2-,8 



NA TURE 



[January 5, 1899 



thrusting ol so-called 'commercial subjects' into the curriculum 

 of secondary day-schools. To cram up little boys of fifteen 

 with odds and ends of commercial law and generalisations of 

 commercial geography is to waste precious time which might 

 have been devoted to subjects not only more elevating in 

 themselves but more digestible by youthful minds." 



CO.NCI.L'SION. 

 The foregoing sketch of some of the questions dealt with in 

 the volumes under con.sideration does not exhaust the refer- 

 ences to scientific instruction and higher education contained in 

 them. Scattered through the reports are short allusions to 

 other considerations which accentuate the importance of a 

 fuller recognition of the claims of science as an eflfective 

 instrument in education ; and it is a happy augury that official 

 publications of this kind should recognise so completely the 

 good results which follow upon according science an important 

 place in the curricula of secondary schools. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 The annual meeting of the Association of Technical Institu- 

 tions will take place on Thursday next, January 12, when an 

 address will be delivered by the president, Lord Spencer. 



Thk canvassing committee under the Birmingham University 

 scheme state that the total sum promised up to the date of the 

 public meeting in the Council House in July last (95,658/.), had 

 already been increased to about 115,000/! Mr. Frank McClean, 

 F.R.S., h.is contributed the sum of 2000/. to the fund. The 

 Lord Mayor of Birmingham announces a donation of 1000/. 

 from Alderman T. S. Fallows, T-I'- The committee will hold 

 their ne.xt meeting on January 25, after which a second list of 

 subscriptions will be published. 



A WINTER meeting for teachers opened at the College of 

 Preceptors on Monday, and will continue in session until the 

 end of next week. The meeting was inaugurated by an address 

 by Sir Joshua Fitch, and the programme also includes lectures 

 on educational subjects, visits to educational institutions, a con- 

 ference on the training of modern language teachers, a confer- 

 ence on science teaching, and a conversazione at the Cloth- 

 workers" Mall. The lectures will deal with the training of 

 teachers, the practice of education (including the teaching of 

 geography and of the "life sciences'"), psychology applied to 

 education, physiology applied to education, school hygiene, the 

 training of the speaking voice, and other subjects. The con- 

 ference on science leaching will be held at the South-We-st 

 London Polytechnic, Manresa Road, Chelsea, next Thursday 

 and Friday, and will consider the methods of teaching elemen- 

 tary experimental .science (physics, chemistry and mechanics) 

 in schools. In connection with the conference there will be an 

 exhibition of apparatus used in schools for practical science 

 leaching. 



TiiK annual meeting of the Geographical .Association will be 

 held at the College of Preceptors on Wednesday, January II, 

 when an address will be given by the President, >ir. Douglas 

 W. Frcshfield. The Association was founded in 1895 with the 

 object ot improving the teaching of geography in secondary 

 schools, and every one acquainted with what usually passes for 

 geography instruction in such schools will acknowledge that 

 there is much room for improvement. Rational methods of 

 teaching eNjierimuntal .sciences arc now being introduced into 

 many schools, and geography ought to be brought into line with 

 the new movement, for, when properly taught, it has a distinct 

 educational value. .VII methods of science teaching which 

 bring into play the pujiil's intelligence, instead of merely load- 

 ing the memory with natiies and isolated facts, should be 

 encouraged ; and ;us the work of the .\ssociation consists in 

 spreading knowledge of improved methods of teaching 

 geography, il deserves support. Intending members should 

 communicate with Mr. J. S. .Masterman, 55 Campden House 

 Road, London, W. 



A Times correspondent at Bombay reports that, on Saturday 

 last, Lord Curzon received a deputation from the provisional 

 committee of the proposed Imperial University, or Research 

 Institute, to be established in India for the purpose of post- 

 graduate instruction in the higher scientific and technical 



NO. 1523. VOL. 59] 



branches of learning. The petition referred to Mr. J. N. Tata's 

 oft'er of property, representing a capital of 30 lakhs, and pro- 

 ducing an income of a lakh and a quarter rupees, on trust to 

 found an Imperial Institute, which it was thought would supply, 

 with the help of the (Jovernment, the Native Slates, and the 

 general public, this existing need. The present scheme was to 

 found a separate institution open to graduates of all existing 

 Universities, and fully equipped. The provisional committee 

 submitted a draft Bill which had been prepared for the approval 

 ol the Government of India, with a scheme of studies and an 

 estimate of the probable initial expenditure. The initial ex- 

 penditure was put at 15 lakhs, and the annual charge at 3 lakhs. 

 The committee asked for the support ot the Government of 

 India, as the proposed University was intended for all India, 

 and, being Imperial in character, deserved special consideration 

 from the supreme Government. The committee further re- 

 quested the ( lovernment to sanction a grant in aid towards the 

 annual expenditure, remarking that the Secretary of Slate for 

 India would favoursuch a grant. If the Indian ("lovernment pro- 

 posed to extend a grant in aid to higher studies, ihe native Prince? 

 would cordially co-ojierate. .Some of them had contributed !•■ 

 the Jubilee Health Institute, ths object being bacteriological 

 research, which fell within the confines of the committee's draft 

 scheme. They suggested the amalgamation of the resources 

 promised by the native Princes to the Jubilee Health Institute 

 with Mr. Tata's donations, and pointed out that considerable 

 funds had been raised in the Punjab and Haidarabad for research 

 purposes. Lord Curzon, in reply to the deputation, said that 

 lie had carefully examined their representations, and, though he 

 could, of course, give no final answer, he could, at all events, 

 assure them that the object which they had in view had enlisted 

 his warm sympathy. 



President Ck.vkt's annual report of the Massachusetts 

 Institute of Technology shows that the past year was a remark- 

 able one in the financial history of the Institute. More money 

 was received through bequests and gifts than in any previous 

 year. Under the will of the late Hon Henry L. Pierce, seven 

 hundred and fifty thousand dollars were paid to the Institute by 

 his executors. This is the largest .sum ever given to it by any 

 one benefactor. In addition to this, the executors of the late 

 Mrs. Julia B. H. James have paid over the very notable sum of 

 one hundred and forty thousand and five hundred dollars, this 

 being also one of the largest gifts ever made to the Institute. 

 Mr. George A. Gardner has generously given twenty thousand 

 dollars as a fund, the income from which is to be used in the 

 payment of salaries. Ten thousand dollars came from the 

 late John W. Carter, and fourteen hundred and eighty-two 

 dollars has been added to the large sum previously received from 

 the estate of the late Mrs. Susan E. Dorr for the Rogers 

 Physical Laboratory. Besides these gifts to the Institute itself, 

 a "Travelling Fellowship in the Architectural Department has 

 been established by the will of -Mr. Willard B. Perkins. For 

 this purpose the sum of six thousand dollars has been given, the 

 accumulated income from which is to be used every fourth year. 

 Forty thousand dollars came from the estate of the late Mrs. 

 Ann White Dickinson, the whole .sum for scholarship purposes. 

 A friend has given five hundred dollars to meet a special want, 

 and two hundred dollars has come from Mrs. William B. Rogers, 

 to be used for periodicals. It is expected that the Institute will 

 receive four hundred thousand dollars from the estate of the late 

 .Mr. Edward .\ustin. This amount appears to be intended for 

 scholarships and other similar uses, and will be highly appre- 

 ciated ; but the great desideratum for the immediate future is 

 accessions lo the unrestricted funds of the Institute. 



The actual exjiense of instructing the students at the Massa- 

 chusetts Institute is on theaverage three hundred and thirty dollars 

 per year, while only two hundred dollars is paid as tuition fees. 

 The balance, one hundred and thirty dollars, including interest 

 on permanent investments, land, buildings, machinery, &c., has 

 to be met from the past and present government and private 

 benefactions. All through the reports from the dilTerent depart- 

 ments of the Institute notices are given of the introduction of 

 advanced studies In consequence of advanced entrance require- 

 ments, and the school is making continued progress towards a 

 higher standard for its degree. Another noteworthy feature is 

 the progress tow aids a greater subdivision of students into small 

 sections in laboratories, and the constantly increasing value 

 placed upon laboratory work. During the past four years this 

 movement has led to the appointment of eighteen new instruc- 

 tors, while the total number of students has remained about the 



