BRITISH.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY.-Dec. 11th.-Nomina Candidatorum Termino Michaelis, A.D. 1833, qui honore digni sunt habiti in unaquaque classe secundum ordinem alphabeticum disposita.

In Disciplinis, Mathematicis, et Physicis.-Class I.-Makeson, William, King's College. Class II.-Coope, Joseph R., ex Æde Christi; Walker, Joseph, Wadham College. Class III.-Comyn, Henry, Exeter College; Murray, Henry Stormont, ex Æde Christi; Read, Thomas, F. R., University College. Class IV.-Thomas, Richard, Wadham College. Examiners.-S. Falconer, A. Neate, H. Reynolds.

CAMBRIDGE.-The subject of the Norrisian Prize for the ensuing year is "The divine origin of Christianity proved by the accomplishment of the Prophecies delivered by Christ himself."

The number of resident members of the University is stated to be in commons, 1669; of whom there are in lodgings, 562. The matriculations at Easter Term were 363.

'The number of resident members in the October Term, for the last ten years, has been as follows:-1824, 1684; 1825, 1711; 1826, 1700; 1827, 1741; 1828, 1761; 1829, 1771; 1830, 1794; 1831, 1692; 1832, 1697; 1833, as above.

At a congregation on the 4th of December, two graces were brought forward by Professor Pryme; one, to appoint a syndicate or committee to consider the propriety of discontinuing the subscription to the three articles of the 36th canon at the time of taking the degree of M.A., &c., or to substitute some other subscription in its stead; the other, to consider of the propriety of discontinuing the subscription, that the individual is bonâ fide a member of the Church of England at the time of taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and to inquire whether some other form of subscription might not be substituted in its stead. They were both rejected by the Caput.

Prize Subjects.-The Vice-Chancellor has issued the following notice in the University:

I. His Royal Highness the Chancellor being pleased to give annually a third gold medal for the encouragement of English poetry, to such resident Undergraduates as shall compose the best Ode, or the best Poem in heroic verse; the Vice-Chancellor gives notice that the subject for the present year is- The Second Triumvirate.'

N.B.-These exercises are to be sent in to the Vice-Chancellor on or before March 31, 1834; and are not to exceed 200 lines in length.

II. The representatives in Parliament for this University being pleased to give annually

(1.) Two prizes of 15 guineas each, for the encouragement of

Latin prose composition, to be open to all Bachelors of Arts, without distinction of years, who are not of sufficient standing to take the degree of Master of Arts; and

(2.) Two other prizes of 15 guineas each, to be open to all Undergraduates who shall have resided not less than seven terms at the time when the exercises are to be sent in.

The subjects for the present year are—

(1.) For the Bachelors :

Quænam sint commoda expectanda à recenti apud Cantabrigiam clarorum virorum congressu ?

(2.) For the Undergraduates :-

Quinam sint effectus libertatis in possessionibus Hispaniæ transatlanticis?

N.B. These exercises are to be sent in on or before April 30, 1834.

III. Sir William Browne having bequeathed three gold medals, value 5 guineas each, to such resident undergraduates as shall compose

(1.) The best Greek Ode in imitation of Sappho ;

(2.) The best Latin Ode in imitation of Horace;

(3.) The best Greek Epigram after the model of the Anthologia,

and

The best Latin Epigram after the model of Martial;

The subjects for the present year are

(1.) For the Greek Öde

Niger navigabilis.

(2.) For the Latin Ode

Australis expeditio Johannis Frederici Gulielmi Herschel, equitis aurati.

(3.) For the Epigrams

Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter.

N.B. These exercises are to be sent in on or before April 30, 1834. The Greek Ode is not to exceed 25, and the Latin Ode 30 stanzas.

The Greek Ode may be accompanied by a literal Latin prose

version.

IV. The Porson Prize is the interest of 400l. stock, to be annually employed in the purchase of one or more Greek books, to be given to such resident Undergraduates as shall make the best translation of a proposed passage in Shakspeare, Ben Jonson, Massinger, or Beaumont and Fletcher, into Greek verse.

The subject for the present year is Shakspeare, King Richard II. Act. III. Scene 2, beginning

K. RICH. Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;' and ending,

'How can you say to me-I am a king?'

N.B. The metre to be Tragicum Iambicum Trimetrum aca talcticum. These exercises are to be accentuated, and accompanied by a literal Latin prose version, and are to be sent in on or before April 30, 1834.

N.B. All the above exercises are to be sent in to the Vice-Chancellor privately; each is to have some motto prefixed, and to be accompanied by a paper sealed up, with the same motto on the outside; which paper is to enclose another, folded up, having the candidate's name and college written within. The papers containing the names of those candidates who may not succeed will be destroyed unopened. Any candidate is at liberty to send in his exercise printed or lithographed. No prizes will be given to any candidate who has not, at the time of sending in the exercises, resided one term at the least.

WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.-On December 11, according to annual custom, one of Terence's plays was represented. The one selected on this occasion was the Phormio. It has been stated in the Times newspaper that the pupils displayed considerable proficiency and talent in the exhibition, and that it was witnessed by a large company; but it is added that there was a considerable breach of decorum towards the conclusion, by hot roasted potatoes being thrown at and among the company. If this statement be correct, it says little in commendation of the discipline of the school; and if this exhibition leads to the display of such conduct, it may be questioned whether it might not be discontinued with advantage.

DURHAM UNIVERSITY.It is stated that the property given up by the Dean and Chapter for the purpose of founding this University, is of the value of 94,000l. The Bishop of Durham also subscribes 1000l. per annum towards its support, besides having given two donations of 1000l. each to the building fund, and purchased a residence for one of the professors, which he has also assigned to the University. This establishment was opened on Monday, the 27th of October, when nineteen young gentlemen were admitted on the foundation.

ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL.-In this institution, which has been for some months past carried on at a temporary establishment in Camberwell, 150 boys have been provided with board and a liberal education, calculated to fit them for the naval service, at a charge of 25l. per annum. The house is now being enlarged for the reception of 50 more students; and there are still many candidates. This institution has been very liberally supported by the naval profession, and the public also have added their contributions. It is undoubtedly very desirable that officers, many of whom have little else for the support of their families than their half-pay, should have the means of procuring for their sons an education that will at least fit them for the same rank in society which they have themselves held. This, according to the general rate of charge for education, has been hitherto almost impossible in England, and in consequence many naval officers have been forced to reside in foreign countries in order to obtain the requisite instruction for their families. This necessity the present establishment will at least tend to remove, and were it possible to reduce the charge to 201, per annum, it might be expected to remove it more effectually.

NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIETY.-The 22nd Report of the National Society for promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church, besides the usual annual information, affords an interesting retrospective view of the labours of this institution, in a copy of a petition presented in August, 1832, to the King, imploring his Majesty to issue his Royal Letters directing collections to be made in all churches and chapels throughout England and Wales in furtherance of the Society's designs. From this document it appears that the produce of the collections made in 1823, under the authority of the King's Letter, amounting to 32,7091, was expended in promoting the erection of school-rooms in 361 places, which contained a population of one million and a half; accommodation has been thus permanently secured for the education of 58,000 children by a total outlay, including the Society's grants, of about 130,000l. The Society was also enabled to assist in training 400 additional masters and mistresses in the principles and practice of the national system of education. In addition to this expenditure, voluntary donations and bequests, together with the aid of local associations in various parts of the country, have enabled the Society, since its establishment in the year 1811, to effect an outlay upon similar objects, of above 75,000l. The model school and training establishment for providing competent teachers have been carried on in the metropolis by means of the annual subscriptions of the members of the Society, at an expense of about 1000l. a year. It is therefore represented that, on the most moderate estimate, during the period of the Society's existence, upwards of 107,000l. have been expended in the erection of school-rooms, which have been completed at a cost of four times that amount, the Society only affording their assistance in aid of the local contributions; and that, in the mean while, 1900 adult persons have been taught the improved system of education promoted by the Society, and stationed as teachers in various parts of the kingdom for the moral and religious discipline and improvement of the infant poor.

Operations on so extensive a scale could not have been carried on unless the efforts of the Society had been efficiently seconded by those of the public, and unless a desire to disseminate or procure instruction had been very generally diffused, and steadily on the increase. Accordingly it appears that, whereas the Charter of Incorporation (in 1817) records the existence of 725 schools united to the Society, containing 17,000 children under instruction in them; the Society is now enabled to produce a list of 3084 places with schools, containing nearly 400,000 scholars, being nearly onehalf of the children receiving education through the medium of the Established Church. A note to this statement explains that, from calculations formed on the most recent information, it appears there cannot be less than 900,000 children in the Sunday and other Church of England schools under the immediate superintendence of the clergy.

The annual expenditure of the Society has been considerably augmented within the last few years it has risen from an annual

:

average of about 3000l. to 6635l., the amount of grants voted during each of the last two years. Meanwhile, the manufacturing and mining districts in the north, more particularly in Lancashire and Durham, as well as the poorer inhabitants of Wales, with many other more remote and necessitous places in the kingdom, are still looking to the Society for a share in that bounty, of which, from a variety of causes, they have not been able to avail themselves. From the collections recently made under the authority of the king's letters, 22,3627. had been received at the time of making up the Report. It is apprehended that the total amount of the collections, when ascertained, will fall short of that in 1823; but with such contributions as have been actually received, the committee find themselves possessed of ample means for carrying on at present the designs of the Society. Much has already been accomplished: the sum of 59391. 14s. has been granted during the past year towards the erection of school rooms in 109 places, one-half of which contain a population of above 1000 souls. Of these 109 grants, 30 have been appropriated to manufacturing places, and 10 to the poor parishes in Wales, the wants of which interesting portion of the kingdom has been pressed on the attention of the committee by her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent in a letter accompanied by the munificent donation of 100l. to the funds of the institution. On the whole, 157 new school-rooms are erecting, capable of accommodating 14,600 children; by means of which, many schools already subsisting will be more suitably accommodated, and an addition made to the total number of poor children receiving education to the amount of 10,600. Much, however, remains to be done; and the committee, in prosecuting their former plans, have determined to circulate a letter to all places having a population of 1000 souls, and not having schools in union, to invite the resident gentry, through the clergymen, to connect their schools with the Society, wherever they have been formed, or to establish such as are needful, if none already exist.

The Society has been enabled, during the past year, to remove its central school from Baldwin's Gardens to the more convenient and central premises which it has received as a gift from the managers of the late Westminster National School, and which have been secured to the National Society in its corporate capacity. But it is stated, with satisfaction, that the former school is likely still to be carried on in an efficient state for the benefit of the poor parishioners of St. Andrew's, Holborn.

The Appendix, No. 9, to the Report, exhibits the results of an inquiry concerning works of industry connected with national schools. The objections to such a connexion are thus in substance stated and answered.

Object. 1.-Children leave school too soon to learn perfectly any art or trade; on an average, perhaps, few scholars remain after attaining their eleventh or twelfth year.

Ans. They leave so early because they have then generally learnt all that is taught. If there were employment going on which delayed their progress in this, they would probably remain longer.