sity of Brussels, established in 1834, and the Catholic university of Louvain, established in 1835. The course of studies in these two universities is very similar to that of the state universities, and they confer the same degrees, only differing as regards their administration, the free university of Brussels being managed by a council of administration composed of twenty members, the mayor of Brussels being the president; seven of the members are life-members, appointed by the council of administration from among the founders and supporters of the university. The city-council of Brussels pays an annual subsidy of 50,000 francs and the provincial council of Brabant of 10,000 francs towards the support of this university; the rest of the expenses is met by the nterest of the fund presented by the founders, by donations, and by the students' fees, amounting to about the same as in the state-universities. The Catholic university at Louvain has a fifth faculty, viz, an extra faculty of theology, and is in charge of the Catholic authorities.

Industrial instruction.-There are a number of special schools connected with the state-universities, as the school of civil engineering, connected with the University of Ghent, established 1838. This school comprises a preparatory division-called the preparatory school-a school called the special school of civil engineering, and a school of arts and manufactures. The preparatory school is intended to prepare young men for the two other schools; the special school of civil engineering is intended for young men who wish to become engineers in the royal engineer-corps for bridges and roads, who wish to enter the railroad-service, or who wish to obtain the degree of civil engineer or architectural engineer. The school of arts and manufactures is destined for those who

intend to obtain the diploma of industrial engineer or who merely desire to acquire a more scientific knowledge of industry.

At the head of the school there is a director and a council of improvement of studies, consisting of five members, appointed by the ministry of the interior. The course of instruction in the preparatory school lasts two years and comprises the following subjects: experimental physics and elements of mathematical physics; descriptive geometry and its application to shading, perspective, stone-cutting, and timberwork; organic and inorganic chemistry; applied chemistry; elements of civil architecture, higher algebra, analytical geometry; elements of astronomy and geodesy; differential and integral calculus; analysis; elements of machinery; elementary and analytical mechanics; calculation of probabilities; and social arithmetic. The course of instruction in the special school of civil engineering lasts two years. This school has two sections, the first intended for pupil-engineers, (élèves-ingénieurs,) and the second for the education of civil engineers or architectural engineers. The school has an inspector of studies and the course of instruction embraces the following subjects: civil architecture, history of architecture, mineralogy, geology, industrial chemistry, industrial physics, social economy, administrative law, hydraulics, construction of machinery, stability of constructions, machinery, steam-engines, the construction and working of railroads, constructing roads, bridges, canals, and harbors.

The school of arts and manufactures has a three-years course, and embraces the application of science s to general and special branches of industry. It is placed under the immediate superintendence of the in. spector of studies of the school of civil engineering.

The school of arts, manufactures, and mining connected with the university of Liége was established in 1838. It has a director, council on improvement of studies, and three inspectors of studies. It has three divisions, viz: a preparatory school, a special school of arts and manufactures, and a special school of mining. The course of instruction is the same in the two first-mentioned schools as in those connected with the University of Ghent. The special school of mining has a threeyears course, which embraces the following subjects: the searching and working of mines, mineralogy, industrial economy, industrial organic chemistry, industrial inorganic chemistry, assaying, metallurgy, indus. trial physics, industrial architecture, construction of machinery, applied mechanics, and working of railroads.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS AND WORKSHOPS.

The number of industrial schools is 26; they are almost exclusively communal institutions, receiving aid from the government, which has the general superintendence and the right of inspection. The course of instruction lasts two to four years and is given entirely free of charge. It generally embraces the following subjects: mathematics, mechanics,

physics, chemistry, book-keeping, drawing, and modeling, and in some schools, also, mining, metallurgy, and architecture.

An institution peculiar to Belgium are the workshops for learning trades, (ateliers d'apprentissage.) The origin of these workshops was the hopeless condition of the weavers in Flanders about 1830, who were suffering much in consequence of the introduction of machinery. A private association was then formed which aimed at spreading the knowledge of improved methods of weaving; the government soon took the matter in hand, and numerous workshops were established throughout the country, where skillful weavers instructed young men in the improved methods of weaving. Many of these workshops are institutions entirely supported by government, and others are supported by the provincial or communal authorities or by private individuals, but all of them are under government-supervision. In many of these workshops instruction is also given in reading, writing, arithmetic, and other elementary subjects during the evening-bours.

In this connection the Industrial Museum at Brussels must be mentioned. It was founded in 1826 and re-organized in 1841, and contains physical and chemical instruments, machinery of every kind, and a technological library. Since 1846 a drawing-school is connected with it and since 1852 free lectures are delivered in the evenings on physics, chemistry, mechanics, political economy, and hygiene, which are very well attended.

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION.

There is one state agricultural school at Gembloux, founded in 1860. This school is located in large and well-arranged buildings and has a model farm and garden, and in the neighborhood are large distilleries breweries, and sugar-manufactories, thus affording the students an opportunity of becoming acquainted with these branches of industry. The conditions of admission are the age of 16 and a good knowledge of the elementary branches, geometry, and geography. The time of entering is the 1st October. The institution is in the charge of the ministry of the interior. Students who board in the institution pay 700 francs annually. At the end of the course, examinations are held and diplomas of "agricultural engineer" given to the successful candidates. The course of instruction lasts three years and embraces the following subjects: elementary algebra, plane geometry, stereometry, surveying, elements of mechanics, linear drawing, construction of agricultural implements, rural architecture, drainage, irrigation, physics, meteorology, inorganic and organic chemistry applied to agriculture, agricultural technology, mineralogy, geology, zoölogy, botany, all with their relation to agriculture; anatomy, physiology, hygiene, breeding, raising, and improving of domestic animals; general and special agriculture, forest-culture, horticulture, and arboriculture; agricultural and forest-economy, various systems of culture, rotation of crops; agricultural laws; agricultural book-keeping. The instruction given is both theoretical and practical.

There are two schools of horticulture, one at Vilvorde and one at Ghent, established by a decree of the minister of the interior in 1855. The conditions of admission are the age of 17, good bodily health, a perfect knowledge of French and of all the elementary branches. The annual charge is about 100 francs, which is, of course, only a nominal charge, as the students are lodged and boarded free of expense. The course of instruction occupies three years, is both theoretical and prac tical, and embraces the following subjects: French, Flemish, arithmetic, book-keeping, botany, architecture of hot-houses and gardens, flowerculture, culture of vegetables, hot-house-gardening, fruit-culture. Connected with each school are large gardens, nurseries, arboretums, hothouses, museums, and libraries.

ART-INSTRUCTION.

There are two academies of the fine arts, one at Brussels and the other at Antwerp, both under the direction of the government. The object of these academies is to give gratuitous instruction in painting, sculpture architecture, and engraving, and the sciences relating to these arts, to spread the taste for art, and to encourage and protect those who engage in its pursuit. Councils of administration, most of whose members are appointed by the King, are charged with the superintendence of these academies. The course of instruction is given by professors appointed by the King, is of indefinite length, and embraces the following subjects: historical painting, drawing, sculpture, genre-painting, landscape-painting, portrait-painting, picturesque anatomy, architectural painting, architecture, naval architecture, engraving on wood, steel- and copper-engraving, proportions of the human body, principles of ornaments, modeling, picturesque perspective, history, antiquities and costumes, æsthetics and general literature, comparative architecture, and geometry.

The taste for art is also fostered by the royal museums of paintings and sculpture at Brussels, by the Royal Museum of Antiquities in the same city, and by a number of provincial, municipal, and private museums in every part of the country.

Lower art-instruction is given in drawing-schools chiefly maintained by the communal or provincial authorities, at present numbering up wards of fifty, where gratuitous instruction in drawing and kindred branches is given.

There are two royal conservatories of music, at Brussels and at Liége managed by committees appointed by the King, under the supervision, of the ministry of the interior. Each has a director and a number of professors. The object of these institutions is to give gratuitous instruction in music and encourage and elevate the musical taste. The length of the course is indefinite. It embraces the following subjects: thorough bass, harmony, singing, Italian language, elocution, violin, violoncello, double-bass, piano, organ, French horn, trombone, clarionet, saxophone, hautboy, flute, bassoon, trumpet, &c.

BUSINESS-INSTRUCTION.

Book-keeping and kindred branches are taught in many schools. There is a superior commercial institute at Antwerp, established in 1852, for the acquirement of the higher branches of commercial knowledge, at the joint expense and under the immediate patronage of the Belgian government and of the municipality of the city of Antwerp.

The practical and theoretical course of instruction extends over two years and embraces the following subjects: book-keeping; commercial correspondence, in French and English; commercial transactions of every kind; description of merchantable articles and produce; political economy and statistics; commercial and industrial geography; general principles of law; Spanish, Italian, German, and English commercial and maritime legislations compared; principles of international law; legislations of customs; ship-building and fitting-out. The entering-fee is 25 francs per annum, and the general subscription for the first year is 200 francs and for the second year 250. Candidates can enter at any period of the year, but no reduction is made in the terms. Examinations for admission take place only once a year, at the beginning of October, before a commission appointed by the government and presided over by the director of the institution. The subjects of this examination are: a composition in French and a translation from French into German and English; physical geography; commercial arithmetic; elements of algebra, geometry, book-keeping; rudiments of natural philosophy and of chemistry; rudiments of universal history. These conditions are modified in favor of foreigners, especially as regards languages. The students do not live in the institution, but board in the city. A final examination is held at the end of the second year, at which examiners specially nominated by the government deliver certificates to such students as pass the requisite examination; and any student who has displayed special proficiency may obtain a stipend enabling him to travel abroad during several years at the expense of the government and with the title of consular pupil.

MILITARY INSTRUCTION.

There are three institutions for military instruction, all under the supervision of the ministry of war, viz, the school of war, (école de guerre,) the military school, and the school for non-commissioned officers of the infantry and cavalry, the first intended for the education of staff-officers, the second for the education of commissioned officers of the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and engineers, and the last for the education of noncommissioned officers. The course of instruction in the two first-mentioned schools embraces: fortification, topography, geodesy, calculation of probabilities, political and military geography, staff-service, higher administration, military history, tactics and strategy, artillery, mathematics, physics, chemistry, general history, French literature,