462 
NATURE 
[April 13, 1871 

was the only centre in which such an institution would 
have any chance of success. 
At the adjourned meeting, the Dean of Durham 
and the Rev. Joseph Waite attended on behalf of the 
University, and as the proposals contained in the Dean’s 
speech on that occasion seem to have been accepted as a 
general basis for the establishment of the College, we 
cannot do better than summarise them. They are roughly 
as follows :— 
A College to be established in Newcastle for systematic 
teaching in Physical Science—literary subjects for the 
present to form no part of the curriculum. 
Four Professorships to be constituted :—1. Pure and 
Applied Mathematics; 2. Chemistry; 3. Experimental 
Physics ; 4. Mineralogy and Geology. 
The curriculum of instruction to extend over two years; 
examinations to be held for degrees or diplomas in Physical 
Science, or other honorary distinctions subsequently de- 
termined upon. 
Turning to the question of funds—the working expenses, 
including an adequate provision for the proposed chairs, 
were estimated at not less than 2,000/, per annum, in 
addition to the amount that might be received from 
students’ fees. 
Durham University offered to place in Newcastle two 
professors—one in Chemistry, the other in Experimental 
Physics—and to found ten scholarships, each of the value 
of 20/. per annum: five for first year, five for second 
year students. This offer was to be understood to extend 
to six years, but would be made in perpetuity if the 
results were such as to justify it. The government of 
the college to rest with a Newcastle board, upon which 
the University should have representatives. The Pro- 
fessors to be officers in the University, and degrees to be 
conferred in Durham; the examinations, on the other 
hand, to be conducted in Newcastle. 
The one condition attached to the offer was that New- 
castle should find a similar endowment of 1,o00/. per 
annum, guaranteed for not less than six years. 
The meeting appears to have been an eminently prac- 
tical one, for more than half the required sum was sub- 
scribed in the room, and we learn that the amount named 
has since been considerably exceeded without any active 
canvass having been resorted to. The offer was naturally 
considered as accepted, and a Committee appointed to 
take steps for the carrying out of the scheme. The names 
of Sir W. G. Armstrong, the Rev. Dr. Lake, Mr. I. 
Lowthian Bell, Mr. Albany Hancock, and Mr. Newall, in 
connection with the executive, will carry assurance far 
beyond the northern counties that whatever is taken in 
hand will be efficiently accomplished. 
The general design, sketched by the Dean of Durhain, 
is so excellent that we are but little disposed to criticise 
its individual features, especially as the details which have 
been made public have not been put forward as repre- 
senting foregone conclusions, so much as with the intention 
of supplying a basis for discussion. 
If we read the scheme rightly, Durham is to provide 
two Professors and ten annual 20/. scholarships, and 
Newcastle to do likewise. Surely twenty scholarships in 
a newly-established college is an excessive allowance. 
Possibly this is not intended ; at any rate such expendi- 
ture of funds would scarcely be entertained by the govern- 
ing body without some reason not apparent to those less 
conversant with the requirements of the particular case. 
Again, the selection of subjects as laid down by the 
Dean does not seem to be altogether happy. No scheme 
of scientific education in the present day can be regarded 
as satisfactory in which Biological Science is entirely ig- 
nored. It is true that the field of biology is too wide to 
be traversed in detail by a single lecturer or covered by 
a single course, and were the thing possible it would not 
be desirable. But it would be perfectly practicable for a 
Professor in Natural History to give in a short series of 
lectures much general information as to the organisation 
of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and to select some 
special subject, either zoological or botanical, for more 
detailed exposition ; and, as a means of training the ob- 
serving powers, no portion of the curriculum would be so 
valuable. A college devoting its entire energies to one 
class of natural phenomena, to the exclusion of studies 
pertaining to natural objects and the phenomena of the 
organised world, can have no claim to be called a school 
of physical science in any wide or great sense. 
Newcastle has already a position in respect to Natural 
History Science, and withan admirable Museum at hand, 
it would be a blot on the undertaking if its abundant 
local resources were not utilised. 


THE UTILISATION OF NATURAL HISTORY 
MUSEUMS FOR SCIENTIFIC INSTRUCTION 
IN GERMANY 
Il. 
HE German Museums of Natural History, founded 
for educational purposes, and connected with the 
various Universities, are by far the most important and 
influential. Those attached to the Universities of Berlin, 
Vienna, and Munich, are very large establishments, con- 
sisting of several sections which are independent of each 
other ;. and the aim pursued in each is to render the col- 
lections as complete as possible. Hence, although their 
chief purpose is to serve as schools of instruction for the 
students, they offer to the specialist abundant materials 
for original research, and have grown into attractive 
places of public resort. Those belonging to the smaller 
Universities are limited to instructive series of types ; 
some, however, excel in one or more special branches. 
The teachers of the University are always the di- 
rectors of the collections ; thus the Professor of Zoology 
is the responsible head of the Zoological Museum, the 
Professor of Mineralogy of the Mineralogical, the Pro- 
fessor of Botany takes the charge of the Botanical Gar- 
dens,and soon, The appointments to the professorial 
chairs are not thrown open to competition ; and the system” 
of testimonials, humiliating alike to the candidate and his 
supporters, is unknown in German universities ; men of 
repute for their knowledge and capability of teaching are 
chosen by the Senate, proposed to and appointed by the 
Government. We believe the Prussian Government has 
reserved to itself the right of appointment almost inde- 
pendent of the Senate, but, of course, is guided by the 
advice of men able to judge of the merits of the candi- 
dates proposed. 
The lectures on the various branches,of Natural History 
are either given in the Museum itself, or in a place ad- 
