ADOPTED AT HAZELWOOD AND BRUCE CASTLE. 83 



It has been the practice to exhibit on the lecture-table, as 

 far as possible, specimens, examples, or drawings, of every 

 sensible object mentioned in the Lectures ; and even when this 

 could not be done, still to exhibit something approximating, in 

 nature, or in appearance, to the objects described. In a pub- 

 lic Lecture-theatre, where many smaller objects are necessarily 

 indistinguishable to the majority of the audience, on account 

 of the distance from which they must be viewed, the experience 

 of every Lecturer shows this to be a point of much importance 

 to the interest of his Lectures; and in a School-room, therefore, 

 where the audience are comparatively near to him, it is still 

 more important. For this purpose, as well as for the specific 

 illustration of lessons in Geology and Mineralogy, a small col- 

 lection of minerals, organic remains, and rocks, has been provi- 

 ded for each School ; and whenever the crystalline form of any 

 substance has been mentioned, care has been taken to exhibit 

 a model of it, or at least of some geometrical solid of which 

 it might be regarded as a modification. Quantities, such as 

 the proportions in which the elements of chemical combina- 

 tions are united, and numerical expressions of properties of 

 every kind, such as specific gravities, equivalent numbers 

 in Chemistry, angular dimensions, &c., have always been 

 shown in large characters on a diagram- board. The deriva- 

 tion of technical terms has always been explained, on using 

 such terms for the first time : to encourage the pupils to make 

 inquiries on this subject, on every suitable occasion, forms 

 part of the Hazelwood System of Education. The length of 

 each Lecture has varied from forty to fifty minutes, the re- 

 mainder of the hour being allowed for the pupils to ask ques- 

 tions, respecting any of the subjects mentioned, receiving 

 answers to them from the Lecturer. For this purpose, agree- 

 ably to a plan introduced into the Schools, some time since, 

 in order to avoid the confusion attendant on their putting 

 questions viva voce, the pupils write them upon slips of paper, 

 or upon slates, which are then handed up to the Lecturer, who 

 reads each question aloud, and replies to it, immediately. So 

 pertinent and so justly applicable have been most of the ques- 

 tions addressed to the Lecturer on these occasions, that a very 

 considerable degree of knowledge has been conveyed in an- 

 swering them ; and the answers have always been listened 

 to with great attention, by the entire body of auditors. _ 



Besides the principal series on Chemical Science, less ex- 

 tended Courses of Lectures have been given, on Geology, illus- 

 trated by Mr. Greenough's Geological Map of England and 

 Wales, by Mr. De La Beche's Tabular and Proportional 

 View of the Superior, Supermedial, and Medial Rocks, and 



G2 



