492 



NATURE 



[March 22, 1900 



A' 



THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. 



T last, after six-and-thirty years of discussion, after 

 "■ the formulation of some twenty different schemes 

 of reform and the report of two previous Royal Com- 

 missions, the Statutes and Regulations of the reconstituted 

 University of London have been framed by the Com- 

 missioners appointed under the Act of 1898, and the new 

 University is created. The institution thus established 

 is in its way unique ; there is nothing else exactly like it 

 in the world, and it is therefore impossible to predict 

 with any confidence what will be the extent or the nature 

 of the influence it will exert on the progress of education 

 either in the United Kingdom or in the restricted area 

 over which its newly-created functions will be specially 

 exercised. The old Examining Board will continue to 

 exist almost as hei-etofore, and the famous system of 

 examinations, which has undoubtedly been in its day 

 potent for good, will be continued under safeguards and 

 conditions but slightly altered. But in addition there is 

 to be a new and distinct system administered by the 

 same supreme authority, the Senate, which has hitherto 

 directed the examinational machine. 



Under this system students who pursue certain definite 

 courses of instruction in recognised institutions or under 

 recognised teachers will be admitted to degrees after 

 passing certain examinations in which their own teachers 

 will directly or indirectly take part. The institutions 

 and teachers so recognised are situated within a radius 

 of thirty miles from the central office of the University. 



The purposes of the new University of London are 

 declared by the Commissioners to be threefold : (i) "to 

 hold forth to all classes and denominations, both in the 

 United Kingdom and elsewhere, without any distinction 

 whatsoever, an encouragement for pursuing a regular and 

 liberal course of education " ; (2) " to promote research 

 and the advancement of science and learning," ana 

 (3) "to organise, improve and extend higher education 

 within the appointed radius." Broadly, it may be said 

 that of these three purposes the first has been more or 

 less completely fulfilled by the previously existent system 

 of examining all comers in subjects selected according 

 to a definite scheme in orderly succession, from matricu- 

 lation to the final examination for a degree. Without 

 doubt the existence of this scheme, whatever drawbacks 

 there may be to a pure system of examination which 

 does not stop to enquire how the knowledge of the 

 candidate has been gained, nor to ask too curiously as to 

 its reality, has done great service to large numbers of 

 industrious, intelligent and deserving students. Times, 

 however, dunng the last quarter of a century, have 

 changed considerably in respect to the opportunities of 

 higher instruction, and while the greater part of the 

 United Kingdom has been divided into academic 

 provinces, each with its own university and their 

 affiliated colleges, London and the South have remained 

 without many of the advantages which such institutions 

 provide. London, however, possesses all the materials 

 which are required for the equipment of a great uni- 

 versity. The metropolis is the home of the great learned 

 societies ; it is also the central depository of the chief 

 treasures of science, art, antiquities and industry in the 

 national museums, and without disrespect to the many 

 distinguished men connected with other parts of the 

 kingdom, it is inevitable that a certain concentration of 

 intellectual eminence should result from the attractions 

 offered by the greatest city of the world. The third 

 purpose of the new university will therefore surely be 

 inseparably connected with (2) "the advancement of 

 science and learning." 



Under the new Statutes the University will consist of 

 the Chancellor, the existing Fellows, for their respective 

 lives, the Senate, the Graduates and the Students. It is 



NO. 1586, VOL. 61] 



enacted that the Chancellor of the old University shall 

 continue to be Chancellor. The University will thus 

 retain the advantage of Lord Kimberley's long experience 

 as a member of the Senate. All else, however, will be 

 changed. The existing Fellows are to retain their 

 fellowships for life, but will cease as such to be members 

 of the Senate, and probably many of them will drop 

 oift. The new Senate will be composed of the Chan- 

 cellor, the Chairman of Convocation, and fifty-four 

 persons who may or may not be graduates of the 

 University. Of the fifty-four senators, sixteen will be 

 elected by Convocation (chiefly graduates of the 

 University), and sixteen by the Faculties (composed of 

 teachers of the University). Of the remaining twenty- 

 two, four are to be appointed by the Crown, and 

 eighteen by various institutions, including six by the 

 Inns of Court and the Incorporated Law Society. 

 After the first two years the term of office of each 

 senator will be four years. The Vice-Chancellor will be 

 elected annually by the Senate from among its own 

 members. 



The work of administration will be accomplished 

 chiefly through the medium of three standing com- 

 mittees of the Senate — namely, the Academic Council, 

 the Council for External Students, and the Board to 

 Promote the Extension of University Teaching. Con- 

 cerning the last, it may be said, with considerable con- 

 fidence, though not, of course, without fear of contradic- 

 tion, that, however good its intentions, it cannot afford 

 much assistance in the development of serious university 

 work. The chief business of the University will be done 

 by the two councils. 



The Academic Council will consist of the Chancellor, 

 the Vice-Chancellor, the Chairman of Convocation, the 

 sixteen members of the Senate appointed by the Faculties, 

 and an additional member or members to make up the 

 number to twenty. Four-fifths of this council, therefore, 

 consist of teachers. Their duties are advisory, and will 

 relate to all that appertains to the Schools of the Uni- 

 versity, the appointment of Teachers, the organisation 

 and regulation of the teaching, and generally to all 

 matters which relate to the Internal Students — that is, to 

 those students who have matriculated and are pursuing 

 a course of study in a School or under Teachers of the 

 University. The functions of the Academic Council are, 

 therefore, the most important exercised on the part of the 

 new University, and upon the care and judgment with 

 which they are discharged will hang all the future 

 development and usefulness of the University. 



The Council for External Students is to consist of 

 twenty-eight members of the Senate, whereof sixteen are 

 the nominees of Convocation. The duty of this body is 

 to watch over the interests of the External Students, who 

 are defined as all matriculated students who are not In- 

 ternal Students. Among the duties assigned to both these 

 councils the difficult task is appointed of equalising, as far 

 as possible, the standards of knowledge and attainments 

 prescribed for the degrees conferred upon Internal and 

 External Students respectively. But the Academic Council 

 has nothing to do with External Students, and the other 

 council has nothing to do with Internal Students ; and 

 unless provision is made by the new Senate for frequent 

 conferences between the two councils, it is difficult to see 

 how this equalisation is to be effected, for a mere in- 

 spection of syllabuses or of the questions set in examin- 

 ation papers would be, as every teacher or examiner could 

 point out, a most delusive and inadequate test of equality. 

 It is to be hoped that the Senate will bear in mind the im- 

 portance of bringing these two councils into frequent 

 contact, and that they will not be unduly influenced by 

 fanatical adherents, if there be any, of the pure system of 

 examination with its detailed limited syllabus, and its 

 superstitious reverence for marks. Every encourage- 



