in the University of Durham. 7 



in this country, and many of the details may be interesting 

 to some who are not familiar with academical studies, it may 

 be desirable to state somewhat more at length the nature of 

 the studies pursued. 



The students at the time of their admission are required to 

 be well acquainted with arithmetic, both as applied to com- 

 mercial purposes and as used in the ordinary computations of 

 engineering. They pass an examination also in the Latin 

 language and in the elements of mathematics. If, on admis- 

 sion, a student is sufficiently advanced to pass the examination 

 appointed for those engineer students who have already resided 

 for a year, he is entitled to proceed at once in the course of 

 reading intended for those who are then commencing their 

 second year's residence, and to receive his final certificate at 

 the end of two years' residence instead of three. 



The lectures for the different years are arranged according 

 to the degree of proficiency which the students have attained, 

 beginning with geometry and the elementary parts of mathe- 

 matics ; arithmetic^ especially as relating to the course of ex- 

 change, vulgar and decimal fractions and the extraction of 

 roots ; and proceeding in the course of subjects pointed out 

 in the regulations. The modern languages which are gene- 

 rally taught are French and German. During their whole 

 course the students are engaged in practical surveying, level- 

 ing, and planning ; and in acquiring the familiar use of instru- 

 ments, under the superintendence of an experienced civil engi- 

 neer; and they receive instruction in crystallography, mi- 

 neralogy, geology, and metallurgy. The local position of the 

 city of Durham, in the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 largest coal-mines in the world, at no great distance from the 

 lead-mines of the western part of the county, and in a district 

 intersected in all directions by railroads carried through very 

 difficult lines of country, gives peculiar advantages for ac- 

 quiring a practical insight into all the details of the ordinary 

 operations of civil engineering and mining ; and full use is 

 made of these facilities. 



The proficiency of the students is tested by public exami- 

 nations every year. At the close of their three years' course, 

 honours are given to those who distinguish themselves ; and 

 those who have passed all the examinations are admitted to 

 the academical rank of civil engineer, and receive certificates 

 to that effect. Certificates of competency in any particular 

 branch of study may be received at an earlier period. 



It is hoped that the course of instruction thus pursued will 

 secure for the student a sound knowledge of those parts of 

 theoretical mathematics and of the sciences of observation, 

 which are essential for the scientific engineer, and at the same 



