more encouragement to the attempt to pierce those provinces from the west; they form a splendid field, most inviting to the spirit of enterprise that of old has characterized our commerce. There are then 40,000,000 people waiting to be clothed with British piece goods, and to be furnished with the handiworks of all the manufactories of England, and ready to give, in return, silk, tea, and the most valuable of the useful and precious metals from mines that European skill would make manifold more productive than now.

"The barriers imposed by man are removed; there remain but those of nature. To the conquest of these, our science and capital, energy and perseverance, will march again, as they have so often marched before, and again will be gained-to British commerce a new nation of buyers of our goods, and sellers of our wants; to the cause of progress, a new opening for the living civilization of Europe to compete with the sickly semibarbarism of Asia; to the cause of religion and humanity, a new field for truth and beneficence to modify, alleviate, and replace the cruelties of a fierce fanaticism and the vices of a degraded infidelity.

"With the opening of this new way to China will be written a fresh page in our already glorious commercial history; will be taken another step in our onward destiny, and will be given yet another proof that Providence sanctions the mission we attributed to our race.'

SCIENCE AND ART.

Twelfth Report of the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Educa

tion.

I. INSTRUCTIONS IN SCIENCE AND ART.
As respects Science.

"Science.-Under the present system of aid to science schools and classes, inaugurated by the minute of June 1859, there have been six annual examinations for certificates as science teachers and four general examinations of students. The numbers under instruction continue to increase rapidly, the results as regards instruction are reported by the examiners to be thorough and sound, the payments

are perfectly under control, and the system may be looked upon as quite successful.

"No teachers are trained by the department, the number of candidates who come up therefore from year to year to obtain certificates as teachers is influenced almost solely by the requirements of the country and the probability of obtaining employment. The system may now be considered working at its natural rate, the first rapid increase due to novelty having subsided. It is therefore satisfactory to see that the numbers are still maintained. Six more candidates came up last November than the November before, whilst one more, making a total of 96, obtained certificates. The number of candidates was in 1859, 57; in 1860, 89; 1861, 103; 1862, 125; 1863, 109; and 1864, 115. Numbers who obtained certificates, 1859, 43; 1860, 75; 1861, 97; 1862, 112; 1863, 95; and 1864, 96.

"Of the successful candidates, thirty-eight came up to improve the grade of the certificates they held or to obtain additional ones; fiftyseven were new candidates who had not been certificated previously. It is satisfactory to see that so many candidates endeavoured to improve the grade of their certificates, to which their is now no pecuniary value attached under the regulations. There are now about 380 certificated science teachers, all but a few of whom, who were certificated before 1859, have obtained their instruction in science without any expenditure of public money by the science and art department.

"The following table shows the number of students under instruction in classes under certificated teachers during the past five years. 1860, number of classes, 9; number under instruction, 500; 1861, 38-1,330; 1862, 70-2,543; 1863, 75—3,111; 1864, 91– 4,666. By the returns from the schools it appears that there were at the commencement of this year 5,054 students under instruction in 114 classes then existing. The steady development of the system, which has been maintained from the commencement, therefore still continues.

"The last, the fourth, general examination of science classes was held in May. The examination in each subject was carried on, as before, simultaneously all over the United Kingdom through the agency of the local com

mittees of the schools. 314 separate examinations were thus held at seventy-six provincial and eight metropolitan centres, some local committees having superintended as many as fourteen and sixteen examinations on different evenings. They are again reported to have been efficiently conducted in this manner.

"Of the 4,666 students under instruction at the time, 2,070 came up to the examination, besides twenty-five from schools not under certificated teachers.

"The rapid extension of science instruction rendered it probable that the payments to teachers, though only made on the results of the instruction of students of the artizan and poorer classes, might, in some cases, especially in the larger schools, become excessive. The science directory was therefore, by minute of the 21st September 1863, revised and certain provisions introduced, with a view of preventing the payments from becoming at any time unnecessarily large.

"The Navigation schools having been, as stated in our last report, placed on the same footing, as respects aid, as the general science classes, the payments under the former system ceased last June. Numerous remonstrances having been received from the navigation. schools as to this change of system, we have, in conjunction with the Board of Trade, sanctioned the arrangements detailed in the minute of 14th May 1864, see appendix A., page 6, with a view to render this change in the existing schools easier. They received payment under its provisions for the instruction of about 1,100 students, seamen, mates, and masters, who are not included in the above returns. The examination of the other students took place in May, and the returns are included in those before quoted. Some restrictions which still kept navigation schools distinct from ordinary science classes having been now removed, greater facilities will, it is believed, be afforded to seafaring men, and boys preparing for a seafaring life, for obtaining a knowledge of the sciences bearing on their calling.

"The Shipowners' Association of Liverpool having memorialized the First Lord of the Admiralty to institute examinations and grant degrees and honorary distinctions for passing in navigation, &c. to officers of the merchant service, his Grace communicated with the

Lord President of the Council and expressed a wish that the necessary examinations should be undertaken by the Science and Art Department. The requisite machinery now exists, and we have expressed our willingness to undertake the conduct of such examinations.

"Grants towards the purchase of apparatus and examples in science have been small, amounting to 1417. 2s. 104d., though showing an increase on the two previous years, when they amounted to 451. 8s. 5d. and 671. 13s. 6d. respectively. The opinion of Dr. Hofmann, the examiner in chemistry, in which there are the largest number of candidates, as to the advantages which he attributes to the freedom allowed to the teacher under the regulations is worthy of note.

66

Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.-The opening of this school, announced in our last report, took place on the 1st November. The Lords of the Admiralty sent sixteen pupils for education in the theory of their profession for the public service; eight of these were from the royal dockyards, and eight from the steam factories, six private students entered for the full course; paying the fees of 251. per session. Two of these students found it necessary to withdraw for the present, their mathematical attainments not being such as to qualify them for the advanced instruction in the school. It is not considered probable that for some years there will be any large number of private students.

"With the view of rendering the school at once as useful as possible to officers in her Majesty's service and private shipbuilders, the plan has been adopted experimentally of having a full course of public lectures by eminent scientific men, in addition to the ordinary instruction in the school by the regular staff. These lectures are given in the afternoon, and are so far distinct from the school instruction, that they may be attended by the public on the payment of separate fees.

“The naval models belonging to the Admiralty, which were kept in the vaults of Somerset House for some years past, have been transferred to this department, and are exhibited in one of the galleries of the iron museum. They have excited considerable interest and had already received numerous valuable additions from private shipbuilders and engineers at the

time of your Majesty's visit. More are promised, and the collection, which is of great value in connexion with the school of naval architecture, will no doubt be largely increased in this way. The introduction of the naval museum in juxtaposition with the museum of patents affords an additional reason for the organization of a museum of science generally, so that museums with like objects, but under different authorities, may not be created. This has made clear that there is virtually no real connexion between the first models of patented inventions necessarily imperfect, as illustrating only the crude idea of the inventor,-and the machinery, or the models of the perfected machine, as in use at any time, such as it would be desirable to exhibit as a scientific museum of machinery."

As respects Art.

"The National Art Training School, at South Kensington.-The report of the head master includes the results of one session previously reported on, and of one new session --that terminated by the examination in July last. The earlier publication of our report rendering it impossible to include the results of the session terminating in February, it has been considered advisable in future to include in the report of the training school for one year the work of the two sessions ending in July of that year, and commencing in October of the previous year. The training class during the two sessions thus ending in July 1864, numbered fifty-four students; forty-one of these were in receipt of allowances for maintenance, and thirteen were free students. Twenty-four certificates of qualification as teachers of art schools were obtained by students in this class.

"The increased accommodation afforded by the new permanent buildings, in which these sessions were held, while giving greater facilities for the thorough training of art teachers, enabled an increased number of students paying fees to avail themselves of the instruction. The number of such students was, in the winter session 382, and in the spring session 443; and their fees amounted to 8781. 11s. and 9451. 9s. respectively, being an increase in the number of students of seventy-nine over the preceding winter session, and 155 over the

spring session, and 3961. in the amount of fees over the corresponding sessions the year before. Some of the national scholars and students in the training school have been formed into a class to practise the etching of objects in the art museum, partly with a view to obtaining a thorough knowledge of its contents, and partly in order to obtain illustrations of ornament for distribution to local schools of art.

"The certificates and medals taken by students in, the training school are shown below, compared with the former year-certificates, 1863, 51; 1864, 24; medals, 1863, 60; 1864, 61; national medallions, 1863, 12; 1864, 15.

"The establishment of district schools of art in London is gradually relieving the national training school of the charge of instruction in metropolitan schools for the poor.

"There are now 91 schools of art in the United Kingdom, attended by 16,555 students, and extending their instruction in drawing to 94,083 children in elementary schools.

"Seven certificates of qualification as masters of art schools have been taken by students trained in local schools. This is under the system of commencing the training of teachers in the local schools referred to in our last report as having been just instituted.

"The total number of prizes and medals issued in 1864 was for drawing on slates, 656; 1st grade prize, 6,211; 2nd grade prize, 985; local medals, 1,014; national medallions, 153.

"There was a large increase in the number of first grade prizes and medallions awarded in 1864. These results are owing, as respects prizes, to a change in the standard, and as respects the medallions, to the awards having been made on the work of more than one year, consequent on the changes rendered necessary by the minutes introducing a system of payment solely on results. These minutes were printed in the report of 1862.

"The action of these minutes has been an increase in the number of persons successful in the elementary examinations. The number who obtained 1st and 2nd grade prizes and certificates was 11,934 in 1863, and 16,144 in 1864. Their effect upon the more advanced work of the schools cannot yet be determined, as the productions of the students do not come under examination till March.

"The completion of the south courts will render necessary the removal of a portion of the iron museum, designed and built by Sir William Cubitt for the Royal Commissioners of 1851,

Aid by examples has been given on 79 requisitions from art schools and classes, to the amount of 771. 5s. 7d. In 1863 the amount was 1071. 8s. 7d. on 78 requisitions. In 1862 the amount was 190l. Os. 3 d. on 121 requisitions, and in 1861, 305l. 15s. 4d. on 203 requisitions.

"The grand total of persons taught drawing through the agency of the department, and the amount of fees paid in 1864, have been as follows:

"Numbers taught, 110,630; fees paid, 19,0931. 78. 4d.

"Two schools, those at Finsbury and Sunderland, have been closed for lack of local support, and three new ones have been opened at Devizes, Trowbridge, and Henley-on-Thames.

"Grants in aid of building new schools have been paid this year to Nottingham and Lincoln, and had been promised, before the passing of the minute abolishing building grants, to Burslem, Leeds, and Wolverton, where the buildings are in progress.

"A Select Committee of the House of Commons was appointed in the month of March to inquire into the constitution, working, and success of schools of art. It presented its report in July. We have given this report, as well as other documents on the subject, our earnest attention and consideration, and have prepared a minute adopting its recommendation, as far as we believe it practicable or advisable to do so.

II.-SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. "Buildings.-The range of buildings forming the north side of the principal quadrangle, and containing the lecture theatre, is now in course of erection. The rate of progress is reported by the architect to have been comparatively slow, from the delay consequent on the modelling and manufacture of the terra cotta, which material is exclusively used in the dressings and ornamental details of the exterior. A range of building on the extreme east of the museum for the reception of the stores and offices has been erected.

and partially out of the proceeds of the Exhibition, and presented by the Royal Commissioners in 1856 to the then recently created Department of Science and Art. Preparations are, therefore, being made for taking down this portion. We propose that, when taken down, sections of this building shall be offered to the promoters of the several district metropolitan museums at a nominal cost, and we will take measures for showing how they can be economically erected. The polychrome decorations of both eastern and western divisions of the south court, from the designs of Mr. Godfrey Sykes, and of the rooms for oriental objects from those of Mr. Owen Jones, have been nearly completed, and three of the mosaic pictures for the panels in the side walls are now being made. A portrait of the late Prince Consort for the south court in mosaics is also in course of execution. Further details of these and other works executed or in progress during the year will be found in the general superintendent's and architect's reports before referred to.

"The Inspector-General for Art, Mr. Redgrave, R.A., reporting on the pictures, drawings, &c., the property of or under the charge of the Science and Art Department, states that the periodical examination shows that their general condition is most satisfactory. The national collection of water-colour paintings is gradually increasing in importance. Several purchases have been made during the past year, and the collection has been enriched by gifts of water-colour paintings from the Rev. T. Raven, R. Sasse, jun., Esq., the Rev. J. Sheepshanks, and others.

"The galleries which have been specially prepared for this collection will be completed in the spring. It will then be possible to exhibit the collection altogether arranged chronologically, when it will form a most interesting and instructive historical series.

"We have great satisfaction in calling attention to the further development of the system of loans that has taken place in this class of art through the liberality of Mr. John Walter, M.P.,

who has lent a collection of 57 pictures by the old masters, principally of the Dutch school.

"The administration of the museum, the re-organization of which was touched upon in our last report, appears to be working satisfactorily. It is based upon the principle of having the general duties of the museum-duties, that is, such an arrangement and administration, which are common to all divisions of the museum, whether art collections, or the educational or food collections alike,-subject to the direction of one officer, the specialities alone of each division being under the charge of the officer to whom the technical duties are confided. This we conceive to be a better plan and likely more to conduce to harmony and unity of action than the one usually adopted, indeed, in most museums, of placing the whole or nearly the whole administration of each division of the museum under the officer in special technical charge.

"Art Purchases. A number of valuable additions have been made to the museum by purchase. The principal objects are a casket in coloured enamel, the work of Jean Limousin; a missal case in gold, ornamented with translucent enamel, said to have been formerly the property of Henrietta Maria, consort of Charles I.; a candlestick of Henri II. ware; the Syon cope, a remarkable example of early English needlework; a retable,' or altarpiece, from a church, now destroyed, at Valencia, in Spain; and a collection of objects illustrative of Spanish work during the 15th and 16th centuries.

"An understanding has been come to with the trustees of the British Museum for the purpose of affording reciprocal aid in the purchase of works of art.

"In the report before-mentioned will be found a list of the gifts that have been made to the museum during the year. Among these should be mentioned a collection of articles, such as watches, needlework, wearing apparel, &c., highly illustrative of the manners and tastes of the 17th and 18th centuries, presented by the Rev. R. Brooke, of Gateforth House, Selby.

"The regular collection of objects on loan continues to be well supported. Besides the collection of Dutch pictures before alluded to, many valuable and interesting objects have been

contributed by the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone and others. It is proposed to open a special loan exhibition of miniatures on the 1st of June. A number of noblemen and gentlemen have been requested to give their assistance and act as a committee.

"Considerable progress has been made in the arrangements for the systematic interchange of reproductions of works of art with foreign Governments, the preliminary steps for which were reported last year. Several valuable casts have been added to the museum, such as that of the column of Trajan at Rome, and others of important works in the museum of the Louvre obtained from the French Government; of the Biga in the Vatican; and of the panels for the pulpit of the cathedral at Pisa by Giovanni Pisano.

"With a view of completing as far as possible the collections illustrating architectural sculpture and decoration, we have sought the advice of the Institute of British Architects, the Council of the Architectural museum, and the architectural profession generally, as to the works of which it would be desirable to obtain reproductions.

"We have caused the art inventory to be carefully revised, and for this purpose have secured the services of eminent collectors and connoisseurs of objects falling under the several divisions of the collection. The larger portion of this work has been compiled. A more minute and critical description of the objects. under these respective classes is also in course of preparation as a catalogue. This it is proposed to publish in sections, with woodcuts, so as to form a series of useful works of reference. Catalogues are also in progress of the collections of reproductions in electrotype, fictile ivory, and plaster.

"The circulating collection has been exhibited at Bristol in June, on the occasion of the meeting of the Bath and West of England Society, and at Islington in October, in connexion with the North London Working Men's Industrial Exhibition. The circulation of special objects among the schools of art-a system alluded to in our last report as having been commenced-has been since materially extended.

"An application for assistance towards an exhibition at Alton Towers for the benefit of