenses incidental to its connexion with the hospital. Besides this, it pays each of the two Holme Professors, one of Clinical Medicine, the other of Clinical Surgery, a stipend of £100 per annum, out of the income of the Holme Fund, which was bequeathed to the College 'for the purposes of its Medical Department'. The duties of these Professors are discharged wholly within the hospital, which derives an important part of its income from the fees paid by the students for hospital practice and clinical instruction.

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the College is greatly restricted by the insufficiency of its funds. The difficulty is felt in two respects principally; first, in providing adequate payment for the professors and their assistants, and, secondly, in providing laboratory accommodation upon a sufficient scale, together with the proper appliances for instruction and research.

18. The following are schedules of the payments received by the Professors in the session of 1872-73, and of the lectures and other instruction given by them in each academical year:

[title page]

[C.-1279.] Price 6d.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin William Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, - Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin Henry Charles Keith Marquess of Lansdowne, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir John Lubbock, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Bernhard Samuelson, Esquire, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Sharpey, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Professor of Natural History in the Royal School of Mines, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Allen Miller, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Chemistry in Kings College, London, - and Our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Gabriel Stokes, Esquire, Master of Arts, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, Greeting:

Whereas We have deemed it expedient for divers good causes and considerations that a Commission should forthwith issue to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science and to Inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose.

Now Know Ye that We reposing great Trust and Confidence in your Ability and Discretion have nominated constituted and appointed and do by these Presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said William, Duke of Devonshire - Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne - Sir John Lubbock - Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth - Bernhard Samuelson - William Sharpey - Thomas Henry Huxley - William Allen Miller - and George Gabriel Stokes - to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And for the better enabling you to carry Our Royal Intentions into effect We do by these Presents authorize and empower you or any three or more of you to call before you or any three or more of you such persons as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration and also to call for and examine all such Books Documents Papers or Records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Our Commission and to Inquire of and concerning the Premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And our further Will and Pleasure is that you or any three or more of you do Report to Us under your Hands and Seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the Duties hereby imposed upon you) your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify unto Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do.

And We do further Will and Command and by these Presents ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and that you Our said Commissioners or any three or more of you shall and may from time to time proceed in the

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execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents We do hereby authorize and empower you to appoint a Secretary to this Our Commission to attend you whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Eighteenth day of May 1870, in the Thirty-third year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Henry John Stephen Smith, Esquire, Master of Arts, Savilian Professor of Geometry in Our University of Oxford, Greeting:

Whereas We did by Warrant, under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the Eighteenth Day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy, appoint Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin, William, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin, Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne, together with the several Gentlemen therein named, to be Our Commissioners to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose: And whereas since the issue of the said Warrant William Allen Miller, Doctor of Medicine, one of the Commissioners thereby appointed, hath deceased:

Now Know Ye, that We, reposing great Trust and Confidence in Your Zeal, Discretion, and Integrity, have authorized and appointed, and do by these Presents authorize and appoint you the said Henry John Stephen Smith to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to, and together with, the Commissioners now acting under the above-mentioned Royal Warrant.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the First Day of December 1870, in the Thirty-Fourth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

Professor Henry John Stephen Smith, M.A.,
To be a Commissioner for inquiring into
Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty, in continuation of our former Reports, the following Report on the Teaching of Science in Public and Endowed Schools.

1. In dealing with that branch of the Inquiry entrusted to us which has reference to the Scientific Instruction given in the various Secondary Schools throughout the country, we have been induced by the circumstances of the case to deviate from the mode of obtaining information which we had hitherto adopted. The number of Secondary Schools is so considerable that any attempt to obtain the facts by examination of Witnesses would have necessitated the attendance of a very large number, while, by adopting a different method of procuring information we were enabled not only to economise time, but to obtain a comparative survey of the various Systems and Appliances of Instruction employed in the different Schools.

2. With this view our Secretary, Mr. Lockyer, was appointed Assistant Commissioner with reference to this branch of the Inquiry, and by means of personal visits, and by the circulation of various forms of questions agreed upon between him and the Commissioners, much information has been obtained, which will be found in an Appendix to the present Report.

3. The following are the Public and Endowed Schools to which attention was specially directed:

Eton College, Rugby School, St. Peter's College Westminster, Harrow School, Winchester College, Charterhouse School, Marlborough College, Dulwich College, City of London School, University College School, King's College School, Taunton College School, Wellington College, Rossall School, Clifton College, Cheltenham College, Christ's Hospital, and the Manchester Grammar School.

4. Information was also sought from the Head Masters of the 202 Schools which appear in the Report of the Schools Inquiry Commission as possessing Endowments of over £200 per annum, and from 128 of these Schools replies have been received.

5. The Evidence thus placed before us conclusively proves that in our Public and Endowed Schools, Science is as yet very far from receiving the attention to which, in our opinion, it is entitled. For instance, the Returns furnished to us show that, even where Science is taught, from one to two hours' work per week may be regarded, with very few exceptions, us the usual time given to it in such Classes as receive Scientific Instruction at all. Moreover, the Instruction in Science is generally confined to certain classes of the School.

6. Among the 128 Endowed Schools from which we have received returns, Science is taught in only 63, and of these only 13 have a Laboratory, and only 18 Apparatus, often very scanty. Out of the 128 Schools, definite information has been received from 87. Of these 30 allot no regular time whatever to scientific study; 7 only one hour a week; 16 only two hours; while out of the whole number only 18 devote as much as four hours to it. The neglect with which it is treated is also clearly shown by that portion of the Assistant Commissioner's Report in which the weight attached to Science in the School Examinations is stated, whence it appears that among the higher grade Schools from which information has been received, only two attach a weight to Science in the Examinations equal to that of Classics or Mathematics; while in the case of the 128 Endowed Schools from which information has been received, only 13 give any weight at all to Science in the Examinations.

7. Languages and Mathematics are by universal consent regarded as indispensable parts of a System of Education, but any System from which Science is excluded must, in our opinion, be incomplete and unsatisfactory.

8. We feel it the more incumbent upon us to insist on the Introduction of Scientific Training as an integral part of School Education, because in our Third Report we have

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recommended that Students at the Universities should, at an early period, if not from the commencement of their Academical Course, be left free to choose for themselves among the principal lines of study, and should not be hampered by being compelled to pass Examinations in subjects having no direct bearing on their subsequent career. But we made this Recommendation conditionally; that is, upon the understanding that the Student should be well grounded in the principal branches of Knowledge before his entrance into the University; for, while asserting that Literary Cultivation, up to a certain point, is indispensable for the Scientific Student, we expressed the opinion that, "in like manner, evidence of corresponding Scientific Culture should be required from the Student of Classical Literature or of Theology"; and we consider that no one should receive a Degree who has not proved himself to be well grounded in Science as well as in Languages and Mathematics.

9. Our opinion on the importance of introducing Science as an integral part of our Public School Instruction is in general accordance with the Recommendations of two previous Royal Commissions - the Royal Commission appointed in 1861 to Inquire into the Revenues and Management of certain Colleges and Schools (shortly styled the Public Schools Commission), and the Royal Schools Inquiry Commission appointed in 1864. The same view has been also adopted by the Special Commissioners appointed for the Purposes of the Public Schools Act of 1868, and the Commissioners appointed for the purposes of the Endowed Schools Act of 1869.

10. The Royal Commissioners appointed in 1861 say:

Natural science, with such slight exceptions as have been noticed above, is practically excluded from the education of the higher classes in England. Education with us is, in this respect, narrower than it was three centuries ago, whilst science has prodigiously extended her empire, has explored immense tracts, divided them into provinces, introduced into them order and method, and made them accessible to all. This exclusion is, in our view, a plain defect and a great practical evil. It narrows unduly and injuriously the mental training of the young, and the knowledge, interests, and pursuits of men in maturer life. Of the large number of men who have little aptitude or taste for literature, there are many who have an aptitude for science, especially for science which deals, not with abstractions, but with external and sensible objects; how many such there are can never be known, as long as the only education given at schools is purely literary; but that such cases are not rare or exceptional can hardly be doubted by any one who has observed either boys or men. Nor would it be an answer, were it true, to say, that such persons are sure to find their vocation, sooner or later. But this is not true. We believe that many pass through life without useful mental employment, and without the wholesome interest of a favourite study, for want of an early introduction to one for which they are really fit. It is not, however, for such cases only, that an early introduction to natural science is desirable. It is desirable, surely, though not necessary, for all educated men. Sir Charles Lyell has remarked on the advantage which the men of literature in Germany enjoy over our own, in the general acquaintance which the former possess with what is passing in the scientific world; an advantage due to the fact that natural science to a greater or less extent is taught in all the German schools. To clergymen and others who pass most of their lives in the country, or who, in country or town, are brought much into contact with the middle and lower classes, an elementary knowledge of the subject, early gained, has its particular uses; and we believe that its value, as a means of opening the mind and disciplining the faculties, is recognized by all who have taken the trouble to acquire it, whether men of business or of leisure. It quickens and cultivates directly the faculty of observation, which in very many persons lies almost dormant through life, the power of accurate and rapid generalization, and the mental habit of method and arrangement; it accustoms young persons to trace the sequence of cause and effect; it familiarises them with a kind of reasoning which interests them, and which they can promptly comprehend; and it is perhaps the best corrective for that indolence which is the vice of half-wakened minds, and which shrinks from any exertion that is not, like an effort of memory, merely mechanical. With sincere respect for the opinions of the eminent Schoolmasters who differ from us in this matter, we are convinced that the introduction of the elements of natural science into the regular course of study is desirable, and we see no sufficient reason to doubt that it is practicable.

11. The Schools Inquiry Commission in their Report remark, as the result of their Inquiries, that the importance of Natural Science as a branch of General Education, "has received a large amount of sanction of the highest kind." "Of the Witnesses", they say, "whom we ourselves examined on this point, almost all who were not Schoolmasters, desired the adoption in schools of some branch of Natural Science, though, as a rule, they did not aim at the deposition of any existing subject."

And they continue, "We cannot consider any Scheme of Education complete which omits a subject of such high importance."

"We think it established that the study of Natural Science develops better than any other studies the observing faculties, disciplines the intellect by teaching induction as well as deduction; supplies a useful balance to the Studies of Language and Mathematics, and provides much instruction of great value for the occupations of after life."

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12. The Regulations relating to Natural Science issued by the Special Commissioners appointed for the Purposes of the Public Schools Act of 1868 are referred to in a subsequent part of this Report.

13. The intention of the Endowed Schools Commissioners is thus expressed in the following extract from a letter addressed by their Chairman to the Chairman of this Commission on the 25th March 1871:

In all these Schools, without exception, whether for boys or girls, we propose to require as a substantial and indispensable part of their course of Instruction, at least one branch of Physical Science; and in a few, intended for the more special encouragement of what may be called modern subjects, we suggest, without absolutely requiring, more extensive teaching of Science.

14. Not only has the importance of introducing Science into our School System, as an integral and important part of Education, been urged by the four Commissions, to which reference bas been made, but the good effects which have attended its partial introduction have been fully acknowledged by many Schoolmasters of great experience. Mr. Wilson, one of the Assistant Masters at Rugby School, in a paper "On Teaching Geology and Botany as part of a Liberal Education", strongly supports this view:

I am quite sure that this is the first business of our profession as schoolmasters, to hold this truth strongly against all comers, that 'humanity', and nothing else, is to be our object. We must make our teaching bear on this, give our best care to the selection of subjects, and the method of teaching, in order to make this teaching more effective. And when I urge the introduction of the sciences at the head of this paper into our course of education, I wish to make it plain that this is what they ought to be introduced into, and to this they ought to be made to contribute very effectively.

An orrery and globe, and a little astronomy, form the natural beginning. Let the boys make the effort involved in realizing the plan of our solar system, and our earth in space with its atmosphere mantling round it; its kinship to the planets, its relations to sun and moon. These, and some of the common phenomena - day and night, summer and winter, eclipses, and the changes of the moon - form the natural and the old well-established introduction to science. They are still subjects of surpassing interest to every successive generation. They take boys on all their sides - memory, imagination, and reason. They show, as nothing else shows, the connexion of cause and consequence. And there is a genuine and deep satisfaction, a real pleasure of the intellect, which boys attain when they first understand the causes of these common great phenomena. They stand thenceforward on a higher platform. The universe presents to them not a mere wonderland but a reign of law. These are the literæ divinæ written in the universe by the finger of God.

Then we pass to the great earth itself, and all its activities; the effects of its still remaining internal heat, its volcanoes and earthquakes, the slow oscillations of level, and the great changes slowly taking place in the familiar outline of the continents and islands, and the proofs still visible of past changes. These things must be well thought out by the class, and illustrated and brought home to them by pictures and specimens. The effect of the attraction of the sun and moon in making tides, and their geological and cosmical action, is a matter that can be to some extent grasped, though so difficult in its complete theory; and is far too important and common a phenomenon to pass by without notice. And then come the complicated consequences of solar heat and light. It is with peculiar interest and pleasure that a boy learns the causes of winds and currents, of trade winds and cyclones, of evaporation and rain, and its distribution on the earth. There is a sense of power obtained by finding out that these great and familiar phenomena are subject to laws, and are not primary facts. And all these are matters, towards which it is only necessary to guide the thoughts of the boys, and they can, with very little help, think them out for themselves. I find it rarely necessary to give a regular explanation of anything, except as a kind of résumé of the suggestions thrown out by the class, and successively criticised. Fresh information as to fact must of course be given, when it is seen to be wanted, and not before. And this incidentally gives them a much higher respect for knowledge and the value of facts than they had before. The labours of observers, and mathematicians, and collectors are seen by the class in their true light, as contributing to the store of accurate knowledge in regions more or less inaccessible to themselves.

The consequences of these activities must then be traced out. And these constitute the principles of Geology. To teach them is not hard; a large stock of pictures, photographs, &c., will be found very useful. We take the work of rain and rivers; their solvent and transporting powers, and straightway the ravine and the waterfall, the rich plain, and the whole river valley, with its wondrous system of drainage, are seen to be the consequences of the familiar forces at work all round us. The work of the sea is easily understood, and behold the map of England is looked at with new eyes; there must be a cause for every bay and headland. The formation of marine deposits, the growth of coral, and Darwin's explanations of the form of coral

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islands: the ooze of the Atlantic, the work of frost and snow, the glacier and iceberg, the geographical distribution of plants and animals, all are intelligible, and all, if I may so call it, exciting; they excite to further reading and a good deal of thought; they show, moreover, the regions of knowledge; the necessity of chemistry, and meteorology, and astronomy, and zoology is really felt, without being stated in so many words.

It may seem to some that the amount of positive knowledge gained is too little; and indeed it is not much, not as much as would be gained by half the time spent in learning and being examined on somebody's advanced text-book. But from the one system the boy emerges hungry for more knowledge, and his own reading will supply his wants; he emerges with a clear understanding how science grows, and what it is, and has a framework in which he can fit all knowledge he subsequently acquires; while from the other he comes out - perhaps some of my hearers know how he comes out.

I know of no single book which contains all these subjects. The teacher, at any rate, must draw his knowledge from many books, and from real, personal knowledge of his subject. Methods of teaching are very important, but the teacher is of far more importance; and no teaching of these or any other subject is likely to be worth much unless the teacher is thoroughly master of his work, has made it his own by viewing it in various lights, and is independent of any text-book, or any order of viewing nature. He cannot be too discursive in his reading or varied in his attainments; and if he is further able to be prosecuting some original work, however humble, in which his pupils can assist him, they will learn more of the true scientific spirit by contagion than they will gather from the most eloquent lectures. ...

I do not see any reason for doubting that these subjects are the best for early education, say from the ages of twelve to fourteen. At such an age, chemistry or physics cannot be understood, except in the rarest cases. I know that Faraday expressed an opposite opinion. But Faraday loved the children, and never examined them. These subjects, especially the geological course, as I have explained it, give a solid foundation of familiar facts, which form the basis of subsequent scientific knowledge. And they attract the strongest and finest minds, which is not found to be the case with all branches of science.

It may be urged that this teaching cannot be thorough - that boys will be brought in contact with chemistry, physics, mechanics, mathematics, at an age when they cannot understand them; and the result will be, to turn them out capable of talking about a great many things, and knowing theories about a great many things, but without the rigorous training necessary to enable them to judge of these theories.

This is, of course, partly true. But it is no objection. The logical order of ideas is not the educational order. A boy learns to read, and make out the meaning of a storybook before he learns grammar, which might be said to precede logically; he reasons before he can learn logic; and so he has to learn a thousand things by experience and observation and reading and conversation, which form the material out of which science grows. The teaching is thorough so far as it goes, and it is delusive to suppose that the teaching of mechanics or physics can be made exhaustively thorough to a boy. He apprehends only by comparison of one thing with another; and where experiment takes him out of the range of his experience, there his conclusions are not his own, but his teacher's. These subjects, which may be put aside as mere scientific information, have a double value, stimulative and intellectual, that no one who has not tried them can well estimate. They would plainly be incomplete by themselves; they do not admit, taught in this manner, of the careful study of detail, the minute and painstaking work and drudgery, that makes every science so valuable as an instrument of education. But these subjects claim to enter into the schemes of literary and scientific education; to form a common ground between them; to be science to the men of literature and literature to the men of science.

16. In spite of this concurrence of authority in favour of the Introduction of Science into Schools, it appears that not one half of the 128 Endowed Schools from which returns have been received have even made an attempt to introduce it; and, of these, as we have already stated, only 13 have a Laboratory, and only 10 give as much as four hours a week to these subjects.

17. The neglect of Recommendations of so weighty and authoritative a character should imply the existence of strong grounds of excuse. The chief of those given for the omission of the teaching of Science in Schools are - (1) the Absence of Funds; (2) the Uncertainty as to the Educational Value of Science, particularly in the case of young Pupils; (3) the Difficulty of finding Time for a New Study in an already overcrowded Curriculum.

18. The absence of funds, no doubt, places very serious difficulties in the way of some of the smaller Foundations; but experience shows that satisfactory results in Science Teaching may be produced at a very small expense. On this subject we may refer to Mr. Tuckwell's account of the limited means with which it was commenced and carried on with success at Taunton.

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19. We think that this account conclusively proves that the apparatus requisite for Elementary Science Teaching can he provided at a comparatively trifling cost; and that, where there is a good Teacher, the makeshift character of the appliances need not prevent efficient Teaching. On the other hand, it is important to remember that the introduction of new subjects of study implies the introduction of Teachers qualified to take charge of them; and that in many of the smaller and more poorly endowed schools to which we are now referring, there is great difficulty in obtaining the funds requisite for the payment of additional or increased salaries. At the same time, it must be regarded as certain that no school which is forced to plead its poverty as an excuse for the neglect of Natural Science, can pretend to complete efficiency, or can adequately meet the Educational Requirements even of its own locality.

20. When the income of a School is small it may not be possible to provide an adequate stipend for an Assistant Master employed only in Scientific Instruction. Moreover, the number of pupils may not be so great as to justify such an appointment. It is, therefore, important that at least one Master should combine, with the qualifications necessary for his success in teaching Literature, such knowledge and skill as may enable him to give Practical Instruction in Natural Science. No doubt this combination of Literary and Scientific Knowledge with Practical Skill in conducting the Instruction of Classes is at present rare, and it is very desirable that a Systematic Preparation for such Teachers should, if possible, be provided.

21. With reference to the wealthier Foundations, and the great Proprietary Schools, the want of funds cannot be properly alleged as a reason for not providing appliances proper for the Teaching of Natural Science. Indeed, there is already considerable evidence of improvement in this respect. Laboratories have been built, or are in the course of construction, at Eton, Harrow, and Rugby; and there is reason to hope that the example will be generally followed, as the Special Commissioners appointed for the Purposes of the Public Schools Act of 1868 have included in their Regulations a Clause requiring the Governing Bodies of the nine Public Schools to which their powers extended to provide and maintain Laboratories and Collections of Apparatus and of Specimens. We desire to record our opinion that School Laboratories should be constructed so as to supply accommodation for Practical Work in Physics, as well as in Chemistry. It will be seen from the Secretary's Report that many persons of experience in education have arrived at the conclusion that Chemistry is not so well fitted for the practical instruction of young pupils as Physics. Without attempting to decide this disputed question, we would express our conviction that neither of these forms of practical work ought to be neglected in School Teaching.

22. It is generally admitted that a sound knowledge of the Sciences of Observation and Experiment cannot be acquired from the study of Text Books alone; and that oral teaching, accompanied by appropriate illustrations and experiments, is indispensably necessary. But even such oral teaching has been found by itself to he insufficient; and, in our judgment, no System of Scientific Instruction can be regarded as satisfactory which does not familiarise the learner with the methods of observation and experiment, by making him practise them himself, whether in the field or in the Laboratory.

23. As the organization in a large School of Practical Instruction in Physics has appeared to offer some difficulties, we would refer to the Secretary's Report for an account of the advantages attendant upon the arrangement adopted by Professor Pickering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.

24. We regret to observe that in many of the Larger Schools the number of Science Masters is totally inadequate. The Special Commissioners have found it necessary to insist that there should be at least one Science Muster for every 200 boys; a provision which appears to point to a still greater deficiency at present. Until this state of things is remedied, no considerable improvement can be expected in the Standard of Scientific Education at present prevailing in English Schools. We fear that the fewness of the Science Masters in the great Public Schools, and the slowness with which their number is allowed to increase must, to a certain extent, be attributed to an inadequate appreciation, on the part of the Authorities of those Institutions, of the importance of the place which Science ought to occupy, and which the country desires it should occupy, in School Education. But we are also disposed to believe that the difficulty of disturbing existing arrangements, and the increased expense entailed by additions to the staff of Masters, are among the principal causes of the delay in remedying an evil of such magnitude. It might seem, at first sight, that the provision of an adequate number of Science Masters ought not to involve any heavy charge upon the income of a

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large school; because, in proportion as the time of the pupils is occupied with Natural Science, fewer teachers of other subjects would be required. It has, however, been found in practice that whenever the subjects of instruction in a school become more varied, the whole number of persons employed in teaching has to be increased. But as there is a well-founded impression that the large English Schools have suffered from being insufficiently supplied with Assistant Masters, we cannot regard it as any disadvantage that a more general introduction of Natural Science Teaching would call for an increase in the number of such Assistants.

25. We have alluded to the difficulty of providing for schools, which have slender incomes, Assistant Masters who have both adequate Literary and Scientific Knowledge, and the requisite skill in Class Teaching and Practical Instruction. Even for the great Public Schools much difficulty is experienced in obtaining the services of Science Masters fitted to form part of their staff. The Head Masters naturally look to the Universities to supply them with Assistant Masters; but the number of University Students of Science is still so limited that the supply falls short even of such demand as exists at present. These several considerations support the suggestions recently made by the Head Masters of Public Schools at their Annual Conferences, that means should exist - and, if possible, within the Universities - enabling young men, who intend to devote themselves to the Scholastic Profession, to pass through a Course of special preparation for it, and to obtain a Certificate of the nature and extent of their qualifications. By such means adequate knowledge and practical skill, both in class teaching and in manipulation, would be ensured.

26. With regard to the second objection, it is obvious that all branches of Science do not possess an educational value of the same kind; and we are not prepared to assert that the mere communication to the mind of the pupil of the facts of Science would contribute very materially to the training of his intellectual powers, although it may supply him with much valuable information, and may render him the still more important service of awakening his desire for further knowledge. But the true teaching of Science consists, not merely in imparting the facts of Science, but in habituating the pupil to observe for himself, to reason for himself on what he observes, and to check the conclusions at which he arrives by further observation or experiment. And it may well be doubted whether, in this point of view, any other educational study offers the same advantages for developing and training the mental faculties by means of a great variety of appropriate exercises. In the Lower Forms of our Public Schools, the youth of the scholars must of course be taken into consideration in the nature of the instruction given, but we nevertheless think it of great importance that the introduction of Science into Education should take place at a very early stage. Elementary Science is certainly not more difficult, and to most young persons is more interesting, than Arithmetic or Grammar, and the most eminent men of Science, as well as some most successful Teachers, are of opinion that there is no reason to apprehend any difficulty in this respect. The Evidence which we have received on this point is very strong; and its force is not diminished by the fact that much of it relates to Primary Schools.

27. Sir W. Thomson, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Glasgow, on being asked:

At what age do you think it desirable that the teaching of elementary science in our primary schools should be commenced; in fact, how young do you think a child could, with any profit, commence instruction in elementary science?

I think that at 12 or 14 the commencement of teaching in some branches of science would be very advantageous. I scarcely think before 12; but I think that boys of good intelligence might be very advantageously introduced to much of natural science at 12.

Then I am afraid that would almost exclude natural science from the primary schools of the country, because we can hardly hope to keep children there after 14? - No; I scarcely like to adhere to any such answer, except in respect to the more abstract branches. For instance, higher mathematics and dynamics may be very advantageously commenced at 12; but I doubt whether there can be much advantage in commencing such subjects before 12. But there is a great deal of general knowledge in natural history, and geography, and chemistry, which I think could be imparted very advantageously indeed to boys of considerably younger age than 12.

At what age do you think that a boy might advantageously be instructed in the elementary facts of geology? - I think they might begin at an exceedingly early age, in the same way that all children who have any education at all, for example, know some of the elementary points of astronomy, so certain questions involving geological knowledge might be instilled into them.

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Would you do that by means of the aid of specimens and plans, and the like, and not merely books? - Not merely books, but by the aid of specimens and by the generally better educated state of the whole of the public. It might be part of a household education, quite irrespective of the teaching in schools, if scientific education in the country were placed on a proper footing.

I would certainly cause a boy to begin acquaintance with scientific matters much earlier than that [the age of 16], for the faculty of observation, the power of observing, is in all its vigour long before 16. Long before the faculties of reflection and ratiocination are in anything like ripeness the faculties of observation are well developed. A boy, I should say, at 11, or certainly 12, might be put through certain of the classificatory sciences, or one at least, viz. botany, and he might have a training in physics and a training in chemistry, and all boys alike should have some training in these before 16.

Understanding by primary schools those in which boys are generally under 13 years of age and above seven, I know by experience that the elements of physical geography can be very well taught almost throughout the school, The first step in geography should be made in physical geography, and one advantage possessed by this subject from an educational point of view is this, that almost everything in it can he presented to a child in a concrete form. He may learn something about the principles of heat, about air and water, about natural history, and the action of the elements upon the surface of the globe. He can have illustrations of those things pointed out to him in his own neighbourhood almost, wherever he is. It seems to me that it is the best introduction to any knowledge of physics that might he hereafter required. Wherever the teacher had a special bent for chemistry he might illustrate what he had to say about the laws of physical geography by his knowledge of chemistry. If, again, he were a man who took great interest in natural history or botany, he would dwell more upon those portions of the subject. Physical geography connects itself with almost the whole circle of what are called the physical sciences. I know that children and young men also take great interest in the subject, and what they take great interest in, they learn quickly. ...

You think also that a certain amount of information in natural science could be given in elementary schools? - A certain amount of an elementary character, remembering that it must always be given in a concrete shape with plenty of illustrations. For example, experiments can be exhibited to children illustrating the properties of heat, by taking a common bladder and putting it before the fire, and showing how the bladder fills and bursts, or by taking a bar of iron and putting it into the fire and heating it. Such common experiments are things which boys can easily comprehend. In the same manner, I think, they should be familiar with some of the simple machines and instruments, which could he explained to them by ordinary models, and they should know something about the common properties of matter, something about the different forms of attraction - chemical attraction, capillary attraction, and so forth. All this would be useful to boys of almost all classes, whether in town or country.

If I remember right, in the evidence which you gave before Mr. Samuelson's Committee in the House of Commons, with reference to elementary schools, you expressed an opinion as to its being perfectly possible to teach a certain amount of elementary science in the elementary schools of the country? - Yes, to the upper classes of the school. I tried the plan during the time that I had a school, and I found it to answer very well.

From the age of 11 to 13? - Yes.

That is a point which you feel no doubt upon whatever? - I feel no doubt upon it whatever.

Did you try it in chemistry? - Yes.

But, I presume, you would consider that there would be no more difficulty in applying it to botany or physiology than in the case of chemistry? - No, I do not.

Do you think that the teaching of one or two such subjects would in any way interfere with the instruction of children in the elementary subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic? - No, I do not think it would, I think that the pupils would like it very much. As a rule, boys very much like scientific instruction.

It would give them, would it not, a greater interest in their school education, as a whole? - Yes, I think so.

And, in that way, would have a decidedly favourable influence upon their reading and writing? - In two classes that I have at the Huddersfield College and the Huddersfield Collegiate Institution, the boys who are in the chemistry class I find to be the best boys in the school in other subjects.

I think that all the great principles of physical geography might undoubtedly be taught to boys in the day school at 10 years of age.

34. Dr. Carpenter speaks strongly on the importance of introducing into Education at an early period subjects of a less abstract character than Grammar and Mathematics.

65. Do you think that the mind, ordinarily speaking, is as apt for the exercise of its faculties upon the subjects of natural science as upon grammar and mathematical subjects, at an early period of life? - I should say more so; that it is more easy to fix a child's attention upon something which it sees, than upon an abstraction.

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66. Do you think that in that point of view, in fact, it is so far a subject better calculated to call out a healthy action of the reasoning powers than the more abstract subjects of grammar and mathematics? - I think it is, at the early period. I think that a lad of from 10 to 12 years of age is better fitted to be led to observe and reason upon what he observes in objective phenomena, than he is to reason upon abstractions. I think that from say 12 years of age, the powers may be healthfully exercised upon abstractions; but as far us I can judge, a child in learning a language learns by rote purely or almost purely up to say 12 years of age, but after that he begins, if he is well taught, to understand the rationale (so to speak) of the rules, but it is a mere matter of memory with him up to that time.

46. I understand you to say, that you do not feel in a position to define exactly at what age it might be desirable to introduce the physical sciences? - I think one can hardly tell that until after experience for some few years.

47. Or whether you would introduce it at an early age concurrently with classical instruction?- I would not undertake to say. All I can say is this, that at my juvenile lectures at Christmas times I have never found a child too young to understand intelligently what I told him; they came to me afterwards with questions which proved their capability.

50. If you take a little boy of ordinary intelligence, 11 years old, at Eton, and, say, half his time is devoted to classics and the other half to any branch of physical science, what would you teach him? - I would teach him all those things that come before classics in the programme of the London University -mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, pneumatics, acoustics, and optics. They are very simple, and easily understood when they are looked at with attention by both man and boy. With a candle, a lamp, and a lens or two, an intelligent instructor might teach optics in a very short time, and so with chemistry, I should desire all these. There might be a door by which you could leave out those for which they were inapt.

51. You would not be frightened by the hard words? - I do object very much to the too frequent use of hard words or technical phrases either in chemistry or in other subjects. The hard words are not the things. But the result will depend more on the men who are the teachers than on the wording itself. Education should not be stopped by that.

The ages of the children varied from 8 to 14; the class, which was a voluntary one, mostly consisted of girls; and the children are said to have learnt the subject readily, and to have been exceedingly fond of it.

37. This Evidence leaves no doubt upon our minds that Elementary Scientific Instruction might be given with great advantage from the commencement of the school career.

38. The third of the difficulties most frequently urged is want of Time. While we cannot deny the reality of this difficulty, it seems to us to offer no justification whatever for the total or almost total exclusion from Education of any great branch of Human Knowledge. The difficulty is one which can only be met by carefully economizing time, by employing the best methods of teaching, and by discarding superfluous subjects of study. To meet it by making education one-sided and incomplete, cannot be for the interest of the pupil. Nor does it appear to us impossible to make a fair adjustment between the claims of the different branches of Instruction. The number of hours of study in our Public Schools may be taken at not less than 35 per week, including in the estimate the number of hours on an average employed in preparation. Now, if six hours per week be devoted to Science, and if we suppose six hours also to be given to Mathematics, there would still remain at least 23 hours a week for the study of Language and other subjects.

39. We are not prepared to admit that the classical Scholarship of the Pupil would, by the close of his school career, have suffered in consequence of the subtraction of the 12 hours which we have assigned to Mathematics and Science: since we believe that the influence of Instruction in Natural Science on the development of his intellectual powers might be such as to promote his success in Classical Learning. Be this as it may, it is quite certain that his Education, if confined to one class of subjects; would be an unbalanced one, that his intellectual tastes and powers would have been developed in one direction only, and that so far he would be the worse prepared, whether for the continuance of study, or for the active business of life. We have already expressed the opinion that the Student who has given evidence that he possesses a fair amount of both Literary and Scientific Culture, may with advantage be allowed to choose for himself among the main lines of study pursued at a University. But, while he is still at school, and before he can have given such evidence, we do not think that the same liberty of choice ought to be conceded.

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[title page]

[C.-1297.] Price 10d.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin William Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, - Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin Henry Charles Keith Marquess of Lansdowne, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir John Lubbock, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Bernhard Samuelson, Esquire, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Sharpey, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Professor of Natural History in the Royal School of Mines, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Allen Miller, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Chemistry in Kings College, London, - and Our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Gabriel Stokes, Esquire, Master of Arts, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, Greeting:

Whereas We have deemed it expedient for divers good causes and considerations that a Commission should forthwith issue to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science and to Inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose.

Now Know Ye that We reposing great Trust and Confidence in your Ability and Discretion have nominated constituted and appointed and do by these Presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said William, Duke of Devonshire - Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne - Sir John Lubbock - Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth - Bernhard Samuelson - William Sharpey - Thomas Henry Huxley - William Allen Miller - and George Gabriel Stokes - to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And for the better enabling you to carry Our Royal Intentions into effect We do by these Presents authorize and empower you or any three or more of you to call before you or any three or more of you such persons as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration and also to call for and examine all such Books Documents Papers or Records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Our Commission and to Inquire of and concerning the Premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And our further Will and Pleasure is that you or any three or more of you do Report to Us under your Hands and Seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the Duties hereby imposed upon you) your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify unto Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do.

And We do further Will and Command and by these Presents ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and that you Our said Commissioners or any three or more of you shall and may from time to time proceed in the

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execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents We do hereby authorize and empower you to appoint a Secretary to this Our Commission to attend you whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Eighteenth day of May 1870, in the Thirty-third year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Henry John Stephen Smith, Esquire, Master of Arts, Savilian Professor of Geometry in Our University of Oxford, Greeting:

Whereas We did by Warrant, under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the Eighteenth Day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy, appoint Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin, William, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin, Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne, together with the several Gentlemen therein named, to be Our Commissioners to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose: And whereas since the issue of the said Warrant William Allen Miller, Doctor of Medicine, one of the Commissioners thereby appointed, hath deceased:

Now Know Ye, that We, reposing great Trust and Confidence in Your Zeal, Discretion, and Integrity, have authorized and appointed, and do by these Presents authorize and appoint you the said Henry John Stephen Smith to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to, and together with, the Commissioners now acting under the above-mentioned Royal Warrant.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the First Day of December 1870, in the Thirty-Fourth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

Professor Henry John Stephen Smith, M.A.,
To be a Commissioner for inquiring into
Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to Inquire what Aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such Aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty, in continuation of our former Reports, the following Report on the University of London; on the Universities of Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Andrew's, and Aberdeen); on the University of Dublin and Trinity College; and on the Queen's University in Ireland.

As in our Third Report we have dealt with The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and as in our Fifth Report we have referred to the Arrangements made by The University of Durham for the Promotion of Scientific Instruction at Newcastle-On-Tyne, the present Report will conclude that part of the Inquiry entrusted to us which relates to the Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof.

1. The University of London was founded by Royal Charter, on the 28th of November, 1836, for Objects which are best expressed in the words of its Original Charter:

"Deeming it to be the duty of our Royal Office, for the Advancement of Religion and Morality, and for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge, to hold forth to all classes and denominations of our faithful subjects, without any distinction whatsoever, an encouragement for pursuing a regular and liberal Course of Education; and considering that many persons do prosecute or complete their studies both in the Metropolis and in other parts of the United Kingdom, to whom it is expedient that there should be offered such facilities, and on whom it is just that there should be conferred such distinctions and rewards, as may incline them to persevere in these their laudable pursuits; further know that for the purpose of ascertaining, by means of Examination, the persons who have acquired proficiency in Literature, Science, and Art, by the pursuit of such course of education, as evidence of their respective attainments, and marks of honour proportioned thereunto, we do will, grant, declare, and constitute our right trusty and right well beloved cousin, William Cavendish Earl of Burlington [with 37 others], one Body Politic and Corporate, by the name of 'The University of London'."

2. The Governing Bodies of the University are the Senate, and the Convocation. The Senate consists of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows. The Fellows (36 in number, exclusive of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor for the time being) are appointed partly by the Crown and partly by the Members of the Senate under the powers granted by the Charter. The following Graduates of the University constitute the Convocation of the University, viz., all Doctors of Law, Doctors of Medicine, and Masters of Arts; all Bachelors of Law of two years' standing, all Bachelors of Medicine of two years' standing, all Bachelors of Arts of three years' standing, all Doctors of Science, all Bachelors of Science of three years' standing; and also all Graduates holding other Degrees recognized as qualifications for admission to Convocation by resolution of Convocation.

3. The whole of the annual expenses of the University are provided for in the Civil Service Estimates, the Estimates for the financial year 1874-75, being £9,861. The fees received by the University are paid into the Exchequer: the sum thus paid in for the same year is gIven in the Appendix, together with the annual expenses for 1875-76.

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4. That the Government which founded the University desired specially to encourage the introduction of Scientific Study into General Education, may be inferred from the character of the original Body of Fellows; which included many names distinguished in Science, as well as many eminent members of the Medical Profession.

5. The Senate was not originally empowered to grant any other Degrees than those of Bachelor and Master of Arts, Bachelor and Doctor of Laws, and Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine.

6. Certificates of Studentship in some one or more of the affiliated Colleges or Medical Schools were required from all Candidates for Examination; and on the Report of the Senate to the Home Secretary, from time to time; the list of such affiliated Institutions might be varied, altered, or amended.

7. The Examinations have from the first been conducted by Examiners appointed by the Senate.

8. In proceeding to frame a Curriculum of Study for Degrees in Arts and Medicine (Degrees in Laws being originally conferred only upon such as had previously Graduated in Arts), the Senate determined to institute a Matriculation Examination, which should be the test of the candidate's qualification to enter upon a course of Academical Study for either of such Degrees. This Examination included, from the first, not merely Classics, Mathematics, and English, but also an Elementary Knowledge of either Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, or Natural History; and a further encouragement to the study of these Departments of Science was given by subsequent Honours Examinations.

9. The value attached to this Matriculation Examination, as a test of a good School Education, is increasingly shown by the large number of Candidates (now exceeding 1,000 annually) who present themselves at it; a considerable proportion of these having no intention of proceeding to any Degree.

10. No practical Examination was originally instituted at Matriculation, and no change in this respect has been hitherto made. It is evident that there would be considerable difficulty in organizing such an examination for five or six hundred candidates. But there can be no doubt that if this difficulty could be overcome, the enforcement of a practical test would accelerate the introduction of Practical Work into School Teaching, and would thus exert a very favourable influence on the progress of Scientific Education.

11. The Curriculum for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts included Animal Physiology, with Classics, Mathematics and Mental Philosophy, as subjects of the Pass Examination; and Honours Examinations were instituted in Chemistry, Animal Physiology, and Vegetable Physiology with Structural Botany.

12. The First Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine included Chemistry and Botany, in both which subjects the examination was practical as well as written and oral. A subsequent Honours Examination was held in Chemistry, to which was attached an Exhibition of £30 per annum for two years. And an Honours Examination was held in Botany.

13. In the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine, Physiology (with Comparative Anatomy) took equal rank with Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery; and was the subject of a subsequent Honours Examination, to which was attached a Scholarship of £50 per annum for two years, with a gold medal and the style of University Medical Scholar.

14. No material change in these arrangements took place until the grant of a New Charter in the year 1858, by which the University was empowered to confer the several degrees of Bachelor, Master, and Doctor, in Arts, Laws, Science, Medicine, Music, and in such other Departments of Knowledge (except Theology) as the Senate might determine. And the same Charter provided that persons not educated in any of the affiliated Institutions, might be admitted to examination for any of the Degrees conferred by the University, other than Medical Degrees.

15. Before the terms of this Charter were finally settled, a Memorial had been presented to the Senate, signed by 20 of the most eminent Scientific Men in the Metropolis, urging the propriety of establishing Degrees in Science, and a Committee of the Senate, which included Dr. Arnott, Mr. Brande, and Mr. Faraday, with the subsequent addition of Mr. Hopkins, had been appointed for the consideration of the subject. In the following year (1859) the Degrees of Bachelor and Doctor in Science were instituted, under Regulations which, with some alterations in detail, remain in force at the present time.

16. The principle on which the Curriculum of Study for the Degree of Bachelor in Science was framed, was that of laying a broad foundation of Scientific Culture, upon which the student might advantageously base his acquirements in whatever department of Science he might choose as his special pursuit. The First (Pass) Examination for the

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Degree of Bachelor of Science includes Pure Mathematics, Experimental Physics, Inorganic Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany. Subsequent Honours Examinations are held in these several branches of knowledge; an Exhibition of £40 per annum for two years being awarded to the highest proficient in each, provided that he is found deserving of it. The competition for the Exhibition in Mathematics is open also to Candidates who have passed the First Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts; and the competition for the other exhibitions is open also to Medical Candidates.

17. The First Examination, for the Degree of Bachelor of Science, with the omission of Mathematics, under the style of the Preliminary Scientific Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine, is now imposed on all Candidates for degrees in Medicine, as a preliminary to the proper Medical Curriculum; the subjects of Inorganic Chemistry and Botany being omitted from the First Examination for the Bachelor's Degree, while Physiology is now transferred to it from the Second. All Medical Candidates are required to go through a Practical Examination in Chemistry; and it is the intention of the Senate to impose this test on Candidates for Degrees in Science also. The Examinations in Zoology and Botany have from the first been partly practical.

18. The Second (Pass) Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Science includes Mechanical and Natural Philosophy, Organic Chemistry, Geology and Palæontology, Animal Physiology, and Logic and Moral Philosophy. Subsequent Honours Examinations are held in these several branches of knowledge; Scholarships of £50 per annum for three years (the competition for which is open also to candidates who have passed the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts) being awarded to the highest proficients in Mathematics and in Logic and Moral Philosophy respectively; and Scholarships of £50 per annum for two years being awarded to the highest proficients in Chemistry, Zoology (including Physiology), and Geology and Palæontology respectively.

19. The Programme of Subjects for the Degree of Doctor in Science, on the other hand, was framed with a view of encouraging the highest proficiency in some special Branch of Knowledge; the candidate being expected to be so fully conversant with the principal subject he may select, as to be able to go through any test (whether by theoretical or practical Examination) of his acquirements in it that can be fairly applied. Sixteen Primary Branches are specified; but several of these are again subdivided, and others may be treated in different ways, at the option of the Candidate.

20. The total number of Candidates who have obtained the Degree of Bachelor in Science up to the present time is 157; the number of those who have obtained the Degree of Doctor in Science is 21, of whom 11 presented themselves in one or other of the Departments of Chemistry.

21. In our Third Report we have suggested that a Doctorate in Science should be established in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and we have expressed the opinion "that Candidates for this Degree should not merely show proficiency of knowledge as tested by Examination, but should also offer some Original Contribution to Science." This principle has already been adopted by the University of Edinburgh, and we think that the senate of the University of London would do well to consider whether they should not also award the Degree of Doctor of Science only to those who have given proofs of the desire and the capacity to make some addition to Scientific Knowledge.

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22. The four Scottish Universities were, as lately as 1863, the subject of an Inquiry, conducted, at considerable length and with great minuteness, by Commissioners appointed under the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1858. The powers given to the Commissioners included the Arrangement of the Financial Affairs of the several Universities and Colleges; the Foundation of new Professorships; the Regulation of the Course of Study and of Examinations for Degrees; and the Revision of Foundations. These powers were, however, conferred upon the Commissioners on the understanding that the additional sum to be provided by Parliament for the four Universities was not to exceed £10,000 a year, and there can be no doubt that in making the Recommendations contained in their Report, they were influenced, not only by the ascertained wants of the Universities, but by the consciousness that their expenditure was to be confined within this limit.

23. We have not thought it necessary to follow the Report of the Commissioners through its various details. It is, however, important that we should point out the position assigned by them to Science in the System of Education enjoined by their Ordinances.

24. The fourteenth Ordinance, which applies to the four Universities, prescribes for Graduation in Arts "a course extending over four winter sessions, and including attendance on the Classes of Humanity, Greek, Mathematics, Logic, Moral Philosophy, and Natural Philosophy"; and, in addition to these, "attendance on a course of English Literature", which previously had not been required in any Scottish University except that of Edinburgh.

25. The Commissioners "considered it necessary to take, as the basis of a System applicable to the Universities of Scotland, the course of study which had been followed in those Universities for a very long period"; they dwelt upon the variety of the subjects which that course already embraced, and upon the injurious effect of too large a variety in dissipating the attention of the Students; and they hesitated to recommend any steps which might tend to distract the attention of the Student still further.

26. They were, however, of opinion that it was impossible to dispense with any of the branches of study already embraced in that course. "No one", they said, "who is competent to form an opinion on such a question, could doubt the propriety of making Classical Learning the Foundation of a University Course." Again, the historical distinction of the Scottish Universities as "Seminaries of Learning for the cultivation of the various branches of Mental Philosophy", rendered the Commissioners unwilling to assign to it a position less considerable than that which it had hitherto occupied. So, too, the study of Mathematics, which, under the terms of Ordinance 14, includes Pure Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, appeared to form an essential subject. Finally, "considering the importance which belongs to the study of the English Language and Literature as part of a liberal education", and the success of the Literature Classes already in existence, although not compulsory, in the different Universities, the Commissioners "did not hesitate to prescribe, over and above the three original subjects, attendance on the Language and Literature Course to all Candidates for Degrees [without Honours] in Arts".

27. These four subjects once admitted to the curriculum, the Commissioners were unwilling, unless the Universities themselves should think it expedient, to require attendance on a Natural Science Course (including in that term Geology, Zoology, Chemistry, and Botany) in addition to the subjects prescribed as essential by Ordinance 14.

28. Previously to this, however, attendance at Lectures on a branch of Natural Science, either Chemistry or Natural History, had been included in the course of study at the Universities of St. Andrew's and Aberdeen, and representations were addressed to the Commissioners by gentlemen connected with the latter University. In consequence of these representations a fresh Ordinance, No. 18, was issued, sec. 4 of which empowers the University Court of each University to require all Candidates for Graduation to give attendance on the Lectures of any one of the Professors of Natural History, Chemistry, or Botany, whose lectures are included in the Department of Honours in Natural Science. The University of Aberdeen is the only one which has taken action under this Ordinance.

29. For the purposes of Graduation with Honours, Ordinance 14 permits a student to select any one, or more, of the four following Departments:

(1) Classical Literature.
(2) Mental Philosophy; including Logic, Metaphysics, and Moral Philosophy.

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(3) Mathematics; including Pure Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.
(4) Natural Science; including Geology, Zoology, Chemistry, and Botany.

31. The effect of this arrangement has been stated to us by Dr. Young, the Professor of Natural History in the University of Glasgow:

The understanding amongst the Professors, both in Glasgow and, I believe, also in Edinburgh, is, that the limitation to one class of Honours in Science means, practically, that the candidate shall pass simply. We require two classes of Honours in Arts, and a pass is all that is requisite, under the Ordinances, in Natural Science, so that hitherto there has been, one might almost say, no inducement to Students to attend the Classes in Natural Science.

33. We have already, in our Report on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, expressed the opinion that, just as a knowledge of Language and Literature is indispensable to the Science Student, so also some acquaintance with Natural Science is essential to the completeness of that education of which a Degree in Arts given by one of the National Universities is accepted as a proof.

We observe with satisfaction that this principle has been adopted by the Scottish Universities, as the chief Departments of Experimental Physics are included under the head of Mathematics, which is one of the compulsory subjects for the Degree in Arts. We would suggest that the Student should be allowed to show the required proficiency, whether in Science or Literature, by passing an Examination at such a period in his University career as will enable him, in the latter part of his Academical Course, to devote his attention systematically to a particular group of subjects.

34. A large proportion of the Students at the Scottish Universities attend the Courses with the object of preparing themselves for a Profession. Their education is, not unfrequently, procured with difficulty, and at a sacrifice by which their resources are severely taxed. "It is undoubted", say the Commissioners of 1858, "that a very large number of the Students in the Scotch Universities are in exceedingly poor circumstances. Many of them engage during the summer in teaching and other employments, in order to gain the means of supporting themselves at the University during the winter; and the Professors receive, in the last few weeks of the Winter Session, frequent applications from Students to dispense with their longer attendance, on account of their scanty funds being already exhausted."

It follows from this that the payments which the Universities feel themselves justified in demanding from their Students are small, and the resources of the Universities themselves, in so far as they are derived from fees, are slender in proportion. Nor will their endowments bear comparison with those of the sister Universities in England. It was no doubt upon these grounds that Parliament, upon the occasion of the passing of the Universities (Scotland) Act, agreed to make, from public funds, a contribution in Aid of these Universities. An account of the application of these Grants, so far as they are available for Science Teaching, will be subsequently given.

35. In Universities accessible to, and widely used by, the middle classes, it is not surprising that, side by side with a system of education which has been successful in producing Literary and Scientific Culture of the highest order, there should exist a body of teaching more utilitarian in its character, and assigning a prominent position not only to Pure but to Applied Science.

Thus, in each of the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, there is a complete Medical School, at which a large body of Students are engaged in qualifying themselves for the Medical Profession, by attendance on the Lectures of the Professors, and by Clinical Instruction in the Hospitals. In the University of St. Andrew's there is a Medical Faculty but no Medical School.

Again, both in Edinburgh and in Glasgow there are Chairs of Engineering, of which an account will be found in a subsequent part of this Report. These Chairs, as well as a Chair of Agriculture in the University of Edinburgh, the teaching of all of which has a decidedly technical character, are directly endowed by Government from Public Funds, while they share the advantages which have been secured to the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow by the expenditure of large sums of money voted by Parliament for the erection of University buildings.

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36. The position assigned to Science in the University of Edinburgh has, in so far as it enters into the Examination for Graduation in Arts, been already described in the general account which we have given of Ordinance 14 of the Commissioners of 1858.

37. The Scientific Subjects taught in connexion with the Medical School may be divided into three groups:

A. The general Sciences, in which all Medical Students are instructed and examined in a manner to be presently described.
B. The Sciences more especially appertaining to Medicine, such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology.
C. The Special Medical Subjects themselves, such as the Practice of Medicine, Surgery, and the Clinical Courses.

39. The Examinations for Degrees in Science are described in the following extracts from a Statement furnished to us by a Committee of Senatus of the University.

Candidates for the Degrees of Bachelor and Doctor of Science, in the Department of Physical and Natural Science, undergo a Preliminary Scientific Examination in Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry Zoology, and Botany. This examination is called the First Bachelor of Science Examination. The candidate may then select one of the following groups for the Second Examination, on passing which he attains the Degree of Bachelor of Science:

(a) The Mathematical Sciences (Higher Mathematics, Natural Philosophy).
(b) The Physical Experimental Sciences (Experimental Physics, Chemistry).
(c) The Natural Sciences (Zoology, Botany, Physiology, Geology).

For the Degree of Doctor of Science, the candidate must profess that Science which he intends to be the special object of his future study, and must further select a particular branch of it in which he believes himself to have attained a considerable knowledge.

41. In addition to the above General Degree in Science, there is also a Special Degree in the Department of Engineering, which is thus referred to in the same document:

Candidates for the Degrees of Bachelor and Doctor of Science in the Department of Engineering must undergo a Preliminary Examination in Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Chemistry. They may then proceed to the Second Bachelor of Science Examination in the following subjects - Mathematics applied to Mechanics, Engineering, and Mechanical Drawing. On passing this Examination they receive the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering. The candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Science in Engineering must profess one, and not more than one, of the subdivisions in each of the two following groups of subjects:

I. Practical Engineering

(a) The design of machinery, with complete drawings, specifications, and estimates.
(b) The preparation of designs, specifications, and estimates for Civil Engineering Work.

II. Applied Science

(a)Applied Mathematics.
(b) Chemistry.
(c) Geology.
(d) One branch of Natural Philosophy.
(e) Telegraphy.

The examinations in Group I. consist in requiring the actual execution of the specified work, the candidate is examined orally in connexion with the work submitted as his own.

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42. To the Departments in which Degrees in Science may be obtained, has, we also learn, been recently added a Department of Public Health, an account of which will be found in the Appendix to this Report.

43. We desire, before proceeding further, to refer to the Evidence which we have received with regard to the manner in which the Examinations for Graduation are conducted, in this University. Its means have not admitted of payments to Special Examiners for the Science Degree, and the Examinations have consequently been hitherto conducted almost entirely by the Professors themselves, who receive no remuneration for their labour as Examiners.

44. The Examination for Degrees in the case of the Faculty of Medicine was, at the time when we received Evidence from this University, entrusted to all the Professors in the Medical Faculty, with three Non-Professorial Examiners, elected by the University Court, and paid by a Parliamentary Grant of £100 a year each.

45. This arrangement was not one with which the University Authorities were content. "Many of my Colleagues", says the Professor of Anatomy, "and myself also are of opinion that our System of Examination would be improved if we had more than three Non-Professorial Examiners specially qualified. We are by no means indisposed to receive additional examiners ab extra, supposing that any arrangement could be made for properly remunerating them." With reference to this subject, the Professor of Chemistry stated to us that all his Colleagues "desired an increase in the number of Non-Professorial Examiners, because, as they are not appointed as Examiners in any one Department, it must frequently happen that no one of them is specially acquainted with the subject" in which he is called upon to examine.

46. Since this Evidence was given, the University Court has, in the case of the Medical Examinations, thoroughly recognised the principle of associating with the Professors additional Examiners, unconnected with the Professoriate, and has introduced a large number of additional Examiners. It would be very desirable that a similar improvement should be introduced into the other Scientific Examinations of the University. We learn that the question of appointing additional Examiners, not Professors, for the Degrees in Science, has been under the consideration of the University Court, but that this useful reform is still likely to be retarded, owing to want of funds. We should regard it as a fortunate result if, out of any assistance granted to the University, funds could be appropriated for this object.

47. The capital of the University was stated, in 1872, to amount to £144,951. Of this capital, the sum of £103,556 is specially limited to certain uses. The income available for other than these special uses consists of -

1. Interest on the difference between the above sums.
2. Matriculation and Graduation Fees.
3. The Annual Grant from Government.
4. Sundry minor receipts.

The general administration of the University (viz., the salary of the Secretary, the salary of the Clerk, the salary of the Factor, that is our man of business, the salary of the Dean of the Medical Faculty, of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and the Editing of the Calendar) costs £981 a year: the Library absorbs £1,584 annually; £217 is allowed for the support of the Anatomical and Botanical Museums; the repair, cleaning, heating and lighting of the buildings, the poor rate and water rate, and insurances, absorb £1,827; on the general service of the University, in the shape of door-keepers, warders, and so on, £595 is spent; £1,465 for Class Assistants and class expenses; £366 for printing and advertisements; £207 for prizes; £18 for graduation expenses, and £41 for sundries making altogether £7,301. The balance of unexpended income for the year 1871 was only £74.

49. We have been supplied with the following Statement of the Funds Annually applied to Scientific Instruction, whether from Endowments or Parliamentary Grants or from the general University Fund.

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[title page]

[C.-1298.] Price 7d.

[page ii]

[page iii]

VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin William Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, - Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin Henry Charles Keith Marquess of Lansdowne, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir John Lubbock, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth, Baronet, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Bernhard Samuelson, Esquire, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Sharpey, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Professor of Natural History in the Royal School of Mines, - Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Allen Miller, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Chemistry in Kings College, London, - and Our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Gabriel Stokes, Esquire, Master of Arts, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, Greeting:

Whereas We have deemed it expedient for divers good causes and considerations that a Commission should forthwith issue to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science and to Inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colleges thereof and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose.

Now Know Ye that We reposing great Trust and Confidence in your Ability and Discretion have nominated constituted and appointed and do by these Presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said William, Duke of Devonshire - Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne - Sir John Lubbock - Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth - Bernhard Samuelson - William Sharpey - Thomas Henry Huxley - William Allen Miller - and George Gabriel Stokes - to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And for the better enabling you to carry Our Royal Intentions into effect We do by these Presents authorize and empower you or any three or more of you to call before you or any three or more of you such persons as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed of the matters herein submitted for your consideration and also to call for and examine all such Books Documents Papers or Records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Our Commission and to Inquire of and concerning the Premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And our further Will and Pleasure is that you or any three or more of you do Report to Us under your Hands and Seals (with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the Duties hereby imposed upon you) your opinion on the several matters herein submitted for your consideration, with power to certify unto Us from time to time your several proceedings in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, if it may seem expedient for you so to do.

And We do further Will and Command and by these Presents ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue and that you Our said Commissioners or any three or more of you shall and may from time to time proceed in the

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execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents We do hereby authorize and empower you to appoint a Secretary to this Our Commission to attend you whose services and assistance we require you to use from time to time as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the Eighteenth day of May 1870, in the Thirty-third year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

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VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Henry John Stephen Smith, Esquire, Master of Arts, Savilian Professor of Geometry in Our University of Oxford, Greeting:

Whereas We did by Warrant, under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the Eighteenth Day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy, appoint Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin, William, Duke of Devonshire, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin, Henry Charles Keith, Marquess of Lansdowne, together with the several Gentlemen therein named, to be Our Commissioners to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, and to inquire what aid thereto is derived from Grants voted by Parliament, or from Endowments belonging to the several Universities in Great Britain and Ireland, and the Colleges thereof, and whether such aid could be rendered in a manner more effectual for the purpose: And whereas since the issue of the said Warrant William Allen Miller, Doctor of Medicine, one of the Commissioners thereby appointed, hath deceased:

Now Know Ye, that We, reposing great Trust and Confidence in Your Zeal, Discretion, and Integrity, have authorized and appointed, and do by these Presents authorize and appoint you the said Henry John Stephen Smith to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to, and together with, the Commissioners now acting under the above-mentioned Royal Warrant.

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the First Day of December 1870, in the Thirty-Fourth Year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty's Command,
H. A. BRUCE.

Professor Henry John Stephen Smith, M.A.,
To be a Commissioner for inquiring into
Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

WE, the Commissioners appointed by Your Majesty to make Inquiry with regard to Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, humbly beg leave to present to Your Majesty, in conclusion of the Inquiry entrusted to us, the following Report on the Advancement of Science and on the Relations of Government to Science.

In the course of our Investigations into the Proceedings and Management of the Universities, Colleges, Museums, and other Institutions, which exist wholly or in part for Scientific Purposes, considerations bearing on the Relations of the Government to Science, and on the Advancement of Scientific Research, necessarily came under our notice to a certain extent; they were, consequently, referred to in an incidental manner in the Reports already submitted to Your Majesty, which, however, were mainly concerned with Scientific Instruction. The present Report will address itself directly to the Relations of Government to Science, and to the Advancement of Scientific Research; and our Inquiry divides itself into the following branches:

(1) The Scientific Work carried on by Departments of the Government.
(2) The Assistance at present given by the State towards the promotion of Scientific Research.
(3) The Assistance which it is desirable the State should give towards that object.
(4) The Central Organization which is best calculated to enable the Government to determine its action in all questions affecting Science.

The principal branches of Scientific Work conducted by Officers of the Imperial Government, and the Departments by which they are administered, are as follows:

Topographical Survey [Treasury (Office of Works)].
Hydrographical Survey [Admiralty].
Geological Survey [Privy Council].
Astronomical Observations:
    Greenwich and the Cape of Good Hope [Admiralty].
    Edinburgh [Treasury (Office of Works)].
Meteorological Observations:
    Greenwich [Admiralty].
    Edinburgh [Treasury (Office of Works)].
    The Meteorological Office.
[The Meteorological Office is not administered by any Public Department, but is directed by a Committee, which, although appointed by the Royal Society, is independent of that body.]
Botany - Royal Gardens, Kew; Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Botanic Gardens, Dublin [Treasury (Office of Works)].
The Chemical Department of the War Office.
The Standards Department of the Board of Trade.

In one case, that of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the work is examined into and reported on to the Admiralty by a Board of Visitors composed of men of Science.

Some branches of the work dealt with, from the accident of their origin and from other causes, are less entirely devoted to the direct necessities of the State than others; whilst it will be seen that there are certain lines of investigation of no less importance to the State than those for which provision has already been made, which the State has not as yet undertaken.

The Imperial Investigations enumerated, with the exception of the very special work of

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the Chemical Department of the War Office and the Standards Department of the Board of Trade, generally extend over large areas or long periods of time, and consequently are of such a nature that the State could not safely intrust them to the action of Individuals or Societies, even if these were willing to undertake them.

When Scientific questions arise on which the Departments are not supposed to possess the requisite theoretical or practical information, Special Committees are appointed or the advice of individuals presumed to be specially qualified is obtained, either directly or through the Royal, the Geographical, or some other Learned Society.

The following is a Statement showing the annual charges borne by Imperial Funds, at the present time, to defray the expenses of such of these various investigations as appear separately In the Estimates for the year 1874-75.

In addition to these recurring charges, sums are voted from time to time for various Expeditions and for Experiments incidental to the Services of the various Departments, such as the Investigations concerning the Causes and Processes of Disease carried, on under the Direction of the Lords of the Privy Council, and the various Experimental Researches carried on for the Army and Navy.

We have not considered it necessary to take Evidence regarding the detailed work of the Public Departments, but have thought it sufficient to collect the general opinion of those who are connected with, or well-informed concerning, the Scientific Work carried on by those Departments.

In the case of the Meteorological Office, however, both on account of its recent establishment and the circumstance that it is not directly responsible to any Public Department, we have felt it our duty to take Evidence at some length, both as regards its Scientific and Financial Administration.

The Evidence which we have taken as to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the work done for the Advancement of Science, including that of the Government Departments, is very copious. A large portion of it is contained in the volumes already published, and it will have been seen that there is a general concurrence of opinion, that, even in the interests of the Departments themselves, more ought to be done by the Government in the way of Investigation, particularly in respect of those Sciences the Practical Application of which has been developed, or the scope of which has been enlarged by Discovery, within recent years.

These opinions are entertained alike by persons engaged in Scientific Work under the various Departments of the Government, and by Scientific Men having no official connexion with the State.

The following are extracts from the Evidence on this branch of the subject.

Sir Henry Rawlinson, a member of the Indian Council, states that in that Council they perpetually have references before them which they are unable to deal with. He adds:

... We have, for instance, Sir William Baker upon the Council, and General Strachey and Colonel Strange both attached to the Office; yet, notwithstanding their valuable aid, there are many subjects referred to us with which we are quite incompetent to deal.

He points out that many of these questions are practical and economical; but that still there is a scientific element in almost all of them, and he adds -

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References on all these subjects are constantly coming home, and we have no means of answering them in our own body, while it is very unsatisfactory to be obliged to send out for gratuitous information. We do sometimes, it is true, apply to individuals and sometimes to societies, but in very many cases, I am afraid, the questions are shelved, because there is no competent and authoritative body to refer to.

... Our statesmen do not appreciate properly the value of scientific advice or scientific inquiry, and that they are very much fonder of experiments made upon a large scale with no defined system, than they are of experiments which have been brought out as the result of a carefully studied previous inquiry. I think that an enormous amount of money was wasted in the case of the inquiry into armour plates, both for ships and forts. In that case the Government appointed a partly scientific committee, but it was mixed up with other persons who were not scientific; and instead of commencing a series of experiments upon a small and clearly defined scale, from which they could have drawn conclusions for making their larger experiments, they began by firing at any plates that were offered to them which had no relation one to another, either in their relations to the guns or to the form of backing, or in any other way, and consequently it was difficult to draw useful calculations from them.

I think any experiment almost on the sailing or rolling properties of a big ship, when tried in a big ship to begin with, is a waste of money. The cost of construction of a big ship as an Instrument of investigation is enormous; and if it is tried with a view to the application of a new principle, there must be the risk that the experiment will be to some extent wasted. Being an experiment, the very fact that it is an experiment implies that it may not turn out as it is expected, and a failure in so costly a piece of apparatus as a new complete ship is inevitably a very costly failure. So far as it is possible to arrive at a proper understanding of such subjects by small-scale trials, it is of the utmost importance, economically, that that method should be adopted, and I think that that has not been sufficiently adopted.

Sir Wm. Thomson has given us the following Evidence:

... With a vast amount of mechanical work which is necessarily undertaken by the Government, and which is continually in hand, questions involving scientific difficulties of a novel character frequently occur; questions requiring accurate knowledge of scientific truth hitherto undeveloped are occurring every day. In both respects the Government is at present insufficiently advised, and the result is undoubtedly that mechanical works are sometimes not done as well as they might be done, that great mistakes are sometimes made; and, again, a very serious and perhaps even a more serious evil of the present system, in which there is not sufficient scientific advice for the Government, is the undertaking of works which ought never to be undertaken.

Are you able to point out any instances which you have in your mind of mistakes which you think have occurred from the want of good advice on the part of the Government? - One great mistake undoubtedly was the construction of the "Captain", and I believe that a permanent scientific council advising the Government would have made it impossible to commit such a mistake. They would, in the very beginning, have relieved the Government from all that pressure of ignorant public opinion which the Government could not possibly, in the present state of things, withstand.

Sir William Thomson thinks "that a single body would be better than a number of small Committees for advising the Government on the great variety of questions which from time to time would be likely to arise."

Admiral Richards, late Hydrographer of the Admiralty, is of opinion that:

The members of such committees must be selected more or less to fulfil certain political conditions, and that, as a rule, they would come new to the subject that they were going to consider, and I do not believe that the Commission which sat on the Naval Designs the other day was a very successful one. I do not know that any great advantages have arisen or are likely to arise from it.

I do not think so, because they have to find out the dream and the interpretation both, which is always a difficulty. They have to feel their way to a locus standi, which would already be possessed by a Council habitually operating with reference to the subject.

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Our attention has been especially directed to the want of Laboratories for the use of the officials charged with Scientific Investigations urgently required for the economical management of the Public Departments.

Mr. Anderson, the Superintendent of Machinery at Woolwich, who has been responsible for the expenditure of "very nearly £3,000,000 of public money", points out that there are no means at the disposal of State servants to enable them to investigate questions on which large expenditure depends. With special regard to his own Department, he states:

There is a very great deal which I should like to see taken in hand systematically. ... There is much that we are in the dark about; we are groping in the dark in almost everything at present. ...

Although we know a very great deal with regard to iron, cast, wrought, and in the condition of steel, there is yet very much which we do not know, and I am persuaded that if we could with certainty treat ordinary cast iron in the way that we sometimes do, nearly by chance, we would do away with three-fourths, or a very large proportion of the wrought iron which is now used in this country, and we should use cast iron. A great deal of the cast iron of commerce is not much above five tons per square inch in tenacity, but we can, by trying, get it up to 15 tons, although some of the reasons that determine that high character are obscure and it is very difficult to see what they arc. I should like that the subject of cast iron should be thoroughly exhausted, and at the same time I should like to see the physical properties of iron thoroughly exhausted ...

... There is another very important subject which I might mention to the Commission. Some 20 years ago we were using 10 or 12 pounds of coal per horse-power per hour, and the majority of engines still require six pounds, but by the improvements that have taken place we are now down to two pounds. There is a little engine at work now in the London district which is working at 1¾ pounds. There is a great gulf yet between getting steam-engines that will work at 1¾ pounds per horse-power per hour, and the point where we are now; I mean getting that done practically; but I believe that if the right man, or two men, were told off to thoroughly investigate this subject, and not to stop working until they had brought it to a practical shape, we could in 10 years from this time get down to one pound per horse-power per hour. I see that there are very many leakages or loss in steam-engines in the very best way that we make them at present. The knowledge that was gained by Joule's experiments a few years ago seems to me to have been of immense value. Those experiments that he carried out for himself were the sort of thing which I think the Government should have done for the sake of the country. He did more to make engineers thoroughly dissatisfied with their present knowledge with regard in what they can do with steam than anything which had been done before. I believe that, what Mr, Joule did will do more for this country than even what James Watt did. The part that James Watt took was very great, and the world gives him full credit for it, but the world is scarcely willing to give credit to Joule for what he will do; but he has made all engineers dissatisfied. They know that the best steam engine is not doing one-sixth of the work which it ought to do and can do. That is a sad state of matters to be in when we know that we are so far wrong, but yet no one will go to the trouble of going to the end of the question so as to improve the steam engine as it might be done; in fact, it will cost a great deal of trouble and a great deal of expense, I have no doubt.

I should like to see a grand laboratory fitted with everything that would go towards the investigation of such matters, and at the same time a testing apparatus for getting at the physical facts us well. To get up the proper plant would be very expensive, but still I should like the nation to have it, so that any public department could go to this same laboratory and ask them for assistance to investigate any doubtful point. ... In the Government service everybody who gets any work to do worth mentioning is overpowered with work - either they get too much or too little to do - and the investigator should not be bothered with such miscellaneous work. For example, take my own case, I may have 50 subjects in a day many times. Yesterday I had well on to 50 subjects to take up, and go into them all as well as I could, and I did not get over my work to write the paper which now lies before Your Grace until 9 o'clock last night. A man is not in a position to pursue investigations when he is overworked in that way.

I think that there are many branches of science remaining undeveloped at present, the development of which would be of great advantage to the country. I base that opinion partly upon the experience which I acquired at the Admiralty, in which I continually found that great and important questions were undeveloped for the want of organisation and of the means of developing them. ...

Mr. Froude in his evidence before this Commission stated that he had in hand a series of experiments for the Admiralty, having for their primary object the determination of the relations between form, speed, and resistance in ships, and, as he justly observed, this inquiry collaterally raises some other questions; but there is one subject related to that which Mr. Froude has under consideration, but which has not been developed at all yet, and it is one upon which very important financial questions hang; I refer to the dependence of the form of ships upon the weight of the materials composing their hulls. It will be obvious to the Commission that if you are going to build a ship for high speed of the thinnest steel, you can afford to prolong the ends of the vessel at either end, and give them extreme fineness in a manner and to a degree which would be preposterous, and I may even say monstrous, in the case of a ship which had to be built with very thickly-armoured sides. In this country the earlier ironclads were made of a form involving very long and fine lines, in fact a form analogous to that of mercantile steamships, and the consequence was that although in the 'Minotour' type of ship armour and backing equivalent only to that used in the first instance in the

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'Warrior' was employed, yet we got a ship 400 feet long, costing nearly half a million sterling. The impropriety of that course impressed itself upon my mind, and I believe it was more for that reason than for any other that I ventured to propose to the Admiralty a great change in that respect, and placed before them the design for the 'Bellerophon' as an example of a vessel which should be as fast as those long ships, and more effectually armoured, and much more handy, carrying at least as efficient an armament, and yet should cost about £100,000 less. That policy was sanctioned by his Grace the Duke of Somerset , the 'Bellerophon' was built, and I believe long before she was finished the principle obtained so much favour that the idea of building another of the extremely long vessels never entered anybody's mind, and it was stated by the late First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Childers, in Parliament, officially, that by adopting that modification of form at least a million sterling had been saved to the county in the course of a very short time. But I wish to impress upon the Commission, if I may be allowed to do so, that that economy resulted from a mere tentative and limited application of a scientific principle, which has never been developed, and which the organisation of the Admiralty furnishes no means for developing. I indicated the nature of this investigation in a paper laid before the Royal Society some two or three years ago, but as the solution of it involves high mathematics on the one hand, and elaborate experimental investigations upon the other, it has never been taken up and dealt with in any sufficient way.

A second illustration which I should like to give is this: the present condition of the marine steam-engine and boiler is very unsatisfactory. It is unsatisfactory to such an extent that I believe if the manufacture of iron and steel were improved with reference to its use in the construction of engines and boilers, and if improved material were applied by improved methods, a saving of one half of the present weight would be attained, and when I say one half I know that I am speaking greatly within the limits which some persons who have thought very much about this question would be prepared to express. Of course, if that be so, if we are carrying about in our mercantile and other steamships twice the weight which is essential for the production of the power, that is so much taken off either from the further power and speed which might be obtained, or from the freightage and commercial value of the vessel. I may mention that in the manufacture of shafts, for instance, of the marine engine and of stern posts, and other large forgings for ships, the method of production is comparatively rude, and it very much needs development. I for one feel the necessity of great improvement in these respects, because I know that at the present moment the successful production of those enormous forgings rests a great deal more upon the skill of a workman than upon the application of any science whatever to them. So much has the subject been neglected, that, at this moment, I have the responsibility of seeing some very large forgings indeed made for certain ships, and the most effectual manner in which I can give effect to my responsibility is that of selecting the very best working smith that I can find, and putting him into the manufactory where those things are being made, for him to do the best that his experience enables him to do, in order to see them properly constructed. I believe that if a regular independent scientific investigation were applied to a manufacture of that nature, enormous advantage would at once result.

There is no scientific authority to which I am entitled to appeal. It happens at the present time that I have the advantage of appealing to my former colleagues in the Standards Commission, to the Astronomer Royal and to Professor Miller, and I get a great deal of assistance from them in that way, especially from Professor Miller. In fact I could hardly have executed the scientific duties of my department without having assistance of that kind, but such aid has been obtained merely in consequence of my relations with them as a colleague. I am in no wise authorised to call upon them or upon any other scientific authority for information or assistance. I may here particularly refer to one subject which is mentioned in my paper, the preparation of new standard trial plates for coin. I actually required scientific information upon that point, and I could only apply to the Astronomer Royal; but his time was taken up so much that after some time he declined interfering in the matter, so that I have been obliged to act in the matter without having any scientific authority to aid me, although it is a very responsible duty cast upon me by law.

The conservancy of weights and measures is a subject involving questions of the most extreme scientific nicety. Faraday made statements showing how completely unknown at present are the properties of matter upon which we depend for a permanent standard of length. One of the very first objects that should be undertaken in connexion with the conservancy of the standards of weight and length is secular experiments, on the dimensions of metals and solids of other classes under various conditions of stress, temperature, and atmosphere. Those would involve scientific experiments of an extremely difficult character, and also operations extending from year to year. There ought to be just now a set of experimental specimens of solids laid up which should be examined every year, or every 10 years, or every 50 years, or every 100 years, the times when observations are to be made from age to age being regulated by the experience of the previous observations. It would be necessary to begin observing every month, then when constancy is attained within the degrees of observable minuteness to observe every year, then every 10 years, then perhaps every 50 years, and then it might be sufficient to look at them every 500 years, and examine whether this copper standard and that brass standard have retained precisely the same length. This would not be a very difficult or expensive thing to institute in such a way as eventually to obtain good results, but it would be an operation of a secular character, which could only be carried out by the Government.

... The State requires many important investigations to be carried on. Such investigations are being continually conducted in buildings often very ill-adapted for the purpose, and which are fitted up for the purpose at a great cost.The laboratory of the Rivers Commission, for instance, which we have occupied for four years, was constructed in a house in Victoria Street; a rent of £200 a year is paid for it, and it is literally nothing more than a moderate sized room, and two smaller ones, very ill-adapted for the purpose. Consequently, this laboratory is not so efficient as a building erected for the express purpose of conducting such investigations would be.

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It may be convenient, for the purposes of this Report, to consider the Assistance given by the state towards Scientific Research as being either Permanent or Occasional.

Our great National Museums (upon which we have already reported) come under the first of these descriptions, and it will have been seen that for the purposes of the Student of the Biological and Geological Sciences, Collections are provided on an extensive scale, so that the Student of these branches of Science has advantages similar to those provided for the Student of Art or Literature.

On the other hand, the Student of the Physical Sciences has no such facilities; there are, at the best, for some of these branches of study, Collections of Instruments of a very inadequate kind, and relating for the most part to Applied as distinguished from Theoretical Science.

We have also reported to Your Majesty that the National Collections, so far as they illustrate the Biological and Geological Sciences, are rendered easily accessible to the Students of those Sciences. But the few instruments illustrative of Physical Science in any National Collection are so placed that they can scarcely be used even in the study of the History of Science. Moreover, as a mere collection of instruments, however complete, without working laboratories, is of little use to the Student of the Experimental Sciences, and as there are no Public Laboratories available for the Researches of Private Investigators, it may be said that in many branches of Experimental Science the State affords no permanent material to aid to such Investigators.

Assistance of a Permanent Description is also afforded to certain Learned Societies, by providing them with apartments free of rent, or with annual grants of money in lieu of such accommodation: the sum of £500 granted annually to the Royal Geographical Society under certain conditions is an instance of such a grant.

We may regard as a Permanent Aid to Science the grant of £1,000 for Researches carried on by Private Individuals, which is annually voted by Parliament, and administered by a Committee of the Royal Society.

This Grant has rendered such great services to Science, that we desire to give the following Outline of its History.

The first proposal for such a grant was contained in a letter (dated October 24th, 1849), from Earl Russell (then Lord John Russell) to the then President of the Royal Society (the Earl of Rosse), and was to the following effect:

As there are from time to time scientific discoveries and researches which cost money and assistance the students of science can often but ill afford, I am induced to consult your Lordship, as President of the Royal Society, on the following suggestion:

I propose that at the close of the year the President and Council should point out to the First Lord of the Treasury a limited number of persons to whom the grant of a reward, or of a sum to defray the cost of experiments, might be of essential service. The whole sum which I could recommend the Crown to grant in the present year is £1,000, nor can I be certain that my successor would follow the same course; but I should wish to learn whether, in your Lordship's opinion and that of your colleagues, the cause of science would be promoted by such grants.

There are often details to be worked out before it is possible to employ usefully newly discovered principles. In many of the sciences reductions are required before observations can be made use of. Both in Science and Art facts technically called constants are the materials of discovery; to determine them accurately is of great importance. Now in all these cases, and in many others, the work to be done is laborious and expensive, and as it adds but little comparatively to the fame of the individual, it especially requires encouragement.

First and chiefly - That the grant be awarded in aid of private individual scientific investigation.

Secondly. In aid of the calculation and scientific reduction of masses of accumulated observations.

Thirdly. In aid of astronomical, meteorological, and other observations, which might be assisted by the purchase and employment of new instruments.

Fourthly, and, subordinately to the purposes above named, in aid of such other scientific objects as may from time to time appear to be of sufficient interest, although not coming under any of the foregoing heads.

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It was further added -

That a Committee be appointed, consisting of the whole Council for the time being, ex officio, together with an equal number of Fellows of the Society, chosen by the Council amongst the members most conversant with the business of the Royal Society, or with one or more of the leading departments of Science, or officially connected with the principal scientific bodies of the kingdom; such additional members to be named for a period of three years, subject to the annual revision of the Council, and provision being made for filling up the vacancy occasioned by such additional member becoming a member of Council during his term of service on the said Committee, should such occur.

I suppose that the £1,000 in one year was designed as an experiment to try the matter in the first instance. I always understood that Lord Russell contemplated that the sum would be augmented if the plan were found to work well.

The most important instances of the Occasional Assistance given by the State, are Expeditions for Special Researches, and Outfits of Ships, and Apparatus and Grants of Money for such Researches. These contributions are of great value, but they do not appear to be granted or refused on any sufficiently well defined principle.

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We have received strong Evidence that it is the interest and within the proper function of the State to give efficient aid to the Advancement of Knowledge, even in those cases where such knowledge is not directly required for State purposes, and, we may remark, that some of the most decided expressions of opinion to this effect are those of Statesmen, whose views, owing to their official experience and their intimate knowledge of the exigencies of Parliamentary Government, are entitled to great weight on points involving increased grants of public money.

The Evidence of Lord Salisbury is emphatic:

Do you hold that the State may legitimately interfere in giving aid to the advancement of science? - I certainly do. It is a very orthodox doctrine to hold, and one which could be supported if necessary by quotations out of Adam Smith, the essence of the doctrine being, that the State is perfectly justified in stimulating that kind of industry which will not find its reward from the preference of individuals, but which is useful to the community at large.

The State has already, to a considerable extent, recognized, has it not, that duty; and there are a considerable number of scientific institutions supported more or less by the State? - No doubt the State, in the money that it gives, and has given in past times, to the best Universities, has recognized that duty.

There are the Observatory at Greenwich, the British Museum, and Kew Gardens; you would consider those as instances in which the State aids the promotion of science? - They would be all instances in point; and do not apprehend that as to the abstract doctrine itself there has ever been any serious contest.

I think there has been a very general consent amongst a large number of men of science who have been examined before this Commission that in the present state of science there are many branches as to which there is no probability of their being advanced to the degree to which they are capable of being advanced by private effort, and without the assistance of State funds in some shape; what is your Lordship's opinion upon that subject? - I am, as a general rule, very strongly in favour of private effort, and very decidedly against the application of State funds to any purpose that can be accomplished without them; but I think that if there is any exception to that which I venture to call a sound and wholesome rule, it is in the case of scientific research, because the results are not immediate, they are not popular in their character, and they bring absolutely no pecuniary advantage to the person engaged in working them out. A great mathematical or a great astronomical discovery is a benefit to the whole community, and in a certain sense to mankind in general; but it is productive of absolutely no benefit, in a pecuniary point of view, to the person who has given his labour to it.

... The State should do what it can both to promote scientific education and also to assist in the prosecution of scientific experiments and inquiries when they can be best prosecuted by the aid of the State.

On the proposition that it is the duty of the State to encourage Original Research, we might multiply our extracts from the Evidence indefinitely. Dr. Frankland, Sir W. Thomson, Dr. Joule, Mr. Gore, Dr. Carpenter, Professor A. W. Williamson, Mr. Reed, Sir E. Sabine, Dr. Siemens, Dr. Sclater, Mr. Farrer, Admiral Richards, and numerous others, show that the Aid of Government to Scientific Research has been beneficial, so far as it has gone, but that it has been insufficient and should be increased.

We have selected the Evidence of Dr. Frankland and Sir W. Thomson from amongst that given by men of Science.

Dr. Frankland's Evidence is to the following effect:

Setting aside the interests of science, what would be your expectation under equal circumstances otherwise, in reference to two countries, in one of which scientific research was neglected, whilst in the other it was pursued with considerable vigour, with regard to the progress of the arts and of manufactures?

In my opinion there could not be any doubt but that the nation which neglected science must suffer in the end, because although it could buy scientific inventions from the other country, yet still it would always be behind, as it were, in the market; it would have to follow the lead of the other country, which I imagine would be a commercial disadvantage.

Might it not also be the case that the appreciation of the commercial value of scientific inventions would be very much more uncertain in the one country than in the other?

Yes. It is also much more difficult to establish manufactures upon new inventions in a country which neglects science, because you cannot have either workpeople or managers competent to conduct those processes which depend upon scientific principles.

People might pay large sums for what was worthless, and neglect that which was of great value?

They might.

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live on Scientific Research, and that a definite and secured position should be given to Scientific Workers.

In another part of his Evidence he states:

... There are many investigations which can only be done by the nation as a whole; and viewing the Government in one sense as acting for the nation, as it were a committee of the whole nation, there are very many investigations not merely of importance with reference to promoting the material prosperity of the nation, but valuable to the nation as promoting scientific discoveries, in which the whole nation takes a pleasure, and from which the whole nation derives as great benefit as anything material can possibly produce. Investigations for which a large expenditure of money is necessary, and which must be continued through long periods of years, cannot be undertaken by private individuals. Generally speaking, I believe that if the Government is well advised in respect to science, it will be for the good of the nation that the Government should make it part of its functions to promote experimental investigations in science.

I can only give an opinion which is of very little value; but I think there can be no doubt whatever that there are numerous subjects, and always will be numerous subjects, in which private observers are unable to do what is wanted. For the older sciences yon have had observatories established at the Government expense, for astronomy, and now, recently, for meteorology; and those cannot be the only sciences to which assistance ought to be given on the same principle.

We proceed to give extracts from the Evidence placed before us in reference to the need of Laboratories for conducting alike Chemical, Physical, Metallurgical, and Physiological Inquiries, both for Departmental Work, and for the Researches of Private Individuals. Where the Evidence is of a general character, and includes proposals regarding Observatories also, we give it here, although we shall deal with the special question of Physical Observatories separately.

Amongst the witnesses who are in favour of the erection of new Laboratories for Research is Colonel Strange, whose view of the National Requirements in these respects is thus given:

Will you be so good as to enumerate the institutions which you think should be under the State? - (1) an observatory for physics of astronomy; (2) an observatory for terrestrial physics, namely, meteorology, magnetism, &c.; (3) a physical laboratory; (4) an extension of the Standards Office; (5) a metallurgical laboratory; (6) a chemical laboratory; (7) an extension of collections of natural history, and an able staff of naturalists; (8) a physiological laboratory; (9) a museum of machines, scientific instruments, &c. I believe that under one or other of those and existing institutions every requisite investigation will range itself. I have not stopped to inquire whether one or another is more or less important. My aim in the spirit of my postulate No. 2 has been completeness. It may be necessary for a manufacturer to prosecute only such particular investigations as promise direct and speedy profit. A great nation must not act in that commercial spirit. All the operations of nature are so intimately interwoven, that it is impossible to say beforehand that a given line of research apparently unproductive may not throw light in unsuspected directions, and so lead to untold and undreamt of treasures. ...

Are you of opinion that any national institutions supported by the Government are required for the advancement of science? - I think that there ought to be institutions for pure research supported by the Government, and not connected with the Universities. The only suitable place at present for such institutions would be London, or the neighbourhood of London; in that situation, I believe, very great things could be done by institutions for pure research, at which work of a very great immediate money value would be produced at an extremely moderate cost, and I believe that discoveries redounding to the honour, and credit, and pleasure of this country would infallibly be made.

Are you able to give any idea as to how many such institutions would be required? - There should be five. One at present exists, namely, the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. Another in my opinion is very much wanted, an observatory for astronomical physics, then again a physical laboratory, and a laboratory for chemical research, and a physiological laboratory are necessary. ...

Would such a physical laboratory differ in any essential respects from a physical laboratory attached to a University? - Yes; it would be adapted solely for research, with no provision for pupils except what may be called apprentices, or pupils for research; no provision for teaching the mere elements of manipulation, but provision for researches directly adapted to increase knowledge, and for making pattern researches for the sake of training research pupils who had already gained experience and proved ability in institutions of instruction.

Would you leave the researches to be carried on at such a laboratory mainly to the discretion of the person who had charge of it, or would you place it in any degree under the control of the council of which you have been speaking? - I would leave it to the discretion of the person who has charge of it.

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And that the Government should also be able to command investigation on the advice of the council? - Yes.

Of course the director would report? - Yes, the director would report on everything, both researches undertaken at his own instigation, and investigations undertaken for the council, or for the Government.

And your view of what should be done in the chemical and physiological laboratories would, I presume, be something of the same nature? - Yes, something of the same kind, mutatis mutandis.

With respect to the apparatus, and the annual supply of apparatus, it is probable, is it not, that the physical laboratories would be the most costly? - Yes, the most costly in apparatus.

Some very fine instruments of a costly kind are now required in physiological inquiries, and large pieces of apparatus are sometimes employed, such as the respiration apparatus at Munich, which was put up on the recommendation of Professor Pettenkofer? - Yes, it would be in my opinion necessary not to limit to a fixed endowment the expenditure of any one of those institutions, but to let it be determined (if I may use the expression once more) by natural selection; applications for money to be made to the council to be duly weighed, and the council to apply to the Treasury. That would be much more economical than giving a fixed sum which, being to be spent, might be spent without due regard to economy, or which, on the other hand, might prove to be insufficient for valuable researches, causing the institution thereby to be crippled and to lose efficiency.

You would not think it indispensable, would you, that such institutions, if the Government thought fit to establish them, should be in the heart of London, or in any very central situation? - No; it would be much better that they should be in the country in positions conveniently accessible to London. For a physical laboratory quietness of the ground is of immense importance. It would be impossible to make a great deal of the most important scientific investigations in a physical laboratory within 100 yards of any of the great thoroughfares of London, and a much greater distance than 100 yards is quite necessary for many such investigations.

You would not institute any regular provision for teaching in those laboratories? - No.

But you would allow young men or students who wished to carry out original research to avail themselves of them under the direction of the persons who were in charge of them? - Yes under the direction, and to some degree under the instruction of the persons in charge; but the instruction should be limited to methods for advancing science. The director of such an institution must not be occupied with lecturing in any other institution, or with lecturing at all. He ought indeed to be prohibited from lecturing, except one or two occasional lectures in the course of a year.

You think that the object for which you recommend the establishment of those laboratories could not be accomplished by any other means - not by investigations carried on in other laboratories in the country? - Certainly not by any other means.

Can you make any suggestions as to stimulating original research in this country? - ... We have in this country a considerable body of investigators who are not engaged in teaching at all, and I think that this is a peculiarly hopeful feature of our case. It shows that the English have not only a taste for research, but that they have a natural talent for it. We have numerous men like Mr. Gassiot, Sir W. Grove, Dr. De La Rue, Mr. Spottiswoode, Mr. Huggins, Mr, Duppa, Mr. Buckton, Mr. Joule, Mr. Lockyer, Mr. Perkin, Mr. Schunck, Colonel Yorke, and others whom I could name, who are not in any way engaged in teaching, and never have been, but who have made important original researches, and have spent a good deal of their time in the working out of new discoveries. Now that method of stimulating research, which I have mentioned in my former examination, would not of course apply to them. Men of this class are really peculiar to England, for I have never known any such instance in Germany or in France, of men altogether disconnected with teaching taking up research in the way it is done in England, I think that for such men the establishment of national institutions such us those which are recommended by Colonel Strange would be peculiarly useful. In fact, I have heard several of these gentlemen express strong opinions us to the great advantage it would be to them if they could go to some institution of that kind to conduct research, where expensive instruments, which are often required for their experiments, were provided for a number of such investigators, and where appropriate rooms for carrying on these researches could be had. It is exceedingly difficult to carry on chemical research in one's own house, because of the want of proper contrivances for dealing with corrosive gases and vapours; and hence appropriate buildings ought to be provided for carrying on such investigations. I think, therefore, that it would afford a great stimulus to research of this kind if such institutions were provided, and furnished with such instruments us would be generally useful in research, leaving the more special instruments and materials adapted to the particular researches themselves, to be provided by each operator. ... I have reason to believe that no inconsiderable number of men, more especially of those educated in some of the science schools, would undertake researches if such facilities were afforded them.

Would you consider the chief use of such institutions as laboratories to be to enable private inquirers to carry on their researches, or would you propose that any investigations should be carried on there on behalf of the State? - I think that both things might be provided for. The State requires many important investigations to be carried on. ... That might well form one part of the objects of such a building, but I should think that so far as abstract research, of which we are more especially speaking now, is concerned, the other portion of those objects, namely, the encouragement of original investigation in the case of amateurs would be more important, because the investigations made for the Government are essentially practical investigations; they are not usually of that character which lead to discoveries or to the advancement of science.

Would you place those laboratories under a permanent official? - They must of necessity be under the direct and constant superintendence of some one thoroughly conversant with the operations going on in them; and, so far as the conducting of the separate original researches is concerned, I think that it would be very desirable that the admission into such institutions should be granted through some such body as the Research Fund Committee, for instance, of the Council of the Royal Society, or some body of that kind, who would make intelligent and impartial inquiry into the qualifications of the men applying for accommodation.

You would not throw upon the director the sole responsibility of deciding who should be admitted and who should not? - I think that would not be desirable.

And I understood you to say that you would not think it desirable that the Government should direct any specific original research to be carried on, except with reference to some practical purpose? - Except with regard to subjects about which the Government wished for information, I think it is much better for each

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man to devise his own research; he takes much more interest in it, and is much more likely to pursue it with vigour than if it is prescribed for him.

And do you think it would be requisite that those institutions should be on a large scale? - I think that they ought to be on a fairly large scale even to begin with, because it is always a costly process to rebuild such institutions; and I am inclined to think that they would be rapidly filled. A tolerably large institution of that kind would probably in a very few years be filled with workers.

You would not recommend, in the first instance, at least, more than the establishment of one for each department of science? - I think not more than that.

And should it be in London? - Yes, I suppose they must be commenced here, but eventually it would be desirable that the important centres in the provinces should also be furnished with such places.

Colonel Strange recommended the establishment of four laboratories; should you be disposed to agree with him in that view? - Yes, I think that those would be necessary; perhaps the least essential of them would be the metallurgical one, but certainly the others would be quite essential.

Could that be combined with the chemical laboratory? - I think the metallurgical one, in the first instance, might be combined with the chemical laboratory, as the processes are similar. There would be the chemical laboratory, the physical laboratory, the physico-astronomical, as we may term it, and the biological. It would be necessary, in the connexion with the physico-astronomical observatory, to have the means of performing various chemical experiments and making physical observations. Of course the chemical operations would be quite subsidiary to the cosmical observations there.

Are you of opinion that any new institutions in the way of laboratories should be established by the State? - I hold it to be so important that Chemistry should be extensively cultivated in England, that I would strongly advocate that there should be a State laboratory. That State laboratory should undertake all the chemical work which the Government might require, but at the same time, according to the views which I hold, it ought to be such an establishment as could afford facilities to men who have completed their scientific education, and who might be desirous of continuing original investigations, in which space for working and instruments should be afforded them, and, moreover, if men were not in a position of fortune to continue their researches, in some cases materials and even money might be granted to them on the recommendation of the council. I may state that of my own knowledge I know that chemical science at present is not progressing in England in a satisfactory manner, that we do not make so many original researches as our continental neighbours, particularly the Germans, do. In Germany, very great patronage is given to science, magnificent laboratories have been built, and the students, who, after they are sufficiently advanced, are encouraged to make original investigations, contribute at present most largely to scientific Chemistry.

Do you think that the establishment of those Government laboratories would be likely to give rise to complaints from any existing institutions? - I think not, if those Government establishments were not educational establishments. There would be a natural jealousy on the part of educational establishments if the Government were to undertake to educate students without charge; but what I contemplate is merely that facilities would be given to men who have already been educated, and not to interfere at all with the functions of educational establishments.

... I think that some good might be done by aiding educational establishments; but I believe that the more advantageous course would be for the State to afford facilities in the laboratory which it might require for other purposes.

Do you think that any other laboratories would be needed? - I attach the greatest importance to a chemical laboratory, because I believe that Chemistry is destined to play a very important part in the advancement of the arts in all civilised countries, but there also ought to be a physical laboratory, very much on the same footing as the chemical laboratory, and in which facilities should be afforded for conducting physical investigations.

You would give admission to those laboratories on the same principle as to the chemical laboratories? - Yes, to men who could show that they were qualified to make a beneficial use of them.

You think that any investigations required by the State should also be conducted there? - Yes, they should be conducted in either the chemical or physical laboratory, according to the nature of the investigations. For example, there were a great number of investigations carried on at Woolwich relating to the strength of different allows whose chemical composition was determined by analysis. Such investigations would be very well conducted in the chemical laboratories.

Would you transfer the work now done at Woolwich to such a laboratory? - Part of the work, but I would except such special work as could be better done at each of the Government establishments. Special investigations would fall within the duties of the central government laboratory. The testing of the purity of the products to be used in the department, and routine work, would be better conducted in those establishments.

With respect to the other purpose of the laboratory, do you think that there would be a sufficient number of independent inquirers to occupy an establishment like that? - I think that there would be a great number of men who would be very glad to avail themselves os such opportunities as a laboratory of that kind would afford, and their doing so would not add materially to the cost of the establishment.

Are there any measures that you can suggest to the Commission which you wish to see adopted in order more effectually to promote this object than is the case at present? - I propose that national laboratories should be established, in which abstract scientific investigation alone should be carried on. I propose that in those laboratories scientific investigators would be wholly employed upon abstract original investigation, and be paid for their labour and be supplied with the necessary means in their respective sciences, leaving each investigator to choose his special subjects of research.

Perhaps you could explain to the Commission rather more fully what should be the general character of those laboratories? - For making original scientific investigations in the subjects of chemical physics and chemistry. I speak only within the subjects with which I am familiar.

Do you refer, in this recommendation, to the establishment of a physical laboratory? - If you mean by a physical laboratory one in which the sciences of heat, light, electricity, and magnetism would be investigated, I should mean a physical laboratory.

And you think that that ought to be distinct from a laboratory for chemical physics and chemistry? - Yes, I think distinct from the laboratory for chemistry only.

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I understand you to recommend that this should be a Government institution supported entirely by Government funds? - Yes, I do recommend that.

Dr. A. W. Williamson -

A good deal of evidence has been offered to the Commission in favour of establishing and maintaining laboratories of research at the expense of the State, in order to give opportunities to original inquirers to carry on investigations. Have you formed any opinion of the expediency of such arrangements? - I think that to establish a laboratory for research only would be beginning at the club end, and would be decidedly inadvisable. I think that the main thing for research is to give to schools, and especially to the higher schools proper facilities for it, and to develop them greatly. At the same time, it is quite possible that, in exceptional cases, research might with advantage be carried on in separate places; but I should always view with regret, as a waste of resources, the separation of that higher work of research from the more humble work of teaching, which naturally belongs to it. They help one another, and I think that each would lose from being separated from the other; still, in some cases, it might possibly be advisable.

What is your opinion as to the establishment of laboratories at the Government expense? - I would recommend the establishment of observatories but not of laboratories, for the same reason, that in laboratories unconnected with teaching, as have been proposed, using the public conveniences, and public money, there would be a necessity for results which would lead to a certain extent to something approaching charlatanism in the enunciation of those results; and, moreover, I consider that it might lead to disappointment in many, who would believe that they had an equal right with others to take advantage of such establishments.

Do you consider that laboratories are required in greater numbers, and better equipped than they are at present? - I think so, decidedly.

But still you would not remedy that defect by establishing Government laboratories? - Not by establishing Government laboratories, but by granting Government aid towards the establishment of laboratories, and chiefly by the endowment of chairs.

Do you think that laboratories should chiefly exist in connexion with universities or other teaching institutions? - I think so, because we should always look to the coming generation, upon which the future depends chiefly; and a well appointed academical laboratory presents great opportunities for a student, under a great leader, to attain to eminence himself.

With reference to national physical laboratories, it has been suggested to the Commission by several witnesses that such laboratories might be of use, not so much for the researches to be carried on officially in them, but as giving opportunities to private individuals for carrying on researches in them; has it occurred to you whether, in that point of view, they might be useful or not? - They might be useful in certain cases; but if the Government takes in hand such a thing, there must always be favouritism. It would be impossible to grant such facilities to all applicants, and it would be very difficult for the Government to use such discrimination. Any university or society could do so by granting facilities to men who had given promises or success by reading papers, or by fully explaining their objects in view; but for the Government to use such discretion would be impracticable, I think.

Then you think that there should be such laboratories that should be available to persons who could not afford, for instance, to have a physical laboratory of their own, but you do not think that such laboratories should be under the control of the Government, or should be Government institutions? - They should be exceptional cases altogether. If, in any existing laboratory whether Government or otherwise, an instrument existed necessary for certain research, I think that facilities might be given occasionally to an applicant, but I am of opinion that it would not be desirable to establish what might be termed a national workshop of science.

Is there any such institution in Germany as a physical or other laboratory (apart from astronomical observatories), Independent of a university or an educational establishment? - I believe not. There are laboratories connected with Polytechnic or Mining schools, but still they are connected with teaching.

Has any difficulty been found in affording facilities in those laboratories to original inquirers who may not belong to the school? - It would not be difficult for anyone to get access, for instance, to the laboratory of a University. If he entered his name, he would be allowed to go into the laboratory, and, under certain restrictions, imposed by the Professor, carry on his researches.

Are those laboratories, as established in Germany in connection with the universities and other educational institutions, quite sufficient for all the wants of science and of original investigation in science? - Whether more might be done by increasing their number I am not prepared to say, but still there seems to be no expressed want for additional laboratories.

At any rate you would not propose to establish laboratories on a different footing? - No.

Will you proceed to state in what way you consider that money might be applied for the promotion of physiology? - I consider that it might be available for three purposes; namely, for the improvement of laboratories, for the providing of instruments and materials for research, and for the remuneration of workers. I will speak first or the spending of money upon the improvement of laboratories. I do not myself see at the present moment that we are in a position to require the expenditure of large sums of money upon the building of large laboratories, for this reason, that if such laboratories were built we should not have workers to work in them; at present we have not men to work in the laboratories that we actually possess. We have men of a certain class, but we have not men of that trained class which we require. I am of opinion that a physiological laboratory to be of any use at all must be in connexion with the great schools of medicine. A physiological laboratory at a distance from such schools would fail for want of people to work in it. Physiology will never flourish, therefore, excepting in connexion with the two arts which are dependent upon it. Just as vegetable physiology will flourish best in connexion with agriculture, so also animal physiology will flourish best in connexion with medicine. I think that grants might be very advan-

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tageously given for the improvement of the laboratories now existing. Of course, in the administration of such grants, one would go upon the principle 'to him that hath shall be given'; that is to say, wherever a good laboratory exists, or wherever men are to be found to work a laboratory, and where there are likely to be students to work in it, money should be given to carry out improvements. I would further notice that in physiological researches, the expenditure for materials is usually much greater than for instruments, and consequently money is more wanted for current than initial expenses; for this reason large sums ought not to be expended in the purchase of collections of costly instruments, for if such sums were spent they would probably not be used. It is much better to provide money to assist to meet those heavy expenses which are required for material. To show this it would merely be necessary to refer to some of the physiological researches which are now being carried out, in which a great expenditure is required for material, but no tremendous expense for instruments. Of course I do not mean to say that it is not necessary to spend money on instruments, but any expenditure on a large scale for this object would be very likely wasted. On the whole I believe that money can be more economically spent in sums paid for work done than in any other way, i.e., either in the way of periodical payment to men of acknowledged competency, for the purpose of carrying out inquiries of long duration, or in the form of separate grants for special researches, or in the form of grants for skilled assistants. ... Of course in Germany men who do this work are not paid, and it is very necessary to bear this in mind, but the difference there is that such men have something to look forward to. There are in Germany numerous teaching appointments to which a man can look forward with the certainty that if he works industriously for a certain time, he is sure to get an appointment of some kind afterwards, which will enable him to take the position of a professor. This state of things does not exist in England, and therefore it is more necessary in England to encourage the younger men to engage in research by pecuniary aids than it is in Germany.

In speaking of the establishment of laboratories by the State, your Lordship appeared to me rather to refer to chemical laboratories; but it has not escaped your attention, I am sure, that the cost of physical apparatus is so very great as to put physical inquiries really out of the reach of a very large number or persons who probably might be capable of conducting such researches; and in consequence of there being no such assistance assigned to such persons as a State laboratory, in which they could obtain the use of apparatus, and of a really fitting building, constructed with sufficient solidity for the purposes of research, a great many persons are prevented from entering upon researches of that kind by the want of means; and it has been contended that by providing laboratories, at the expense of the State, you would be doing no more for such persons than has been done for learned men by providing them with great public libraries, as you would be only providing them with the opportunities of research, which otherwise they could not have? - My fear would be that there would be a difficulty in providing laboratories in sufficient numbers to satisfy all, as you can provide hooks at the British Museum to satisfy all, and that the result would be that very often those who are least fitted to obtain any useful result would engross the instruments. For the purpose of really first-rate workers, I think that the Government might very advantageously be liberal; but such liberality I think would best take the form of an increased grant to the Royal Society. But I should be doubtful whether it was possible by any moderate expenditure of funds to provide an expensive class of scientific instruments of all kinds for all the persons who might be inclined to use them.

On the general question of the Establishment and Maintenance of Physical Observatories, Lord Salisbury agrees that:

... Some of these institutions which have been alluded to in your Grace's question, especially observatories, clearly fall within the duties of the Government; and certainly, from all that one hears, it is probable that their duty in that respect is inadequately performed, and that observatories for a much larger range of observations might with great advantage be multiplied. ...

When I began to be an astronomer, such questions as those of the constitution of the sun and the like were not entertained. ...

Are you prepared to express an opinion as to whether it is an object which would be a proper one for the Government to take up as a State establishment? - The Government are already pushed very hard in their estimates. The screw is always put upon them, 'Cannot you reduce the estimates a little more?' And then it would always come to a question of extensive feeling in the House of Commons, and of popular feeling out of the House of Commons; and I am confident from what I have seen that those two bodies would not in every case support an extension. ...

Should you say that it is an object which is not very likely to be prosecuted with sufficient vigour unless taken up by the Government? - I do not see how it could go on except it were taken up by the Government. I do not believe that it could go on in any other way.

It is not likely, you think, to be prosecuted by private individuals, or by other public bodies such as the Universities? - No, I think that their funds are almost all required for other objects, and the difficulty even of getting the business into shape is extremely great. ...

Then such observations, in all probability, will either not be made at all or must be taken up by the Government? - That is my view. ...

I think that the time for the State providing means for reducing observations has now come: when the State should take up, besides mathematical astronomy (which deals with the places of the stars and planets, and the moon especially), physical observations, more particularly observations of the sun, which appear to me to bear directly upon meteorological phenomena. ...

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the day, and that he should be able to pay for duly qualified assistants, and such men have to be highly paid."

Sir W. Thomson points out the importance of multiplying such Observatories:

... In respect to the observatories, it might be necessary to have several observatories for astronomical physics in this country, if it were only to secure observations of interesting conjunctures, notwithstanding the varieties of the weather, that there may be in different parts of the country; and, again, observatories for astronomical physics ought most certainly to be founded in other parts of the British dominions than England, Ireland, and Scotland; in other latitudes and on the other side of the world.

... An observatory or several observatories should be established for carrying on physical research, research to obtain information on general subjects, such as solar observations, magnetic observations, and other subjects that might be thought desirable to obtain continually information upon. ...

I think that almost the only new establishments which you recommend are certain physical observatories? - Yes.

What would be the principal object of such observatories? - For the purpose of magnetic observations, solar observations, and other general inquiries into physical phenomena.

Do you contemplate the establishment of more than one such observatory? - Probably more than one would be desirable.

Do you contemplate the establishment of any such observatories in any of the colonial possessions of the country? - Yes, I think so.

Speaking generally, would they be costly establishments to found? - Not very costly, not so costly as astronomical observatories.

Mr. De La Rue, in reference to locality and organization, in answer to the question whether provision for carrying out Observations of this character should be in connexion with the Greenwich Observatory, says:

In connexion with the Greenwich Observatory, yes, but at the Greenwich Observatory I should say not. I do not think, in the first place, that there is space enough at Greenwich, and the duties of the staff are already so very onerous that it would require a separate establishment for such special work; besides other new buildings it would entail a chemical laboratory, and there is hardly space for those at Greenwich. I believe also that it would cause too divided attention on the part of the Astronomer Royal, if he were called upon to personally superintend investigations in the physics of astronomy, although I think it would be very desirable that any new establishments, if they are to exist, should be affiliated to Greenwich."

Not at all necessarily so. In fact Greenwich would not be at all desirable for some class of observations, it is much too near London.

It would be desirable that the State should have to deal only with one astronomer. Possibly by the increase of the claims upon his attention it might be desirable for the Astronomer Royal to have directors under him, so that he should not have to devote so much time to details even of the Greenwich Observatory, but I do not think that the State ought to have to deal with a great number of astronomers, indeed there might be some difficulty in its doing so.

Admiral Richards says:

If you are going permanently to establish physical observatories, I should prefer to see separate ones. l think that the physical work probably would be better separated from the Royal Observatory.

You think that the two classes of observations are so distinct in character as to render that desirable? - Of course there is a certain amount of meteorology that must be observed at the astronomical observatory; but it need not be of any extended character.

The Observatories which you recommend could, in your opinion, be attached to existing Observatories; an Observatory for Solar Physics, for instance? - This might be met by an extension of the existing Observatories.

Do you think that it would be as useful, if attached to Greenwich, as if a special observatory were established for the purpose? - I have no doubt that if an independent observatory were adapted to that purpose and furnished with adequate instruments, and manned by such a staff as one could wish, more would be done in such an independent Observatory, so manned, than by a branch of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, but, at the same time, that would involve such a much larger expense, that I thought that the question of expense would perhaps outweigh the scientific advantages to be gained by it.

Do you think that a great deal might be done by making some additions to the present Observatories?

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A great deal, because in a large observatory there are, not unfrequently, instruments only partially employed. For example, at Greenwich there is a large and very fine instrument suited to the investigation of solar physics, which is, at all events, largely disposable for such observations.

Such is not the opinion of the Astronomer Royal himself. Sir George Airy thus deals with the question specially referring to the difficulty as to space at Greenwich, and the mode of management:

Do you think it would be practicable to adopt any measures at the present observatory at Greenwich to make observations of that character? - I think it is possible that it might be done, but I am not prepared with a plan at present, and I am very much inclined to think that the difficulties in these matters will be rather in detail than anything else. There is always a difficulty in keeping an observatory of rather an indefinite character in such a state that it will satisfy the public demands. ...

... It has been found necessary within the last three or four years to extend our grounds at Greenwich. ... Judging from what occurred in our case, I do not think that there would be any difficulty in further extension; where it would be in sufficient proximity to the Royal Observatory to be under the same general control.

If a department of that kind were instituted, do you see any objection to its being placed under the Astronomer Royal, or would it give him too much to do? - It would give him much to do, but a great deal may be effected by organisation, especially with the license to have officers of good position under him; to have lieutenants of a good class.

In connexion with some points on which differences of opinion have been expressed in this Evidence, we give the following extracts from a Paper handed in by Colonel Strange, consisting of questions addressed by him to Professor Sir W. Thomson, Professor Hilgard, the Secretary of the American National Academy of Sciences, and Professor Balfour Stewart, and to Mr. Faye, the President of the French Academy of Science; and their replies thereto.

Colonel Strange's questions, and the replies to them, were as follows:

(1) Is the systematic study of the solar constitution likely to throw light on subjects of Terrestrial Physics, such as Meteorology and Magnetism?
(2) What means, at present known to Science, are available for studying the sun?
(3) Do you consider that Photography (one of the assumed menus) will suffice for the purpose?
(4) Do you consider that the class of observations (defined in your answer to my question 2) are such as can be efficiently made in an observatory maintained by the Slate, or that any of them would be bettor left to the zeal of volunteer astronomers?
[Addressed to Mr. Faye only.] (5) Do you consider that it would be advantageous to carry on Physico-Astronomical researches on an extensive scale, and Meridional observations, in one and the same observatory, under a single director?

The subject of investigation in any observatory for Astronomical Physics is so very different from that for which the great Astronomical observatories at present existing were founded, that I believe generally it would not be good economy of resources to attempt to adapt the old observatories to the new investigations. The instruments adapted for accurately determining the positions of the heavenly bodies, which constitute the most important part of the great observatories hitherto established, are scarcely adapted to give any contribution towards Astronomical Physics. Now instruments designed for the work of the spectroscope, and new buildings to contain them, are necessary. A chemical laboratory, and an extensive system of galvanic batteries, and electro-magnetic apparatus are required for the new kind of Astronomical observatory. I doubt very much whether one man could act effectively as executive chief of an observatory of Astronomical Physics, and at the same time of an observatory of the old kind.

(1) That the systematic study of the sun's constitution is likely to throw light on subjects of terrestrial physics, I would unhesitatingly affirm; yet without expressing the belief that the minor meteoric or magnetic variations are dependent on changes taking place in the sun.

(2) The available means for studying the sun at present known to science are, in my apprehension, in addition to observations made with the eye, solar photography, photometric and calorimetric observations, and spectroscopic observations, combined with laboratory experiments necessary for the interpretation of the latter.

(3) I do not think that photography alone will suffice for the purpose indicated, since it will give little else than a registration of solar spots, the study of which by means of the spectroscope appears to be also of prime importance.

(4) I perceive no difficulty in organizing the several classes of observations above mentioned systematically, so as to be efficiently made in an observatory maintained by the State. Similar considerations to those upon which the maintenance of meteorological and magnetical observations is based, would warrant a provision for systematic observation of the sun.

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The value of the latter, as of the former classes of observations, largely depends upon their regular continuity, which cannot be expected from the zeal of volunteer observers, who must look for their reward to results of immediate interest.

In reply to your first question, I cannot help thinking that a study of the solar constitution is likely to throw light on the subjects of Terrestrial Physics, such as Meteorology and Magnetism. My reasons are:

(1) That I consider the fact of a connexion between sun spot activity and disturbances of the earth's magnetism to be very well proved, although we are ignorant of the nature of the connexion.

(2) The recent researches of Mr. Baxendell, Mr. Stone, Professor C. P. Smyth, and others, render it extremely probable that there is likewise a connexion between the period of solar activity and the meteorology of our globe.

(3) The recent researches of Messrs. Warren De La Rue, Stewart, and Loewy, as well as those of Professor Wolf, render it very probable that there is a connexion between the positions of the chief planets and the behaviour of sun spots.

(4) The recent observations of Messrs. Browning and others render probable a connexion between the appearance of the planet Jupiter and the state of the solar disc.

I think that all these, taken together, can leave us in little doubt of our duty with regard to solar observations. If we were not only perfectly sure of a connexion, but likewise know all about the nature of this connexion, the necessity of studying the sun would yet be as strong as that of recording the positions of the various planets with the view of verifying the law of gravitation. But inasmuch as here the nature of the connexion is unknown, it is of imperious necessity to study the sun with the view of accumulating a sufficient number of good observations which may ultimately enable us to determine the nature of this unknown connexion.

We ought to remember how greatly the accurate observations of Tyeho Brahe contributed to the generalizations of Kepler. ...

In reply to your second question, I would enumerate the following means of observation of the sun:

(1) Eye observations through a telescope.
(2) Photography.
(3) Spectroscopic observations.
(4) Actinic observations.

In reply to your third question, I do not consider Photography sufficient for the purpose. I think that eye observations, more particularly when combined with the spectroscope, are essential to enable us to know what is going on in the sun from minute to minute, and unless we know this, I do not well see that we are ever likely to arrive at a true theory of solar disturbances, or of the connexion between these and the disturbances of the meteorology and magnetism of the earth. Could we ever have ascertained the velocity of the solar currents without the aid of the spectroscope?

As a self-recording instrument for registering the actinic effect of the solar rays has been perfected by Dr. Roscoe, and as it is a point of importance to study the influence of the solar rays upon vegetation, I think that whenever the sun's surface is regularly studied, actinic observations ought, from this cause as well as from their physical importance, to be included among the duties of the observatory.

In reply to your fourth question, believing that a long continued and systematic series of observations is beyond the means of volunteers, I think that the four kinds of observation of the solar surface which I have specified ought to be made in an observatory maintained by the State. Indeed, for some of them more than one observatory would be requisite, for I think it an object of great importance to obtain a daily record not only of the position but of the area of every group of spots which appears on the surface of the sun. But to obtain this more than one observatory would be necessary, for we must be independent of the influence of weather; and to be so we must have stations so distributed that when it rained at one station it might reasonably be expected to be fair at another. ...

I think that the study of the sun ought to be systematically conducted in an institution for the purpose working under Government, and connected with a number or stations sufficient to ensure a good record of what takes place on the solar surface, independent of the influence of weather.

It appears to me also that such an institution should have a laboratory as well as a workshop connected with it.

1. L'Étude de la constitution physique du soleil ne me parait pas appelée à répandre de grande lumière sur la Physique Terrestre, c'est-à-dir sur la Météorologie et Magnétisme. L'action solaire est actuellement caractérisé par une constance bien remarquable, sauf de petites variations accidentelles ou périodiques de peu d'importance. L'étude directe de ces divers sujets de Physique Terrestre suffit amplement. Mais il en est autrement des âges géologiques dont l'histoire me paraît liée intimement à des changements progressifs d'ont on reconnait la possibilité dans l'activité interne du soleil.

Toutefois on ne peut nier que les recherches nouvelles qui ont eu pour but de rattacher certaines périodes dans les phénomènes magnétiques aux phénomènes également périodiques du soleil ne méritent intérêt et considération.

2. Les moyens dont nous disposons aujourd'hui pour l'étude du soleil sont au nombre de huit:

1. Étude des mouvements de la photosphère par les taches et les facules. (Carrington.)
2. Étude de la constitution chimique de la photosphère et de la chromosphère. Variations, plus ou moins rapides, de cette constitution. Analyse chimique continuelle de la superficie solaire.
3. Étude des mouvements de la chromosphère, éruptions, protuberances, etc. Distribution de ces phénomènes selon la latitude.
4. Étude des variations périodiques de la surface, par les précédes de Schwabe et ceux de l'Observatoire de Kew.

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5. Étude des éclipses totales, auréole, couronne, etc., au moyen d'expéditions Iointalnes.
6. Étude des changements séculaires de l'activité solaire au moyen des données de la géologie.
7. Étude analogique du soleil au moyen de l'observatlon des étoiles variables ou nouvelles.
8. Application de la mécanique moderne à l'étude des mouvements internes qu'on peut supposer dans la masse solaire.

3. Le moyen le meilleur d'étudier les mouvements des taches et des facules est incontestablement la photographie. C'est surtout par là qu'on peut espérer de rencontrer des phénomènes auxquels s'appliqueront tôt ou tard Ies lois de la mécanique. Mais ce n'est là qu'une face de la question. La spectroscopie n'est pas moin indispensable. C'est par elle que la physique et la chimie pouvent s'appliquer aux études solaires auss bien que la mécunique. Réduire cette étude à la photographie ce serait se condamner à ne voir qu'une face de la question. Je ne veux pas que cette opinion puisse être sérieusement soutenue.

4. Il sufflt d'envisager l'importance du but des études solaires et la variété au moyen d'action que la science moderne nous présente pour penser que le moment est venu de confier les études à un ou plusieurs établissements pourvu de grandes ressources, et pouvant fonctionner avec continuité pendant un laps de temps illimité.

Sans doute ou devra compter sur le concours puissant des volontaires de la science. Mais le concours se présente toujours avec des restrictions quant aux ressources, à la continuité, et à la durée, lesquelles me paraîssent peu compatibles avec les résultats à obtenir.

5. Je suis d'avis que les études doivent être poursuivies dans des établissements spéciaux; que leur introduction dans les observatoires astronomiques serait nuisible à l'astronomie proprement dite, saus pouvoir donner tous les résultats que procurerait une division bien nette du travail. L'expérience que nous en avons en France me paraît décisive.

For the reasons which have already been stated, we have taken a considerable amount of Evidence with reference to the Meteorological Observations at present carried on in the United Kingdom, whether at the cost of the Government, or of Societies or Private Observers. To some points in this Evidence we think it necessary to call attention: of these the most important are those which relate to the Meteorological Office.

This Office is under the Management of the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, the Functions of which are thus described in the Report annually presented to Parliament:

The Meteorological Committee consists of Fellows of the Royal Society who were nominated by its President and Council, at the request of the Board of Trade, for the purpose of superintending the Meteorological duties formerly undertaken by a Government Department, under the charge of Admiral Fitzroy.

The Committee are credited with a sum of £10,000 voted annually in the Estimates, for the administration of which they are wholly responsible, and over which they are given the entire control.

The Meetings of the Committee are held once a fortnight, or oftener when necessary, when every subject on which action has to be taken by their executive officers receives their careful consideration. The duties of the Committee are onerous, and ,i.entirely gratuitous; they were accepted, and are very willingly performed by the members, on account of the earnest desire they severally feel for the improvement of Meteorological Science.

The Government distinctly disclaims all connexion with us, whilst the Royal Society equally disclaims all control over us, except merely the nomination of the members of the Committee.

As a matter of fact, all that the Royal Society does is to nominate the members of the Committee? - That is all.

Having so done, it ceases to have any control whatever, does it not? - Entirely.

What is the precise relation between the Office and the Government? - That the Government gives a vote of £10,000 every year, and that it calls for no account of this money, excepting the account annually presented to Parliament.

Who audits the accounts? - The members of the Committee. There is no formal audit, because, as the Government would not recognize any audit excepting its own, the Committee considered that it was not worth while paying an auditor if such audit would not be recognized, and, as a matter of fact, two of the members take the trouble of auditing the accounts every year.

What, in your opinion, are the chief advantages and disadvantages of such an arrangement as compared with those of the direct management of the Office by the Government? - The chief advantage is the perfect freedom from political management. The risk in being connected with the Government is that if a new President of the Board of Trade comes, he may reverse the action of the preceding one. The existence of a scientific supervision for the Office is exceedingly important; it acts as an intermediate party between the public and the Office. I may mention a decided disadvantage which results from the Office not being connected with the Government, namely, the loss of prestige. Tile difficulty is, that if we are sending instruments by sea or by railroad, if we do not call them Government instruments we cannot get as much attention paid to them, and it is my opinion that we should get more co-operation from the merchant navy if we were an office of the Board of Trade. We should have more prestige as acting directly from the Government.

I would, then, state generally what I understand to be the objects which the Meteorological Committee

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has to superintend. These are, first, the collection of meteorological data from ships' logs, with a view to the preparation of maps for the use of sailors, showing the probable, or it may be termed the average, meteorological elements all over the ocean, on the chief line of trade routes, for the several months in the year. Included with these is the investigation of the ocean currents. This branch of duties is carried on under Captain Toynbee. The second branch of the business is the collection and daily publication of meteorological observations made on the British Isles and neighbouring coasts, extending from the coasts of Scandinavia to France, and partly to Spain. Although at the outset of the issue of warnings as to probable bad weather was not contemplated, yet after the Committee had been in operation for a few months it was considered desirable again to undertake this, and in the first year of the Committee's existence the issue of warnings of anticipated stormy weather was resumed. I daresay Mr. Scott has told the Commissioners, that within the last few months there has been a little more detail given in the warnings. Originally they were mere warnings that stormy weather was likely to occur. Now there is a statement also given of the probable direction from which the wind is to come, and whether it will be of extreme force. The third of the objects is the recording at certain specially organised observatories, seven in number, maintained under the direction of the Committee, of the principal meteorological elements, with self-recording instruments; with the intention of obtaining a continuous record with as great accuracy and precision as possible, and thus of procuring accurate data for the scientific study of meteorology by all persons who are interested in that science. I should add that the Committee has, within the last month or two, from the commencement of this year in fact, begun to print and to issue monthly the detailed observations made at these seven observatories. The Committee also publishes quarterly reports, which contain diagrams embodying the observations at the seven observatories, and an analysis of the weather over the British Isles, of which the details are furnished in the daily reports. There is no doubt that the publication of those quarterly reports is a useful addition to the daily reports, which are extremely voluminous, and not very easy for persons to follow who do not devote themselves to the subject. The last of the specific duties of the Committee is the supply of meteorological instruments for the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine. Besides various miscellaneous references come from the Board of Trade, to which, of course, the Committee gives such answers as it is capable of doing.

The Committee is now in reality doing no more than continuing the exercise of certain functions which had, in the course of time, been thrown upon the Board of Trade by the position which that Department occupies in connexion with the public administration.

Has the consequence been that the action of the Committee has been from the outset rather in a practical direction than in one of original research or scientific observation, properly so called? - I think distinctly that such is the case, and that it has necessarily followed from the position in which the Committee was placed. If a reference is made to the earlier papers, and to the Report of the gentlemen on whose suggestions the present arrangements originated, there perhaps is an indication that they anticipated something more in the way of scientific research than has actually occurred; but the turn that things have taken seems to me the necessary result of the sort of duties that were put upon the Committee under the essential condition that it had but a limited sum of money to spend.

Have any results of scientific importance in your opinion been obtained by the action of the Committee? - In the direction of what one may call investigation of an absolutely scientific character, I should say none at all. Of course the observations that are made at the special observatories are valuable scientific information, and so far one has no right to say that scientific results have not been produced; but I do not think that these can properly be referred to as specific results of anything that the Committee has done, to the best of my belief there has been nothing undertaken in the way of original investigation into the specific physical causes of any of the phenomena which are recorded, nor any original research, properly so called, in relation to any of the several branches of meteorology. The Committee hardly has appliances at its command for any such investigations, and, the funds at its disposal being limited, it was hardly possible that it should attempt them. It is also no doubt quite true that the observations which are made at the seven observatories do not include any matters which are of great importance in physical science, and which would properly come within the range of meteorology.

Are the funds at the disposal of the Committee in your opinion insufficient for doing anything more than has been actually done at present? - I should say distinctly that this is the case. The Committee has always considered that it is bound to attend primarily to the special objects before referred to, which were in a specific manner made over to it, and it finds that after this has been done there is no money left for other things.

Can you state the directions in which you think the State should intervene? - This seems to me an extremely difficult question to answer. The fact is that the form in which the State might in a satisfactory way intervene must depend upon the extent to which it is disposed to intervene. If one knew that the Government really desired to assist in the development of scientific meteorology, it would be possible to make a scheme, but I do not see how anybody could make what I may call an abstract plan which should have any real utility in it. My own impression is that so long as there is no greater interest taken in this sort of matter than at present probably the best thing to do is to leave the expenditure of what money the Government choose to give for the purpose under the control of some such body as our Committee; but I should further say that if the Government is seriously in earnest in taking the matter up, it would then be the proper thing to have a public department that should manage the business. Then again, if there were a public department, it must be a part of an organised system; and in order to secure an efficient public department to supervise such matters, it seems to me that it would be necessary to have some officer connected directly

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with the Government, an Under-Secretary of State, or some such person, who should be responsible that the executive scientific staff properly carried out the whole of the operations of their several departments.

Are you disposed to think that the Meteorological Committee might in any way extend its sphere of action with advantage? - As matters are now I should think it is extremely doubtful. I look upon the Meteorological Committee as being mainly a controlling body to supervise the expenditure of a definite sum of money in a definite way. At all events that practically has been their position. There has been no virtual change from the time that they were started up to the present time.

Do you think that that money would be spent better in some other way; that is to say, supposing the thing had to be started afresh, are those objects which the Committee at present have to carry out exactly those that you would have given them to carry out? - I should say in general terms that the whole of the objects which the Committee has charge of are reasonable objects; I do not think that there is any one of them that it is not desirable to attend to. As to whether the precise method of dealing with them is the best possible will be a matter of opinion, but I do not think that I could very usefully go into that.

Does it occur to you that there is anything else which should be added to the functions of the Committee? - My general impression, as I implied before, is that the Committee is a quasi-financial body having certain scientific knowledge. Its duty is not strictly speaking to direct scientific research or scientific operations, but it is to see that a certain sum of money which the Government thinks may reasonably be applied to collecting and publishing meteorological observations, and doing certain other matters, is not unreasonably applied. It exercises a check upon the persons who have actually to carry out those duties, as I understand it; and I do not think myself that, with a body constituted as the Meteorological Committee is, you can expect more from it than that.

Do you think it would be desirable that the Committee should be entrusted with money to enable it to have any observations collected, scientifically discussed, and turned to scientific use? - l think it would be much better if any such fund were not given to a body like the Committee. If some individual were selected, and the entire responsibility put upon him, I think it would be a much better plan.

You want to do away with the Committee altogether? - I think so, certainly; supposing always that I am at liberty to replace it according to my own conceptions of what is best.

Would you organize the Meteorological Committee in any really different form to that which at present obtains? - I should be inclined to dispense with the Meteorological Committee altogether, and substitute a Meteorologist Royal, or whatever his appellation might be, a single official who should be responsible to the Government in the same way as the Astronomer Royal is responsible for his department. I do not see why the one department should be on one footing and the other department on a different footing. I think that there are grave disadvantages with a department administered by an unpaid committee.

Would you appoint a Meteorologist Royal corresponding with the Astronomer Royal? - Yes, whatever the name might be; I should appoint an official very much corresponding to the Astronomer Royal and responsible to the same extent. A board of visitors would not be objectionable, but the direction of an unpaid committee appears to me to be very objectionable.

Would you leave the other branch of the subject, climatic meteorology, to individual and local effort? - Yes, I think so, possibly supported to some extent by funds from the Government, but I should not put such branches under the superintendence of a central board at the present moment.

Would you leave climatic meteorology altogether to societies and to individual effort? - At the present moment it appears to me to be a matter that might best be left in that position, and that a central authority would do no good in a question of this kind, but rather do harm; in fact, rather tend to depress than to encourage these local efforts. I have no doubt that a great deal might be done by the zeal of local individuals, but if the thing were undertaken in its present state by a central board, which would do little but register a number of observations, I do not think that any good would at the present moment be done.

As far as the money is concerned, I consider that a mere matter of detail, but I should be very strongly against the Meteorological Committee undertaking anything but Physical Meteorology; I think that they

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ought to confine their labours to that. If they at present undertake all those branches of meteorology bearing upon the various individual human interests, it appears to me that you will leave them no energy to attack the problems of physical meteorology. I think the great point is to put physical meteorology somewhat more into the position of a branch of physical science; at the present moment it appears to me to occupy a very low position indeed.

Is there a want of funds for a more complete treatment of the subject of land meteorology? - A very serious want of funds. As I mentioned before, for any serious discussion like that of the hourly values for all the elements for five years we are not provided with a sufficiency of funds; in fact the amount of our staff for land meteorology would be sufficient to discuss the results for one observatory, but not for seven. It is in that sort of way that the original provision of clerks who were to discuss the work was quite insufficient, the amount of materials being so enormous.

Arrangements have been concluded between the Meteorological Society and the Meteorological Office, and have come into effect on the 1st January 1875. The principal features of these arrangements are that the Observers belonging to these two organizations are supplied with a uniform schedule for recording their observations, and that the Society undertakes to furnish to the Office monthly returns from certain selected stations for publication with the returns from its own stations, in consideration of a certain payment, which will probably average about £50 per annum.

An invitation has been issued to the Scottish Meteorological Society to co-operate with the Office on similar terms, and the Meteorological Committee are not without some hope that this proposal may be accepted.

A further small annual payment of £150 is made by the Registrar General for the Reports of Meteorological Observations which are printed in his Monthly Returns. These Reports are supplied by Mr. Glaisher, the observations being made at different stations in various parts of England, by unpaid private observers, whose co-operation Mr. Glaisher has been able to obtain. The Evidence shows that the work is done under regulations which are sufficient to ensure its general accuracy; and it is obvious that the annual payment of £150 hardly covers the expenses incurred, and affords no remuneration for the trouble taken in organizing and controlling the System of Observations.

Evidence in reference to Tidal Observations has been placed before us by Dr. Joule and Professor Sir W. Thomson.

Dr. Joule is of opinion that -

With regard to the sea level and the tides, although the laws with regard to the tides are pretty well known, they ought to be continuously observed, if only for the purpose of registering the changes arising from the alteration of banks, depth of channels, &c. Also with regard to the sea level, there have been reports from time to time with regard to the inroads of the sea on our coasts, but sufficient steps do not appear to have been taken to ascertain the facts in those cases. It seems to me very important to be acquainted with any alterations in the configuration of the earth which may be taking place, however minute those alterations may be.

Would that be a work which ought, in your opinion, to be carried on from day to day by a permanent establishment at such places? - I believe that self-registering apparatus have been devised which would enable the mean sea level to be registered, and the tides to be registered, without very much trouble.

Is it a sort or work which can be carried on by public officers stationed at any of the ports, or would you require a separate staff? - Probably it might be carried on by the officers at the stations. I do not think it would be necessary for anyone to be exclusively occupied in such a work.

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Sir W. Thomson's Evidence on this point is as follows:

In addition to those Institutions which you have recommended, you consider, do you not, that it would be advisable that the Government should undertake secular observations of the tides? - Yes, certainly, secular observations of the tides with accurate self-registering tide gauges, with the triple object of investigating the science of the tides, of perfecting our knowledge of the actual phenomena of the tides, both in respect to navigation and as a branch of natural history, and, thirdly, with a view to ascertaining the changes of the sea level from century to century.

Is anything of the kind done at present? - There are several tide gauges, some of which have been carried on with great care, others with not sufficient care, and none with any security of permanence.

Was not it in connexion with the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain? - No sufficient steps have been taken to ascertain whether the sea level is changing relatively to the lane in any part of this country.

Would you think a large number of stations requisite for the observations of the tides to which you have alluded? - Yes, a large number. The phenomena of the tides are of great complexity, but not of baffling complexity, provided that we make the observations at a sufficiently great number of points.

Would the duties attached to such observations take up the whole time of the persons who had charge of them? - By no means. They could undertake other duties. A tide gauge may be put under the hands of a careful harbour master or officer of the coastguard service at any station, but it must be under inspection to secure accuracy. The most careful and scrupulous of such men cannot make sure that the instrument is giving accurate results; and they cannot, except under instruction and occasional inspection, give out recorded curves, that they can be quite sure of being accurate in all points of scientific nicety; but the inspection that is required to secure accurate results would be a very simple and moderate matter.

MEMORIAL to the Right Honourable the LORDS COMMISSIONS of HER MAJESTY'S TREASURY

The Memorial of the British Association for the Advancement or Science

Humbly sheweth -

1. That in the year 1867 the British Association appointed a Committee 'for the purpose of promoting the extension, improvement, and harmonic analysis of tidal observations'. From that time until the present, under committees reappointed from year to year, the proposed work has been carried on. The mode of procedure adopted, and the results obtained up to the month of August 1871, are fully stated in the accompanying series of printed reports.

2. The primary object of this investigation is the advance of tidal science, but the Committee have uniformly kept in view the practical application of their results to Physical Geography, Meteorology, Coast and Harbour Engineering, and Navigation.

3. A large mass of valuable observations, recorded by self-registering tide gauges during the last 20 years, having been found available, the Committee have applied themselves, in the first place, to the reduction of these observations, and have deferred the object of promoting observations in other localities until the observations already made have been utilized to the utmost.

4. The work thus undertaken has proved, as was anticipated, most laborious. The calculations have been performed, under the superintendence of Sir William Thomson, by skilled calculators recommended by the Nautical Almanac Office. The funds required to pay the calculators, and to print and prepare tables, forms for calculations, &c. to the amount of £600, have been granted by the British Association in four successive annual allowances of £100 each, and a sum of £200 voted at the last meeting. The last grant barely sufficed for the work actually in hand, and to secure the continuance of the investigation additional funds are necessary. The Council of the British Association, therefore, directed the Tidal Committee to make an application to the Government for assistance, the amount at present asked for being limited to £150.

5. It seemed to the Council that after the Association had done so much in the way of actual expenditure of time by the members of its Committee, and had given such a large contribution from its very limited funds, enough had been done to show the object to be one for which assistance may reasonably be expected from Government. On representations made by Colonel Walker, Director of the Trigonometrical Survey of India, the Indian Government has already granted the means of defraying the expense of making tidal observations in India, and applying to them the methods of reduction devised by the Committee of the British Association. The Council hope, therefore, that the Government of this country may be similarly disposed to assist in a matter of national importance.

(Signed) WILLIAM THOMSON
President of the British Association.

May 21, 1872.

The strong and concurrent Evidence which we have received as to the usefulness of the Government Grant, as at present administered b a Committee of the Royal Society, has led us to inquire whether this grant might not be advantageously extended; and

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the Witnesses whom we have examined on this point are unanimous in expressing the opinion that great benefits might be expected from such an extension.

Thus, to the Question, "Have you formed any opinion as to whether it would be desirable that the Government Grant of £1,000 a year, placed at the disposal of the Council of the Royal Society, should be increased or not?" Professor Owen replies: "It has been so admirably applied and with such gain to Science, that there cannot be a doubt that it would be a great benefit to Science if it were doubled to begin with."

Mr. Spottiswoode, the present Treasurer of the Fund, states his opinion that an extension of the Government Grant would be desirable, and expects that the minimum which might be voted every year would increase materially.

Professor Grant gives his opinion "that it is very desirable that the grant should be enlarged". He also considers that it "would be expedient that wider publicity should be given to the fact of its being generally available to persons engaged in scientific investigations".

Mr. De La Rue is of opinion "that it is administered exceedingly well and very carefully". He considers that the amount should be increased.

From the Evidence given on page 13, it appears that Lord Salisbury also is of opinion that the Government Grant might be increased, with the object of affording liberal assistance to "first-rate workers".

In a Memorial presented to us by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, it is recommended that a corresponding Grant be placed at the disposal of that Body, for the Promotion of Science in Scotland. The claims of Scientific Workers in Scotland to participate in the Grant equally with those in other parts of the United Kingdom, have been fully recognised, and we think it of importance that there should be but one such Grant for the whole of the United Kingdom and one body responsible for its administration. In the measure hereinafter recommended we have suggested that the Administration of future Grants should be assigned to a Council of Science which should include the Representatives of the Scientific Societies of the United Kingdom.

On this branch of our Inquiry, the Evidence laid before us, both by Statesmen and men of Science, is to the same effect, and in favour of increased State Aid. It has also especially been urged upon us, that to afford, by direct pecuniary aid, the means of livelihood to men of distinction in pure investigation would be a great advantage to science, as competent investigators would thus be enabled and encouraged to pursue a strictly Scientific Career.

Lord Salisbury is of opinion that the cause of Science is hindered by the want of a sufficient career for scientific men, giving the following statement of his reasons:

I am induced to think so, by noticing how very much more rapid the progress of research is where there is a commercial value attached to the results of it, than in other cases. The peculiar stimulus which has been given to electrical research, in the particular direction of those parts of it which concern the telegraph, is a very good instance in point, and the extent to which researches into organic chemistry have almost clustered themselves round the production of coal tar colours is another instance in point. And therefore it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that research is really hindered by the necessity under which those who are most competent to conduct it feel themselves, of providing for their own support by means of the talent and the knowledge which they possess.

I think that, in one way or another, where you have a man of very great eminence us a scientific discoverer, it is unquestionably the duty of the State to provide him with means and leisure to carry on his work. Whether that is to be done by giving him an office under the British Museum, or in any similar institution, or whether it is to be done by simply granting him a pension in recognition of eminent scientific service, or in whatever other way it is done, it seems to me to be immaterial, but I certainly consider that it is a very important part of the public duty, to relieve men who have shown an eminent capacity for original discovery and research from the necessity of engaging in a lower kind of work as a means of livelihood. ...

That men should be enabled to live on scientific research is a matter of most immediate consequence to the honour and welfare of this country. At present a man cannot live on scientific research. If he aspires to devote himself to it, he must cast about for a means of supporting himself, and the only generally accepted possibility of being able to support himself is by teaching, and to secure even a very small income, barely sufficient to live upon, by teaching, involves the expenditure of almost his whole time upon it in most situations, so that at present it is really only in intervals of hard work in professions that men not of independent means in this country can apply themselves at all to scientific research. ...

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Professor Henry, the distinguished Director of the Smithsonian Institution in the United States, who was good enough to appear before us when he was in this country, gave the following emphatic evidence in the same direction:

My idea would be that if the funds were sufficient, and men could be found capable of advancing science, they should be consecrated to science, and be provided with the means of living above all care for physical wants, and supplied with all the implements necessary to investigation.

Do you anticipate, then, that if there were any intelligent centre for the distribution of a sufficient fund to persons having the requisite capacities for observation and research, but not having the means, the distribution of such a fund would have any benumbing influence upon original observation and research? - No, I should think quite the contrary; it would encourage it very much.

... I should strongly advocate that the present system should be enlarged, so that the investigators should not merely be reimbursed for all that they have expended, but also paid in some measure for their time and labour, because each investigator has to give up a profitable employment in order to find the time.

I refuse a great many engagements in analyses and other scientific matters for the manufacturers who come to me. ... I gave up some pupils a short time ago to enable me to have more time for original investigation.

That a small sum of money in recognition of scientific labour would be in many cases a most useful help as well as a great encouragement, and if the Patent Laws are retained they might be supplemented with provisions to meet the case, of those discoveries to which the Patent Laws do not apply.

Dr. Siemens is of opinion that the Government might promote original research by liberal grants to the Learned Societies; remarking that this is done now to some extent, but might be done with advantage to a greater extent.

He then suggests that the Government might also encourage Scientific Research "by granting through Societies, rewards for successful results obtained by independent research. In many instances the Patent Law provides for the reward, but in other cases of pure science the Patent Law does not apply, and the results of original research are left unrewarded."

Mr. De La Rue is of opinion that if men are not in a position of fortune to continue their researches, in some cases materials and even money might be granted to them.

Referring to the extent and value of the Original Researches in Chemistry carried on in Germany, he ascribes them "to the care which is given to the cultivation of every branch of science; and, moreover to the positions and places at the disposal of the Government which are given from time to time to men who render themselves eminent in Science."

With regard to the Scale on which such Remuneration or Payments for Maintenance should be made, Lord Salisbury observes:

I should say, taking the parallel [that of certain offices in the Church], to which I have already alluded, that an income of about £1,000 or £1,500 a year would be the kind of income which would suffice for the purpose that I have in view.

With reference to the safeguards against abuse which would be necessary, Lord Salisbury continues:

... It would, for their [the investigators'] own interest, and to save them from invidious comments, be desirable, to impose upon them the necessity of publishing, either in the form of books or in the form of lectures (but not sufficient in number really to impede their work), an account of the result of their labours during each successive year. Perhaps one or two stated lectures in the course of a year, to be delivered to University students, would be the best means of imposing upon them that test of industry.

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Lord Salisbury further recommends that aid of this kind should be given directly and with as little concealment by ostensible duties of another kind as possible; adding:

... If any money is to be given, as I think it ought to be given, for the purpose of furnishing a career to men who are really engaged in research which is not pecuniarily profitable, I think that it would be far better given directly and openly than given under the form of an office which would practically be a sinecure.

I think there is no general principle, but every case must be judged of on its own merits. The other thing which is wanted, besides money, is the leisure time of competent persons. It seems to me that it is out of the question for any State to provide or endow such a set of persons, and that it would be impossible for any department of the Government, either to judge who were fit persons, or how they ought to be employed, or what would be a proper renumeration for them. And I believe that if any such system were instituted, it would only lead to abuse. Setting aside such leisure time as men may have who are of independent fortune, and do not require to practise any profession or special occupation, I would say that it appears to me that in order to ensure that other competent persons shall have the requisite leisure, it is desirable that there should be offices with other functions attached to them, but those functions should be of such a nature that the holder of the office may have leisure time for original research. ...

The great advances in Physical Science which have been made in this Country, and within this century, by such men as Dalton, Davy, and Faraday, without aid from the State; the existence of our numerous Learned Societies; and the devotion of some few rich individuals to the current work of Science; at first sight appear to reduce the limits within which State Aid to Research is required in this country.

But whilst we have reason to be proud of the contributions of some great Englishmen to our Knowledge of the Laws of Nature, it must be admitted that at the present day Scientific Investigation is carried on abroad to an extent and with a completeness of organization to which this country can offer no parallel. The work done in this country by private individuals, although of great value, is small when compared with that which is needed in the interests of Science; and the efforts of the Learned Societies, not excepting the Royal Society, are directed to the Discussion and Publication of the Scientific Facts brought under their notice; these Societies do not consider it any part of their corporate functions to undertake or conduct Research.

It will have been seen, from the extracts from the Evidence, that amongst the Witnesses who have advocated an increase of State Assistance are some who have made great sacrifices in time and money in the cause of Scientific Research.

But whatever may be the disposition of individuals to conduct researches at their own cost, the Advancement of Modern Science requires Investigations and Observations extending over areas so large and periods so long that the means and lives of nations are alone commensurate with them.

Hence, the Progress of Scientific Research must in a great degree depend upon the aid of Governments. As a Nation we ought to take our share of the current Scientific Work of the World: Much of this work has always been voluntarily undertaken by individuals, and it is not desirable that Government should supersede such efforts; but it is bound to assume that large portion of the National Duty which individuals do not attempt to perform, or cannot satisfactorily accomplish.

The following considerations have been suggested to us by the Heads of Evidence relating to (1) Laboratories, (2) Observatories, (3) Meteorology, (4) Tidal Observations, and (5) the Payment of Scientific Workers.

1. The first condition of scientific investigation is that there should be Collections, Laboratories, and Observatories accessible to qualified persons. The evidence has shown that at present, for certain branches, these do not exist or are incomplete.

Moreover there can be no doubt that the Government Service should, to a great extent, contain within itself the means of carrying on Investigations specially connected with the Departments. Even having regard only to the current wants of the State, additional appliances are necessary.

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Three distinct ways have been suggested in which the State might assist in providing the Aids to Investigation which are required by private Individuals. It has been proposed: first, that competent Investigators should receive Grants in Money enabling them to provide themselves with means for conducting their Researches; secondly, that Laboratories, designed primarily for the Service of the State, and those of Universities and other similar Institutions receiving Aid from the State, should be placed, under proper conditions, at the disposal of such Inquirers; thirdly, that Laboratories should be erected by the Government specially designed for the use of private Investigators, though, of course, also available for the service of the State. Wherever the first of these methods can be conveniently and economically adopted, we are disposed to consider that it is the simplest and the best; but it must be remembered that for many Researches apparatus of a costly, but durable character, are among the primary requisites; and that to provide these separately for each investigator would involve a large and unnecessary expenditure. It appears to us that the difficulty thus arising might be adequately met by the adoption of the second of the above suggestions. Our attention has, indeed, been called to the inconveniences which might arise from the admission of independent workers into University or State Laboratories. But, notwithstanding this difficulty, we think the experiment is one which ought to be tried, and till it has been tried we should hesitate to recommend the erection by the State, for the especial use of private Investigators, of Laboratories which would certainly be costly, and might possibly be only imperfectly utilized.

2. Upon a Review of the whole of the Evidence relating to the subject of Astronomical Physics, we are of opinion that an Observatory for that branch of Science should be established by the State. In the study of Solar Physics, continuity of the observations is of the greatest importance; and owing to our variable climate, continuous observations of the sun in this country are subject to peculiar difficulties which should be duly considered in the choice of the site for such an Observatory. The neighbourhood of London is less favourable to Physical Observations than many other sites which might be found, and for this reason we should prefer that a Physical Observatory should be placed elsewhere than at Greenwich. On other grounds, also, we think that the Observatory for Astronomical Physics should be an Institution entirely distinct from any of the National Observatories for Mathematical Astronomy. The subject of Mathematical Astronomy is vast enough to occupy adequately the whole energies of a Director, and it is especially important that Astronomical Physics should have the undivided attention of the Head of an Observatory, because its methods, which are of very recent invention, are as yet incompletely developed, and because, depending, as they do, on a continual comparison of celestial phenomena with the results of experiments in the laboratory, they are entirely different from those of Mathematical Astronomy.

Our opinion as to the desirability of such an Institution is confirmed by the example of Foreign Nations; Observatories for Astronomical Physics being already at work in various parts of Italy, and their immediate erection having been determined on at Berlin and at Paris.

We venture to express the hope that similar Institutions may before long be established in various parts of the British Empire. The regularity of the climatic conditions of India, and the possibility of there obtaining favourable stations at considerable heights, render it especially desirable that arrangements should be made for carrying on Physical Observations of the Sun in that country.

3. With respect to Meteorology we are of opinion that the operations of the Meteorological Office have been attended with great advantage to Science and to the Country. The subject of Meteorology is a very vast one, and any scheme for its proper cultivation or extension must comprise - (1) Arrangements for observing and registering Meteorological Facts; (2) Arrangements for the reduction, discussion, and publication of the Observations; (3) Researches undertaken for the purpose of discovering the Physical Causes of the Phenomena observed. The resources placed at the disposal of the Committee are inadequate to cover the whole of this wide field; and, having due regard to all the circumstances of the case, we believe that in selecting certain parts of it, as the objects of their special attention, they have been guided by a sound discretion.

We are also disposed to consider that although, as we have already said, the Meteorological Committee occupies an anomalous position, no other form of organization could advantageously have been adopted under the actual conditions. We think, however, that if, as we shall hereinafter recommend, a Ministry of Science should be established, the Head of the Meteorological Office should be made responsible to the Minister. We fully concur

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with the opinion expressed by the Witnesses that many branches of Meteorology can only be effectually promoted by an organization having the support of Government; and we would draw especial attention to the consideration that, if Meteorology is to take rank as a branch of Terrestrial Physics, the observations must be made at stations widely dispersed over all parts of the earth's surface, and those taken by Observers of different Nations must be so arranged as to be comparable with one another. It is obvious that the intervention of Government would greatly facilitate the attainment of both these objects.

We are very unwilling that any Scientific Observations which can adequately be carried on by Individuals, or Associations of Individuals, should be undertaken by a Department of the Government. So far as the local interests connected with Climatic Meteorology suffice to ensure due attention being paid to that branch of science, we should prefer to see it left mainly to Scientific Societies, any assistance the Government might afford being merely subsidiary. That useful results may be obtained by voluntary effort is evident from the work carried on under the direction of Mr. Glaisher, and, from the case of the Scottish Meteorological Society, which has succeeded, with, very narrow means, in organising a valuable System of Observations on the Meteorology of Scotland. It is, however, important that any Grants for the promotion of Meteorological Observations in aid of voluntary efforts should be made on some systematic principle; and the attainment of this object would be furthered by making them subject to the Control of a Minister, who would be cognizant of all the facts relating to the expenditure of the Government upon Meteorology.

We may point out that the returns furnished by the Scottish Meteorological Society and Mr. Glaisher, are adopted by the Registrars General, and are recognized by Committees of Parliament in discussions affecting the Public Health, the Supply of Water, and other matters of the same kind. The value of Observations undertaken, as in this case, by private Individuals or voluntary Associations, must vary from time to time, according to the efficiency of the persons principally concerned in their superintendence. We feel, therefore, that the question how far it is proper that such Observations should receive official sanction, cannot be decided à priori, and must be left to the judgment of the responsible Minister for the time being.

4. With regard to Tidal Observations, it will be seen that, in the opinion of the Witnesses, these have not hitherto been conducted and reduced systematically. Considering the agencies which the Government can employ for the purpose of making these Observations, the importance of providing proper Superintendence for them, and of securing their Reduction, we think it desirable that they should be carried on under Government control. The expense involved would chiefly consist in the Establishment at proper points, and Verification, of Tide Gauges, and in the Reduction of the Observations; these being entrusted to officers of Government already stationed at the ports and on the various coasts of the Empire.

5. The Witnesses have expressed themselves strongly as to the Justice and Policy of Remuneration to Investigators for their Time and Trouble, and the Evidence also shows by implication how great must have been the sacrifices of those who without private fortune have hitherto devoted their great talents and their valuable time to such work without any remuneration whatever.

It has hitherto been a rule in the granting of Government Aid to Scientific Investigators, subject, so far as we have been able to ascertain, to but very few exceptions, that such Aid should be limited to what was necessary to meet the expenditure actually incurred on Instruments, materials, and assistance.

To grants made under these conditions we think that considerable extension might be given.

It is hardly necessary to assert the principle that when Scientific Work is undertaken at the request of the Government, the State is not only justified in paying, but is under obligation to pay for what is done on its behalf and for its service. But we desire to express our belief that there are many instances of unremunerative Research in which the benefit conferred on the Nation by those who have voluntarily engaged in it establishes a claim upon the State for compensation for their time and labour. Without such compensation much important work must remain unperformed, because it must be expected that many of the best men will not be in circumstances enabling them to devote long periods of time to unremunerated labour.

It is a matter of course that State Aid shall only be given to Investigators whose capacity and Industry have been placed beyond a reasonable doubt.

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The functions of the Government with regard to science may be summed up under the three following heads:

FIrst. The Treatment of the Scientific Questions incident to the Business of the Public Departments.

Second. The Direction of Scientific Instruction when given under the Superintendence or Control of the State.

Third. The Consideration of all questions involving State Aid towards the Advancement of Science, and of Administrative Questions arising out of such Aid.

It would be difficult to enumerate exhaustively all the various topics comprehended under these three Heads, and it will be sufficient for the purpose of showing how wide is the field of action of the State in regard to Science, if we point out that under one or other of these heads are included all Scientific questions affecting the Army, the Navy, the Public Health, the Mercantile Marine, Public Works, Government Scientific Establishments; the Elementary Instruction in Science under the Department of Education in Primary Schools, in the Science Classes connected with the Science and Art Department, and in Secondary Schools so far as they are subject to Government control; the Aid which is now given, or which it is desirable should be given, to Universities and other Bodies not directly connected with the State, for the Middle and Higher Scientific Instruction, and the Control which the State either does or should exercise over them in virtue of such Aid or otherwise; the Appointments to all Scientific Offices in the gift of the Crown, Grants to Museums and their Control by the State; Aid to Scientific Expeditions of every kind; the Establishment and Direction of State Laboratories and Observatories; Grants in Aid of such Laboratories not under State Direction, and in Aid of Scientific Research; and generally the allotment and control of Public Funds for similar Purposes.

The majority of the Witnesses who have given evidence in relation to this branch of the Inquiry, express dissatisfaction with the manner in which questions under the preceding heads are now determined, and either recommend the Appointment of a Special Minister of Science or of a Minister of Science and Education.

In most cases the Witnesses recommend that such a Minister should, in regard to Science, be advised by a Council. Others, however, are of opinion that the Functions of such a Council might be exercised by an Administrative Staff of the usual kind. Before continuing our remarks on this subject we beg leave to lay before Your Majesty extracts from the Evidence which has been placed before us regarding the Appointment of a Minister of Science.

We have received a large amount of Evidence in favour of the Appointment of a Minister of Science. There has been almost complete unanimity among the Witnesses on this point. We give the following extracts:

Professor Owen:

I conceive that the recommendation by Bentham in the last century of such a minister can hardly fail to be practically adopted before the close of the present century, and that the necessity of having a minister for such a purpose will be recognised. ...

Would you contemplate that a new department of the State should be constituted for directing the scientific work of the Government? - It would be quite necessary to have a Minister of Science; it is indeed, I think, generally felt that a minister of science and scientific instruction is a necessity.

Not a minister of other instruction? - Specially of scientific instruction, and not under any national education board, but a minister of science and scientific instruction. The minister would necessarily be in Parliament and a political man, but it would be very rare that he could also be a scientific man, and perhaps not desirable that he should be a scientific man, but he must have able scientific advisers always at hand.

Could any such duties be well assigned to any existing department of the State? - I believe not.

You spoke of the necessity for having a minister of science, do you conceive that it would be requisite to have a cabinet minister for education and a second cabinet minister for science, or would you contemplate that the minister for education should be the minister for science? - I do not wish absolutely to fix it beforehand; on the whole I think, however, that the title of minister of education would not suffice. If there is to be a minister, it must be a minister of science and education. There might be a minister of science and education, with a chief secretary or under minister for national and elementary education, and another for the advancement of science and for the higher scientific instruction. But naturally the minister of education must act for the masses; that must be his great duty, and however much he might wish to act for science, he has still a great duty to the masses. On the whole, I think that it would be preferable to have a distinct minister

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of science and scientific instruction. A minister of science and scientific instruction, as a subordinate to a chief minister of science and education, might probably be a very good arrangement.

The minister of science administers knowledge to the whole country.

It seems to me that in the first place there should be some means of bringing science fully before the nation through Parliament. I know of no means of doing this that is in accordance with our constitutional procedure, except through a minister of state; and therefore assuming science to be a matter of enormous national importance, I think it is essential that it should be all brought under one minister of state, who should be responsible to Parliament for everything which is done in the name of the nation to further science, and who should frame his own estimates and keep them distinct from those of departments which have little or nothing to do with science. ... I think that there should be an estimate for science just as there is an estimate for the army and for the navy. ...

What I should be glad to see would be a minister for science, but I daresay that if proper assistance were given to such a minister, he might superintend other departments as well; for instance, as on the continent, he might superintend education and the fine arts. I think it would be preferable that he should be for science only. I think there is quite enough for him to do in England, for it to be done thoroughly; but rather than have no minister I would assign to him also education and the fine arts.

There would be a difficulty, would there not, in defining the boundaries between the duties of the minister for science and the minister for education? - I think not. I think one would relate to education, which is quite a distinct thing from national research, and I think that they should be kept as distinct as possible. I think one great evil now existing is the mixing up of those two things. Throughout my evidence I have here and there expressed the same opinion that they should be kept distinct, one being the means, the other the end; instruction I conceive to be the mode of growing a certain number of persons fit to investigate.

I think that science ought to be recognized in the ministry by the appointment of a science minister, in order that all matters relating to science might come properly under the cognizance of the Government, and that whenever the Government sought the aid of scientific men it should be through the intervention of the science minister. ...

... If science is to be aided effectually, and at the same time controlled effectually, there should be some permanent officer in the department of the Government that has its relation with science, whose duty it should be and who should be responsible for making himself generally aware of the state of science and the doings of its cultivators, and who should be the proper person to advise the Government, not as to the best mode of deciding a strictly scientific question, but as to where the means for solving it are to be had. I look upon it at present as being a wholly haphazard matter how questions of science or connected with science and affecting the progress of science are decided in the public offices, and I speak from some slight personal acquaintance with the matter during the short time that I was in the public service in Parliament.

You stated, did you not, that you thought it desirable that there should be some permanent official to represent and advise the Government in its relations to science? - Decidedly.

I think there should be a scientific department of the State, which should have the control of the money expended by the State upon scientific matters.

The first conclusion that I arrive at is, that all questions relating to scientific matters that arise in the operations of the Government should be dealt with by one of the chief ministers of the Crown, and the officer at the head of the Education Department seems to be the most suitable of such officers. It has been, I know, suggested by some persons that it would be better if there were a separate department for science. That I venture to doubt. ...

Under such an education and science department there would be a natural division of the duties, which would probably lead to the appointment of some permanent officer in the position of an under secretary of state, who would have specific charge of the scientific duties of the department as distinguished from the educational duties, which constitute a distinct branch of administrative work. ...

The principal officers in the proposed scientific branch of the department should be, by their scientific qualifications, capable of disposing of the ordinary current business under their charge. ...

Do you agree with [Col. Strange's] views as to the creation of a Minister of Science and a Council of Science? - Yes, I agree generally with his views; I think that it would be very desirable for the interest of science.

Do you think it would be desirable that the existing State scientific institutions should be removed from the control of the Admiralty, the Office of Works, and other departments under which they are now placed? - I think it would be a very great advantage that they should be removed from these departments and placed under one minister.

Have you any opinion as to whether the work could be done by a minister of education, supposing such a minister were appointed? - I think it would hardly be expected that a minister should be appointed only for science; and as I believe it is the case in continental countries that that department is given to the minister of education, I think that we could not follow a better example here.

I think it [the ministry of science] might form a division, perhaps, of the ministry of education.

I dislike very much the idea of establishing new departments of the Government. If it were possible that this business could be placed upon the Minister of Education, who is becoming more and more important, I think that would be much better than establishing a separate department for the purpose.

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Sir George Airy does not appear to be convinced of the advantages likely to be derived from the creation of a Science Minister, so far as it would affect the Scientific Departments.

Do you see any inconvenience arising from the several scientific institutions that are more or less connected with the Government being under different departments? - Not that I am aware of.

You are content that the Royal Observatory at Greenwich should remain under the Board of Admiralty. You do not require to have a Minister of Science, or a Minister of Education? - No; we are naturally connected in these respects with the Admiralty.

A proposal to establish a Council of Science was brought before the Government by the Royal Society in 1857, upon a Report from the Government Grant Committee of that Society.

The object of the Committee was (Evidence of Sir E. Sabine, qu. 11,117) to determine "whether any measure could be adopted by the Government which would improve the Position of Science or its Cultivators in this Country."

The report, as quoted by Sir E. Sabine (Qu. 11,119), was as follows:

With regard to the question of which the consideration was referred to the Government Grant Committee on the 11th of July 1855, namely, whether any measures could be adopted by the Government or Parliament that would improve the position of science or its cultivators in this country, the Committee beg leave to recommend the following resolutions:

1. The Committee regard with much satisfaction the steps already taken in the Universities for advancing the study of physical science by including several branches of it in the public examinations, and express their hope that the improvements thus introduced may receive the extension which the interests of science require, and that the public schools may be thereby induced to make physical science an integral part of their course of education.

2. The Committee recommend that the establishment of classes in metropolitan and provincial schools, where those who have not the means or opportunity of studying at the Universities may be taught the elements of physical science on a systematic plan, be promoted by grants from Government in aid of such funds as may be locally contributed for that purpose.

3. That the formation of provincial museums and libraries be encouraged in like manner, and that provincial lectures, accompanied by examinations, be established in Great Britain in towns which request this assistance, and engage to provide a part of the expense, such lectures to be in aid of the schools above-mentioned, so that by means of the two combined a sound knowledge of the principles and application of science may be systematically taught.

4. That duplicate specimens from the British Museum and other institutions, supported at the public expense, be distributed to provincial museums.

5. That national publications bearing on science be more extensively circulated than they are at present by additional donations to societies and individuals engaged in the cultivation of science.

6. That the sum placed annually by Parliament at the disposal of Government for the reward of Civil Services, 'useful discoveries in science and attainments in literature and the arts', be augmented; that the portion to be appropriated to science be defined, and that it be sufficiently large to admit of the grant of annuities of the nature of good service pensions as rewards of eminent scientific merit.

7. That the sum placed at the disposal of the Royal Society for the advancement of science be not necessarily limited to the annual grant of £1,000, when on any occasion special reasons may be assigned for an additional sum.

8. That scientific officers be placed more nearly on a level in respect to salary with such other civil appointments as are objects of ambition to educated men.

9. The Committee regard with much satisfaction the steps already taken for the concentration of the principal scientific societies in Burlington House, and trust that the period is not far distant in which permanent accommodation will be afforded to the principal scientific societies in buildings to be erected near the same site, and in pursuance of the same general plan.

10. While it may not be expedient to interfere in any way with the functions confided to the President and Council of the Royal Society in reference to the distribution of the Parliamentary grant, or with the ancient and recognized relations between the Royal Society and the Government, at the same time it appears to the Committee that much benefit would arise from the formal recognition of some board which might advise the Government on all matters connected with science, and especially on the prosecution, reduction, and publication of scientific researches and the amount of Parliamentary or other grants in aid thereof; also on the general principles to be adopted in reference to public scientific appointments; and on the measures necessary for the more general diffusion of a knowledge of physical science among the nation at large; and which might be consulted by the Government on the grants or pensions to the cultivators of science.

11. Assuming that the above proposal should meet with the approval of Her Majesty's Government, it will be desirable to ascertain what mode of constituting such a board would inspire them with most confidence in its recommendations. Two modes may be suggested in which such a board might be organised. First, the Government might formally recognise the President and Council of the Royal Society as its official advisor, imposing the whole responsibility on that body, and leaving it to them to seek advice when necessary in such quarters as it may best be found, according to the method now pursued in the disposal of the Parliamentary grant of £1000. The second method would be to create an entirely new board, somewhat after the model of the old Board of Longitude, but with improvements. The question as to which alternative shall be adopted is properly a subject for the consideration of the Government.

12. Such of the above recommendations, as involve the expenditure of money, might be eventually carried out by appropriating to this purpose a certain portion of the fees received from the grantees of patents, after

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providing for all expenses which ought to be defrayed from that source. The Committee are satisfied that no application of these fees could be devised more appropriate than the devotion of a portion of them to the encouragement of abstract science, to which practical art is under so many and such important obligations.

Amongst the Witnesses who recommend the Appointment of a Council, there is a great diversity of opinion as to its Constitution and Limits of Action. As regards its Constitution, it will be seen from the Summary of Evidence which we shall give subsequently, that while some of the Witnesses are in favour of a Council very limited in numbers, others would desire to have it sufficiently numerous to include Representatives of nearly every branch of Science, as well as Men of known Administrative Ability.

In regard to its Limits of Action, the main difference arises on the two questions, whether the Council should or should not have the power of Initiating Inquiries, either directly or by suggestion to the Minister, and whether or not it should itself undertake the actual work of Investigation required for State Purposes.

As to the Mode of Remuneration, the opinions vary between those which advocate annual payments to permanent officials, and those which are in favour of payments for attendance at meetings.

The Opinions of the Witnesses who are opposed to any such Council are based, in the main, upon one or more of the following objections:

1. That Government can get the best advice without it.
2. That it would be liable to come into collision with Ministers.
3. That it would not work harmoniously with our General System of Administration.

We fear that no mere extracts from the Evidence of Colonel Strange would represent in an adequate manner the views which have led him to recommend the formation of a large and highly-paid Council of Science. It would scarcely be fair to him, as the most prominent advocate of the proposed measure, to do otherwise than refer to his Evidence at length, pp. 75 to 92, and 125 to 135, Vol. II of Evidence.

Sir W. Thomson's Evidence with reference to the Establishment of a Council of Science is as follows:

Do you think that a single body would be better than a number of small committees for advising the Government on the great variety of questions which from time to time would be likely to arise? - Yes, certainly.

The questions which might be referred to such a Council would differ very much from one another, and extend over a wide range, would they not? - Yes, but there would be a unity of design and action, with a multiplicity of knowledge and skill at command, secured by a single council, and those conditions cannot, in my opinion, be secured at all by occasional committees, or committees working separately and independently of each other. ...

A scientific council would relieve the Government of all responsibility in such matters, and would be responsible itself in a general way for all its proceedings to a political chief and to Parliament. ...

Have you formed any opinion as to the constitution of such a committee as we have been referring to; how the members of it should be selected? - I have no other opinion than that the men whose advice may be considered as most valuable and useful to the Government ought to be asked, quite independently of their connexion with any institution, whether under the Government or in the universities, or in connexion with any public or private body in the country.

You would contemplate that committee being formed by the Government itself, and not that the universities or the scientific societies should have the right of nomination? - Certainly by the Government; but aided by recommendations from the universities and scientific societies, and from this proposed consulting committee after its first constitution.

Would you have them a permanent body, with, it may be, a certain number of members going out by rotation, or in the event, suppose, of a change of Government, would you throw over the whole body? - A non-political body, l think, would be necessary for good action.

Would you leave the selection of each appointment to the Government of the day, or would you allow scientific societies or other bodies to recommend, or would you propose that the Government should be obliged to consult such bodies? - I would prefer that the Minister of Science should have the appointment.

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Dr. Frankland thus deals with Colonel Strange's Proposal:

Are you acquainted with Colonel Strange's proposal for the establishment of a consultative council of science? - Yes, I have heard from him some of the chief ideas that he entertains on that subject.

Are you disposed to consider that such a council would be desirable? - I think so. I am not prepared to say that it should be constituted exactly in the way that Colonel Strange mentioned, but a council of that description would be exceedingly desirable, on many grounds, for furnishing the Government with trustworthy scientific opinions in cases requiring them. ...

Are you of opinion that the advice of such a council, even on matters to which the larger proportion of the members of the council had not paid special attention, would be valuable? - Yes, I think it would, because those members of the council who were thoroughly acquainted with the subjects would be expressing their opinion to men conversant with scientific methods, and they would be able to convince their colleagues with respect to the opinion that the council generally ought to give upon the matter. It would be a very different thing from that of convincing a parliamentary committee, for instance, upon a scientific point, because all the men upon the council would have received a scientific training, and would understand the bearing of scientific arguments.

Have you considered at all how such a council could best be appointed, whether would you leave it to one of the ministers to appoint and select the proper persons to serve on the council? - I should think that it must ultimately fall upon the minister, but he might be assisted by the presidents of different learned societies or by the council of the Royal Society, in whom I think everyone would have confidence.

Have you any suggestions to offer as to the best modes, as it appears to you, of solving problems which from time to time present themselves? - I think if upon purely scientific questions there were some scientific body of some kind to whom the Government departments could as a matter of course refer for the solution of such questions as this, it would be a great advantage.

I have looked at the suggestions that have been made by Colonel Strange and others, and I do not think that any Government department or its professional officers would listen to the dictation of any council of purely scientific men; they would probably say, and say with justice, that they knew more about what was wanted than any such council could know. Every now and then in the course of practice in those cases a new scientific question does arise; such, for instance, as the question concerning deviation of the compasses. In such a case as that we required the best scientific assistance we could get; and in the case of sulphur in gas, and water impurities, we now require it.

I give with great hesitation a suggestion upon a point upon which I really am scarcely competent to suggest anything, namely, whether you had not better make use of what you have at present, namely, the Royal Society or a committee of the Royal Society, rather than attempt to establish any new body. No new body that you could establish would have the prestige, reputation, and influence that the Royal Society has. That is a matter not to be created; it is a matter which has grown with centuries. You have also in the Royal Society itself a scientific public to whose opinion any council or committee appointed by it would or might be made amenable; and my suggestion would be that you should endeavour to create some committee or body out of the Royal Society which should bear a fixed relation to the Government, which should meet regularly, and the members of which should be paid something, as the directors of a joint stock company are paid for their meetings, to whom the Government should have a right to refer, who should feel that they had on the one hand a duty towards the Government, and who on the other hand should be bound to make public all their proceedings, so that they would be responsible to the public scientific opinion of the country. That is the best suggestion that I can make, but, as I say, I am very ignorant upon the subject.

But, as regards the Admiralty, the Department which he knows best, he would prefer that it should be able to decide Scientific Questions within itself. He says:

I think that the Admiralty requires the aid of such a council less, perhaps, than any other department of the Government, for this reason, that there are not very many questions, purely questions of science, that come under the notice of the Admiralty; and then we have the Astronomer Royal to refer to, who is a host in himself, and if any question arises which we do not refer to the Astronomer Royal, we generally ask the President and Council of the Royal Society, and we have never found any difficulty in getting assistance. The only department of the Admiralty which might require such assistance beyond this, is perhaps the Constructors' Department, in the designs for ships of war. But as regards that, my opinion is that it would be far better to have some scientific designer attached to that department than it would be to refer such questions to a council even.

There would be this advantage, I think, which they would derive, that they would be freed from the political pressure which is brought frequently to bear upon the Admiralty upon questions of that kind. The whole responsibility of deciding upon a measure would be thrown upon the council.

Do you think that would be a desirable result? - I think that it would be desirable in all departments of the Government; it would be very agreeable to the Government of any day, I should think, to escape the responsibility of deciding on scientific questions on which they may not be very intimate, but in which they may be believed to be interested parties.

Do you think that the work would be bettor done? - I think it would. I should say there could be no doubt about that, but unless the Government are prepared to vote a very considerable sum every year for

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the advancement of science, which I am quite of opinion that every Government ought to do, I think very little benefit would accrue from having such a council.

You have no apprehension that the Government, if advised by men of the highest scientific capacities, would be likely to operate so as to control science, and to fetter the operations of individuals, or to benumb and discourage Original Research and Observation? - I think not. I think that the great desideratum is to put more means at the disposal of private individuals, and, of course, this must be done by some sort of administrative body.

In what way would the advice of the council be better than that of the individual members of that council, who are the highest authorities on the question under review? - Because I think that science has a number of bearings, and that a question might involve, not one branch of science, but a great many, and you might, for instance, have to call in various men of science of different kinds. In order to answer this question, you might have to call in, not the advice of one member of the council, but the advice of a number. Of course there are a number of questions regarding which some of the members of the council would naturally be silent, but perhaps a good many of them might be interested in answering a particular question, and would give their answer. In a case of that kind I should fancy, however, that it ought to come as from the whole body, because, really, in most questions nowadays, the question would not involve one particular branch of science only, but it would involve the joint operation of two or three branches of science.

Take, for instance, such a question as that which has been recently referred to a committee, the efficiency and stability of ships of war, would there be any advantage in referring a question of that kind to the council, rather than to a committee specially appointed, as has been done on the occasion to which I refer? - I think that if there were a council of this kind, the council would have power to associate other people with them in a case of that kind. Science is so ramified, that the council would not be able of themselves to settle all questions; but upon particular questions, such as you name, very likely they would associate other people with them.

Do you think that they would be more likely to make a judicious selection of the persons to be consulted than the Minister of State would be, without the advice of such a council? - I think so, because a Minister of State is not likely to know the capabilities of various men. There are a number of men known to scientific bodies as profoundly conversant with particular branches of science, but their knowledge of those subjects does not appeal to outsiders, it only appeals to those who are cognizant with that particular subject. ...

Can you make any suggestions us to the mode in which Government aid could be best carried into effect? - I do this with the greatest diffidence; but it appears to me that the system of a consultative council, to advise the executive on matters of scientific instruction, is the true one. I believe it is a work which it is almost impossible that the executive can do properly without advice received in some form, and that appears to me the form in which it is most likely to be productive of the greatest good.

Have you any suggestions to make us to the constitution of such a council? - I should be inclined to think that a council, formed on the same plan as this Commission, so far as regards the class of its members, would be a very proper one to advise the Government.

Would you think it advisable that the Government should name its own consultative council, or that some of the members should be nominated by the societies? - I should provide for a certain number of scientific men being upon the council, and desire that the Government should nominate (for you may trust the Government to do it with fairness), as well as the societies; that is, the lay members should be appointed by Government, and the professional ones by the various scientific societies. ...

He then proceeds to state his opinion as to its Constitution:

Have you formed any opinion as to the constitution of a consultative council to assist this minister? - My idea would be that the heads of the different scientific institutions that are put under the control of the department of science and the minister of education might form a consultative body and be called a council of science, and that there might be certain other members added to assist them in deliberation, if it were thought necessary, such as representatives of the College of Physicians, the College of Surgeons, and of the scientific branches of the Army and Navy.

Colonel Strange's proposed council would consist of 30 members at least; do you think that that would be too numerous a body? - I think that a less numerous body might suffice, because I see that, in many cases, however numerous the body was, it would be necessary to call in special assistance.

If a council were constituted in the manner that you propose, should you contemplate that, as a rule, they would be capable of giving advice themselves on most questions that would arise, or would they generally find it desirable to call in further assistance? - I think, that in most cases, they would be quite competent to give an opinion to the Government; but that sometimes on particular questions, it would be necessary to go elsewhere for advice, and that, in such cases, there would certainly be somebody in the council who would know exactly where to put his hand upon the right man for the purpose. For instance, a question might arise in some special department of Natural History: in that case, the council would naturally refer to the head of the State Museum of Natural History to know if he could give an opinion himself, and if not to inform them who could give an opinion upon the point. Thus, I think that with the aid of a small council of science of, perhaps, 20 members, every question requiring solution by the Government as regards science might meet with very fair consideration and be very easily settled.

Have you any misgivings as to whether such a council would command sufficient public confidence amongst men of science? - I have no misgivings at all upon that subject. I should say that they would meet with general support from men of science. Most men of science, I think, see that something of the sort is

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imperatively required. All lament the piecemeal way in which scientific subjects are dealt with by Government, in consequence of their being subdivided amongst all these different offices, and of there being nobody to appeal to upon a question of science, and, therefore, I think the proposal to establish such a council would meet with universal acceptation amongst scientific men.

Then, in the case of investigations which were required to be undertaken, how do you conceive that they would be dealt with? - I should say that the member of the council representing the particular branch of science would be called upon to present a preliminary report of how he proposed to set about any particular investigation. He would say, to do this I shall require the assistance of such and such persons for so many days, or for such and such time, or to send here or to send there, and would bring these requirements in the shape of a preliminary report before the board, and, if this were approved, would carry out the investigation. Then he would present his report upon the result of the investigation, and the council as a body would consider it, and recommend its adoption by the Government or otherwise.

Then do I understand that you would prefer, as a general rule at least, that the members of the council should themselves carry out such investigations as might be required from time to time, rather than that they should merely indicate to the minister the person, outside the council very probably, who they thought was best competent to carry out the investigation? - I do not think it would be necessary to draw a hard and fast line upon such a question as that. I think that in many cases it would be better that the council, as a whole, should report to the Government on the best way in which any particular scheme might be carried out. I do not think that it would be necessary to introduce a rule that you should invariably go to the member of the council representing that particular science if advice were wanted upon that branch. But the council would naturally turn to the representative of the particular science for an answer; they would naturally look to his advice first.

I understand you to mean that the duty of the members of the council should be to know where to go in order that particular questions should be answered, whether it were to go outside the council or to go to one member of the body? - Yes, that is my opinion.

I think that the heads of great scientific institutions must have administrative experience. If a man has to manage an institution like the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, or the State Museum of Natural History, he must have the command of a great many men under him, and must be acquainted with the business of the institution, and must have gained his administrative experience. He could not fail to be a person of administrative experience.

But, taking the application of scientific laws to specific departments of the Government, the army and navy, for example, would it not be important that there should likewise be on the council some men of special knowledge of the mode of facilitating the adaptation of scientific laws to those departments? - I think, certainly, that the army and the navy, which are the branches of the service, perhaps, most requiring scientific assistance, should be represented by one or more members of the board, and no doubt the Government would take care to secure a first-rate man for what I should consider a post of the very highest honour.

Dr. Hooker, the President of the Royal Society, gives it as his opinion "That the general proposition, that the Government should be aided by scientific persons, is an "excellent one, both with respect to the administration of the existing Government Scientific Institutions, and with respect to the occasional grants which the Government may be called upon to make for scientific objects." Like Dr. Roscoe, he thinks that the Council should not consist exclusively of Scientific men.

Mr. De La Rue thus gives his opinion:

There ought to be a board of advisers which should consist of men eminent in different departments of science. I can only speak as to those branches of science to which I have paid some attention, and I should put in the first category that there ought to be on the board a chemist of eminence, there ought also to be a physicist, an astronomer, a mathematician, particularly one who has paid attention to the application of mathematics to science, and an engineer or two engineers, one who has given attention to the construction of great works, such as railroads and bridges, that is to say, civil engineering, the other a mechanical engineer. I do not speak of a biologist or a physiologist, because other witnesses are much more competent to speak as to the necessity for such men than I am.

But do you think that all branches of science ought to be represented on the council? - Undoubtedly.

Can you give the Commission any idea as to the number which you think it would probably be necessary to provide for? - About 10 or 12 men, I imagine, would sufficiently represent science.

As to the numbers of the Council, he says that "If 12 men were not found to be sufficient to include all branches of knowledge, it would be desirable to increase the number." He proposes "that special advisers might occasionally be called in who would be remunerated according to their attendance". ...

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He considers that the usual permanent staff of a Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, even if they were men of Science, would not be sufficient; urging as a reason that

Science is really now so extensive that one could hardly imagine any secretary so to be intimately acquainted with every branch of science as to be able, even with the aid of his assistant secretaries, to advise, or to point out where to obtain specific information on every question which might be brought under consideration. I think, therefore, that there would be a very great advantage for the Science Minister to have a sufficiently numerous Advising Council.

There ought to be a body of men who could be immediately called together, whose time was so far at the disposal of the State that they might be assembled on every occasion and at any time to advise the Science Minister. Then we should get prompt action, instead of questions being allowed to drag over years and years without any practical solution being come to.

In answer to the question, "Have you no fear that there might be some collision, or, at any rate, considerable friction, between that Council and the Scientific Departments of the Public Service?" he says:

Probably at first there might be, but ultimately I believe the confidence of those directors of the departments would be gained by the very sound advice which they would receive from a body constituted us I conceive it ought to be.

Supposing £5,000 or £10,000 were given to the Royal Society to aid investigations, I do not think that that in any way ought to weigh in the consideration of the establishment of a science minister whose functions would be altogether larger and much more important. We want science really cared for in England by the State, and we want all State questions relating to science, properly considered by a body capable of dealing with them.

I think that the judging of the applications for assistance, applications for the endowment of new chairs, and the application of Government patronage generally as regards science might be managed by the following system. Supposing that instead of the grant being given simply by the Department itself(speaking now of the Committee of the Privy Council) there were a representative board composed of men of science, composed of professors who could advise - I will not say that they should have the power of deciding - I would rather leave that with the Government, but that they should have the power of reporting at any rate upon each of those applications, I think that the Government would get better advice than it can command at present. My idea is that this board should be an elected board, that each of the existing colleges (you could easily choose the colleges and universities) should appoint one member at such a board as that; but however the choice was made, if there were something like a representative board of scientific men to advise the department, even if their recommendations were not necessarily acted upon, but that they were simply a reporting body, I think that the Government would be better able to decide on such subjects than they can now do, and that their decisions would give greater satisfaction. ...

I do not know how otherwise the Government is to decide who is really the best man. We cannot have competitive examinations for professorships, I think, and the system of irresponsible testimonials has come to be in a monstrous state. A man really prepares a blue book; every man one has ever spoken to sends for a testimonial, and you get a whole library of those testimonials. ...

With reference to any endowment that might be granted by the Government, have you formed any idea as to the control under which the administration of such endowment should be placed? - That is a matter which I have thought over, and I see that it might lead to great difficulties. The Government might wish to nominate a Professor of King's College, and such a professor might be objectionable to the Council of King's College, and I think it would be more satisfactory to scientific men if all those appointments were placed under the care of a board of scientific men of position, and who would be responsible to the Government for their nominations, and for the duties of the professors being well carried out. There would be no difficulty in obtaining such a board, because the presidents and officers of the learned societies, which have charters, would make a sufficiently good board, and a board beyond doubt as regards their scientific acquirements and their desire to uphold science. To leave the matter entirely in the hands of the Government would, perhaps, not lead to very satisfactory results.

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he considers "the proposal is a large one", and suggests that "it might be worth consideration whether some intermediate scheme for earlier action should be proposed".

His opinion on the Appointment of the Members is thus expressed:

If any council (without at present going into its constitution) were appointed, in whose hands do you think that appointment should be placed? - I think it clearly should be in the hands of the Minister with whom it would be in direct relation.

You would leave the choice absolutely to him, and not make the appointments in any respect ex-officio? - There might very well be certain ex-officio members, such, for instance, as the Astronomer Royal for the time being, the President of the Royal Society for the time being, and perhaps others.

The greatest importance would attach to the first constitution of the council? - Certainly.

How would you advise the minister to proceed in order to act wisely in that appointment? - I should suppose that he would obtain advice from the leading men of science of the day, and with their advice it would not be difficult to form, at all events, the elements of such a council, although he might not be able at once to complete a very fully organized body. If those first appointments were made, he would have the full advantage of the advice of those members in completing the entire list.

If such a consultative council were appointed, you would probably contemplate that it would be mainly composed of persons now to be found on the council of the Royal Society, or on the committee of recommendations of the British Association? - Yes, I should imagine that it would be mainly composed of Fellows of the Royal Society.

How would it work if there were some arrangement by which the council of the Royal Society should propose a certain number, two or three persons out of whom the Government might select one on any vacancy? - I see no objection whatever to that proposal.

That would secure, as a general rule, the appointment of persons of the highest scientific qualifications on the council? - I think it would.

It appears to me that the chief and most important point in this matter has reference to the appointment of a Council, rather than to the nomination of a Minister. I think with a Consultative Council of Science there would be a corresponding uniformity of action. ...

In the Council of India we have no power of initiation. The initiative rests with the Minister, or, practically, with the executive officers, acting, I may say, on the inspiration of the Minister, and the measures are only brought before the Council, in a subsequent stage, for their approval or disapproval.

I may mention to the Commission, in reference to this subject, that the desirability of such a council is constantly brought to my observation through another channel, namely, through my duties in the Council of India, where we perpetually have references before us, which we are really unable to deal with. These references recall most forcibly to us, and very frequently, the necessity for the existence of such a council as I have proposed. ...

Should you apprehend that a minister would find it a very difficult task to constitute a council in such a manner as to command the confidence both of the public and of scientific persons? - No, I should think not, I should think a minister, with the latitude of selection which he would have in a country like this, would have no difficulty in bringing together a council of 10 or 15 gentlemen whose qualifications and reputation would command the respect of the world, and whose opinion would fortify him in his decisions, and be of great national benefit.

The persons who are employed in the public administration are certainly as a class not amongst those who have anything deserving the name of scientific education; therefore, for a long time to come, it is not to be expected that the members of the Government, or their chief subordinates, will have any such general knowledge of science as would enable them at all satisfactorily to deal with the scientific questions which come before them. Therefore, I conclude that it is absolutely essential for the Government, under any circumstances, to get advice from outside; and then comes the question as to how this advice is to be got. If there is no recognised and regularly organised body whose business it is to give advice to the Government on such subjects, then the only thing that a minister can do is to get his information from unrecognised and irresponsible authorities, persons whose opinions, perhaps, may be very valuable, but still persons of whom the public never can have any cognizance; and private advice given in that way seems to me given in the worst possible form. If, then, that form of advice is bad, how can you obtain advice of proper intrinsic value on the multifarious subjects on which it is certain to be needed by an administration really striving to advance science to the utmost, and how can you secure its being given under a sufficient sense of responsibility, and in such a way as to carry the greatest weight possible to the mind of the minister who is expected to act upon it? And here I would repeat that any specific proposal to give effect to such an idea must be made to fit into the general form of the administration; and I, therefore, consider that the best course would be to adopt the proposal that has been made by many persons, that there shall be some sort of council constituted to advise the responsible Government department as to its proceedings in connection with science.

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This Witness objects to the proposal that the Council should be elected by, or selected mainly from Scientific Bodies, or Educational Establishments, and considers that -

The only way to lead a Government in the proper course which they should pursue in relation to science is, to give them advisers whom they have agreed to accept, and whom they are, therefore, forced to admit as trustworthy and satisfactory guides. The only way in which that sort of relation between them can be established, I think, is to put a specific responsibility upon the Government to nominate. I think, too, that there would be, under such an arrangement, an action of a similar character in the other direction, and that a person who was specifically nominated by the Government to perform those particular duties would have a much stricter responsibility put upon him, so to act and so to advise the Government as to produce satisfactory results, than if he were merely developed, so to speak, by the operation of some external body.

I think that in order to put propositions in a practical form and in an acceptable form before the minister, it is desirable that there should be persons in the advising body who have a certain amount of administrative experience. Also, I think that, as society is constituted now, there should be in it persons of what is commonly called superior social position, such persons having certain advantages in getting access to the minister, and in guiding public opinion, which others have not. What should be aimed at, in short, is a practically useful body rather than an eminently theoretical scientific body; and I should say that a body not differing materially from this present Commission has the sort of constitution which would secure the best exercise of the influence which I conceive that this advising body should exercise. I think that all that would be necessary to enable it to do all that could possibly be required of it, would be to entrust it with suitable power, where the occasion required, for making specific references, or for calling into its councils persons specially qualified to advise it, who were not permanently upon the Commission, I think that an arrangement of that sort could be carried out without any particular difficulty.

He would give considerable Initiative Powers to the Council:

Would you propose that this council should initiate proposals itself, as well us consider subjects on which its advice was asked? - Yes, I think so. I think that the greatest freedom of action should be given to the Council; that it should be in a position to make any representation that it thought desirable to the minister on the subject of science. ...

Would such a body as you are proposing supersede the Government Grant Committee? - Yes, certainly; and I would take the opportunity of saying that it is a question that is open, and which I believe has been discussed, whether the Council, for instance, of the Royal Society, with or without any addition, might not be made to perform satisfactorily some or all or the functions which it has been suggested should devolve upon this Commission. But I think not. And the principal reason that I have for thinking that such a body as the Council of the Royal Society is not suitable for the purpose is, that it cannot have that specific responsibility put upon it which should be put upon a body such as I have spoken of, and that it is got together for totally different purposes and objects. The council of the Royal Society has to manage the business of the Royal Society, and is not at all selected to advise the Government on matters connected with the advancement of science, or the application of science in the operations of the public departments.

And one-half of their number is changed every year? - Yes.

You could not make the minister responsible for the action of the council of the Royal Society, or of its committee? - Not at all.

Because the nomination of the council and of the committee is by a body of constituents over whom the minister has no control? - Quite so; the minister would have a perfect right to repudiate any scheme which they put forward, or any advice they gave; I mean that he would be justified in doing so on the ground that he was not responsible for their selection. ...

There would be cases, for instance, in which the minister might ask a question as to the relative qualifications of two scientific men for some post, and the commissioners would give an opinion, and their reasons for that opinion, but it would not be right that the grounds on which they formed it should be made public; still, as a rule, the more complete the responsibility put upon everybody connected with the commission for the opinion that he gave on any subject that came before it, the better would it be.

They should place any proposals that they had to make in a definite form before the minister, but I would not hand over any lump sum to them as is done now in the case of the Royal Society. I understand that the Treasury give a thousand pounds a year to the Royal Society, to spend in their own way on scientific objects. I think myself that this system is essentially vicious; to make a homely comparison, it is as though I desired to absolve myself from all responsibility in connection with the suffering and poorer class of the community, by giving the first beggar I met sixpence. The Chancellor of the Exchequer hands over a

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thousand pounds to the Royal Society, and thinks that he has done all that is necessary for the promotion of Science.

I think that the idea of placing such matters as the construction of ships for the Navy, or the form of guns, or of small arms, or of projectiles, and so forth, upon a body of this sort is altogether a mistake; that is not a function that should be put upon such a body; it is not really what is wanted. The departments of the Government that have to carry out those particular duties are responsible for possessing the necessary knowledge; for instance, the department that builds ships has within its own body all the necessary means of acquiring the information requisite for designing proper ships and for building proper ships, or, at all events if it has not, it ought to have; and if there is a defect in the organization of those bodies, they ought to remedy the defect themselves; they ought to introduce amongst their officers proper people.

There is not the slightest reason to doubt that the responsible officers in the Controller's Department knew perfectly well that the "Captain" was not a safe ship, but their opinion was overridden, and if Admiral Robinson and Mr. Reed had had a body of this sort to refer to, if they could have challenged the Admiralty board to take a scientific opinion from this body as to whether their views were right or wrong, great good would have resulted. ...

Captain Galton would desire to see a Council whose duties should be principally administrative.

I should not advocate the formation of such a council unless that council could be given duties other than those of a consultative nature. I do not believe in more consultative councils. If a council is to be appointed, it must be a council for some other objects, and I think there is quite sufficient reason for the appointment of a scientific council or commission, or whatever you like to call it, for certain other purposes, and that when it was constituted for certain other purposes, which are practically administrative purposes, the council might be advantageously consulted upon other subjects by the Government.

You have pointed out that there are a very considerable number of Institutions connected with Science which are supported by the State; do you consider that there is sufficient system in the present arrangements? - I think that the institutions which are maintained by the State for scientific purposes are maintained upon no principle whatever with regard to their administration. You have got the British Museum under Trustees, you have got South Kensington under the President of the Council, you have Kew under the Office of Works, you have the Botanic Gardens at Edinburgh, I think, under the Queen's Remembrancer. You have the Observatory at Edinburgh as part of the University of Edinburgh, and you have the Observatory at Greenwich under the Admiralty, besides several others, You have every possible variety of jurisdiction, and, consequently, it seems to me that you have a great waste of power; there is the School of Chemistry, and the School of Mines, and the Museum at Edinburgh, all under South Kensington Museum, and the Meteorological Department which is partly under the Royal Society and partly under the Board of Trade. There is no possibility of getting any correlation between those different scientific bodies,and if yon are to get proper unity of administration you must bring them all under one head, or to one focus. I should recommend placing them all under a scientific commission or council, and I should place that council probably under the Privy Council; but I should make it a body for administering all questions connected with all the scientific institutions, or all grants made by the Government for scientific purposes in the country, and I should give to this Council the same status, with regard to its administration, or very much the same, that the Indian Council have. ... The parliamentary head of the Department, if he differed from them in opinion as to their recommendations upon the scientific questions connected with those institutions, or any other that might be founded, should record his differences of opinion in a minute. ...

Have you considered what would be the best modo of constituting such a council? - l should keep It to as limited a number as would represent sufficiently the different branches of science. I do not think that you could possibly have a smaller number than five or six. I think they would want a secretary, and, of course, they would have to meet tolerably frequently for the administration of these matters.

He further considers that all questions as to grants of public money for purposes connected with Science should be referred to the Council, instead of being granted or refused "hap-hazard".

Dr. Siemens would "assemble the Heads of Departments at frequent intervals for the discussion of general questions, and would propose to add to their number such men as the President of the Royal Society, the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and at least one Representative of the two great Universities. This Board would decide general questions appertaining to the Advancement of Science."

He would regard the opportunities of meeting together, thus given to Heads of Departments, as one of the great advantages of such a Council.

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He thinks that the number of the Council should be about 20, and that the greater part of its members, being Heads of Departments, should not receive payment as members of the Council. The four additional members whom he proposes, he considers would probably decline remuneration.

The Functions of the Council of Science, with regard to Research, would, according to this Witness, be very limited:

Would it be desirable, in your opinion, that this Council, or any scientific Government department, should undertake experimental research? - I think not; my impression is that scientific research should be left as free and open as possible. If gentlemen were specially instructed to make experimental research they would be, I consider, in a somewhat false position. They would be morally obliged to produce results in order to satisfy the public mind that they were doing their duty, and science or scientific research cannot be measured by such a standard of results. I consider that a man should always have some absolute duty to perform, some drudgery work, which might be made as light as possible; but my impression is that he would not be in a satisfactory position, either to himself or as regards the public, if discovery were his only duty.

Your opinion was that the Government should not direct scientific research, but I think I understood you to say that it was desirable that they should direct inquiries to be made in reference to subjects of direct national importance? - Yes.

And these you think should be carried out chiefly by commissions in each case appointed for the purpose? - Yes, by commissions appointed for the purpose. I think that there should always be a direct practical object in view.

If those inquiries were directed by a Government council of the nature of the one which you have sketched, do you think that they would be more likely to be successful than if they were left to make their investigations in a more independent way? - I think I would as much as possible leave investigations in the hands of individuals. I would make inquiries through committees or commissions, because they have the means at their disposal for collecting information which private individuals have not.

Mr. Anderson appears not to be thoroughly convinced of the advantage of a Council.

He thinks there is at present more sound Scientific Knowledge in the Government Departments and at the disposal of the Government than is generally supposed, but that if a Council should be appointed, a small number would be better than a large one. He considers that seven would be sufficient, and admits that without the assistance of some such Council as this, he sees no "symptom at the present time" of the Government causing such inquiries to be made as he thinks desirable.

Professor Jellett thinks that every science should be represented on the Council:

Supposing there were no person in the council who was qualified to judge; for example, supposing the subject were a medical subject, and you had no medical man upon your council; I think that when you came to discuss the report you would find yourself in some difficulty. Yon would be almost entirely at the mercy of the irresponsible individual outside who had given the advice.

Of course I could not carry on the subdivision to any very great length. For example, take the subject that I am myself most conversant with, applied mathematics. I do not want to have a representative of acoustics, or a representative of optics; one representative of applied mathematics would do.

I understand you to contemplate the establishment of a board solely for Scotland? - Yes, for Scotland solely.

I think that if the board were formed in England, with sub-committees in Ireland and Scotland, it might answer the purpose, but I do not see how it is possible that gentlemen in London, unconnected with Scotland, can have that knowledge which is desirable with regard to individuals applying for grants. If there were no board of that kind, the London board would require to make inquiry through individuals selected by themselves, and who would not have the same responsibility as persons officially appointed.

He fears that "a large or highly paid permanent Scientific Council ... would lead to political intriguing for place; and not the best men of science but the ablest men of the world would succeed", and that "scientific men, moreover, are not, as a body, suited for the work".

He looks upon General Strachey's proposal, "a continuation of the present Commission, permanent as a body but changed as to individuals", as the most hopeful.

He sees no reason "why the members should not be paid a reasonable salary for their time and trouble, but would not put this too high, because, if obtained, it "would lead to the political-interest-making system".

The extracts which follow have more especial reference to the Functions which the various Witnesses propose the Council should fulfil.

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The late Professor Phillips:

I think, first of all, it would deal with all questions such as are now presented to the Government Grant Committee.

And would it aid in directing research? - Yes. The Government Grant Committee has very limited means of maintaining anything of a permanent character, and I think, therefore, that this new board would recommend, in a case of that kind which we are discussing with regard to the formation of special observatories, some grant for the purpose of research requiring many years to be continued, and for which apparently it would be very difficult, or next to impossible, to find any other successful mode at present.

Do you consider that any questions regarding the scientific education of the country would come under such a board? - No doubt they would; there would be, I conceive, a very natural alliance between such a great subject as that and the definite prosecution of physical research, but I have limited my own views in the first instance to subjects connected with the teaching, experimenting, and continually observing of physical phenomena.

If such a board were established and got into full work, do you not think that a large part of the time of the members of the board would be occupied in those duties? - I do, indeed.

The main object of such a council would, in my opinion, be to advise the Government on all scientific questions which might come under the attention of the Government, and on all scientific works actually undertaken. ...

Another object of the council would be to advise the minister of science in all applications for the expenditure of money to promote scientific investigations. Applications are frequently made to the Government of a singular character which could not be classed; some of those applications may be thoroughly deserving of support, and others may be of a most frivolous character. All such applications should be referred to one responsible council. At present the Government must be very much annoyed by occasional applications, and I have no doubt that the want of a permanent responsible and trustworthy adviser or body of advisers to whom all such applications can be confidently referred, must be seriously felt. I may mention as an instance of applications of that kind, the applications made by the British Association for funds for the late and previous solar eclipses. The testimony of the Royal Society and the British Association to the importance of the object was no doubt in this case accepted immediately by the Government as a sufficient certificate that the object was a suitable one for the expenditure of public money. But there are many other applications even by the British Association itself which the Government feel must be referred to some competent adviser.* Then there are many applications made altogether by private individuals for assistance in some department of scientific investigation; those would naturally fall to be all summarily rejected at present, but it would be advisable that they should be handed over to a council of responsible advisers, who would take each case on its own merit.

Would you be so good as to inform us whether you have formed any opinions as to the best system of appointing such a council? - The council ought to represent the different branches of science, and the practical applications of science. Pure mathematics ought to be represented in the council; mixed or applied mathematics according to the old-fashioned nomenclature as generally understood ought also to be represented; chemistry cannot be shut out; physics must of course be represented and ought to be represented separately; astronomy, both what was formerly called physical astronomy and of course the new science of astronomical physics, ought to be represented. I do not believe that astronomy could be properly represented under one head; astronomical physics must, in my opinion, be separately represented. Geology should be separately represented, and also the various branches of natural history; physiology also, and medical practice in general, should be represented. I have spoken of applied mathematics, I meant rather mathematical dynamies than applications to art and mechanical operations. Then practical applications should be represented, mechanics and mechanical engineering, then again civil engineering and geodesy, mining engineering, statistical inquiries, and the scientific branches of Her Majesty's service ought to be thoroughly represented. Engineer and artillery officers and the navy should be represented both in its navigation department and in the department of seamanship, and the department of gunnery. The mercantile interests of the country and the agriculture of the country ought certainly to be represented. The universities ought to be represented amply - the English universities, the Scotch universities, and the Irish universities. Also practical telegraphy, which is a very distinct branch of engineering, civil engineering or mechanical engineering would not sufficiently represent it.

Do you think that the functions which are proposed to be assigned to the scientific council would not interfere any way with the existing scientific departments of the Government; for example, the Medical Department of the Privy Council, or some of the other Government scientific departments? - I think it would relieve the departments from pieces of scientific work at present given to them, because there is no other body to whom they can be given, and for which they are by their organisation and personnel almost necessarily ill-fitted and insufficiently competent.

You would leave to these departments their administrative functions, but give them the advantage of consulting with the council upon higher questions of science on which they desired information? - Yes, certainly; every question of science that falls under the notice of any department of the Government would naturally be referred to the scientific council.

I should make it [the Council] a body for administering all questions connected with all the scientific institutions, or all grants made by the Government for scientific purposes in the country, and I should give to this council the same status with regard to its administration, or very much the same, that the Indian Council have; that is to say, that the parliamentary head of the department, if he differed from them in opinion as to their recommendations upon the scientific questions connected with those institutions, or any other, that might be founded, should record his differences of opinion in a minute. Of course as he would be finally responsible to Parliament he must have the final power; but I should put the same check over him that is put over the Secretary of State for India, that he must record his differences of opinion, and his objections to their recommendations, or rather his reasons for not adopting the recommendations of this council, in a written

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minute which would be capable of being produced in Parliament if necessary. Of course the remuneration for those scientific gentlemen who would have to give a considerable part of their time to this council ought to be of a sufficient nature.

Would you place the management of all the Government institutions connected with science in the hands of this council? - I should place the administration of it in the same way that the administration comes to the different Government departments now. The officers in charge of the British Museum would report to those gentlemen on all expenditure of money, on changes, and other matters of that sort. All their estimates would come up through this council, and all their expenditure would be sanctioned through it, and any questions arising in their administration, for instance, changes recommended, or new regulations, would be administered by this scientific council, instead of being administered by the separate heads of the departments who now administer them.

Could you enumerate what you consider would be the principal duties of this council, supposing it to be established? - I should put the specific duty upon them of preparing a complete report of the national resources available for scientific instruction and research, according to the sense of the word public which I am just now describing it, namely, those which are available for that purpose, and not for the promotion of the profit of individuals; and then that such a report should be re-edited annually, so that one should be able, by referring to it, to know what the funds of the institution are, and what they are doing respectively. I think that it would be of immense value that there should be one general source of information upon that point, and then I have no doubt they would be applied to for many improvements, which would be needed in those institutions; and they would have to investigate the question so brought before them or referred to them by the Secretary of State for that department. I should think it likely that it might be found desirable to refer to this council for advice in the selection of committees to investigate practical matters; for instance the matter of gunnery, or other matters which are not matters of pure science, and that they would be able to recommend the choice of suitable persons for any work of that kind in which scientific principles would have to be applied to some practical purpose. In fact, the number of questions relating to science which come before the Government now, directly or indirectly, are, I suppose, considerable; and from what I have been able to learn of late on that matter, I should think that a good many people must be incidentally employed to the extent of a great part of their time, by giving advice upon such matters.

Then you would not propose that the Government, if it wanted advice upon such subjects, should go to the council of science in order to obtain it? - I conceive that the Government might with advantage go to the council of science in order to find the individuals most competent to advise them upon such a practical point; but I think that the Government ought not to expect advice on such matters from the council itself. I do not see how the council could include matters of that sort with the really important questions of science itself without losing their homogeneity and unity of action. That would include all human activity almost, for scientific principles can be applied to all kinds of doings.

The great duty of such a permanent body would be to lay down some sort of system, according to which Government aid to science must be given, and to prevent (if possible) the expenditure of national moneys upon ill-considered or one-sided schemes, The results of a systematic Government effort is seen in the case of the German universities, in which, for comparatively small amounts of national expenditure, great results are obtained, whilst, I fear, that with us (for want of system) the opposite condition of things more nearly holds good.

You would not desire that it should consist solely of men of science? - No, certainly not. I am of opinion that the presence of the lay element is essential, because many questions will occur which are not purely scientific, such as the necessity for establishing new colleges, or aiding existing ones, and on these points the opinions of experienced (perhaps local) non-professional men would be of the greatest value.

Supposing that there had been such a Consultative Council as you propose, would it not have been advantageous to take their advice upon the expediency of such a proceeding? - I think that it would be one of the functions of such a council undoubtedly to advise the Government upon questions of that nature [the purchase of the College of Chemistry by the Government], and with regard to all other scientific matters, grants of money, or the establishment of fresh teaching establishments.

Then one advantage would be that the public would know on whose advice any such step had been taken by the Government? - Yes.

What do you consider would be the principal duties of such a Council? - To name commissioners for special inquiry, to discuss generally the amounts of the grants to be given to learned societies, and to advise the minister with regard to innovations proposed in Government departments. Take, for example, an invention of ordnance; if such a question, after a preliminary examination by the department concerned, were brought before the general body, it could there be discussed for the guidance of the Minister of Science, to ascertain whether such an innovation was based upon sound scientific principles, and what course of experiments should be pursued to lead to the best results. By referring it to the Minister, and having it discussed before such a Council, a great deal of unnecessary expenditure might often be saved where, through the want of sufficient information, the experiments are conducted by the departments in a somewhat unscientific manner. Another duty of the Council would be generally to direct the publication of the scientific information obtained through the different departments.

Do you consider that it would be the duty of such a Council to initiate proposals on matters connected with Science, or merely to give advice when asked for? - Only to give advice when asked, for, but the departments should be held to communicate with the Minister all important questions brought before them, who, with the advice of the Council, would direct inquiries to be instituted in many cases where the department would have simply rejected the proposal.

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Mr. Reed:

If a department of the Government were contemplated as an advising department only, I believe it would be an impracticability. But it has been suggested to this Commission, I believe, or at any rate I have heard it suggested, that a scientific department might relieve certain existing departments of the State of some of the duties in connection with science and art. If that were so, if a department of the State had positive executive duties to perform, and were to have the promotion of those independent inquiries and the giving of advice to other departments attached to it as a branch of its duty, and not as its primary duty, I am disposed to think that such a department might work exceedingly well.

Do you think that the other departments would be willing to defer to the opinion of this special department? - I should be afraid that they would be willing to defer a little too often, and that the risk of such a department would be in a branch like the Admiralty, for instance, refusing to do some of the things which it now does, without first referring to this independent department, and that I am afraid would be an obstruction to the executive officers of the Admiralty; and unless the department were exceedingly well worked, it might operate as a disadvantage on the whole.

I should prefer myself to see a much smaller council with a larger power of reference than Colonel Strange seems to contemplate.

By a power of reference, you mean that of obtaining advice outside itself? - Yes.

We now proceed to give extracts from the Evidence of those Witnesses who object, on various grounds, to the creation of a Council.

The late Professor Rankine objects to a Permanent Council. He is "afraid of abuses arising if there were a permanent tribunal. I am doubtful how it would work". But he thinks that "if the Council of the British Association or the Council of the Royal Society were selected, there would be as little objection to those bodies as to any body that can be thought of."

Sir G. Airy thinks a paid Consultative Council could not do very much to assist the Government.

There have been bodies of that kind from time to time. The Board of Longitude was a very useful body for a time, when the struggle was rising about accepting the theory of gravitation and generally introducing it, especially into the formation of lunar tables for the aid of nautical astronomy, and also the subjects connected with it; and that Board of Longitude undoubtedly did good service for a time, but somehow or other it, died away; it became an object of contempt; there appeared no reason for keeping it up at any expense and it was abolished, and nobody seemed to regret it. Then the Admiralty had an institution of three scientific advisers, but I believe the scientific advisers perished in nearly the same way after a time; and I think that so far as the experience of those bodies has gone it supports the idea that it will be better for the Government, when occasion requires it, to get the best advice that it can.

Professor Owen is in favour of a Minister of Science, with a permanent Under-Secretary and Administrative Staff; but adds -

With regard to the Consultative Council, several objections occurred to me in considering that matter. The consultative council would, no doubt, be formed with the full concurrence, and in complete harmony with the views of the Permanent Under-Secretary. You may take it either way; a consultative council, if it were established, would hardly get on with its work, unless it found a permanent officer in harmony with its views. Assuming the Permanent Under-Secretary with a consultative council established, what would be the probability of the Minister going beyond such machinery in reference to any information or advice which he might require with regard to any movement or change in reference to science? I doubt very much whether he would go outside or beyond that body for advice and information. And what do you find? You find, for example, in reference to my own especial science, one Naturalist on the recommended Council. Now there are, and I suppose there always will be, three or more naturalists who might each severally think that they were entitled to a seat and a word on that Council. You would find two naturalists, at least, who are respectively at the head of some public Natural History Establishment; one might have a bias toward zoology, another toward botany, a third, perhaps, toward geology. Supposing a question were to come before the Science Minister with regard to the assignment of Government collections of Natural History made in Government Voyages, where would the determination be? - In all probability with that naturalist who was a member of the consultative council, and such position would give him, in my humble opinion, an undue advantage. ...

Supposing that a single naturalist were a member of that council, the question would be whether, in a case of this kind, he would deal quite impartially between Mr. ... and Mr. ..., an so with regard to any other analogous case; it is always uncertain how far social relations of friendship, and intimacy, and so on, might not have their effect in such a question.

There would be the power of applying to the councils of the different scientific societies, the council of the Linnæan Society for one, the council of the Geological Society for another, and the council of the Zoological Society for a third class of questions in natural history, to say nothing of the council of the mother of all our learned societies, viz., the Royal Society; in these we have already a guarantee against any dictatorship or arbitrary decision.

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The Earl of Derby would like to be more satisfied as to the reality of the grievance:

I do not, as at present advised, see what the difficulty is of obtaining the best scientific assistance when any Government department chooses to call for it. As a matter of fact the names of the most eminent men in every department of science are perfectly well known, and they have always, as far as I am aware, been very creditably ready to give their assistance when it has been asked for; and I should be inclined to think that if there are cases where a Government department has not had the benefit of that assistance, it has rather been because it was not asked for in time than because there was any difficulty in obtaining it.

One objection to it is that if matters for which the head of a department is responsible are to he referred to the council, and if upon those matters the council is to pronounce an authoritative opinion, you will very materially lessen the responsibility of the one person who ought to be responsible to Parliament. I may take an instance: I have seen it stated in some of the evidence which has been given before the Commission that if the Admiralty had had proper advice as to the construction of ships, a great disaster which is fresh in all our memories would not have occurred. It seems to me impossible to suppose that you would get any competent person to advise the Admiralty in the matter of shipbuilding if he were to be under two masters, that is to say, if his plans were to go, on the one hand, to a scientific council to be approved by them, they having nothing to do with the question of expense, and, on the other hand, to go to the head of that department and to Parliament to be approved again by those two parties, they having nothing to do with the science of the matter, but looking principally to the expense. I think that that would entirely destroy the responsibility of the executive officer, and would destroy that independence which he ought to have in the performance of his functions. If you want scientific advice in a matter of that kind I would place it in the department rather than outside, or, which is practically the same thing, I would refer the specific question upon which the opinion is wanted to one or more of those persons who could bring the highest scientific authority and ability to bear upon it. It strikes me further that if you are to have a council including all the departments of science, and if that council is to pronounce its opinion collectively upon all matters submitted to it, you will in fact have every question decided by a great majority of persons who, however eminent in their own department of science, know very little of the particular matter in question.

In reply to qu. 13,521, he adds, "you may be quite sure that any Minister who wants an opinion upon a scientific matter will try and get the very best opinion that he can. He has no possible interest in doing otherwise; on the contrary, he has the greatest possible interest in doing that. And, on the whole, I think that a man in that position, with what I may call all unlimited command of assistance and advice, is quite as likely to make a good selection as anyone else could; do for him."

He does not admit the analogy of the Indian Council, and as regards the argument from the alleged uncertainty of Government action in respect to Science, more especially as to Grants of Money, he thinks this arises chiefly from considerations depending upon the state of the Revenue in each year, and expresses his opinion that "it might be quite legitimate to grant £4,000 or £5,000 for exploration in Africa at a time when the finances of the country were prosperous, and to withhold a similar grant at a time when the nation was economizing to the utmost."

He admits that, even apart from financial considerations, a great deal of uncertainty "pervades the whole of our administrative system"; and is "an inevitable condition of living under a popular government."

He further urges the following objection to the proposal of a Scientific Council on a large scale:

I believe that you would have a great deal of heartburning and jealousy on the part of men desiring and failing to get into it; and I think that if you brought together 25, 30, or 40 of the most eminent men in science, it would be found that the practical direction of that body would very likely be in the hands of men who are by no means the highest scientific authorities. The conduct of administrative business and the management of men is an entirely different thing from the conduct of scientific research, and it might very possibly be that those who would take the lead in managing the affairs of such a council would be those whose time and attention were the least devoted to purely scientific work, and who although they might possess a good deal of administrative ability might possibly not, by any means stand at the heads of their respective branches of science.

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With regard to the proposal to constitute the Council of the Royal Society the recognised advisers of the Government, he expresses the opinion that it would not be possible to refer "matters concerning all branches of science to a more competent body of men than the Council of the Royal Society, constituted as it generally is". But he adds, "My objection to giving to that body an officially recognised position as the permanent Advisers of the State is this, that you thereby take it out of the power of the Government to say who their advisers are to be, because the members of council are appointed by a process with which the Government has nothing to do."

Lord Salisbury is opposed to a Council because he has "never seen anything to lead him to believe that such a Council of Science would have anything to do".

He further thinks "that the Government would always get better opinions, on any scientific point that arises, by applying to the most distinguished scientific man in that particular branch at the time, than it would by having a set of permanent officers to give advice on such subjects. ..."

In answer to qu. 13,563, he says that "it could hardly be contemplated that any such Council could give a stability to the Policy of the Government in matters connected with Science, because, of course, the stability of the policy of the Government depends upon the stability of our whole political arrangements"; and (qu. 13,564) "the House of Commons would never feel itself prevented from reversing the decision of a Council of Science of that kind."

Lord Salisbury agrees with Lord Derby, in not considering the Council of India a case in point; he explains that "a veto has been lodged with this Council, enabling them to prevent any expenditure of which they disapprove. But no similar difficulty arises in questions of science. There are no large sums of money arising from the taxes of a distant people that have to be expended, and, therefore, no special check is required upon Ministers with regard to that matter. ... Besides that, the Indian Council, beyond its checking power, is really simply a bureau of administrators. The councillors act as under-secretaries. ..."

He thinks that on many points on which a Minister might refer to the Council for advice, there might be reason to apprehend "a series of minority reports".

Supposing a council of 12 or 16 scientific men: although undoubtedly upon a great number of matters they would be unanimous in opinion when they were dealing with that which is known and accepted as scientific fact, yet on all the border points between knowledge and speculation their opinions would differ, and the position of a minister who had before him two or three sets of opinions, in entirely opposite directions, would not be much more hopeful than that of a minister at present who has no opinions at all.

Whatever errors there may be in the opinions of one individual, at least they have a unity and a courage which is very often wanting to the compound opinion of a dozen men.

So far as the mere Administration of Funds granted by the State for Scientific Purposes is concerned, he is of opinion that no better channel than the Government Grant Committee of the Royal Society could be found.

There is no body which is so thoroughly well constituted for the purpose of representing the scientific world as the Committee of the Royal Society.

You prefer that to any new-fangled scientific council? - Yes, certainly. We know how it works, and it would be pretty sure to go on working as well as it does now.

My own leaning would be to throw the responsibility, as now, upon the heads of the different departments, leaving them to get the best scientific assistance they could, but providing for the maintenance of such relations between the Government and some scientific body external to the Government, such as the Royal Society, perhaps, as would enable the Government to take advice from that society as to the best men to consult, and also as to the possibility of the work that was proposed to be undertaken.

I should have thought that some kind of payment might be made to the society, which the society might expend, and by employing such officers as it thought proper to keep all the correspondence, and to refer it to the proper persons; and then, my idea would be, that supposing at the Board of Trade, for instance, some

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new question arose upon which scientific information was wanted, the President of the Board of Trade would write to the Council of the Royal Society, and would say, such and such business has to be done, and I want such and such advice. Then the secretary, or whoever it might be, would bring the subject before his council, and would write back, What you propose appears to be feasible; you ought to consult Mr. so-and-so, or professor somebody, and you would then be placed by an independent authority in direct relations with the proper man to deal with the subject. Then it would be a question of remunerating that gentleman by a fee as you would remunerate a lawyer by a fee, for the service which he was to render.

I feel sure that there would be a great deal of jealousy on the part of the departments if any council were appointed to regulate the conscience of the Government in scientific matters, and to say how money ought to be spent, what money ought to be spent, and what ought to be done, and what ought not to be done. ...

With regard to that case of which I was speaking, of the School of Design, I know that there was very great jealousy at that time. The organization of that council was this: A certain number of eminent architects, sculptors, and painters, and other persons were put upon [the Council], and they partly fell out among themselves, and then it was necessary for the President of the Board of Trade, who was responsible for the spending of the money, to side with one party or the other, and to decide what was to be done, which he was, of course, not very competent to do. Then came a great deal of external jealousy on the part of the other artists whose views were set aside, and there was, at the same time, a good deal of jealousy on the part of the Board of Trade, it being told that because these artists held this and that, therefore they were to spend the public money in this way or the other way.

Similarly, I might mention as an instance in which I saw the germs of jealousy, the Committee of Military Sanitary Organization, which is referred to, I see, by Captain Galton in his evidence. Whilst I was at the India Office it was perfectly true that a great many questions were referred to that Committee, and they gave very valuable advice, but I could see that there was a great deal of jealousy on the part of those who were the military members of the Council of india of the interference, as it was said, of this Sanitary Committee. The military members said, 'We are the people who are responsible for the spending of the money and for doing what is to be done, we do not see why those gentlemen, who have nothing to do with that, are to dictate to us; and we will not accept their suggestions.' Then would come from the Sanitary Committee remonstrances, and they would say, 'We have special knowledge of this subject; it is what we are paying attention to; and we think it very wrong that you should not attend to our suggestions, and that you should spoil what we are doing.' ...

I do not like the present system of applying to irresponsible advisers, and I should desire to see some more systematic mode of proceeding adopted.

I doubt whether such a council would either command public confidence very long, or command the respect which it should have from the Government itself, if it were a creation of the Government. You might appoint in the first instance some very eminent men. Probably you would not get a great many of the most eminent men to give a great deal of time to work of that sort, and you would have to take those who wee willing to spare the time necessary for the discharge of the duties of the council. They would continue for some time in office, and they would adopt certain ideas, and their constant contact with the Government would rather lead them to say, 'This sort of thing cannot be done', because they would take into consideration administrative points, and would not give purely scientific advice. They would, therefore, cease to possess the confidence of the public outside. There would also be more eminent men who would say, 'These are old women who are going on in a certain routine, and we do not attach much value to what they say'. And, on the other hand, they would not have the same advantageous independent position for offering advice or making suggestions to the Government which a body recruited ab extra from the scientific world would have.

I think that it would be very desirable that the Council of Education, or the Minister of Education, should have the advice of good scientific persons to assist him in directing the scientific education of the country; but I should doubt its being very advantageous to mix up that work with the other kind of duties to which you have referred.

I think that there is a great advantage in having any question of that kind discussed, not merely by the representatives of one department of science, but by the representatives of the scientific body generally - the corps scientifique of the nation. Under the present constitution of the Royal Society, the Council of the Royal Society may he regarded as a very true representative of the scientific life, so to speak, of the nation. It would doubtless, if it saw occasion, seek the advice (as it does at present in the administration of the Government Grant) of competent men outside its own body.

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But he considers that "the present state of things" is unsatisfactory in so far as "there is no Systematic Arrangement for the Promotion of Science".

Sir E. Sabine, President of the Royal Society for many years, appears, on the whole, to incline to the opinion that it would be best that the Royal Society should remain the official adviser of the Government in scientific matters , suggesting, however, that in particular cases "Special Committees might be appointed with such emoluments as it might be proper to recommend". His Evidence contains some interesting statements relating to the Board of Longitude, which formerly existed, and which he acknowledges to have rendered "valuable services to the country during the period of its existence", matters being frequently referred to it which it was admirably adapted to judge of.

We have given careful consideration to this part of the Inquiry entrusted to us; and, in the course of our deliberations, we have been led to attach much importance to the facts stated in the First Part of our Report, which show that the Scientific Work of the Government is at present carried on by many different Departments.

There is nothing to prevent analogous, if not actually identical, investigations being made in each of these, or to secure to one department an adequate knowledge of the results obtained, and the circumstances under which they were obtained, by another.

Investigations admitted to be desirable, nay, practical questions, the solution of which is of the greatest importance to the public administration, are stated by the witnesses to be set aside because there is no recognised machinery for dealing with them; while, in other cases, investigations are conducted in such a manner as to involve a needless outlay of time and money, because they were originally planned without consultation with competent men of Science.

Passing to the question of the Advancement of Science, we have arrived at the conclusion that much has to be done which will require continuous efforts on the part of the Administration unless we are content to fall behind other Nations in the Encouragement which we give to Pure Science, and, as a consequence, to incur the danger of losing our pre-eminence in regard to its Applications.

These considerations, together with others which have come before us in the course of our Inquiry, have impressed upon us the conviction that the Creation of a Special Ministry dealing with Science and with Education is a Necessity of the Public Service.

This Ministry would be occupied (1) with all questions relating to Scientific and General Education, so far as these come under the notice of Government; (2) with all questions incidental to the application of National Funds for the Advancement of Science; and (3) with all Scientific Problems in the Solution of which the other Departments may desire external Scientific Advice or Information. It would also be desirable that the Department should receive Information as to Scientific Investigations proposed by other branches of the Government, and record their progress and results.

It is not within our province to express an Opinion as to whether the subject of Art should be included among the Functions of this Department; but we are satisfied that the Minister's attention should not be distracted by any immediate Responsibility for affairs which have no connexion with Science, Education, or Art.

We have considered whether the Official Staff of such a Ministry, however carefully selected, could be expected to deal satisfactorily with all the varied and complicated Questions which would come before the Department. We have given full weight to the Objections which have been raised against the creation of a Special Council of Science, and to the Arguments in favour of referring Scientific Questions to Learned Societies, or to Special Committees appointed for the purpose, or to private Individuals; but nevertheless we have arrived at the Conclusion that an additional Organization is required through which the Minister of Science may obtain Advice on questions involving Scientific considerations, whether arising in his own Department or referred to him by other Departments of the Government.

Such questions have from time to time been referred to the Council of the Royal Society, in which the best Scientific Knowledge of the time is fairly represented. The Committee chosen by that Council for the Administration of the Government Grant of £1,000 per annum in Aid of Scientific Investigations has performed its work to the satisfaction of the Government, of men of Science, and of the Public. But if much more is to be done for the Advancement of Science than at present, and if the Departments in conducting their Investigations are to have the benefit of the Scientific Advice which appears

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now to be frequently wanting, the Council of the Royal Society, chosen as it is for other purposes, could scarcely be expected to take upon itself Functions which, it is true, are not different in kind, but which would involve increased Responsibility and the Expenditure of additional time and trouble. Moreover, amongst the questions on which the Departments would require Scientific Advice, there would no doubt be many requiring a Knowledge of the peculiar exigencies of the Public Service, which would be more readily understood and solved if some persons in direct relation with the Departments formed a part of the body to be consulted. It is obviously of great importance that the Council should be so constituted as to possess the confidence of the Scientific World, and we believe that this confidence would be extended to a Council composed of men of Science selected by the Council of the Royal Society, together with Representatives of other important Scientific Societies in the United Kingdom, and a certain number of persons nominated by the Government. We also believe that such a Body would deserve and receive the confidence of the Government; and that it would be well qualified to administer Grants for the Promotion of Pure Science.

The general opinion we have expressed as to the proper Remuneration of Scientific Work would be applicable to the Members of this Council, but the degree and manner in which the principle should be applied in this instance must be so largely dependent on circumstances that we cannot make any specific Recommendation on the subject.

It would be impossible that the Council should in all cases undertake the direct solution, by itself or even by Sub-Committees, of the problems submitted to it. In many instances, especially when experimental investigations are required, its duty would be accurately to define the problem to be solved, and to advise the Minister as to the proper persons to be charged with the Investigation.

We are of opinion that the Council should not have the power of initiating Investigations; it should, however, not be precluded, in exceptional cases, from offering to the Minister such suggestions as it may have occasion to make in the Public Interest.

We believe that Reference to such a Council would be found to be so useful and convenient that it would become the usual course in cases of difficulty, but we would not diminish the Responsibility or fetter the Discretion of any Minister by making such Reference obligatory, or by preventing a Reference to Committees or to Individuals chosen by him, whenever that course might appear to him to be more desirable.

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I. The Assistance given by the State for the Promotion of Scientific Research is Inadequate, and it does not appear that the Concession or Refusal of Assistance takes place upon sufficiently well defined Principles.

II. More complete means are urgently required for Scientific Investigations in connexion with certain Government Departments; and Physical as well as other Laboratories and Apparatus for such Investigations ought to be provided.

III. Important Classes of Phenomena relating to Physical Meteorology, and to Terrestrial and Astronomical Physics, require Observations of such a character that they cannot be advantageously carried on otherwise than under the Direction of the Government.

Institutions for the study of such Phenomena should be maintained by the Government; and, in particular, an Observatory should be founded specially devoted to Astronomical Physics, and an Organization should be established for the more complete Observation of Tidal Phenomena and for the Reduction of the Observations.

IV. We have stated in a previous Report that the National Collections of Natural History are accessible to Private Investigators, and that it is desirable that they should be made still more useful for Purposes of Research than they are at present. We would now express the opinion that corresponding Aid ought to be afforded to Persons engaged in important Physical and Chemical Investigations; and that whenever practicable such persons should be allowed access, under proper limitations, to such Laboratories as may be established or aided by the State.

V. It has been the practice to restrict Grants of Money made to Private Investigators for Purposes of Research to the Expenditure actually incurred by them. We think that such Grants might be considerably increased. We are also of opinion that the restriction to which we have referred, however desirable as a general rule, should not be maintained in all cases, but that, under certain circumstances and with proper safeguards, Investigators should be remunerated for their time and labour.

VI. The Grant of £1,000, administered by the Royal Society, has contributed greatly to the Promotion of Research, and the amount of this Grant may with advantage be considerably increased.

In the case of Researches which involve, and are of sufficient importance to deserve, exceptional expenditure, Direct Grants in addition to the Annual Grant made to the Royal Society should be made in Aid of the Investigations.

VII. The proper allocation of Funds for Research; the Establishment and Extension of Laboratories and Observatories; and, generally, the Advancement of Science and the Promotion of Scientific Instruction as an essential part of Public Education, would be most effectually dealt with by a Ministry of Science and Education. And we consider the creation of such a Ministry to be of primary importance.

VIII. The various Departments of the Government have from time to time referred Scientific Questions to the Council of the Royal Society for its Advice; and we believe that the work of a Minister of Science, even if aided by a well-organized Scientific Staff, and also the work of the other Departments, would be materially assisted if they were able to obtain, in all cases of exceptional importance or difficulty, the Advice of a Council representing the Scientific Knowledge of the Nation.

IX. This Council should represent the chief Scientific Bodies in the United Kingdom. With this view its composition need not differ very greatly from that of the present

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Government Grant Committee of the Royal Society. It might consist of men of Science selected by the Council of the Royal Society, together with Representatives of other Important Scientific Societies, and a certain number of persons nominated by the Government. We think that the Functions at present exercised by the Government Grant Committee might be advantageously transferred to the proposed Council.

All of which we humbly beg leave to submit for Your Majesty's Gracious Consideration.

DEVONSHIRE.
LANSDOWNE.
JOHN LUBBOCK.
JAMES P. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH.
BERNHARD SAMUELSON.
W. SHARPEY.
THOMAS H. HUXLEY.
G. G. STOKES.
HENRY J. S. SMITH.

J. NORMAN LOCKYER, Secretary.
June 18th, 1875.