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SCIENCE AND ART INSTRUCTION IN IRELAND.

INSTRUCTION IN SCIENCE AND ART in Ireland is provided in numerous central and provincial institutions, aided by charges on the Consolidated Fund, by direct Parliamentary grants, or out of appropriations made to the Science and Art Department, viz. :-Professorships of natural philosophy, chemistry, botany, geology, and mineralogy, in the Royal Dublin Society, since 1854 transferred to other institutions; School of engineering in Trinity College, instituted in 1840; Chairs of mathematics, phyics, chemistry, and natural sciences, and Departments of engineering and practical science in the Queen's Colleges in Belfast, Cork, and Galway, established in 1849; Model agricultural schools, and the Albert Agricultural Institute at Glasnevin, under the Commissioners of National Education; the Schools of Art, and Schools of Navigation, and Classes of Science, under the Government Science and Art Department; the Royal College of Science for Ireland, the Royal Dublin Society, and other cen. tral and provincial schools. The College possesses a valuable Museum.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE FOR IRELAND.

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, in Dublin, instituted or rather reorganized in 1867, is now in successful operation, with not a large number of students (32 in 1869) in the regular course, and 5,773 in its special and miscellaneous courses delivered in connection, but with an adequate teaching force and a well-defined plan of instruction, as will be seen from the following

PROGRAMME FOR THE SESSION 1869-70.

The Royal College of Science supplies, as far as practicable, a complete course of instruction in science applicable to the industrial arts, especially those which may be classed broadly under the heads of mining, agriculture, engineering, and manufactures, and is intended to aid in the instruction of teachers for the local schools of science.

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Under Applied Mathematics is taken the application of Mathematics to those sciences generally included under the head of Mechanics, viz., Statics, Dynamics, Hydrostatics, and Hydrodynamics, as well as to some other branches of Physics.

Under Mechanism is treated only the relations of motion, or the study of machines merely as contrivances for changing one kind of motion into another, apart from any considerations of force.

Under Machinery is treated the application of Mechanics and Mechanism to machines used in the industrial arts.

Chemistry includes both lectures and laboratory practice.

The course of instruction extends over three years, each year being divided into two terms. In the first two years the instruction is general. In the last year it is specialized under the heads of Mining, Agriculture, Engineering, and Manufactures. The scheme of instruction is the following:

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Students entering for the associateship are expected to be acquainted with the first two books of Euclid and the elementary rules of Algebra. Some familiarity with the use of the ordinary drawing instruments is very desirable.

In their first and second years they are required to attend all the courses in the subjects appointed for these years. In their third year they are required to attend all those belonging to any one division, as follows:

Third Year.
Division A.-Mining.

Geology, with demonstrations in Palæontology.

Mechanism and Machinery.

Mineralogy and Mining. Assaying und Metallurgy. Land Surveying.

Students in this Division are required to attend the lectures of the Professor of Geology, with demonstrations in Palæontology; also those of the Professors of Mining and Mineralogy, of Mechanism, and of Land Surveying. The laboratory instruction will comprise a course of Assaying and Metallurgy.

Geology.
Agricultural Science.

Division B.-Agriculture.

Land Surveying.

Mechanism and Machinery.
Analysis of Soils and Manures.

Students in this Division are required to attend the courses in Geology and Palæontology; also the course of the Professor of Agriculture. They likewise receive instruction in Mechanism and Machinery and in Land Surveying, and also laboratory instruction in the Analysis of Soils and Manures.

Division C.-Engineering.

Mechanism and Machinery. Mechanical Drawing, Engineering, and Surveying.

Geology and Paleontology.

In this Division the students are required to attend the courses of the Professor of Applied Mathematics, and those of the Professor of Descriptive Geom etry in Mechanical Drawing, Engineering, and Land Surveying, also that of the Professor of Geology, with demonstrations in Paleontology.

Division D.-Manufactures.

Applied Mechanics, and Physics.

Applied Chemistry, and Technical Analysis.

Students in this Division are required to attend the lectures of the Professor of Applied Mathematics and of the Professor of Applied Chemistry, and to go through a further course of Practical Chemistry.

The Demonstrator in Palæontology gives instruction, during the second term of the session, to students of the third year. These demonstrations are also open to any student who attends, or has during the preceding session attended, the lectures either of the Professor of Geology, Zoology, or Botany.

A diploma of associateship of the College will be given to students who pass in all the subjects of the first two years, and of any one division of the third year. Students may also enter for the separate courses, and receive certificates after examination. A certificate of attendance in the chemical laboratory is not given for any course less than three months.

The course of instruction in this College is recognized by the Secretary of State for India as qualifying for appointments in the Engineering Department. There are four Royal Scholarships of 50%. yearly each, with free education,

tenable for two years; two will become vacant each year. They will be given to students who shall have been a year in the College.

There are also nine Royal Exhibitions attached to the College of 50% each, tenable for three years.

These Scholarships and Exhibitions are tenable only on the condition that the holders shall attend all the lectures of their respective years. This condition is strictly enforced by the Department. They must also pass the examinations at the end of the session.

Students at the conclusion of their first academic year are examined in the subjects of that year. Prizes are awarded for superior answering in each branch. The award of the Royal Scholarships is made on the result of this examination, to those students, not Royal Exhibitioners, who on the whole have answered best, if sufficiently deserving to be recommended for them.

At the conclusion of the second and third year, similar examinations are held and prizes awarded.

A medal is awarded at the conclusion of the second year to that student who, on the total results of both years, shall have most distinguished himself, if suffi cient merit be shown.

To candidates for the associateship whose knowledge of pure mathematics is not sufficiently advanced, the Professor of Applied Mathematics gives such instruction as is necessary. These lectures may be attended by other students. Prizes will be awarded for proficiency at the end of the first and second years. During the session, short courses of evening lectures of a more popular character will be delivered, the particulars respecting which will be duly announced. The Chemical and Metallurgical Laboratories, under the direction of Professor Galloway, are open every week day during the session (except Saturday, and the usual holidays) from 10 A. M. to 4 P. M.

The library contains carefully-selected works, and is open to the students, and also to the public under certain restrictions.

The Museum is open to the public on week days from 11 A. M. to 4 P. M. The session commences on the first Monday in October in each year, and lasts until the 21st June following, with a vacation of ten days at Christmas, and of a week at Easter.

The first term commences on the first Monday in October, and the second term on the first Monday in February.

The examinations are held at the close of the session.

The fees, in all cases payable in advance, are,

21. for each separate course of lectures;

And for laboratory practice, 24. per month, 51. for three months, or 121. for the entire session.

Students entering for the purpose of obtaining the diploma of associate, or intending to compete for the scholarships, pay 101. each year, which will admit them to all the courses of that year, exclusive of laboratory—or 251. for the whole studentship of three years.

The holders of Royal Scholarships or Royal Exhibitions pay no fees.

STAFF OF INSTRUCTION, 1869-70.

Dean of Faculty-SIR ROBERT KANE, LL.D., F.R.S., M.R.I.A.
Professors-Physics-WILLIAM BARKER. M.D., M.R.I.A.
Chemistry-WILLIAM K. SULLIVAN, Ph.D., V.P.R.I.A.

Applied Chemistry-ROBERT GALLOWAY, F.C.S.

Geology-EDWARD HULL, F.R.S.

Applied Mathematics-ROBERT BALL, M.A.

Botany-WYVILLE THOMSON, LL.D.

Zoology-RAMSAY H. TRAQUAir, M.D.

Agriculture-EDMUND W. DAVY, M.B., M.R.I.A.

Descriptive Geometry-THOMAS F. PIGOT.

Mining and Mineralogy-J. P. O'REILLY.

Librarian and Curator of Museum-ALPHONSE GAGES, M.R.I.A.
Paleontological Demonstrator-W. H. BAILY, F.L.S., F.G.S.

Assistant Chemist-WILLIAM PLUNKETT, F.C.S.

Clerk-GEORGE C. PENNY.

Secretary-FREDERICK J. SIDNEY, LL.D, M.R.I.A.

ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY.

THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY was originally founded to encourage husbandry, and has from its first institution received large government grants in aid of its operations. It was associated with the Science and Art Department in 1854, and the professorship of agriculture, for many years attached to its operations, was in 1864 transferred to the College of Science.

At the close of 1869 there were 1,254 members. Its operations consisted of: 1. Evening Meetings of the members for the discussion of subjects of applied Science and Art, were held on the third Monday of each month, which had an average attendance of 96 persons at each meeting. The papers read, and proceedings, were published in the Journal of the Society.

2. Scientific Lectures were delivered on the afternoon of every Saturday in March, April, and May, which were attended by 3,714 persons. The substance of the lecture was published in the Journal.

3. The Botanic Garden at Glasnevin, with its experimental grounds, its exchanges and donations of plants, flowers, and seeds, and its Botanical Museum, has been maintained in a high degree of efficiency, and visited by 50,936 persons on week-days, and 172,600 on Sundays.

4. The Museum of Natural History-rich in geological, palæontological, mineralogical, and zoölogical collections—was visited by 31,975 persons, and the Library was consulted by 18,375 individuals.

5. The Agricultural Department included four exhibitions:-(1,) of cattle in April; (2) of horses in August; (3,) of sheep in September; and (4,) of fat stock, poultry, and farm and dairy produce, in December, attended in the aggregate by 21,184 persons:-encouragement for the cultivation of flax:-the Agricultural Museum, which was visited by 18,500 persons.

6. The Art Department, embraced in a School of Art, which in the day classes was attended by 293 students (64 males and 229 females), and morning and evening classes by 242 artisans (214 males and 28 females), an aggregate attendance of 535 students; an annual and competitive examination for prizes; an exhibition of works of art; lectures on the Fine Arts, and a course on anatomy applied to art, which was attended by 805 persons.

7. The provincial lectures, and the instruction by a special professorship in agriculture, have been transferred to the College of Science.

ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

The Royal Zoological Garden, which receives a public grant of 5001, from payments of members 3431., and from the sale of tickets at the entrance gate, 1,046., was visited by 136,052 persons; and the lectures and discussions on comparative anatomy, and veterinary surgery, were largely attended.

ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY.

The annual exhibition of works of fine art (392), realized 2051. out of the sale of 16,001 tickets; and the School of Art was attended by 60 students. The Academy receives a special grant of 3007.

MUSEUM OF IRISH INDUSTRY.

This Museum was founded by the government in 1845, and has heretofore received an annual grant of 4,3361., a portion of which was expended on scientific lectures in the large provincial towns. A portion has been transferred to the Dublin Society, and another portion to the College of Science.

THE QUEEN'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY

IN

IRELAND.

THE national school system in which secular instruction is kept free from whatever could offend the most susceptible sectarianism, had proved so successful in diffusing a sound elementary education among the children of the peasantry and the working classes of Ireland, that in 1845 the plan was extended so as to provide, under government endowment, the means of obtaining a liberal and professional education for the sons of the middle and upper classes-available to persons of every denomination. This was done by the establishment of the Queen's Colleges at Belfast, Cork, and Galway-now combined and incorporated into the Queen's University, the Senate or governing body of which is seated or holds its meetings at Dublin.

The entire system of United Education has been built up by the cooperation of the two great parties in the State; upon this high ground their only rivalry has been which should contribute most to the common work, and carry out most efficiently its great principle. To the Whig government of Lord Grey, belongs the honor of having first had the courage to proclaim and put in action that principle by the appointment of the first board of commissioners in 1831; the charter which established the schools upon a permanent basis, by constituting the commissioners a body corporate, was a measure of the Tory government of Sir Robert Peel, in 1844; on the other hand, the completion and crowning of the edifice by the addition of the colleges was the idea and enactment of Sir Robert Peel, and has been the achievement, for the greater part, of Lord John Russell. At the opening of the session of parliament on the 4th of February, 1845, her Majesty, in the speech from the throne, recommended to the consideration of the legislature "the policy of improving and extending the opportunities for academical education in Ireland;" and on the 19th of March thereafter, Sir Robert Peel, in reply to a question by Sir Robert Inglis, took an opportunity of laying before the House of Commons an outline of the ministerial plan, both for the establishment of the three new colleges of secular learning and general instruction, and for the endowment of the Roman Catholic Theological College of Maynooth, which had been established by an act of the Irish Parliament in 1795, and had been hitherto dependent for its support only upon an annual grant of very inadequate amount. The two measures thus simultaneously announced and proposed, as in some degree connected with and dependent upon one another, were both carried through parliament in that same session. The Maynooth endowment, however, was made to take the lead. as if to intimate to the gen

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