33 



the anthracine is derived. The Germans import the anthracine 

 from us, make these beautiful colours from it, and sell them 

 back to us. We can bleach and print better than the Germans, 

 and the finish we put upon our goods is unrivalled ; but so 

 much are we at their mercy for these colours that by a trade 

 combination they lately advanced their prices for some of them 

 fifty per cent. ; and we are at present, and I suppose, till we 

 make the colours for ourselves shall continue, powerless to resist. 

 Where can we find a stronger argument than this in favour of 

 technical education ? 



It is, however, not alone in manufacturing, but also in purely 

 mercantile pursuits, that technical instruction is given on the 

 Continent. I lately read in the Economist that a superior 

 school of commercial studies, created by the Paris Chamber of 

 Commerce, will be opened on the 3rd November. The Chamber 

 possesses already two schools of commerce ; the new one, for 

 which a spacious building has been erected, is intended to com- 

 plete the studies of the pupils in the highest branches of com- 

 mercial, industrial, and financial knowledge, in order to qualify 

 them for the direction of banks, manufactories, or public com- 

 panies, or for consular posts. The teaching staff consists of 

 thirty professors. Among the other subjects comprised in the 

 programme are monetary systems, cheques, insurance, maritime 

 law, bourse operations, minerals and mines, yarns, tissues, and 

 dyes, patent laws, analyses, adulterations, &c. 



We want, however, more than all that. While the school of 

 art is doing excellent work in its way, and work too that can- 

 not fail to be beneficial to the artistic departments of our busi- 

 ness, we want besides a permanent art gallery, which should be 

 supplemented by periodical loan and sale exhibitions. Access 

 to the beautiful in art, and education by the eye, cannot fail to 

 aid in elevating the public taste and tone ; yet for any art ex- 

 hibitions worthy the name this large town has for several years 

 been indebted to the enterprise of a private firm, Messrs. Rod- 

 man, to whom I heartily wish every success in their spirited 

 undertaking. Although a majority of our municipal authorities 

 thought otherwise, I consider that we do want a free public library 



