May 11, 1899] 
On November 7 two groups of colleges will hold examinations 
for entrance scholarships and exhibitions in Natural Science. 
One group includes Pembroke, Caius, King’s, Jesus, Christ’s, 
St. John’s, and Emmanuel; the other Trinity, Clare, and 
Trinity Hall. The scholarships are of the value of 80/. a year 
and under. At the first group the subjects of examination are : 
(1) chemistry, (2) physics (including dynamics and hydro- 
statics), (3) physical geography (as introductory to geology), 
(4) animal physiology, (5) biology (including zoology and 
botany). In all branches of Natural Science there will be an 
examination in practical work. No candidate will be examined 
in more than ¢hvee of the subjects numbered (1) to (5). Can- 
didates who wish to offer elementary biology as a subject will 
be examined by means of the more elementary questions con- 
tained in the papers on biology. Opportunity will be afforded 
to candidates in biology to give evidence of their knowledge of 
natural history, and opportunity will also be given to candidates 
in physics to show proficiency in mathematics by means of a 
paper of a somewhat more advanced character than the Zest paper 
in mathematics. Those who wish to be examined in physical 
geography or physiology must give notice to that effect not later 
than October 23. 
Information as to the range of the examination in physical geo- 
graphy may be obtained on application to any of the colleges. 
At the second, the subjects are physics and chemistry. Papers 
will also be set in zoology, botany, physiology, geology, or 
other tripos subjects, provided that notice be given to the tutor 
not later than October 10. The notice should be accompanied 
by a list of the text-books which have been read by the can- 
didate. Candidates for an emolument at Clare College may 
also offer elementary biology. 
Further information may be obtained from any of the college 
tutors. 
THE International Congress on Commercial Education was 
opened at Venice on Thursday last in the Senate Hall of the 
Doges’ Palace. Signor Pascolato, the president, delivered the 
opening address, in which he bade the foreign representatives 
cordially welcome. Dr. L. Saignat, representing France, gave 
a review of the work accomplished in the five previous congresses 
on commercial education, and thanked the Government and the 
King and Queen of Italy for the reception accorded to them. 
Other speeches followed. At the afternoon sitting, the Congress 
discussed the subject of a commercial school, its purpose, its 
limits, and its organisation. Other cognate subjects were con- 
sidered at subsequent meetings. The next Congress will be 
held in Paris in August 1900. 
THE Committee of Council on Education in Scotland has 
resolved that a sum not exceeding 2000/. shall be added to the 
amount payable under the ‘‘ Education and Local Taxation 
Account (Scotland) Act, 1892,” towards defraying the cost of 
the inspection of higher class schools in Scotland, and of the 
holding of examinations for and granting the leaving certificates 
of the Scotch Education Department. They have also resolved 
that a sum not exceeding 2000/. shall be set aside for the 
further encouragement of agricultural education in Scotland, to 
be distributed on conditions which shall hereafter be set forth 
by the Scotch Education Department. The remainder of the 
balance available under the section is to be applied in aid of 
such higher class secondary or technical schools in Scotland as 
are not in receipt of grants under the Scotch Code. 
In the House of Commons on Monday, Mr. Gerald Balfour 
introduced a Bill to establish a Department of Agriculture 
and other Industries and Technical Instruction in Ireland. 
Describing the principal provisions of the Bill, the right hon. 
gentleman stated that, as far as concerned the transfer to the 
new department of existing Governmental functions, the 
measure closely resembles its predecessor, but that to the 
powers and duties formerly proposed to be transferred are now 
added those of the fishery inspectors and most of the functions 
exercised by the Science and Art Department. With regard to 
the machinery and funds for carrying out the work of developing 
agriculture and other industries, considerable changes have 
been introduced, and the provisions with respect to technical 
instruction are new. For the purposes of the Bill there will be 
placed at the disposal of the department, in addition to certain 
moneys annually voted by Parliament, a total income of between 
160,000/, and 170,000/. a year. It is proposed that the chief 
sources of this income shall be the Imperial Exchequer, the 
Trish Church Fund, and the savings effected under the Judica- 
NO. 1541, VOL. 60] 
NATURE 
45 
ture Act of 1897. 55,000/. is to be allocated to technical 
instruction of an urban character, and 10,0007 will go to 
purposes connected with sea fisheries. The rest of the money 
1s to be used in connection with rural industries. The depart- 
ment is to be assisted by an agricultural board and a board of 
technical instruction, and only a minority of the members of 
these boards will be nominated by the Government. It is to 
be a general rule that no money is to be spent by the depart- 
ment in any local object without some contribution from local 
sources. The Bill was read a first time. 
In an address to students of the London Society for the Ex- 
tension of University Teaching, delivered on Saturday afternoon 
in the Mansion House, Dr. Hill, Master of Downing College 
and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, made the 
following remarks with reference to science teaching :—The too 
early teaching of science is not productive of permanent ex- 
cellence in that department. The classical boys do far better, 
for they approach the new subject with an intelligence well 
drilled, with mental sinews well exercised and developed. The 
true way of approaching science at school is not to prepare boys 
for science scholarships, but to let scientific interests run like a 
thin line through school life—to induce a love of nature and 
beautiful objects. Experience in examining for the science 
tripos and the medical examinations is discouraging, and, 
astonishing as is the knowledge of facts displayed by candidates, 
their mental grip and conception of principle are unsatisfactory. 
But it is still to be remembered that a wrangler cannot be 
turned into a biologist, and mathematics dealing with abstrac- 
tions are not well calculated to make a man a good observer of 
nature. The qualities needed for a man of science are many— 
quickness of observation, tenacity of memory, ratiocinative 
power—and no one course of study can be trusted to produce 
those results. The individual, however, is the main element, 
and there is needed in the several cases presented as great 
variety of mental as of physical nutriment for the body. In any 
case, however, wide sympathies are needed ; the literary man 
would be the better for some knowledge of science, and the 
scientific man for a keen interest in literature. The University 
is charged sometimes with undue extension into technical subjects. 
—to make men farmers, brewers, lawyers, and the like. It is not 
so, but the University desires to imbue the farmers and others 
who came to her with a love of knowledge, an elevated taste, a 
highly trained intelligence. 
A GENERAL meeting of Convocation of the University of 
London was held on Tuesday, Mr. E. H. Busk, chairman of 
convocation, presiding. The 7zmes reports that the Chairman, 
in replying to Prof. Silvanus Thompson, stated he could not say 
that, in the ordinary use of the word, negotiations were in pro- 
gress for the transference of the business of the University to the 
Imperial Institute. If there were negotiations in progress they 
were only in a preliminary stage. The position of the matter 
was this. A communication was received from the Government 
requesting that a conference might take place between three 
representatives of the Treasury, three representatives of the 
University, and three representatives of the Imperial Institute— 
nine persons in all, who were to inspect the buildings and the 
grounds belonging to the Imperial Institute at South Kensington, 
and to consider whether those premises either were suitable or 
could be made suitable for the headquarters of the University in 
any way ; and, if so, it was thought that the Government might 
enter into an arrangement with the authorities of the Imperial 
Institute which would enable them to make a proposal to the 
University. The nine representatives were duly appointed ; 
they had inspected the building, but they had not yet reported. 
—Dr. H. F, Morley moved the reception of the report of the 
standing committee dealing with the regulations at the matricula- 
tion examination, aud recommending various resolutions for 
adoption by Convocation. The report was received. Dr. Morley 
then moved a resolution requesting the Senate to adopt for the 
matriculation examination a scheme of subjects which was in 
complete accordance with the scheme that was unanimously 
adopted by the meeting of delegates from the Board of Studies 
in the Faculty of Arts. After some discussion the scheme of 
subjects was adopted by the house in the following form :—(1) 
Latin (two papers) ; (2) English (two papers) ; (3) mathematics 
(two papers); (4) any two of the following five languages :— 
Greek, French, German, Sanskrit, Arabic; and (5) one of the 
following five sciences:—Elementary mechanics, elementary 
chemistry, elementary sound, heat, and light, elementary 
magnetism and electricity, and elementary botany. 
