ROYAL SCHOOL OF MINES. Prof. RAMSAY, LL.D. F.R.S. will commence a Course of Forty Lectures on GEOLOGY, on Monday next the 16th of February, at Two o'clock, to be continued on each succeeding Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Monday at the same hour. Fee for the Course, £4 Prof. GUTHRIE will commence a Course of Sixty-two Lectures on PHYSICS (including Sound, Heat, Light, Electricity, and Magnetism), with work in the Physical Laboratory, on Monday next, the 16th February, at One o'clock, to be continued on every weekday but Saturday. Fee for the Lectures, £4; for the Laboratory, £6. Prof. GOODEVE, M A., will commence a Course of Thirty-six Lectures on APPLIED MECHANICS, on Tuesday next the 17th February, at Ten o'clock, to be continued on each succeeding Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Tuesday at the same hour. Fee for the Course, £3. The Lectures on Physics and Applied Mechanics will be delivered at the Science Schools, Exhibition Road, South Kensington. [All Rights are Reserved. PRELIMINARY EXAM. IN ARTS, COLL. SURG., June 1874. MR. HANBURY, M.A., Wrangler and late Senior Scholar of his College, will shortly begin to read with Classes for this Examination. Mr. Hanbury is assisted by efficient Lecturers in French, Chemistry, and Classics, and has passed several Pupils for this Examination, to whom references are allowed. An early Class will commence towards the latter part of February, and a later one about Lady Day. Fee for the Course, from 7 to 12 guineas, according to the time of commencement and number of subjects taken up.-Address, 24 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, W.C. MATRICULATION EXAMIMATION, LOND., UNIV., June 1874. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL PRIZES FOR DISEASE-PROOF POTATOES. The following Prizes are offered : CLASS I. For an early Potato which shall be disease-proof during three years' trial, and possesses the best cropping, keeping, and cooking qualities-£100. CLASS II,-For a Late Potato which shall be disease-proof during three years' trial, and possess the best cropping, keeping, and cooking qualities-100. A sum of £100 is placed at the disposal of the judges to divide, at their discretion, in Prizes to disease proof potatoes in the above classes, not obtaining either of the foregoing prizes. The last day of entry is February 24th inst., by which date one ton of each kind of potatoes entered to compete must be delivered in twenty bags of 1 cwt. each, addressed to the Secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society, at the Agricultural Hall. Islington. Forms of Entry and the Conditions of Competition may be obtained on application to H. M. JENKINS, SPECTROSCOPES. MOTTERSHEAD & CO., Dealers in Scientific Apparatus, 1, Market Place, Manchester, have the following Instruments to dispose of :1.- A SINGLE-PRISM SPECTROSCOPE, mounted on firm brass table 6 in diameter, with divided scale, one eye-piece with cross wires, second stage and reflecting prism for comparing spectra, tube support for observing absorption bands in liquids, &c., packed in mahogany case, with lock and key. Equal to new in every respect, but very slightly tarnished. Price £6 65. 2.-A similar Instrument in equally good condition. 3.- A TWO-PRISM SPECTROSCOPE, mounted on brass table 9 inches diameter, with divided circle and vernier with tangent screw, second stage and reflecting prism, &c., and two eye-pieces; in mahogany cabinet with lock and key. Very slightly tarnished. Price £12 10s. Carefully packed and forwarded on receipt of Cheque or P 0.0. A FEW ARTIST'S PROOFS OF THE PORTRAIT OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY (ENGRAVED ON STEEL BY CHAS. H. JEENS), Have been printed on India Paper, and may be had at the Office of NATURE, 29, Bedford Street, Strand, W.C., PRICE 5s. EACH, Price Sixpence, monthly, 24 pages 8vo., with occasional Illustrations. Conducted by H. G. KNAGGS, M.D. F.L.S, R. MCLACHLAN, F.L.S E. C. RYE, and H. T. STAINTON, F.R.S., &c. This Magazine, commenced in 1864, contains standard articles and notes on all subjects connected with Entomology, and especially on the Insects of the British Isles. Subscription-Six Shillings per Volume, post-free. The volumes commence with the June number in each year. Vols. I. to V. (strongly bound in cloth) may be obtained by purchasers or the entire set to date, at the increased price of 10s. each; the succeeding vols. may be had separately or together at 75. each. London: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, Paternoster Row. Devotes special attention to the discussions and proceedings of the Chambers of Agriculture of Great Britain (which now number upwards of 18,000 members), besides giving original papers on practical farming, and a mass of intelligence of particular value to the agriculturist. The London Corn, Seed, Hop, Cattle, and other Markets of Monday are specially reported in this Journal, which is despatched the same evening so as to insure delivery to country subscribers by the first post on Tuesday morning. Price 3d, or prepaid, 15s. a year post free. Published by W. PICKERING, 21, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C. THE ARTICLES, &C. : COLONIES. No. CLII. Price 6d. Twice a Month. Doubtful Guides. CONTENTS. A fortnightly paper devoted to the Protection of Brewers' Interests, Licensing, Legal, and Parliamentary matters. REVIEW OF THE MALT AND HOP TRADES ; and Wine and Spirit TRADES The Official Organ of the Country Brewers' Society. "The Brewers' Guardian" is published on the Evenings of every alternate Tuesday, and is the only journal officially connected with brewing interests Subscription, 16s 6d. per annum, post free, dating from any quarter-day. Single Copies, 1s. each. Registered for Transmission Abroad. Offices-5, Bond Court, Walbrook, London, E. C. "The contents of this volume, which is in substance a collection of stories and papers for boys and girls, are ranged under the twelve months of the year; but an impatient and curly-headed public will not, we may be sure, allow pleasant pages to be so parcelled out, and will probably devour the twelvemonths' allowance in a few days of reckless reading. No name is written on the title-page, but the book is too pretty and graceful not to have been written by a lady. It consists of a number of short stories, relieved here and there by a versified translation of a German song or French fable. Some of these stories are descriptions of the Zoological Gardens, the Kew Museum, Hampton Court, &c.; others are fairy tales of gnomes and elves, of spiteful sprites and oppressed maidens, such as the young soul loves. A paper which describes a children's ho-pital is very touching and pathetic, and will stir the child-heart with sympathy for the suffering little ones. In the more matter-of-fact stories a great deal of instruction is pleasantly hidden away, and their readers will add to those stores of knowledge which are always most valuable when unconsciously laid up."-The Times. London: LONGMANS, GREEN & CO., Paternoster Row. A PRIMEVAL RACE. In 8vo, with 26 Permanent Illustrations, price 215. A PHRENOLOGIST amongst the TODAS, or the Study of a Primitive Tribe in South India; History, Character, Customs, Religion, Infanticide, Polyandry, Language. By WILLIAM E. MARSHALL, Lieutenant-Colonel of Her Majesty's Bengal Staff Corps. "There is scarcely another example of a race so completely isolated as the Todas, and the careful collection of all accessible materials for a study of their condition is certainly an important service to anthropology Colonel Marshall has not only done this conscientiously and well, he has also produced an agreeable and entertaining book, admirably illustrated, which we can recommend to the general reader as one from which he will derive interesting information in a pleasant form."-Atheneum. London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. Paternoster Row. STEAM. By JOHN PERRY, BE, Whitworth Scholar, F.C.S., late Lecturer on Physics at Clifton College. 4s. 6d. When boys have acquired an elementary knowledge of Experimental Mechanics and Heat it is well to teach them the application of the principles they have learnt, by some such course as is sketched in the present work, before proceeding to Electricity, Acoustics, and Light. The numerous examples and exercises will prove useful in all Physics classes; whether the whole course is followed or not; to candidates for scholarships at the Universities and to boys preparing for the examinations at Woolwich and Cooper's Hill. MACMILLAN & CO., LONDON In 8vo, with 12 Plates, price 215. cloth. THE OCEAN: its Tides and Currents and their Causes. By WILLIAM LEIGHTON JORDAN. The oceanic explorations at present being conducted by the British Government give this work a special interest. London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO., Paternoster Row. GANOT'S TWO WORKS on NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, translated and edited with the Author's sanction by E. ATKINSON, Ph. D. F.C.S., Professor of Experimental Science, Staff College : NATURAL PHILOSOPHY for GENERAL READERS and YOUNG PERSONS. Translated from GANOT'S "Cours de Physique;" with 440 Woodcuts. Crown 8vo, 75. 6d. "This is a good text-book of physics for the middle and upper classes of boys' and girls' schools, embracing a familiar account of physical phenomena and laws for the general reader. The subjects are the properties of matter, hydrostatics, pneumatics, acoustics, heat, light, magnetism, and electricity; and the treatment is entirely free from mathematical formulæ. The engravings of the instruments and of the experiments detailed are good and suggestive, and calculated to be of assistance not only to the learner but to the teacher."-NATURE. ELEMENTARY TREATISE on PHYSICS, Experimental and Applied, for Colleges and Schools. Translated from GANOT'S "Eléments de Physique." Sixth Edition, with 4 Plates and 746 Woodcuts. Post 8vo, price 155. "This treatise is too well known and appreciated to require any special notice beyond the fact that the present edition has received numerous additions, both in the way or letterpress and illustrations. Those parts referring to physiological electricity have been revised, and in a great measure rewritten, by Dr. Martin, of Christ's College, Cambridge. Altogether the sixth edition of GANOT'S 'Physics' is in every way an excellent book for students of physical science."-Lancet. London LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO., Paternoster Row. TEXT-BOOKS OF SCIENCE, EDITED BY T. M. GOODEVE, M.A., AND C. W. MERRIFIELD, F.R.S. Now ready, in small 8vo, cloth, with numerous woodcuts, price 3s. 6d. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Introduction to the Study of; the Chemistry of Carbon and its Compounds. By HENRY E. ARMSTRONG, Ph.D. F.C.S., Professor of Chemistry in the London Institution. London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO., Paternoster Row. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1874 A MINISTER FOR SCIENCE WE E are glad to see that the Times has at last opened its pages to the question of the propriety of appointing a responsible Minister, whose duty it shall be to look after the interests of Science and of scientific research and education, and take charge of the scientific institutions of the country-institutions whose efficiency is at present sadly crippled from the want of a single responsible head. The whole question could not be better stated than in Colonel Strange's letter which appeared in the Times of the 6th inst., and which we consider so admirably to the point, that we gladly reproduce it here. We hope the letter will lead to further discussion, and that whatever Government may hold the reins in the forthcoming Parliament, the important question now raised may meet with serious attention. Colonel Strange's communication runs as follows: "No subject affecting the material interests of England is more important at the present day than that discussed at Manchester by Lord Derby, and by yourself in your leader of the 12th ult. "Scientific industry' is one of those clever phrases calculated to catch the eye and ear by its novelty, while it expresses what is already well known by other antiquated names. Lord Derby defines it and explains its meaning in a variety of ways; but throughout his whole speech he is talking, while never naming it, of nothing more nor less than scientific research. The utilisation of redundant natural forces and of waste substances, on which he insists as a primary object of the new movement, is to be brought about by patient, continuous, systematic research, and by nothing else. I own I prefer the old words to the new, but if by using new words old wants come to be recognised and supplied, I shall not complain. "I, and many who think with me, maintain that scientific research must be made a national business; that the point at which Science, in most of its leading branches, has now arrived and the problems presented for solution are such as to need for their adequate treatment, permanent well-equipped establishments with competent staffs worked continuously and systematically. Lord Derby truly describes it as a case in which what is 'everybody's business is nobody's business.' We must make it somebody's business. We must make it the State's business. We have tried individual enterprise, which so many hold to be all-sufficient. There is more individual enterprise in England than in any country in the world, and yet we are being rapidly outstripped by nations who, though they encourage private exertion, are wise enough not to rely on it, but to establish a system free from the caprice, the incompleteness, the liability to interruption and cessation incident to all individual labour in whatever field. If asked to describe the system we propose to establish, our reply is in one word, 'completeness.' A steam-engine is a system, composed of many parts, each and all essential to its useful action. Furnace, boiler, cylinder, pistons, connecting rods, beam, and fly-wheel-all controlled by a governor. Tested by the condition 'completeness, what is Lord Derby's new society? What is any private society? A mere connecting rod-a most useful link in VOL. IX.-No 224 the system, not to be dispensed with, but still a mere link. Where are the other parts? Is there a trace of them in England? No "The first essential to any system is a head. domestic household, no manufactory, no ship, no army or navy, no public or private establishment of any kind, and these are all 'systems,' can hold its own for a day without a head. But at the present hour there is no head to the science of England. The proposed remedy for this deficiency will have been anticipated as obviously a Minister of State, who shall be responsible to the nation through Parliament for everything connected with the scientific business of the country. For want of this head what have we done? The various scientific institutions at present maintained by the State are distributed according to the following list, which was correct some time since, but may have undergone recent changes :-1, Royal Observatory, Greenwich, under the Admiralty; 2, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, under the Office of Works; 3, Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, under the Colonial Office; 4, 5, 6, the Observatories at Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay, under the India Office; 7, Ordnance Survey of Great Britain, under the Office of Works; 8, the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, under the India Office; 9, Exchequer Standards Office, under the Board of Trade; 10, the Royal School of Mines, under the Privy Council: 11, British Museum, under 50 irresponsible trustees; 12, Meteorological Office, governed by an unpaid, and therefore irresponsible, Committee of the Royal Society, under the Board of Trade; 13, the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, Edinburgh, and Dublin, under the Board of Works; 14, the Geological Survey, under the Privy Council. My list is perhaps not quite complete, but as it stands it shows that we place our scientific institutions under no less than seven different Departments of State, all of which have other matters besides science to attend to. Can anyone pretend there is any trace of a system here? Is it not a grotesque caricature of State administration? "Granted that there must be a Minister for Scienceand I am happy to say that those who have given most attention to the question now admit that there mustthen the whole of the institutions I have named, besides some others now in existence, and many others that must before long be founded, would be placed under him. This would secure the great object of harmony and unity of parts, of provision for modification and extension, and of definite responsibility to the nation through Parliament, none of which objects are obtainable or seem even dreamt of at present. "Whether such a Ministry should be created as additional to what we at present possess, or whether some existing Minister should be charged with Science ; whether the Science Minister should not also take Education, Art, and Music under his care; whether he should not have permanent unparliamentary advisers, and if so on what scale and how constituted, besides many other points, are all extremely important questions, admitting of a great variety of answers; but compared with the fundamental necessity for a Minister at the head of a Department controlling the whole public scientific activity of the kingdom, they are matters of subordinate detail. Q |