NATURE ' 
21 



THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1871 


THE PROPOSED COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL 
SCIENCE AT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE 
A FEW weeks ago* we gave some account of the 
initiation of a movement in the North of England, 
having for its object the establishment of a College of Phy- 
sical Science in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. As the Executive 
Committee appointed at the public meeting had only then 
begun its work, the details entered upon were given as 
mere indications of the general form the institution might 
be expected to take. A letter from the Master of Uni- 
versity College, Durham, which appeared in our columns 
more recently, added somewhat to our information, and a 
circular which has been issued, with commendable promp- 
titude, by the Executive, is now before us, representing the 
views of the promoters as modified in committee. 
We shall probably best further the intentions of the 
Committee, whom we are anxious to aid, and at the same 
time give our readers the most reliable information, if we 
reprint this document verbatim :— 
“Tt is proposed to found at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 
connection with the University of Durham, a College for 
the teaching of Physical Science, especially as applied to 
Engineering, Mining, Manufactures, and Agriculture. 
“The want of such an Institution has long been felt in 
the North of England, and it is believed that while it 
would be useful in all the above pursuits, it would be of 
especial value to all persons intended for the professions 
of Mining and Engineering. 
“Such an Institution (which it appears desirable to 
limit at its commencement to purely scientific objects) 
would offer instruction in the following branches of scien- 
tific knowledge. 1. Pure and Applied Mathematics. 2. 
Chemistry. 3. Experimental Philosophy. 4. Geology, 
Mineralogy, and Biology. Professorships and Lecture- 
ships will be founded on these subjects. It is proposed 
that the course of study shall last for two years, that it 
shall consist partly in attending lectures and partly in the 
work of the laboratories, that there shall be examinations 
at the end of each year, conducted mainly by Examiners 
from the Universities, and that at the final examination 
the successful students shall receive the title of Bachelor 
or Associate of Science of the University of Durham, or, 
upon certain further conditions, the degree of B.A. It is 
hoped that classes of evening lectures for those who are 
unable to attend during the day may soon be formed. 
“The Government of the Institution will be entrusted 
to a Council, of which one-third will be nominated by the 
University of Durham. The University has offered the 
sum of 1,000/, annually towards the establishment of 
Professorships and of ten Scholarships of 20/7. each to 
assist students, It is believed that 2,000/. a-year is the 
lowest estimate at which it is possible to place the expenses 
of such a College, even at its commencement, and it is 
proposed to appeal to the public for a subscription to create 
a capital fund of at least 30,000/, If this amount be 
collected, the endowment from the University of Durham 
will be made a permanent one. When it is remembered 
that such an Institution will benefit a very large portion 
of the population of the Northern Counties, and be 
directly useful to nearly all branches of Manufacturing 
and Agricultural, as well as of Mining and Engineering 
pursuits, it is believed that no difficulty will be found in 
ultimately raising this sum, which, according to the expe- 
rience of all similar institutions, will probably be increased 
by private donations both for Scholarships and Professor- 
* See NATuRE, vol. ili. p. 461. 
VOL, IV. 

ships. It is proposed to offer Subscribers the option 
either of paying their whole subscription at once or of 
extending it over a period of five or six years. Small as 
well as large subscriptions are invited towards the above- 
mentioned fund. Upwards of 100,000/. has been recently 
collected in a similar case, or is in the course of collection, 
in subscriptions ranging from 2,000/. to the very smallest 
sums,” 
The last paragraph pleases us most. Six years is 
perhaps long enough to look forward in arrangements of 
many sorts, but not in matters pertaining to finance. The 
adoption of a scheme such as that originally suggested, 
based on a preliminary terminable endowment, would have 
crippled the energies of the whole staff, by suggesting 
the possibility of the early demolition of the structure they 
were labouring to build. It can scarcely be known, until 
the trial is made, how much may have to be done in the 
way of creating the demand for scientific education in the 
locality. We do not fora moment doubt its existence to 
a considerable extent, but we cannot suppose that the 
present case will form any exception to the general rule, 
that educational facilities are only slowly and by degrees 
taken advantage of by the classes for whose benefit they 
have been primarily designed. If the proposed college 
éegins to find an appreciative public, and to promise 
eventual success within the six years, we should regard it 
as a subject of congratulation, and a proof alike of energy 
and judgment in its management, rather than as a matter 
of course. Happily, for this reason, the guarantee prin- 
ciple is to be put upon its best basis—funded property. 
Instead of 1,009/. per annum for a term of six years, as 
at first proposed, the public is asked for 30,000/. in one 
sum. This, with the consequent permanent endowment 
from Durham University, which may be regarded as 
equal to another 30,000/. capitalised, will provide a sub- 
stantial foundation to commence upon. Nor can we doubt 
that the amount required will be easily raised amongst 
the wealthy men of the North. 
We may perhaps say one word more about the selection 
of subjects for professorships, as our former remarks are 
alluded to in the Rev. Mr. Waite’s letter. 
We adverted to the absence of any mention of Biology 
as a part of the scheme of education in the report of the 
speech of the Dean of Durham at the preliminary meeting, 
In the revised programme, above reprinted, biology is 
not omitted, but that is all that can be said. The subject 
is tacked on to geology and mineralogy, and the result is 
a complete anomaly. To teach mineralogy in any modern 
sense, aman must be more than an average chemist— 
hence no one who is not an expert in geology, mineralogy, 
chemistry, zoology, and botany, will have the requisite 
qualifications for the chair which it is now proposed to 
constitute, We trust that the Committee are prepared to 
pay pretty smartly for so handsome an instalment of 
omniscience. Our fear that biology of itself might be 
thought too large a subject for a single professorship, was 
at any rate groundless, but we doubt whether entire exclu- 
sion would be worse than the grant of a third of a chair. 
The geological knowledge of first importance in a 
mining district is essentially “ stratigraphical,” in other 
words, that attained by practical field work. Just so 
much palzeontology is necessary as will enable the student 
to recognise the more common characteristic fossils, and 
sufficient acquaintance with minerals to render him fami- 
(S 
