266 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Sept. 



It has also sent forth a number of trained men into mines and 

 manufactures, who have been very successful, not only in intro- 

 ducing new improvements and inventions, but in realizing for- 

 tunes for themselves; and it is stated that the demand for these 

 men is much greater than the supply. The course of study in 

 the School of Mines extends over three years, and in the senior 

 year the students are allowed options, by virtue of which they 

 may devote themselves specially to chemistry, mining or geology. 

 The Royal College of Chemistry is a distinct institution, situ- 

 ated in a different part of the town, which is a cause of some 

 inconvenience to the students of the School of Mines, who have to 

 attend its lectures and classes in practical chemistry. It was 

 established originally by a private subscription, but has been 

 adopted by Government. Under the able management of Prof. 

 Frankland, it is a useful institution, and always crowded with 

 pupils. It has, however, accommodation for only 42 practical 

 students, and this by no means of the airy and sumptuous charac- 

 ter to be found in the laboratories of the continent of Europe and 

 the United States. Crowded among the shops of a noisy busi- 

 ness street, it has no room for extension, and its teachers and 

 students have to submit to many inconveniences which Lsight 

 readily be obviated were it removed to a more central locality, 

 and provided with a laboratory fitted up with modern improve- 

 ments. It must, however, be admitted that the utmost possible 

 use has been made of its too limited accommodation. 



THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 



The Royal School of Mines, as well as the Royal College of 

 Science, Dublin, and the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art, 

 are under the direction of the Grovernment Department of Science 

 and Art ; but its largest sphere of operations is in the great South 

 Kensington Museum, and the schools connected with it through- 

 out the country. In its last report these schools and classes are 

 stated at 525 in all, with an aggregate of 24,865 pupils. This 

 represents much science teaching ; all, however, of an elementary 

 character, and of small amount relatively to the great population 

 of Britain and Ireland. Much of the teaching is necessarily done 

 by teachers of a very humble grade of scientific attainment ; bat 

 the most effectual means are taken to ascertain that it is faithfully 

 done, and to give it opportunities for improvement. The princi- 

 ple adopted is that of giving money aids to teachers, building 



