REPORT OF THK PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. 11 



tion before a competent Board ; the Board not named by the Government, 

 but by the Councils of the Universities, and of the different recognized 

 aud chartered scientific institutions. They should be paid by a small fixed 

 salary from the State, but principally by the fees from students, the latter 

 being regulated by the examining Board, or by any municipal council which 

 would undertake to defray the fixed charge, or the cost of the buildings and 

 apparatus necessary. The united body, of professors should be entitled to 

 confer honorary degrees, which should in no case convey any description of 

 exclusive privilege 



"An annual vote of between £18,000 and £27,000 would suffice to carry 

 out this system, — surely a very small sum to be devoted, by a country like 

 England, to the practical scientific education of the people. 



" The only measures," continues Mr. Tite, "I should at present wish to 

 see adopted to connect science with public affairs, would be by attaching 

 eminent men to the various Government Boards." 



Sir Charles Lemon, whose experience in these matters is well known, 

 decidedly objects to any plan under which itinerant lecturers should be 

 employed. 



In addition to the direct advantages derivable from lectures, we may 

 remark that the establishment of an enlarged staff of professors and teachers 

 will provide further employment in after-life for students; and the situations 

 Avill be in themselves so attractive, that many will be induced to accept them, 

 on receiving a moderate remuneration for their services ; the rather, that in 

 the interval between their professional labours, time might be found for 

 prosecuting their studies. 



That these professors should prosecute those studies by which they have 

 obtained their offices, is most desirable. The scientific character of the 

 nation suffers from this cause, that our English system offers so little induce- 

 ment to Mathematicians and Physicists to pursue their researches. Young 

 men of twenty-one arrive at a marvellous state of proficiency for their age, 

 and then entirely abandon the exact sciences for various professions ; a 

 foundation is laid on which a superstructure worthy of the countrymen of 

 Newton might well be reared, and then the work is abandoned ; the student 

 must earn his subsistence, and he cannot earn it by geometrical or physical 

 researches. 



We have no fear but that if the above, and other suggestions which we 

 are about to make, should be carried out, the extended desire for acquiring 

 knowledge of the kind in question would create a proportional demand for 

 qualified instructors at all the principal educational establishments in the 

 country, and their emoluments would again augment the desire to learn, 

 both in university and general students. 



In addition to the above measures, there is no doubt that much might 

 be done by the Committee of Privy Council and the Department of Science 

 at Marlborough House under the direction of the Board of Trade, towards 

 diffusing a knowledge of physical science among the pupils of primary and 

 secondary schools, and it is with pleasure that we learn that some steps 

 have already been taken in this direction. 



We are of opinion also, that means should be adopted for encouraging the 

 foundation of Museums and Public Libraries, accessible to all, in our prin- 

 cipal towns ; and by degrees all imposts should be abolished which enhance 

 the cost to the public of scientific publications. Donations should also be 

 made to public libraries and educational establishments, of works pub- 

 lished at the expense of the nation ; such, e. g., as the Geological and Ord- 

 nance Surveys. 



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