10 NATURE 
Kingdom at a fare and a quarter on surrender of the 
usual voucher issued to members. From stations in 
England and Scotland such tickets will be available from 
September 8 to 22, in Ireland from September 8 to 28. 
The local railway companies will issue return tickets 
at single fares to members during the meeting for short 
journeys, and the Belfast Street Tramways Company 
has kindly offered to issue passes to members for its 
cars free of charge. These cars pass the College gates. 
[he accommodation for visitors has increased con- 
siderably since the last meeting in Belfast, two large and 
several smaller hotels having been established since then, 
and it is expected that a large amount of private hospi- 
tality will be offered by the citizens. J. BROWN. 
THE COLLEGES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF 
LONDON. 
ee 
considering the educational needs of London it is 
important to remember that its extended area, its 
large population, and its exceptional municipal govern- 
ment all conspire to place the metropolis in a category 
by itself. Local authorities and other organisations 
which may serve to meet the requirements of the rest of 
England are not suitable for the unique wants of the 
greatest city in the world. When framing the Education 
Bill now before Parliament, the Government recognised 
this exceptional character, and very wisely postponed for 
a future occasion the consideration of the coordination 
of existing institutions of different educational grades in 
London, and of the addition of necessary schools and 
colleges. Similarly, the University of London, as re- 
constituted by the Commissioners appointed under the 
Act of 1898, is an institution of a unique character. No 
other university has a similar constitution, because 
nowhere, at home or abroad, are the conditions of the 
metropolitan area duplicated. 
As was pointed out in an article in NATURE in 1899 
(No. 1548, vol. Ix.), if, as is done in the University of 
London Act, 1898, the area to be served by the London 
University is that included within a radius of thirty miles 
from the University buildings, it will be found that the 
University has, on a very moderate estimate, to meet the 
higher educational needs of about seven million in- 
habitants. It was shown in the article referred to that 
to accomplish this huge undertaking with any hope of 
success it would be necessary to make the fullest possible 
use of every existing institution which could be regarded 
as of university standing. 
It is instructive in this connection to compare the 
provision of university education in some other districts 
with that to be found in the capital. The population of 
Scotland is under four millions and a half, yet there are, 
north of the Tweed, four largely endowed and well- 
equipped universities, and in addition a university college. 
The total population of the eight large towns in England 
provided with university colleges is under three millions 
and a half ; while Wales, with a population of under two 
millions, has three university colleges. So that, even on 
the grounds that London should be made as well off as 
the other parts of Great Britain, it may be urged, fairly 
and temperately, that there is need for a great and im- 
mediate advance. 
For these reasons amongst others we are glad to find 
that University College is making an earnest appeal for 
largely increased funds in aid of higher education and 
the facilities for research in London. If the teaching 
University of London is to be built up on existing 
institutions, it is of the highest importance that Uni- 
versity College should be incorporated with it. A short 
time ago a joint committee of the council of the College 
and the senate of the University considered the subject of 
incorporation, and though they have not finished their 
deliberations, they have agreed on certain points, viz. :— 
NO. 1696, VOL. 66] 
[May 1, 1902 
(1) For:incorporation to take place the College must be: 
free from debt. 
(2) The University will not take over University College 
School. Accommodation must therefore be provided on 
a new site. 
(3) The University will require extensive rearrange- 
ments of the Medical School. 
All outstanding debts are already provided for by the 
Drapers’ Company, which has generously become 
responsible for them to the extent of 30,0007. In addi- 
tion, about 60,000/. have been contributed, a large 
part of which has been given on condition that 
the incorporation of the College in the University is 
really effected. But a much larger sum is needed. To 
provide a site and new buildifigs for University College 
School, to refit the present school buildings and to carry 
out other indispensable alterations, not less than 110,000/. 
will be required. For the completion of the College 
buildings, thus providing adequate accommodation for 
both teaching and research in the many different branches 
of knowledge, 250,000/. arenecessary. For departmental 
expenses, including the maintenance of laboratories, 
libraries, &c., an annual income of 6000/., or a capital 
sum of 200,000/., must be provided. For the endowment 
of existing unendowed chairs and for the foundation of 
additional professorships a yearly sum of 20,000/. must 
be forthcoming, and this represents a capital sum of 
700,000/. In short, to perfect and complete the College 
and to render fruitful its incorporation in the University 
a sum of at least one million pounds must be found. 
If our merchants and manufacturers appreciated the 
importance, as a factor in our national commercial suc- 
cess, of the higher education of the people of London, 
there would be no difficulty in obtaining the sum required 
by the council of University College. As we have 
chronicled from time to time, the merchant princes of 
America have supplied for similar institutions in the 
States very many times the amount asked for by 
University College. The Leland-Stanford University of 
California has received nine millions sterling from private 
munificence ; Chicago University has been given over 
two and a half millions, and many other universities have 
similarly been provided with their necessary millions. 
University College is fully justified in its appeal to the 
public by a splendid record of activity during the seventy- 
five years of its existence. The standard of the studies 
carried on throughout this period has been that of a 
university, and the yearly output of original work has not 
been exceeded by that of any constituent college of a 
British university. We cordially recommend its claims 
to all those who are able to be munificent, and would 
suggest that no more suitable way of celebrating the 
Coronation in London could be found than the provision 
of this million pounds to begin the work of establishing 
in the capital of the Empire a teaching university worthy 
of our imperial aspirations. 
But, as has often been pointed out in these columns, 
the responsibility for the provision of educational facilities 
which will bring us in line with other progressive nations 
rests, not upon individuals, but with the State. Private 
benevolence is never better employed than when it is 
used to assist higher education and research, but it 
ought not to be regarded as an excuse for the neglect of 
a national duty ; yet over and over again this is done by 
statesmen of both parties. Mr. Balfour occupied this 
position on Wednesday of last week, when speaking at 
the Mansion House in connection with the distribution of 
prizes awarded under the commercial education scheme of 
the London Chamber of Commerce. He acknowledged 
that our nation “has lagged behind all the great nations 
of the world, not merely in commercial education, which 
is a portion of technical education, but also in many of 
the wider and more important aspects of national educa- 
tion.” His remarks upon the importance of studying 
a 
