8 ACCOUNT OF THE CLASSES 



School, was also engaged in researches for the Econo- 

 mic History of the later and post-Mediaeval periods in 

 connection with the well-known publications, " Social 

 England," and the "Dictionary of Political Economy." 



Thus it befell that towards the end of the year 1895 

 a course of theoretical and practical instruction in 

 Palaeography and Diplomatic was determined upon 

 by Mr. Webb and Professor Hewins, and was planned 

 in communication with Mr. Hubert Hall of the 

 Record Office in the first quarter of 1896. This 

 course began in the April following, and has been 

 continued ever since. Following the valuable sug- 

 gestion of the late Professor York Powell, whose 

 interest in the new London " School of Charters " 

 was frequently manifested, instruction in " Historical 

 Sources " was included m the new curriculum and the 

 classification of MSS., together with the elements of 

 Historical Bibliography, became a special feature of 

 the Seminar work in this department of the London 

 School of Economics. 



The prospectuses of these courses, which may be 

 found in the Calendars of the School, included sys- 

 tematised teaching in Palaeography and Diplomatic 

 with occasional courses in Historical Sources and 

 Criticism, each of these courses being supplemented 

 by practical instruction by means of Facsimiles of 

 MSS. and exhibitions of MSS. and books, as well as by 

 a Seminar in which the transcription and editing of 

 some Historical text was carried out under the super- 

 vision of the lecturer. For academic purposes the 

 usual discipline of essays and examinations was 

 observed together with individual direction' of the 

 studies and researches of the students. Such was 

 the useful but limited organisation that then 

 provided the only systematic instruction in the 

 AuxiHary Studies of History in the University of 

 London or, perhaps, in any English university with 

 the exception ot Oxiord. It was, however, obvious 



