A Retrospect and a Prospect. 9 



building, but also to having that building properly manned. That 

 was a point on which, he thought, they ought to express them- 

 selves in very decided terms, as they knew from the daily papers 

 that objections were made to the supposed high salaries to be 

 given to the heads of departments connected with that Institute. 

 He (the speaker) happened to have had some experience of various 

 Universities in various countries, and he must say everyone who 

 had had experience knew that it was the brains that were required 

 very much more than bricks and mortar. He could point to very 

 finely-housed Institutions which were producing practically nothing 

 on account of the fact that the heads of the departments were not 

 the right kind of men ; and he could point to Institutions where 

 the buildings were utterly inadequate for the purpose for which 

 they were designed, but which, through the ability of the men 

 conducting these departments, were of world-wide repute. If the 

 Belfast Institute was to be a success it must be properly manned, 

 and they would not get good men unless they paid for them. It 

 was also necessary that they should not overburden the teachers 

 with work. He trusted time would be allowed to the heads of 

 departments to do some original work. If the Institution was to 

 merely extend knowledge already gained, and had nothing to do 

 with the acquisition of new facts and the evolution of new theories, 

 it would fail in an extremely important function. In conclusion, 

 he would convey to Mr. Forth the thanks of that Society for his 

 extremely interesting lecture. 



Mr. Forth, in replying, said he was especially pleased at the 

 very healthy and vigorous discussion which had taken place. He 

 held that the educational question was of such a character that 

 they would only arrive at practical results by free and full discus- 

 sion. In reply to Mr. Harbison's suggestion, they hoped to issue 

 a certificate that would have a very definite value to students. 

 In conclusion, he thanked them very much for their expression of 

 opinion on his lecture. 



