8 Vaifage of the Novara. 



denizens of old Europe, to observe wliat handsome, im- 

 posing, costly buildings have been run up among tliis 

 comparatively youthful community. The Sydney Uni- 

 versity, founded in 1851, is built in the Gothic style, at an 

 expense of £50,000, and is maintained by an annual grant of 

 £5000. It is far tlie finest memorial erected by European 

 civilization in honour of science, throughout the southern 

 hemisphere. Its internal organization is somewhat analogous 

 witli that of those of the mother country. All the high 

 schools of Sydney accord academic degrees in the various 

 branches, and by a Royal Patent of 27th of February, 1858, 

 holders of honours are raised to the same rank- with those in 

 the other universities of the Empire. Although only secular 

 education is provided by the University, there have been 

 founded four colleges in immediate proximity with each other, 

 for the four principal religious denominations in the colony, 

 Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Methodist, in 

 which the scholars may, without prejudice to the secular 

 character* of the University proper, receive instruction in 

 their various beliefs. The erection of these four adjuncts 

 cost about £40,000 more. At the period of our visit there 

 were only 38 scliolars enrolled, whose instruction cost the 

 state a rather round sum. A commencement had been made 

 with a library, a museum of natural history, and a numis- 

 matic collection. 



* The fundamental principle of the University is, " The association of students 

 without respect of religious creed, in the cultivation of secular knowledge." (See 

 Sydney University Calendar for 1858, p. 15.) 



