1870.] DAWSON — ON SCIENCE EDUCATION ABROAD. 265 



TPIE ROYAL SCHOOL OF MINES, LONDON. 



In London the principal institution for science education? 

 supported directly by the Government, is the Eoyal School of 

 Mines, Jermyn street, with which is associated the Royal College 

 of Chemistry in Oxford street. 



The Pvoyal School of Mines is an outgrowth of the Geological 

 Survey of Great Britain, whose building it shares, and whose 

 officers are its chief directors and instructors. This association ■ 

 gives it great advantages in securing the influence and manage- 

 ment of the distinguished head of the Survey, Sir R. I. Murchi- 

 son, and the services of such eminent practical geologists and 

 naturalists as Huxley, Etheridge and Smyth, as professors, in 

 sivino- the students access to larg-e and admirable collections in 

 geology and an extensive scientific library, and in placing the 

 young men under the immediate superintendence of those who 

 have the best opportunities for opening up to them the paths of 

 usefulness and success. The very atmosphere of such an institu- 

 tion savours of practical science, its appliances for work and study 

 are of the most inviting description, and it has several prizes and 

 scholarships for its more deserving stndents, and gives the title of 

 '• associate " to those who pass its final examination. Notwith- 

 standing these advantages, though it has many occasional or par- 

 tial students, the number of reu'ular students has been much 

 smaller than could be desired. This may in part be accounted 

 for by its situation in a city not directly interested in mining, 

 and remote from the great manufacturing districts ; in part, 

 perhaps, by the want of appreciation of the advantages of science 

 training on the part of the English public. It is certain, how- 

 ever, that the School of Mines, though its instructing officers are 

 second to none in the world, is inferior to the great science schools 

 of America and the continent of Europe in its academical organi- 

 zation, in the completeness of its course, more especially in the 

 direction of literary and mathematical culture, and in the standard 

 of attainment required for entrance. Were it improved in these 

 respects, and enabled to offer a larger number of direct prizes to 

 students, its usefulness might be greatly increased. Still, with 

 these limitations, the success of the school has been great. It has 

 trained a succession of competent men for geological surveys in 

 the United Kingdom and the colonies. Among others, the present 

 head of the Geological Survey of Canada is one of its graduates. 



