176 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



maintenance of the Fielding Herbarium, one of the finest 

 in Great Britain, now oifered to the Botanic Garden. If 

 so, foreign botanists may find at Oxford greater facilities, 

 even, than at the Metropolis, for studying plants, consider- 

 ing the easy access to our collections. I also hope that we 

 shall soon see a Museum more worthy of the University 

 than the one you visited. 



With respect to your question as to the number of our 

 members, I may state that all who have ever taken a degree 

 and continue their names on the books of the University, 

 (for which they pay a small annual fee,) are included in the 

 number 5900 (last year 6080). If masters of arts, they 

 have the privilege of voting at University elections, includ- 

 ing that for the members of Parliament who represent the 

 corporate body. The numbers actively studying are, of 

 course, much smaller. I should conceive that 1500 would 

 include all the students, though not probably the resident 

 tutors and fellows. 



The number of matriculations in 1851 was 359, which, 

 multiplied by four, would give 1436 as the number of un- 

 dergraduates. The members of Convocation, viz., M. A., 

 and in higher degrees, were, in 1851, 3352 ; leaving for 

 B. A. 1292, so that the total would be 6080. 



No residence is required of M. A., and only three weeks 

 of B. A. Undergraduates also are allowed three terms' 

 absence during the four years, before taking their degree 

 of B. A. 



We lost my old and valued friend and colleague, Dr. 

 Kidd, in September, by a sudden attack of illness. In other 

 respects the University staff of Professors is much as when 



you visited us 



: 



FROM PROFESSOR DAUBENY. 



[Date wanting.] 



.... FROM the extracts I have seen of it I have no 

 doubt that I shall derive profit and pleasure from the fruits 

 of your second ramble into the Old World. 



