7. in 
NATURE 
THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1871 


THE NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE COLLEGE OF 
PHYSICAL SCIENCE 
; E have apprised our readers from time to time 
of the progress of the arrangements for the pro- 
posed College of Physical Science in Newcastle. In our 
report of the meeting held on the 25th of March, at which 
the scheme was first publicly broached, we expressed an 
estimate of the administrative ability of the committee 
appointed to carry into effect the resolutions then adopted, 
which events have amply justified. A second public 
meeting was held in Newcastle on Saturday last to receive 
at the hands of the executive an account of their labours, 
and the Report now before us shows the energy which has 
been brought to bear upon a complicated and laborious 
task. Few who read the announcement of the first meet- 
ing—probably few even of those who were there present— 
supposed that the ship, of which the lines were then but 
talked of, could be ready at the expiration of little more 
than three months to launch and make her trial voyage. 
We need not reprint the whole Report, as portions of it 
are merely the official announcement of arrangements 
already made public; but its contents may be briefly 
summarised. The Committee state that— 
“At their first meeting it was found that the scheme had 
so far interested the general body of the inhabitants of the 
district, that very much more support would be forthcoming 
than was sufficient to provide for the six years’ experiment; 
and as the University of Durham intimated that the pro- 
mised aid (1,000/. per annum) would be made permanent 
if a capital sum could be obtained sufficient to secure the 
continuance of the support from the district, it was con- 
sidered advisable to appeal to the public for 30,000/. This 
sum was mentioned not as being completely adequate to 
meet the expenses of a collegiate institution, but as pro- 
viding sufficient funds for the commencement of such an 
undertaking.” 
Towards this fund 21,4607. has been obtained, together 
with three subscriptions each of 100/. a year, and a hope 
is expressed that within the next few months between 
30,0007, and 40,000/, may be raised. 
The election of Professors in Mathematics, Geology, 
Chemistry, and Experimental Physics, and the determina- 
tion of the Committee to open the College in October are 
announced. Itis recommended that the lecture fees should 
be such as may secure a large attendance of students and 
it is suggested that five guineas yearly for each course, and 
one guinea entrance, would be suitable to this end. 
It had been agreed by the committee to propose the 
following Constitution, The governing bodies of the Col- 
lege to be :—firstly, the Governors, secondly, the Council, 
1. The Governors ; to be limited at first to forty-seven, 
of whom nine are to be e2-officte members of the body. 
Of the remaining thirty-eight, three are to be north-country 
Members of Parliament, and two Professors in the Col- 
lege. Nine are to be elected by subscribers to the fund, 
and the rest in different proportions by the Chapter of 
Durham, the Senate, the Convocation, the Municipal 
Councils of twelve northern towns, and the Scientific 
Societies of the district. Of the elected members one- 
VOL, Iv. 


217 

third are to vacate their seats every two years, but are to 
be eligible for re-election. 
2. The Council, which is proposed to “ consist of fifteen 
members, including a Chairman, of whom five shall bemem- 
bers of the Chapter, Senate, or Convocation of the Uni- 
versity of Durham ; and of these one shall be the Warden, 
and of the other four at least two shall be members of the 
Senate ; but all members of the Council shall be elected out 
ofand by the Governors themselves. They shall be elected 
for five years, one-third of the number resigning their places 
every three years, but being re-eligible. They shall in all 
cases retain their appointment for two years.” 
This Council is tomeet monthly, and to transact all the 
ordinary business of the College, arranging tine periods 
of study and fees of the students, and to assume the 
general direction of affairs. 
Toa committee of this body. with which all the Pro- 
fessors shall be combined, is entrusted the more strictly 
academical administration and discipline, including the 
number and direction of the Professors’ Lectures, subject 
to the general control of the Council. 
In conclusion, it is proposed “that while steps are being 
taken to draw up the necessary documents and to pro- 
ceed with the election of the Council in the terms of the 
Constitution, the government of the College shall re- 
main in the hands of the Executive Committee, who sha 
act as the Council for the period of one year. 
“ At the invitation of the North of England Institute o 
Mining and Mechanical Engineers, the Literary and 
Philosophical Society, the Medical College, and the 
Natural History Society, occupying a group of buildings 
in a good situation already dedicated to scientific pur- 
poses, a suitable suite of rooms for the lectures, private 
rooms for the professors, laboratories, and offices; has 
been secured, which will be sufficient for the accommoda- 
tion of the College for some years, when it is hoped the 
success of the Institution will be so secured that a sum 
of money sufficient to build separate and suitable accom- 
modation will be easily procured.” 
It is almost needless to say that this report was well 
received and unanimously adopted, and that the meeting 
willingly accorded to the Executive Committee the pro- 
posed continuation of their powers for a year. In the 
discussion some remarks were made by gentlemen taking 
an active part in the labours of the Committee, which 
are worthy of note. 
Mr. Lowthian Bell alluded to the present available 
accommodation for the College as insufficient, except for 
temporary purposes, and suggested the probable necessity 
for building at any rate new laboratories. He also bade 
the meeting to regard the four professorships already 
established as but a commencement, there being many 
other departments of Physical Science which must ere 
long be provided for, and made special allusion to the 
claims of Biology to representation. 
It is true that another member of the committee with 
very pronounced political views, suggested that a chair of 
Political Economy should be the next subject adopted, 
but as he did not attempt to show the position of Political 
Economy in his scheme of physical science, it was 
scarcely thought necessary to argue the point. 
In far wider spirit were the remarks of a subsequent 
speaker, who looked hopefully forward to the time when 
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