﻿338 Frof. Milne — Across Europe and Asia, 



in anything. In sucli a case, or where it is desired by the student 

 to become acquainted with only one or two of the many subjects 

 which are discussed in Mining Schools, the English system, where 

 one branch after another is successively commenced and ended, 

 appears to be undoubtedly superior. At any period of his course a 

 student may retire, and gain a benefit from the instruction he has re- 

 ceived. Looking at the course of instruction which is appointed in 

 the St. Petersburg School of Mines, there is an element of theory 

 which strikingly preponderates. This is apparent not alone in 

 theoretical subjects, but in those which would of themselves ad- 

 vantageously admit of practical application. Thus in Mathema- 

 tics a first-year student must become tolerably master of the 

 Calculus, but as a Zoologist he must become effete with lectures. 

 Amongst the long list of subjects which are discussed, there are 

 several, such as Jurisprudence, Statistics, Political Economy and Ee- 

 ligion, which at other schools are only conspicuous by their absence. 



The painful way in which some subjects clash is also observable, 

 — thus in one chamber the probability of kinship between men and 

 apes is treated of, whilst in the next chamber such doctrines are 

 dogmatically exploded. Overlooking these glaring inconsistencies, 

 the political advantages of an ecclesiastical element in a semi-military 

 school may perhaps be recognized. 



The vacations, which are of about three months' duration, are spent 

 in making geological surveys, attending metallurgical and other 

 practical works. The preliminary training, such as is necessary 

 for a mining engineei*, being completed, the studies take a more 

 decided form, and the students qualify themselves as geologists, 

 metallurgists, or in that branch to which they may have devoted 

 special attention. 



Altogether the course is a severe one, as may be judged by making 

 a comparison between the number of students in each of the five 

 years. If there are 450 in the first year, about 400 are found com- 

 petent to pass into the second year, 100 to the third, 60 to the fourth, 

 whilst to the fifth there will not be more than 18 or 20. It is a hard 

 gauntlet to run successfully. The course being completed, the student, 

 befoi'e actually taking charge of works, may, if he desire it, proceed 

 to some government works to further qualify himself, where he will 

 receive a small salary. 



In the School there is a large collection of models and of minerals. 

 These latter are especially worthy of attention, as presenting, in the 

 case of minerals peculiar to Russia, specimens which may in many 

 cases be regarded as unique. A large block of malachite, weighing 

 29 cwt., said to be the largest ever obtained, at once strikes the 

 attention. Besides this, I noticed several fine chrysoberyls. One of 

 the clear ones was nine inches long, and from three to four inches 

 in thickness. The emeralds and topazes are also conspicuous. 



In the basement of the School there is a model of a mine, where the 

 appearance of lodes, faults, and underground workings of various 

 deposits are demonstrated in a manner intended to approximate to 

 reality. 



