of strife as if the welfare and progress of his country depended on his individual exertions.

Do not believe that our decadence has commenced; but be assured, if we run the race vigorously, the prize will still be ours; and this gem of the ocean, this empire on which the sun never sets, will continue to be a guiding star to other nations in the path of political liberty, of intellectual progress, and of religious freedom.

Since this paper was delivered, the Author has visited Holland, where he inspected some of the primary, middle and higher schools. What he there saw impressed him still more favourably with the extent and quality of the instruction imparted.

The Utrecht Higher School appeared especially worthy of praise. Though the class of schools which this represents were directed to be established but a few years since (in 1863), already thirty-two are in full operation, and seven others are being erected. It is intended to form one in every town with 10,000 inhabitants or more, and in every district where, though no single town has that population, the various villages united have. Thirty-six towns in Holland come up to the requisite standard. The country districts may be represented by Sappemeer, Hoogezand, and Martenshoek (in the province of Groningen), where 15,000 persons are congregated around the institution, or by Zaandam and Zaandyk. *

At Utrecht, a city containing 56,000 inhabitants, with an university, the high-school has been in operation only two years; yet it is regarded with much public favour, and its class-rooms are filled with intelligent and earnest pupils. The writer cannot sufficiently express the feelings which animated him as he examined this building, the extent and loftiness of its class and lecture-rooms, its well-furnished laboratory, and the ample collection of engravings and models in the apartments where engineering and mechanics are taught. Nor was he less gratified by the influence exerted and the popularity of the fourteen heads of departments, who, under the direction of the President, impart the varied knowledge which is there supplied. Each head of a department (docent) receives 2,500 florins (about £210 sterling) annually. This, however, is not the whole of their income, for, the school hours being

* Of the thirty-two, twelve are supported by Government, the remainder by the municipalities aided by Government subsidies. Utrecht alone last year cost the Government no less than 30,000 florins, or £2,500 sterling.

very short, most of them increase it by giving extra lessons, either to their own scholars or to the students at the university. It is also usual for them to take boarders.

The course at the high schools extends over three years in some, and five years in others. In the smaller towns instruction is completed in three years. At Utrecht, students may remain either three or five.

Each pupil pays from £3 10s. to £5 per annum in the larger towns. In the smaller ones, however, the school fee commences as low as £2.

Classics are not taught, but English, French and German take prominent positions, a knowledge of the literature as well as of the language being carefully imparted. In fact, these institutions may be placed in the same rank with the Real- and Gewerbe- Schulen in Germany, and also with those institutions in France which have been described as adapting their course of tuition to the localities in which they are placed, sciences bearing on commerce and manufactures being specially taught in large towns, and in agricultural districts such other knowledge as is peculiarly useful there.

As the increase of population is constantly bringing other towns up to the standard at which a high-school must be built, the number will steadily rise year by year.

At the close of 1867, there were in these thirty-two schools three hundred and fifty-one heads of departments (head masters), of whom two hundred and seventy-three had before their appointment shown great ability and aptitude at the gymnasia, military academies, and other superior educational establishments, whence they came. Of the remainder, who were teachers of knowledge not included in the curriculum at those places, such as Political Economy, the talents and learning were undoubted, as will be seen from the fact that of the twenty-three who taught that science, twenty-two held the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.

As there are no high-schools in places where the population is below ten thousand, the middle schools there have an extra class for the impartation of knowledge more advanced than that usually furnished.

For instruction in the classics, there were sixty colleges and schools (known on the continent as "gymnasia"), the greater number of which receive subsidies from Government.

This paper gave rise to a lengthened discussion, which it was unanimously resolved to continue at the next meeting.

EIGHTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, 10th February, 1868.

J. BIRKBECK NEVINS, M.D., VICE-PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

Ladies were invited to attend this meeting.

The Rev. J. Holding, M.A., F.R.G.S., was unanimously elected a Corresponding Member.

Mr. Moore exhibited a selection of specimens from a collection made on a recent voyage to the China seas, by Captain Fred. E. Baker, ship Niphon, an associate of the society, and the whole of which had been presented by him to the Free Public Museum.

Among the objects exhibited were some fine Siluroid fish (generally known as cat fish), some bright-coloured fish, less than two inches in length, and commonly known as “fighting fish,” from their extreme pugnacity, fighting at each other, or endeavouring to do so, even when placed in separate but contiguous glasses of water; also a giant species of prawn, measuring some two feet in total length, and having the pair of limbs bearing the pincers coloured blue. These, with many other specimens contained in the collection, were from Saigon River.

Among the objects caught at sea were specimens of minute Crustaceans, which were met with in such prodigious numbers, in lat. 38 37 S., lon. 32 E., as to give the surface of the sea a blood-red colour in every direction; also some crabs found with the janthinx or violet shells, which, like the janthinx, are invariably of a blue colour;

crabs found on floating timber, also approximating in colour to the material on which they are met with. Some Sallee men (Velella) of extraordinary size, and numerous other specimens, were also shown.

Mrs. Baker, who accompained her husband, had shared with him the pleasant labour of making the collection, which was duly accompanied by notes of lat. and lon., and observations of interest on the specimens caught. Mr. Moore remarked further, that the pleasure derived from such pursuits during the tedium of a long voyage extends to the crew, who, although at first they may be inclined to vote a towing net or dredge to be a trouble or a nuisance, soon learn to take an intelligent interest in the interesting objects obtained therewith.

The CHAIRMAN then alluded to the death of Mr. Rathbone, and called upon

The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS, who said that he was glad to show, on behalf of the Society, any tribute of respect to the late Mr. Rathbone. His name and life had been so prominently brought before the public in the local press, that he would on this occasion refer only to his connection with this Society and the Royal Institution.

Mr. Rathbone was one of the original founders of the Literary and Philosophical Society; and now that he was gone, there was only one left Mr. Holbrook Smith. Mr. Rathbone had often spoken to him (Mr. Higgins) of the delightful associations of those early times, when the members of the Society frequently met in each other's houses, and, after spending the evening in literary and scientific discourse, concluded with oysters and porter. He had lately seen a list of the projectors of this institution in which they were now assembled; it was dated 1814, and contained thirty-six names. Mr. Rathbone had been the only survivor left of this list, which had a closer connection

with the Literary and Philosophical Society than with any other societies in the town.

Mr. Rathbone had remained an active member of the Royal Institution for a long time; and after some retirement, he renewed this active interest in its affairs about ten years ago, when he became a member of the committee and continued in office to the day of his death. Mr. Higgins then referred to the funeral, at which he was present, and said that he had never seen in Liverpool such a number of influential men, and of such high standing, gathered together. He concluded by moving the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Richard Johnson, and unanimously carried :

"That the Literary and Philosophical Society desire to record the deep concern with which they regard the loss from amongst them of Mr. William Rathbone, a true friend to intellectual improvement, and one of the original founders of the Society; and to express their heartfelt sympathy with his family on the mournful occasion."

The adjourned discussion on Mr. Baruchson's paper was then resumed by Mr. Picton, Mr. Baruchson having first read some observations in reply to the remarks made at the last meeting. The points chiefly under debate were compulsory education; the value of the classics versus modern languages in education; and the patronage accorded to literature, science, and art in Liverpool.