332 



NATURE 



\Aug. 27, 1874 



its original cliarter, however, dated 1828, it is intimately 

 associated with the Church of England. It started at 

 first and has all along had to struggle with even 

 greater difficulties than University College. For new 

 buildings and other purposes it has had to incur debt 

 from time to time, more especially to meet the increased 

 demands of physical science, for which more accommoda- 

 tion is urgently needed. 



The expenditure of the capital funds of the College 

 from its foundation up to the present time amounts to 

 180,431/. 5^-. c)d. 



The schedule of payments shows that, as in the case of 

 University College, the teaching staff is very inadequately 

 paid. 



The evening classes at King's College have been 

 eminently successful, and provide a fairly complete course 

 of scientific instruction for persons who are unable to 

 attend the day classes. They were attended in 1S73 by 

 as many as 550 students, the majority of whom attended 

 more than one class ; about 300 out of the 550 attending 

 Science Classes. The financial relations of the School, 

 which is in a flourishing condition, to the College are 

 substantially the same as at University College. 



The same complaint is made in the case of King's as 

 in the case of University College ; the chief impediment 

 to its further success is " that it is so extremely poor." 

 The various scientific departments of the College do not 

 pay, and were it not for the theological and literary de- 

 partments, the College, we fear, would have to shut its 

 doors. The professors ought to get three-fourths of the 

 fees, but often a percentage for college expenses has to be 

 deducted from the small sums thus yielded. 



We quote in full the recommendations of the Com- 

 mission with reference to the two Metropolitan Colleges, 

 recommendations which, if carried out, would undoubtedly 

 increase the'efficicncy of these Colleges, and from which 

 the country would reap a rich return. 



" After carefully reviewing the evidence laid before us 

 with regard to University and King's Colleges, and es- 

 pecially taking into account the great public services 

 which have been rendered by these two institutions to 

 scientific education in the metropolis, we are of opinion 

 that, subject to the reservations which we shall make 

 hereafter, they have established a claim to the aid of 

 Government which ought to be admitted. Wc think that 

 such Government aid should be afforded, both in the form 

 of a capital sum to enable the Colleges to extend their 

 buildings where requisite, and to provide the additional 

 appliances for teaching which the advance of scientific 

 education has now rendered absolutely necessary ; and 

 also in the form of an annual grant in aid of the ordinary 

 working expenses of the Colleges. 



'• ^Vith regard to the grant of a capital sum, we arc of 

 opinion that it should be appropriated to definite objects 

 such as those above referred to ; and wc further think 

 that the amount of such grants should be dependent upon 

 the amounts raised by subscription. 



" With regard to the annual grants in aid of the income 

 of the Colleges, wc think that they also should be appro- 

 priated to definite purposes, such, for instance, as the 

 augmentation of the stipends of certain professorships, 

 the payment of demonstrators and assistants, or payments 

 in aid of the laboratory and establishment expenses. An 

 account of the yearly expenditure of each institution 

 receiving such assistance should be reported to Govern- 

 ment. As the suspension or withdrawal of the annual 

 grant would always remain in the power of Parliament, 



we do not think that it would be necessary or desirable to 

 give the Crown a voice in the appointment of the pro- 

 fessors, or any control over the management of the 

 Colleges, other than such visitatorial jurisdiction as would 

 be implied by an annual presentation of the accounts. 



"As we do not consider that a day school in the metro- 

 polis ought to receive pecuniary assistance from an insti- 

 tution which is itself in receipt of such assistance from 

 Government, our recommendation of Government aid to 

 University College is subject to the resei'vation that its 

 financial arrangements shall be such as, while enabling the 

 College to do full justice to the School, may prevent the 

 School from becoming a charge upon the funds of the 

 College on an average of years. Our recommendation is 

 also subject to the reservation that the finances of the 

 Hospital, and of the purely medical departments, shall 

 be kept distinct from those of the College generally. Our 

 inquiry has not extended to Medical Schools, and it is not 

 within our province to make any recommendation with 

 respect to Government aid to such schools, whether 

 associated with scientific colleges or not. In the case of 

 University College, where such an association exists, we 

 think it expedient that the annual outlay on the purely 

 medical department should be kept distinct, in order to 

 enable the Government to consider separately the question 

 of aid to the scientific department. At the same time, 

 we do not think that there is any reason why the Boys' 

 School and the Hospital should not continue, as at 

 present, under the management and control of the Council 

 of the College. 



" The same reservations apply to our recommendations 

 with regard to King's College. Indeed, so far as King's 

 College Hospital and the Medical School connected with 

 it are concerned, the need of such a reservation is more 

 obvious, because it is admitted that these institutions are 

 a heavy burden upon the resources of the College. 



" With regard to King's College, we would further 

 suggest that the College should apply for a new Charter, 

 or for an Act of Parliament, with the view of cancelling 

 the proprietary rights of its shareholders, and of abolish- 

 ing all religious restrictions (so far as any such exist) on 

 the selection of professors of science, and on the privi- 

 leges extended to students of science. We consider that 

 any grant of public money which may be made to King's 

 College should be conditional on such a reconstitution of 

 the College as should effect these objects. And we sug- 

 gest that advantage might be taken of the opportunity 

 thus afforded to introduce into the government of the 

 College such other modifications as the experience of the 

 persons concerned in its management may have shown to 

 Ise desirable." J. S. K. 



{To be continued) 



THE INTERNATIONAL PREHISTORIC CON- 

 CRESS OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND ARCH.E- 

 OLOCY— STOCKHOLM MEETING 



'X' HIS Congress held its inaugural meeting on Aug. 7, 

 and by acclamation elected Count Hamilton its, 

 president, and the gentlemen already mentioned in 

 Nature (vol. x. p. 307) its acting office-bearers. 



There was no further business that day ; but the 300 

 foreign members present (the whole Congress amounts 

 to over 1,400) were hospitably entertained in the evening 

 by the town of Stockholm at Hasselbacken. which is to 

 Stockholm what Richmond is to London. There were 

 music, supper, and fireworks ; and during the evening, 

 in reply to a well-worded toast of welcome from the 

 Mayor, several good speeches were delivered by members 

 of the council representing the different nations present. 



On Saturday the real work of the Congress began, and 



