234 On the Museum of Practical Geology of Great Britain. 



the part of Her Majesty's government, that no one of the twelve 

 inspectors of coal mines, each receiving a salary of 400/. per 

 annum, should be appointed, who had not undergone the prelim- 

 inary studies which oar institution affords. If such and other 

 encouragements were held out abroad as well as at home, and if 

 every person appointed by the crown to all such offices should 

 first either obtain good certificates after studying in our school, 

 or at all events pass a satisfactory examination at it, the number 

 of our pupils would doubtless augment rapidly. Just as schol- 

 arships, fellowships, livings and all the higher offices of state 

 and law, are the real attractions which have hitherto filled the 

 ancient universities, so would the public then see that a benefi- 

 cial career was open to youths through the study of the sciences 

 which we teach. 



A really encouraging move, one which has produced the best 

 effects upon our students, has indeed been made in this direction 

 through the enlightened views of His Eoyal Highness Prince 

 Albert, who, acting for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, 

 as Duke of Cornwall, presented to our establishment two schol- 

 arships of the annual value of 30/. each. 



Even in our present condition, nearly 100 officers of Her 

 Majesty's or the Honorable East India Company's services have 

 spontaneously taken advantage of our scientific instruction, 

 which they know will give them advantages in foreign lands; 

 instruction too, which they obtain with us, at half the usual 

 charges, and which cannot be had elsewhere in this country. 



Nor let it be supposed that, in any case where a young man is 

 really desirous to gain knowledge, he is not adequately taught; 

 inasmuch as every one of our professors acts both as teacher and 

 examiner, and takes upon himself the tutorial responsibility of 

 ascertaining that he has truly imbued his pupil with* sound 

 knowledge. 



A striking proof of the interest attached to the useful instruc- 

 tion afforded by our institution is also given by the presence of 

 6» >0 working men who attend the courses of evening lectures de- 

 livered gratuitously by our professors; the tickets being so 

 sought after, that they are applied for and distributed within five 

 hours from the commencement of their issue. 



That the publication of the "Memoirs of the Geological Sur- 

 vey" have an important influence, is evident from the fact that, 

 whenever they refer to districts charged with mineral wealth, 

 their publication is speedily exhausted and new editions called 

 for. In alluding to the utility of these publications I beg spe- 

 cially to call attention to a volume about to be issued by our 

 Metallurgical Professor, Dr. Percy, viz., the "Analyses of British 

 Iron (ires." As these results have been obtained in our labora- 

 tory and involved in their investigation the elaborate analyses of 



