1865.] The Science and Art Department. 9 



But this is not the worst feature in the affair. There is a matter 

 to which the attention of those who are the nominal heads of this 

 Department cannot, we think, have been directed, or we feel confident 

 it would never have been tolerated. 



Whatever might be the number of books distributed, or their ex- 

 ternal appearance, at least it was to be expected that all the works 

 on the list from which students are permitted to make their selection, 

 would be of an unimpeachable standard ; that all the prizes indeed 

 would be worthy of the exalted Personage whose gift they are sup- 

 posed to be. 



A cursory glance at the list will, however, satisfy any unprejudiced 

 person that there have been in its compilation considerations other 

 than that of providing successful students with standard works on 

 Science ; and we really think that the State did not exercise a sound 

 discretion, nor add to the respect which, it is no doubt desirable, 

 should be entertained for it by young students of Science, when it 

 offered them as a reward for successful study the valuable contri- 

 butions to our scientific literature of the still " unattached " Mr. 

 Buckmaster. As we have already said, the energy of Mr. Buckmaster 

 has doubtless been of great value to the Department, and the results 

 of his persuasive eloquence are no doubt deserving of an appropriate 

 reward ; but the insertion of his little books in the State list is, we 

 venture to think, a very inappropriate method of crowning his labours, 

 and it has caused great chagrin in those quarters where, through mis- 

 placed confidence, they were selected as prizes ; nor has the student 

 any alternative but to select these works in case he takes a low prize 

 and wishes for a book on the subject of which they treat. 



Had the section in which they are comprised consisted entirely of 

 such productions, we might have been led to suppose that the Depart- 

 ment had taken a leaf out of the book of some of our less liberal 

 Railway Companies, which compel their passengers to ride second- 

 class by making the third as uncomfortable as possible ; but when we 

 find in the same group with ' Buckmaster's Elements of Chemistry,' 

 Professor Bamsay's ' Lectures on Physical Geography,' and works of 

 a similar kind, we cannot help feeling that the introduction of the 

 former in the list is attributable to motives which ought not to in- 

 fluence those under whose direction this portion of the public service 

 is conducted. We direct attention more especially to this case, as 

 being one which we think must have escaped the notice of the head of 

 the Department, but there are other " Queen's Prizes," which are open 

 to objection, and no doubt an inspection of them in the proper quarter 

 would lead to beneficial changes in the list. 



The mention of Professor Bamsay's name will probably have re- 

 minded some of our readers that there is a small body of gentlemen 

 connected with this Department of the State, without a reference to 

 whom, our notice would be very incomplete ; we mean the " Pro- 

 fessional Examiners for Science." 



In the selection of these, the State has exercised great judgment ; 

 and this portion of the work of Science instruction is being carried 

 out on the most approved principles. We have from time to time had 



