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position Fee of 17. may be paid. Entries with the Fees, Names, and Colours, to be made to a Member of Committee, or to the Hon. Secretary, G. A. Norman, Esq., St. George's Hospital.

All entries to be made on or before Monday, June 1st.

Entries for the Swimming Races will be received after the Athletic Meeting. APOTHECARIES' HALL.—The last of a course of Six Lectures on Spectrum Analysis and its applications, will be delivered on the 6th June, by Henry E. Roscoe, B.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Professor of Chemistry, Owens College, Manchester. Syllabus.-Stellar Chemistry.-Huggins and Miller.-Spectra of the Fixed Stars.-Difficulties of Observation. Methods employed. Variable Stars.-Double Stars.-Temporary Bright Stars.-Nebulæ.Conclusion.

BEDFORD-SQUARE COLLEGE.

IN connexion with the scheme of the University of London for granting examinations and certificates to women, it may interest our readers to know, as throwing some light on the degree of attainment there is reason to expect where girls have had fair opportunities of instruction, that last year at Bedford College an examination was held in Latin equivalent to the first B.A. of the University of London. Mr. Talfourd Ely, Assistant Examiner to the University, was employed. Two-thirds of the highest Latin class passed with a high average of marks. This examination and one similar in degree in Pure Mathematics will be held at the end of next session.

In connexion with the Cambridge Local Examinations for girls a scholarship has been offered from the London General Committee to the student who shall obtain the highest marks. It is to be tenable for seven terms at Bedford College.

One scholarship has been already awarded on these terms.

We are informed that Bedford College has lately received the offer of an endowment from the funds of a trust for female education, upon certain conditions. Should this offer be accepted, the college will be in a position to carry on its proper work of giving a higher education than is usually within the reach of women; and the Council will have it in their power, unhampered by the consideration of expense, to adopt from time to time any plans in furtherance of their object which may appear desirable.

CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL.-Some important additions have been made lately to the staff of lecturers in the medical school. Dr. Shaw, late a distinguished student of King's College, has been elected professor of physiology. Dr. Green, a pupil of University College, who has also studied under the famous Professor Virchow, of Berlin, has been chosen to fill the chair of pathological anatomy, and trusted with the superintendence of post mortem examinations. The architect is busily engaged in converting two more houses in Chandos-street into additional wards. Going on for a few years more at the present rate, this hospital seems likely to absorb the whole block of buildings, extending nearly to the National Gallery, of which it now only occupies the eastern end.

THE Annual Debate of the University College was held at the College on Thursday, the 14th ult. The number of visitors was larger than usual, though there seemed to be but a small proportion of ladies present compared with former years. The art galleries and library of the college were thrown open to the visitors, and tea was provided for them in one of the rooms opening into the Flaxman Gallery.

The Right Hon. GEORGE DENMAN, M.P., Q.C., took the chair at half-past seven o'clock, and after the minutes of the last meeting had been read by the Honorary Secretary and approved, read over the question for debate-" Has the present extensive circulation of Periodical Literature a beneficial effect on the country ?" and called on Mr. Hunter, B.A., late president of the society, to open in the affirmative.

Mr. Hunter said that the pleasure given by periodical literature was great, and enjoyed by almost every one; that works of great value, such as the Essays of Macaulay, Hamilton, and Mill, of Matthew Arnold and Gladstone, had first appeared in periodicals; and the novels of Charles Dickens, Lord Lytton, and Miss Evans, as well as those of Miss Braddon, had been first published in this way; while many great works, and encyclopædias especially, had been brought out in parts. Many, too, read periodicals who would read nothing else; and it was surely better for men to read anything not absolutely base than to read nothing. Then periodicals were the best vehicle for reviews, and served to introduce young authors; they embodied the great principle of paying by instalments. Why had their circulation increased so wonderfully? Because they were a want of the age. There might be works of a higher kind, but we must deal with people as we find them; and many only care for light reading. The hon. gentleman sat down with applause.

Mr. Godefroy, B.A., then rose to reply. He said, the best way to see what was in a periodical was to turn to the contents. What would be found on so doing? A few chapters of some novel, an article taken from an encyclopædia, abridged, condensed, and re-written, and reviews of works not worth reviewing. This might be proved by a reference to the "Cornhill," "Macmillan's," or "St. Paul's." It was true that there had been one or two good novels published in this way-" Romola," for instance, and some of Bulwer's—but these were the exception. The newspapers came next under consideration. Of these he would consider the Times alone, for the others mostly imitated it, and were repetitions of the same type. In these the criticisms were not at all good. With regard to the only paper which differed at all from the Times-he meant the Star-did any one think that the thoughts of the Flâneur or of Mr. Sprouts were likely to be of much service to the people? One bad thing in the circulation of these periodicals was, that they made people content with superficial knowledge. Mr. Hunter's principle of paying by instalments led to the circulation of those books which contained views of a whole science, and which, by printing an affectation of poetry, and overstocking the market, kept true poets from the field. (Cheers.)

Mr. Wadya said that first-rate works had been published and were being published in periodicals; that periodicals thus served education, and so liberty; that as liberty advanced so had they sprung up. We had but lately seen how much the people had advanced, by the signal failure of an attempt to stir up bigotry in their minds. After a quotation from Milton in favour of the freedom of the press, the honourable gentleman, who was frequently

interrupted by expressions of applause and disapprobation, concluded by saying, "Don't despise true progress for passing evils."

Mr. Bompas, M.A., UL.B., said that, to judge rightly of the people, we should wait till the general election. The reading of periodicals took away both time and inclination for reading standard works, and it caused a tendency to read without thinking. This was shown by the fact that the periodicals had almost all degenerated from their original standard.

Mr. Hare (a visitor), said the "Penny Magazine" had failed, like many others, through containing too much instruction; the people wouldn't read such works. Instruction and amusement must be combined. The hon. gentleman then went on to praise the "Family Herald" as possessing these good qualities. With regard to the other periodicals, he said that they enlarged the mind by presenting a variety of opinions to the readers; and if not altogether what might be wished, still we should recollect that Shakspeare was not unexceptionable. If periodicals were as bad as they were made out they would soon cease to exist.

Mr. Dymock (Sec. K. C. Deb. Soc.), after thanking the society for their courtesy to King's College, said that it was not the higher class of periodicals whose circulation had most effect; it was those sold in the streets at the back of Oxford-street, and these were certainly bad. And the higher-priced periodicals did harm by giving an unreal picture of life. While admitting that some good was done by both classes, he thought that the evil outweighed the good.

Mr. Kisch, M.A., B.Sc. spoke in favour of the negative, saying that the tendency of much periodical reading was to destroy the taste for solid works.

Mr. Hare supported the question.

Dr. Aspland said that the periodicals induced people to read who would not otherwise do so. The penny press of this country would bear comparison with that of any other country.

Mr. Beal, B.A., president of the society, opposed the question, giving a very amusing and depreciatory résumé of the average contents of a periodical. Mr. Sterne then got up to speak in the affirmative, but sat down after a vain attempt to obtain a hearing..

The Chairman then called upon the opener to reply, but he waived his right on account of the lateness of the hour.

The Chairman then rose. He said he should try and sum up the argn, ments on both sides as impartially as possible. He thought the onus lay on those who took the negative side of the question. Many as good works as those of Macaulay, Sydney Smith, and Lord Lytton, besides articles on science, had appeared in periodicals. He thought that periodicals were peculiarly suited to be vehicles for short articles and anonymous attempts. "Sketches by Boz" had first appeared in this way, and no doubt the success of this undoubtedly led their author on. Thus young writers were enabled to gain experience without the chance of disgrace. In this way the "Tatler" paved the way to the "Spectator." Periodicals enabled wellknown writers to feel the pulse of the public. Periodical literature benefited the reader by giving its advantages to those who would not read anything; and with all its imperfection we should find that it kept a little above the average of its readers, so as to decidedly improve the readers. The most

formidable and serious objection was that it destroyed all independence of thought; but he asserted that it excited much more thought than it crushed, relating in support of this that Sir W. Cubitt had owed his rise to his ambition being aroused by seeing a mathematical problem in some cheap periodical. Reading periodicals had certainly a beneficial effect, if you did not read too much of them, and if you read those on both sides. As to the tendency ascribed to it of dragging the writers down to the prevalent taste, that had been disposed of by the proof that it elevated the readers. But even if it did so, there was this to be said in favour of writing to the level of the readers, that it was better to read what was at least harmless than that which was worse. It had been proved that the freer and cheaper books have been, the sale of those which were purely bad had declined. When there were stamps on papers, the number of immoral publications had been very large; but it was now small and decreasing very fast. The periodicals did good by "touching the lips of the cup of bitter wormwood with honey," as Lucretius said. They beguiled people into knowledge without deceiving them. They pointed out abuses and suggested remedies, thus conducing to the happiness of mankind. The only way to keep out what little there was objectionable was a censorship. Would that be a good thing?

After the right hon. gentleman had concluded his speech, which was received with repeated applause, the question was put to the meeting, and carried in the affirmative by a large majority. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was proposed by Mr. Beal, and seconded by Mr. Hunter, the meeting broke up at about half-past ten. A. A. A.

A fine copy in oil of Raphael's celebrated fresco in the Vatican, entitled the "Incendio di Borgo," painted by the late Mr. Hollins, A.R.A., which has for several years been rolled up in the gallery of the Museum of Anatomy, was unrolled a short time ago, and is now hung at the south end of the museum. The representatives of Mr. Hollins have intimated their willingness to present the painting, which is one of great merit and beauty, to the college, if a suitable place can be found for it. The large dimensions of the picture-24 feet by 17-render it somewhat difficult to comply with this condition; but it is hoped that the difficulty will be overcome, and thus a valuable addition will be made to the art treasures of the institution.

Date.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CRICKET CLUB.

June 11. University C. C. v. St. Thomas's Hospital.

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Matches are to be arranged for June 4th and 30th, and July 10th and

23rd.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC CLUB.

Sports will be held at Beaufort House, on the 3rd of June.

HENRY A. HARBEN,

Hon. Sec.
University College, London.

The Old St. Thomas's Hospital Students' Dinner was held on Thursday evening last.

The Banquet to be given to Sir Wm. Jenner is fixed for? 12th or 11th of June, at Willis's Rooms.

WORKING MEN'S COLLEGE.

The

THIS College is just entering on the last term of its fourteenth year. number of students who joined classes during the term just closed was 357. This number is exclusive of about 100 members who were not actually in classes, but of whom many attended general lectures, &c. The new members were 97 in number. The language classes are, as usual, the most fully attended; and the mathematical classes have lately shown a tendency to increase, numbering 61 members. The class-teaching in this department has lately been organized on a new system, so as to include much of what is, in fact, private tuition. A class lately formed in jurisprudence, under Mr. Sheldon Amos, has been singularly successful. On the whole the College is prospering. Its friends would like to see it increase in size; but any expansion is scarcely to be hoped while the present pressure of want of space continues. Some of the class-rooms are so overcrowded as to make it hard for teacher to teach or learner to learn-in the art department especially—and as the summer advances is subject to an increasingly severe risk of suffocation. The relief of this pressing want is for the present delayed by want of money. The "building fund" has not yet reached an amount sufficient to justify the Council in undertaking the erection of the new hall and class-rooms. They have 12507. in hand, and 2007. more has been promised; but some 1500l. more is wanted. Two donations of 100l., and another of 50l., have been recently given towards raising a sum of 10007., which, with certain sums promised on loan, would at once secure the erection of the building.

The College has hitherto carried on its work without any begging from the public. It will be certainly no credit to the public spirit of a generation which professes to be great in the matter of education, if a steadily-sustained and reasonably-successful effort to bring a liberal education within the reach of the people is checked for the want of a few hundred pounds.

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An incident of the last term has been the holding of "conferences" of the students and teachers on subjects of social or political interest now before Parliament. Three were on the education question, and a fourth on the social and political status of women. These meetings have been under the presidency of the Principal; and among those who have taken part in the discussions have been Mr. Ruskin, Dr. Lankester, Mr. Chisholm Anstey, Mr. Sheldon Amos, Mr. Albert Rutson, Mr. Mozley, and several students of the College.

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