NOTES 385 



documents which we have made is very convincing as to the 

 soundness of the allegations against the conduct of this 

 University. 



On the other hand, the explanations which have been put for- 

 ward do not appear to be at all satisfactory ; and we are strongly 

 of opinion that the matter is one which certainly calls for public 

 inquiry, either by the authority constitutionally appointed for 

 that purpose, namely the Visitor, or by the Board of Education. 

 The case has aroused and is arousing very serious criticism ; it 

 touches the whole question of academical life and prosperity in 

 this country ; and, if it is not one for intervention, we cannot 

 understand how there can often be any case which will call for such. 

 The careful scrutiny of the facts which we have made justify us 

 in stating our opinion ; and we add no more at present, only 

 because we still hope that a public inquiry will be made. 



Mr. Balfour at the National Physical Laboratory 



On June 26 the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., opened the 

 new buildings of the National Physical Laboratory, Sir Archi- 

 bald Geikie, P.R.S., being in the chair. The scheme for 

 additional laboratories and offices, planned in 1909, was estimated 

 to cost more than £35,000, towards which the Treasury has 

 promised £15,000 provided that there is no further application 

 to the Government. Dr. Glazebrook remarked that the build- 

 ings had been erected in no small degree by faith — faith in the 

 importance of the work and faith in the liberality of friends. 

 Lord Rayleigh emphasised the fact that funds were still needed 

 for the equipment of the laboratory, and wished that pure 

 science might have figured a little more there. He trusted that 

 in future funds would be devoted to pure science as well as to 

 the immediate advantage of industry. Mr. Balfour fully ad- 

 mitted the great importance of science to-day. " Everybody, 1 

 think," he said inter alia, " would be ready to admit that one of 

 the great conditions of human progress is our growing com- 

 mand over nature ; that this growing command over nature is 

 the sphere of our activities in which it is most plainly and 

 obviously certain that immense advance has been made in the 

 last one hundred and fifty years — an advance which, instead of 

 diminishing in its rate of progress, seems to me to be increasing. 

 You may argue as to whether we have improved in this or in 

 that respect ; you may debate whether great social or political 

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