1869.] ( 497 ) 



III. ON THE TEACHING OF NATUEAL SCIENCE AT 

 THE UNIVEKSITIES. 



The indifference shown to the cultivation of the natural sciences in 

 our leading public schools led to the appearance in the last number 

 of this Journal of an article by our esteemed contributor, Dr. 

 Lankester, which has caused no httle discussion in circles where 

 an interest is felt in such studies. 



Whether or not the great chartered schools of Eugby, Harrow, 

 Winchester, &c., are likely to be moved by the appeal of one who 

 has spent a long life in promoting the study of natural science, and 

 will appoint suitable professors and lecturers, we are unable to say ;* 

 but one result of the appearance of Dr. Lankester 's article has been 

 to show us that our Universities are by no means open to the 

 charge of neglecting science, and are fully aUve to the value of 

 scientific studies. 



We have received what we are bound to say are just protests 

 against the neglect of science being laid to the score of the 

 Universities, and consequently we hasten to rectify any erroneous 

 impression which may have gone abroad as to the amount of time 

 and money really expended at our Universities for the purposes 

 of science tuition. And it affords us all the more pleasure to do 

 this, inasmuch as we believe the pubhc indifference to scientific 

 knowledge has caused the efforts which have for some time past 

 been made by the Universities to be overlooked, or to remain quite 

 unknown, except to those who have been obliged by professional 

 requirements to make science a portion of their education. 



The faii-est way, then, will be to let each University speak for 

 itself; and as the first and loudest remonstrance reached us from 

 Oxford, we shall print verbatim the programme of lectui'es, &c., 

 with which it was accompanied. 



The signature will remind our readers that the University pos- 

 sesses one of the most excellent museums m the three kingdoms, 

 and that Drs. Eolleston and Phillips, Tvlr. Westwood, and others 

 have long striven to make it as perfect as possible for educational 

 purposes. 



* Since this article was written we have been informed that a good deal is 

 being done at Rugby and Harrow now. Good men are sent up for the Oxford 

 scholarships from Rugby; and at Eton there has just been established a master- 

 ship in Natural Science, a gentleman having been engaged who was formerly Sir 

 B. Brodie's demonstrator at Oxford. 



Synopsis 

 VOL. VI. 2 M 



