TECHNICAL EDUCATION 175 



and die. This fate has actually befallen the scientific faculty 

 of the University of Paris. The class-rooms are deserted, the 

 professorships are despised sinecures, and the whole scientific 

 training of France is given in the new special schools, such as 

 the Polytechnic School and Ecole Centrale. I hope we may 

 never see our ancient universities wither in lite manner ; but 

 to avoid a similar fate, they must avoid similar conduct. 



Edinburgh at least has incurred no reproach as yet. The 

 foundation of the chair which I have the honour to fill is a proof 

 of the munificence of the patrons of its University. The recep- 

 tion I have met with proves, not my merit, but the interest with 

 which this new development is regarded in the city : and there- 

 fore I am emboldened to urge those measures upon you which I 

 think the University should be encouraged to adopt. 



The system of pupilage for an engineer must be maintained, 

 and pupilage should begin at the age of eighteen or nineteen. 

 The student has, therefore, no time to acquire the higher mathe- 

 matics, or to follow any huge number of courses on special 

 engineering subjects. If our young engineers could enter the 

 offices and workshops as pupils possessing a competent know- 

 ledge of geometry, the elements of algebra, trigonometry, 

 physics, chemistry, mechanics, and drawing, they would be able 

 during their pupilage to make a really good use of their time, 

 instead of, as at present, too often employing these years in 

 learningj in a very rude way, projection, mensuration, tracing, 

 and such other elementary branches as they should have mas- 

 tered before entering the office. 



For engineers, at least, no other courses of lectures are 

 required than are now open. What is really necessary is. that 

 parents and intending students should be induced to take advan- 

 tage of the facilities which already exist. No pass or com- 

 petitive examination bars the entrance to our profession, and a 

 gool fee and some personal knowledge of the candidate are the 

 inducements which lead engineers, in the south at least, to accept 

 pupils. Xow I cannot urge too strongly on the profession that 

 the improvement of the education of the younger members 

 lies in their hands. If they will require a real preparation from 

 their pupils, if they will show a real preference to the well-pre- 

 pared pupil, the cause of scientific education will be won. How 



