THE NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AT BERLIN. 107 



tific seinii)ary would tend to promote tlie matlieniatical education of 

 tlie students and exert a great and fa\'oral»le- int]nen<;e upon tlieir prac- 

 tical training as teacliers." 



An annual appropriation of 500 thaler ($375) was requested for the 

 support of the seminary, of which sum one-half was to be devoted to 

 the acquisition of a. special library and the other half to prizes. 



On x\pril 23, 1861, the ministry authorized the announcement of sem- 

 inary exercises nnder certain i)rovisional regulations, and the sum of 

 250 thaler ($187.50) was allowed for the i)urchase of books. On April 

 26, 1861, the students were invited to participate. The alphabetical 

 list of the members of the first mathematical seminary is dated. May 5, 

 1861. 



On October 15, 1861, the draft of regulations for the mathematical 

 seminary was submitted to the University and accepted October 7, 

 1864. 



The regulations of October 7, 1804, are as follows : 



(1) The mathematical seminary is a, public institute established in 

 connection with the University and has for its object the instruction of 

 such students of mathematical sciences as have already obtained a cer- 

 tain degree of proficiency by aiding them in the independent applica- 

 tion and by affording them literary assistance, thus enabling them later 

 on to promote and increase mathematical studies. 



(2) The minister of education has the appointment of two professors 

 of the i)hilosophical faculty to supervise the exercises of the students. 



(3) Only those matriculated students can be admitted as ordinary 

 members who devote themselves especially to the study of mathematics 

 and have been engaged in that study for at least one year at some uni- 

 versity. Foreigners are eligible on the same conditions. 



(4) The admission is granted upon the presentation to the director 

 of a discourse and an essay, the examination of which will prove 

 whether the applicant possesses suflicient knowledge and interest to 

 advantageously partake of the privilege. The essay may be omitted 

 upon special occasions in which the director's testimonial is sutficieut 

 guaranty for the efficiency of the applicant. 



(5) The number of ordinary members is limited to twelve. The di- 

 rectors, however, are einpowered to exceed that number by the appoint- 

 ment, as extraordinary members, of a few students possessing the neces- 

 sary requirements for admission. 



(0) Any remiss member may, after having been cautioned and admon- 

 ished by the director, be excluded from attending the seminary. 



(7) The meetings of the seminary take place weekly, at such a time 

 as will permit its extension to two hours or more. 



(8) The scientific exercises of the seminary are both oral and in writ- 

 ing. The oral exercises consist in the free discussion of known mathe- 

 matical problems or of questions propounded by the director, or, at times, 

 by some of the students, and in addresses by the students on the results 



