THE COLLEGE.

INASMUCH as our Magazine-although principally supported by contributors who are, or have been, members of King's College, London-has, nevertheless, as we are happy to find, obtained considerable favour in the Old Universities and other scholastic institutions; it is our desire to afford in future as much information as we can obtain concerning these other institutions, whilst we shall still continue to report all the events worthy of notice in King's College, Thus we trust to render the Magazine locally, as well as generally, interesting to a large portion of our subscribers. Our articles on the Old Universities will derive their authority from residents, and will treat of most topics of general interest, excepting one-the University Commission, which will only be mentioned incidentally. We name this, since it might, perhaps, be expected that we should avail ourselves of so engrossing a topic: but, considering that so many able pamphlets and volumes are every day coming out upon the question, we think that whilst it is safer, it is no fault to avoid it. We do not here mention the occurrences of the past term; for we feel that it would be no more than a dull and useless recapitulation equally to our University readers and the public in general: but we think that a monthly report of the proceedings for the future will afford some interest to those who are, who have been, or who wish to be, students of the Universities. The University of London will also come in for that share in our pages which it has a right to claim, as connected by charter with King's College, London. And here we will say, once for all, that we do intend to uphold the University of London; and that we are not affected by any of the prejudices which seem to have prepossessed so many against it. But, at the same time, we maintain that we can do so in accordance with the conservative principles which we are ever prepared to avow and to act up to; and we trust that what we may say in favour of the University of London, will not be misconstrued into anything like an approval of the principle of excluding religious teaching from colleges. We believe that a B. A. or an M. A. degree was never meant to be a guarantee for a man's religious knowledge or belief; and, therefore, we think the University of London right in excluding religious subjects from its compulsory examinations for degrees. But, on the other hand, we are convinced that to educate youth in secular knowledge in colleges where no religion is taught, is an erroneous and most pernicious system. With regard to the societies of King's College, London, we have little to state, except that they have all closed their sessions and elected fresh officers for the ensuing term; the presidents being :-of the Discussion Society, Mr. W. R. Hardwicke; of the Literary and Scientific Union, Mr. T. Macknight; of the Athenæum, Mr. Blackburn. We see that the Discussion Society will hold its evening meeting on the second Thursday in Lent Term; and we hope that many of the old members will endeavour to meet together with those at present at King's College, on that occasion. The vacation being much shorter for the medical than for the other departments, the Medical Society is not compelled to discontinue its sittings for any length of time: we, therefore give the usual report.

MEDICAL SOCIETY.-At the meeting of the Medical Society, on the evening of December the 12th, an interesting paper, read by Mr. Henry Smith, elicited a warm discussion. The Society then adjourned until January the 16th. The

programme of papers published last month, which will supply topics for debate until the end of February, is an index of the zeal with which the Society is at present supported. The names of the members are about to be published. At the last council meeting, Mr. Henry Hyde Salter, B. A., M. B., was nominated for election as Vice-president, in the room of Dr. Hensley : also Dr. Lake and Mr. D. Mondeton as honorary members; and Dr. Bevan, Messrs. Biggs, Fowler, Pound, and Simpson, as corresponding members.

Nova et Notanda.

It

MUSEUM OF INVENTIONS.-The collection of articles invented since the beginning of 1849 at the Society of Arts continues to be crowded with visitors. is very easy of access. We should recommend our readers to pay a visit to this interesting collection. We append a few of the objects most worthy of notice. Electro Magnetic Striking Clock, patented by Charles Shepherd, junior. The vibrations of the pendulum are caused by the repeated impulses of a fine spring; the attraction of the electro-magnet being solely employed to relieve the pendulum from the action of the spring during the return of vibration. Thus a variation in the power of the battery does not affect the going of the clock. The hands are moved by separate electro-magnets, the circuit of the wires being complete and broken by the pendulum as it swings. The number to be struck is regulated by a locking plate, divided as usual, the hammer being moved by the direct action of an electro-magnet. The bell of this clock is on the opposite side of the room, and another dial, worked by it, is in the large room up stairs.-A Cottager Stove. It will cook sufficient for twelve persons, with the consumption of one pound of coal or coke per hour.-Improved Safety Lamp, invented by Dr. Robinson. In this lamp the communication between the internal and external atmospheres is guarded, not only by the wire gauze of the Davy lamp, but also by the length of the metal passage through which the air passes to support the combustion, and still further by a nicely balanced flap valve, which terminates this passage, and which, in case of an explosion, would close, and the lamp would go out.-Portable Outrigger Wager-boat. A match-boat, so constructed as to take into three pieces, when it will pack into a box.-Texturalized Glass. A double thickness of glass, with lace enclosed.— Silicated Marble. Imitations of marble in glass, for the purpose of interior decoration. Medico-Chirurgical Table, for performing operations during action on board ship.-Bisunique Cloth. This cloth has its two sides each of a different colour and surface: by this means, and an improved system of sewing, persons will be enabled to turn their coats or waistcoats inside out, thus having the advantage of two articles-a novel idea, and certainly not a bad one.

ARCHITECTURAL PROGRESS.-The Liverpool St. George's Hall is expected to be opened in the early part of July. The courts of law are to be removed to this magnificent building. It will be recollected that the architect, Mr. H. J. Elmes, died about two years ago. Had he lived he would have been one of our greatest architects.-The Basilica of St. Boniface, at Munich, has been consecrated; it is built on the model of the church of St. Paul, at Rome, which was destroyed by fire 14 years ago. It is contructed of red brick : the interior is divided into five aisles, and ends in a semi-circular absés for the altar; the pavement is of mosaic work; the frescoes are by M. H. Hess; the interior is profusely decorated with them. M. Lieblund, a Protestant, is the architect of this magnificent Roman-catholic church.-(From the "Architect.”— We glean the following particulars of a new District Lunatic Asylum now in progress of erection at Omagh, Ireland. The centre building contains the private and official apartments, a handsome chapel, 60 feet in length, is placed on the second floor. The main buildings to the east and west of centre are for the male and female patients; they are three stories high, each floor accommo

dating 50 patients, or 300 in all. The bad cases are kept on the ground-floor, the medium on the second, and the convalescent occupy the upper story. There is a commodious range of kitchen-offices attached, and also a suitable infirmary. The total length from east to west is 623 ft. 8 in.; the depth of flank buildings 129 ft. 6 in.; and extreme depth from front to rear of offices 306 ft. 6 in., standing in an elevated situation on a farm of 30 English acres, within one mile of the town. Messrs. W. Farrell & Son, of Dublin, are the

architects.

SCULPTURE-Mr. Ritchie, a talented sculptor, a native of Edinburgh, has just died in Rome, having caught the malaria fever.-The Edinburgh committee for erecting a monument to Lord Jeffrey, have decided on having a statue placed in the outer Parliament house. The subscriptions amount to £2,200. We have not heard that any sculptors have been employed at present; we trust that it be thrown open to competition, so large a sum ought to secure a noble statue.— Mr. Jones, of London, has executed a marble bust of the Countess of Landsfeld. It has been greatly admired, the likeness being so very striking. It is to be placed in the Exhibition of 1851.-Mr. Malcolm, of Dundee, is to execute the Peel monument at Forfar; it is in the Greek style.-The committee for the Peel monument at Leeds, having selected four designs for consideration, have chosen that of Mr. Behnes.

ARCHEOLOGY.-The eleventh quarterly meeting of the Bury Archæological Institute was held on the 12th ult. The Rev. Sir T. G. Cullum, Bart., V.P., exhibited some beautiful specimens of the German Stone Ware of the 17th century--one of them dated 1,637, known by the name of " Apostle's Mug," has the figures of the Apostles in relief around it. Mr. Nunn presented the half of a Romano-British Quern, or hand-mill for grinding wheat. It is made of the Hertfordshire conglomerate or pudding stone, and has the remains of the iron setting. Similar quernstones have been found on the sites of several Roman stations in this country, but no complete specimen has been preserved, and rarely one more perfect than this. Some most interesting specimens of Roman glass have been lately exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries. They are of various shapes, and were discovered at Nismes. No such collection has been ever exhibited before. Mr. Chaffers, F.R.A., gave a detailed statement of these discoveries, and the circumstances connected therewith. It is the intention of the society to engrave some of the specimens in their Archæologia.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS-At the annual meeting, on the 17th ult., the Telford medals were awarded to Messrs. Armstrong, Barlow, W. Taylor, Thorneycroft, Rev. T. C. Clutterbuck, M.A., Chubb, Turner, and Paton. The medals are of frosted silver, covered with glass to prevent them from oxidation. A head of Telford is on one side, on the other, the Menai Suspension Bridge. They were executed by Mr. W. Wyon.

ROYAL SOCIETY.-The royal medal of this society was awarded, at their annual meeting, to Mr. Benjamin Brodie, F.R.S., for his papers on the chemical nature of wax. The Copley medal was awarded about forty years ago to his father, Sir B. Brodie, Bart., for his paper on poisons.

STEAM NAVIGATION.-From the last report of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company, it appears that their fleet of steam-vessels consists of twentyfive vessels, having a tonnage of 27,155, the horse power being 9,310. A line of screw steam-vessels have commenced running between this country and the Cape of Good Hope. This will be of great advantage to the country.

SHIP VENTILATION-A proposal to ventilate vessels by placing a number of tubes or other air ducts along the inside of the hull of a vessel in a vertical position, running from the' part required to be ventilated, up to the bulwarks above the upper deck, and there discharging into a chamber, the said chamber being so arranged with a register and valves, that a free egress and ingress of air is permitted, while, at the same time, the water is effectually excluded.

LONDON: WICKHAM AND YELLAND, PRINTERS, 163, STRAND