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JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
tried to improve themselves, but, as Mr. Robertson said, most of 
them read too much and thought too little. What seemed to be 
needed was not a greater taste for reading, but a deeper sense of 
intellectual work. Systematic and conscientious work was the 
duty of all. In the better class giils' schools, accomplishments 
occupied considerably more than a third of a girl's school life, facts 
about a third, and work requiring mental effort only a quarter. 
The present unsatisfactory state of female education was charge- 
able in the higher ranks far more upon the parents than the 
teachers. One of the most important steps to be taken was the 
creation of a more enlightened and earnest public opinion. There 
was a prevalent belief that men did not care to choose intellectual 
women as wives. If so it was a relic of barbarism ; but it did 
not relieve parents from the duty of fitting their girls for the 
highest and noblest employments, whether married or unmarried. 
Change in the tone of public opinion must be the work of time. 
Meantime other suggestions were made, mainly the establishment 
of large schools or colleges for young women, and the improvement 
of teaching by examination and registration. Several female col- 
leges had already been formed with the best results. A most 
important step had been taken by the appointment of the Schools 
Inquiry Commission. There was reason to hope that this would 
lead to legislative action being taken. He was proud as a member 
of the University of Cambridge that it had taken the lead in the 
matter of examinations for girls, for which Plymouth was one of 
the centres. Considering the disadvantages under which female 
candidates laboured, the results of these examinations were very 
encouraging. 
ECONOMIC VALUE. 
ABSTRACT OF PAPER BY MR. W. ADAMS. 
(Read December 14th, 1871.) 
Value was a "relative term, and variations in men's estimates of 
value in use created exchange. Articles thus gained, in addition 
to their personal value, a new — an economic or exchangeable 
value. One element of exchangeable value was that the supply of 
an article should be limited, the next that it should be capable of 
