1869,] at the Universities. 499 



burgh University, sends us the following details, to which we gladly 

 give publicity : — 



" Systematic instruction in botany, chemistry, natural history 

 (in which are included zoology, geology, mineralogy, physical 

 geography, and meteorology), natural philosophy, including optics, 

 heat, electricity, magnetism, hydrostatics, and mechanics, has for a 

 very long period been imparted in the University of Edinbm'gh. 

 The chair of botany was founded in 1676, that of chemistry in 

 1713, and that of natural history in 1767; the chair of natural 

 history is also old-estabhshed. The instruction imparted from these 

 chairs is not merely in the form of lectures; but laboratories, 

 museums, and a botanic garden are provided for the practical 

 instruction of the students. The students attending botany, 

 chemistry, and natural history are, to a considerable extent, 

 medical, but a very fair proportion of general students participate 

 in the instruction. Attendance in the class of natural philosophy 

 is imperative on all candidates for the degree in Arts conferred by 

 the University, but many students who have no intention of pro- 

 ceeding to the Arts degree also attend. Candidates for honours in 

 the faculty of Arts can, if they choose, present themselves for 

 examination in geology, zoology, chemistry, and botany. 



" The University also confers the degrees of Bachelor and 

 Doctor of Science. Candidates are examined in botany, chemistry, 

 zoology, geology, natural philosophy, and mathematics. Tlirough 

 the liberality of Sir D. Baxter, scholarships in the natural and 

 physical sciences have been founded." 



Speaking of other Scottish institutions, our correspondent goes 

 on to say that in Glasgow and Aberdeen tliere are corresponding 

 chairs in the biological and physical sciences ; and he also forwards 

 us a programme of the course of science-teaching in the High 

 School at Edinburgh, which embraces chemistry, natural philo- 

 sophy, zoology, and botany. 



Turning now to Ireland, from whence, too, an admonition has 

 reached us, we believe we can safely say that whilst the Universities 

 (Dublin and Queen's) do all they can to set a good example, nothing 

 is done by the public schools. 



At Dublin, moderatorships in experimental science were first 

 given in 1851, the course consisting of physics, chemistry, and 

 mineralogy. Subsequently geology was introduced, and in 1858 

 zoology and botany were added ; and the name of the moderator- 

 ships changed to " Experimental and Natural Science." 



There are professorships of mathematics, natural philosophy, 

 chemistry, zoology, botany, civil engineering, geology, applied 

 science, and mineralogy ; to these, museums of natural philosophy, 

 zoology, and archaeology, anatomy, engineering models, and botany 

 are made subservient. 



2 M 2 



