REVIEWS — THE COTJBSE OE COLLEGIATE EDUCATION. 181 



on drawing in knowledge from all quarters at a vast rate, and what- 

 ever lie does take into his well prepared rnind assimilates itself with 

 matter already there, and fertilizes the whole, and fructifies ; nothing 

 of what he reads is thrown away." To such a man of ripe mind and 

 studious habits, the acquisition of a modern language such as the 

 French or Italian is a mere pastime, and the German only a pleasant 

 task. "What would he say to the substitution of them by our Uni- 

 versity reformers as equivalents for the Greek and Latin, — the sole 

 keys to all the treasuries of Theology, Philosophy, and Science ! 



Having thus discussed, however cursorily, the direct aim and pur- 

 pose of Universities and Colleges as means for the encouragement of 

 leaehtug, we are now free to admit of a secondary purpose which 

 they may answer, especially in a new country like Canada. Pro- 

 fessor Blackie denounces, with not less vigorous eloquence than truth, 

 the neglect of classical learning in Scotland ; nevertheless, Scotland 

 owes not a little of the energy and intellectual vigour of her people 

 to the very looseness of her University system, which threw open the 

 halls of her Colleges to hundreds who sought for knowledge, without 

 dreaming of learning. With a like object in view, the scheme of the 

 Toronto University College, provides for its unmatriculated students 

 and encourages them to emulation and study by special and entirely 

 distinct honors and rewards. The new Principal of McGill College 

 thus announces the proposed popular department of that Institution: 



" During the present winter it is intended to deliver a popular course, which 

 ■will embrace the subjects of Natural History, Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, 

 and Civil Engineering, a combination of interesting and important subjects which 

 should attract large audiences. 



These provisions, however, by no means exhaust the field of usefulness in 

 this direction ; and it is in contemplation, in the Session of nest winter, to in- 

 stitute in connection with the Faculty of Arts certain special courses, bearing on 

 some of the principal lines of industrial occupation, in the hope that in this 

 way we may induce many young men who would otherwise receive none of the 

 benefits of collegiate education to attend to certain selected classes. We propose 

 then, to attempt the establishment of the following Special Courses, each to extend 

 over two years, and to entitle the student, on examination, to a certificate or diploma 



1. A course of Civil Engineering. This will embrace English Literature, 

 Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Geology and Mineralogy, Survey- 

 ing, and Civil Engineering, including the construction of machinery. Such a 

 course will be exceedingly serviceable, not only to all young men about to enter 

 on the profession of Civil Engineering, but to many others more or less closely 

 connected with the public works or manufactures of the Province. 



2. We also hope to commence a course of Commercial Education, including 

 English Literature, History and Physical G-eography, Mathematics, Chemistry, 

 Natural Philosophy, Natural History, Modern Languages, Commercial Law, 

 and, if suitable arrangements can be made, Lectures on Political Economy. 



