TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 177 
of the boys, as with the scholastic system, in which the number of masters does not 
always suffice for the complete superintendence of daily instruction. 
Of the thirty young men who were selected in June 1857, for the Woolwich Aca- 
demy, ten had been educated in the University of Dublin, one was a member of 
Merton College, Oxford, one came from Rugby School, two from Marlborough College, 
one from King’s Cullege School, London, one from Ipswich School, one from Chelt- 
enham College, one from Kensington Proprietary School, one from Clapham Grammar 
School, and the remaining eleven had been educated privately, 
Candidates for the Indian civil service are required to be between the ages of eighteen 
and twenty-three; and a medical certificate of the absence of any physical infirmity, 
with a satisfactory testimonial of good moral character, is the principal introduction 
requisite to admit a candidate to the examination for entrance. The business of re- 
gulating the examination has been entrusted to the Civil Service Commissioners, the 
Right Hon. Sir Edward Ryan, and Sir John Shaw Lefevre, whose central office is at 
Dean’s Yard, near Westminster Abbey; in the month of July, in the present year 
1858, the candidates were examined in the large rooms of Burlington House, Piccadilly, 
London, Sixty-five candidates were arranged in order of merit after this examination, 
of whom the first twenty were appointed to the Indian civil service. An Irish news- 
paper-writer, on looking over the list, noticed at once that the largest number of suc- 
cessful candidates had come from classical Oxford, nine out of the twenty having been 
Oxonians; six successful candidates were members of the University of Dublin, and of 
these, five were holders of classical scholarships in Trinity College. Altogether, of 
the twenty who succeeded, there were sixteen classical men elected to the Indian 
civil service. 
Two memorials have been recently presented to the Senate of the University of 
London, from various eminent scientific gentlemen, requesting that degrees in science 
may be conferred in that university. A committee of the Senate, consisting of the 
chancellor (Earl Granville), the vice-chancellor (Sir John Shaw Lefevre), Dr. Arnott, 
Mr. Brande, Sir James Clark, Dr. Faraday, Mr. Grote, and Mr. Walker, was conse- 
quently appointed to consider the propriety of establishing a degree or degrees in 
science, and the conditions on which such degree or degrees should be conferred. 
Many of the memoralists have kindly contributed evidence on scientific degrees to 
the committee, and the preliminary report of the committee recommends the consti- 
tution of one or more degrees expressly attesting scientific proficiency and eminence. 
A considerable number of training colleges for the education of schoolmasters and 
schoolmistresses have been established under the Committee of Council in connexion 
with different religious denominations, and to these institutions, between the years 
1837 and 1857 inclusive, the Committee of Council awarded grants amounting alto- 
gether to £347,000. 
Many of the English Normal Schools are connected with the Church of England, 
but the plan of instruction includes a variety of subjects equally valuable and inter- 
esting to the members of all religious denominations. 
The training institution for teachers, in connexion with the British and Foreign 
School Society in the Borough Road, Southwark, has outgrown the accommodation 
afforded by the original design. Mr. Bowstead, in his report on this institution, dated 
January 1858, observes, that “several candidates who successfully passed the recent 
examination for Queen’s scholarships have been unable to obtain admittance.” 
On the Importance of a Colonial Penny Postage, viewed in relation to the 
advancement of Science and Christian Civilization. By Mrs. Wu. Fison. 
Beneficial influence of the Penny Postage.—If the history of the penny postage in 
this country were investigated, it would be found to have been a most important pro- 
moter of scientific progress, of education, commerce, religion, and the principles of 
good government. 
_ To the poorer classes its benefits have been incalculable in stimulating them to 
quire the power of writing. 
‘When the penny postage was first given to this country, many were the fears ex- 
_ pressed as to the result, none of which have been realized ; and its extension to the 
colonies is now advocated on grounds of high importance. 
1858. 12 
