330 
ON COLLEGE EDUCATION. 
died twelve months at the College —I am sorry to say, Messrs. 
Editors, this law has been and is evaded yearly, and more so 
this year than heretofore. Young men enter at the College 
about October or November; stop three or four months; get 
a smattering of knowledge, just enough to make them conceited ; 
mangle two or three subjects; and then leave until their year 
has nearly expired, when they return ; study hard for a few 
weeks ; get a little parrot knowledge of chemistry and the 
favourite theories of the professors; bother all their friends; 
are daily ground either by their fellow-students, or a person in 
the College whom they pay for that purpose; go up, and 
generally pass, telling Sir Astley Cooper a he, who invariably 
asks, first of all, “How long have you studied at the College, 
sir?” and to which they unhesitatingly reply, “Twelve months, 
sir.” 
By this means, persons get their diplomas who are totally 
unworthy of them, and who only bring the profession into dis¬ 
repute; and so long as these proceedings are allowed, the pro¬ 
fession will never gain that station in the eye of the public, 
of which it is deserving when properly pursued. Twelve months, 
in truth, well applied, is full short time to gain the knowledge 
absolutely necessary to make a scientific practitioner. It appears, 
under the present regulations, of little consequence, so that the 
fees are paid, whether the whole or half the lectures of the Pro¬ 
fessor are attended. Believe me, Messrs. Editors, I am very sorry 
to give publicity to such proceedings as these, when I very much 
respect the heads of the Institution, and have received kindnesses 
from them which I shall never forget; but when 1 see evils in¬ 
creasing daily, of the greatest injury to the institution, the public, 
and the practitioner who has really studied for his diploma, I think 
it high time that the governors and examining committee should 
be made acquainted with the circumstances ; and I sincerely 
hope that this may meet their eye, for I feel assured these things 
have only to be known to be rectified. 
With every good wish for the continued success of your ex¬ 
cellent and invaluable Periodica], 
I remain, See. 
We interfere with the previous arragement of the contents of 
the present Number, in order to insert this letter. If the fact be 
as our correspondent states, it is a shameful breach of faith with 
the examiners, the profession, and the public. If he has mali¬ 
ciously stated that which is untrue, the contradiction is easy.—- 
Edit. 
