ley, the Inspector of Admiralty Schools, who gave us the benefit of his advice on the occasion. The mathematical portion of the examination included, by their lordships' desire, mechanics, hydrostatics, the differential and integral calculus, and the elements of differential equations. Several of the candidates acquitted themselves well, and it was a satisfaction to us to observe that one who distinguished himself in the higher mathematics had received his education in a dockyard school.

Twenty-seven candidates for student interpreterships in China and Japan were examined under our direction in June last at the request of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and in consequence of a communication received from the Colonial Office, we are about to examine candidates for interpreterships at Hong Kong. The examinations of persons nominated for employment on the census of Great Britain and Ireland have also been numerous, The Irish candidates for this description of employment have not, it will be seen, succeeded as well as those who, coming from a more educated class, have aspired to higher appointments. The certificates and rejections in this class for the year 1861 were as follows:-England 90 certificates, and 37 rejections; Scotland, 21 certificates, and 17 rejections; Ireland, 120 certificates, and 143 rejections: total, 231 certificates, and 197 rejections.

It must be stated that the examination is a very slight one.

We proceed to give, as on former occasions, the statistics of our commission to the close of last year, adding such observations as they suggest. The total number of nominations, from the 21st May, 1855, to the close of 1858 (three years and seven months) was 7,942; and for the three years 1859, 1860, and 1861, taken together, it was 10,416; those of last year being 4,867.

In 1856, the provincial clerks of the Post Office, and the letter carriers employed by that department, altogether about 5000 in number, were brought under the operation of the Order in Council. In 1859, arrangements were made for the grant of certificates to rural messengers, of whom there are more than 4500; and, since the Superannuation Act of 1859, we have also granted certificates for Admiralty artificers, on admission to the several dockyards. The total of this class is about 12,000. Certificates have, since the commencement of the present year, been granted for the artificers employed under the War Office. In further explanation of the great increase in the number of nominations, we may mention that 729 candidates have presented themselves for the preliminary examination which, as above mentioned, has been established by the Treasury. The examination of candidates for admission to the Admiralty factories and dockyards was first intrusted to us at the beginning of 1860, and 441 candidates were nominated in 1861.

The number of persons nominated as competitors and of the situations for which they competed, have been as follows:-In 1855-56 (nineteen months), 458 competitors nominated for 109 situations, competed. In 1857, 351 competitors for 106 situations; 1858, 833 competitors for 258 situations; 1859, 1179 competitors (including 391 who competed for 9 writerships in the India service) for 259 situations; in 1860, 705 competitors for 242 situations; and in 1861, 794 competitors for 259 situations. Total, 4320 competitors for 1233 situations.

Of the 266 competitors in 1861, it appears that 41 obtained places sufficiently high to bring them within the number of situations competed for,

and would have received appointments if they had not failed in particular subjects, these subjects being, except in fifteen cases, of immediate practical utility for the discharge of their official duties. These failures have, of course, been much diminished in number by the institution of preliminary test examinations.

The certificates and rejections in non-competitive examinations have been,-1855-6 (nineteen months), 1686 certificates, 880 rejections; 1857, 1354 certificates, 490 rejections; 1858, 1154 certificates, 292 rejections; 1859, 1511 certificates, 310 rejections; 1860, 1675 certificates, 317 rejections; 1861, 2982 certificates, 444 rejections. Total, 10,362 certificates, 2733 rejections.

Out of the total number rejected (2733), all but 145 have failed to arithmetic, in spelling, or in "reading the addresses of letters," a test in which candidates for the situation of letter-carrier and rural messenger are subjected. It will, however, be understood that of those who have failed in one or more of the qualifications specified, some have failed in others also.

The cases in which candidates have been considered as ineligible in respect of age, health, or character, have been as follows:-1855-7, 218 age, 42 health, 35 character; 1858, 59 age, 23 health, 20 character; 1859, 66 age, 16 health, 21 character; 1860, 42 age, 30 health, 31 character; 1861, 113 age, 22 health, 47 character. Total, 498 age, 133 health, 154 character.

The task of inquiring into the character of candidates is by no means an easy one, and cannot be satisfactorily performed without the most confidential intercourse between those who can give information and those on whom the duty of deciding is imposed. Delay is sometimes occasioned, and there must sometimes also be dissatisfaction, which it would be difficult to meet, if it were conceded that an individual nominee has anything of a vested interest in the appointment for which he is a candidate. But although it is, of course, our anxious desire to do justice to the candidate, we feel that the State has a right to the service of persons to whom no reasonable suspicion attaches; and that the Order in Council which requires proof, satisfactory to us, of the good character of the candidate, rests upon the soundest principles.

We have, on former occasions, adverted to the importance of maintaining proper lits of age; and we do not here repeat our observations. Fixed rules must, from time to time, be productive of hardship to individuals; such cases of hardship cannot, we believe, be met except by the argument that it is for the interest of the public that fixed rules should be maintained; and that the notion of fixed rules, which are to be relaxed as often as they interfere with the interests of individuals, is not a very reasonable one. The number of honorary certificates granted in successive years has been,-1855-6, 228; 1857, 159; 1858,174; 1859, 182; 1860, 149; 1861, 136. Total, 1028.

We do not on this occasion print our ordinary examination papers. As we gave last year all those which had been sent in the course of 1860, and no change of any importance has since been made, we think, that by printing the papers of 1861 we should only delay the presentation, and increase the bulk of our report without answering any useful purpose.

Examinations for the Civil Service of India.-The appointments given by examination since the establishment of the present system have been as

follows:-1855, 20; 1856, 20; 1857, 12; 1858, 20; 1859, 40; 1860, 80; 1861, 80; and we have been officially informed that 80, at least, will be assigned in July next, if a sufficient number of competent candidates should present themselves. The number of candidates, although it has not increased in proportion to the vacancies, has steadily arisen since 1856, in which year 56 only were examined. In 1860, the number was 154, and last year 171. Of these 36 came from the University of Oxford, 34 from Cambridge, 27 from Trinity College, Dublin, 7 from the Queen's University in Ireland, and 20 from Scottish universities. For further details we may refer to our appendix; but it may here be mentioned that, out of the first five candidates, four were Scotch by birth or education. Of these four, one was first in mathematics, and two obtained full marks in moral science, one of them being also first in English literature, &c., and in Greek. The highest marks for Latin and for English composition were obtained by Oxford candidates; and the highest for Sanskrit and for Arabic, by Irish candidates. A candidate privately educated obtained the highest marks for natural science.

We notice with satisfaction the great increase in number of candidates who offer themselves for examination in Sanskrit. Out of an aggregate of 295 candidates examined in 1855 and the three following years, six only professed an acquaintance with that language. Last year the number examined in Sanskrit was 36 out of 171. Before leaving this subject, we must observe that the statistics of the successive examinations show some tendency on the part of candidates to diffuse their reading over a considerable number of subjects, instead of confining themselves to a few, and obtaining a thorough knowledge of them. The average number taken by successful candidates has remained about the same; but the instances in which eight, or even nine, subjects have been taken (the English subjects being taken together, and counting one only), have been more frequent in recent than in earlier years. The rule has hitherto been that marks not exceeding one-tenth of the maximum should not be allowed to count, and one result has been that the candidates (only four in number) who have presented themselves for examination in nine subjects have never obtained marks for all the nine, and have thus lost a portion of their labour. We shall, however, consider, whether it may not be better to require, in some at least of the subjects, a proportion larger than one-tenth.

Passing to the further examination, at which the selected candidates have to present themselves after their year of study, we may state that for sixteen of those who attended last year, we were unable to grant certificates. We are fully sensible of the advantages of university training, and we believe that no one who intends to become a candidate can be better employed than in attention to those subjects which are within the range of an ordinary English education of the higher class; but we think it most important that, when a place on the list of selected candidates has been obtained, the year which follows should be entirely devoted to preparation for official duty. We observe with satisfaction that in several of the universities and colleges of the kingdom, efforts are made to give to the selected candidates the assistance which they require for the successful prosecution of their studies.

We have had occasion in former reports to state our conviction of the great importance of proper legal training. We continue to require notes of cases heard in courts of law, and we believe that the exercise is one of

great utility to the candidates. The authorities of several of the courts of law in London, and elsewhere, have had the goodness to assist us by facilitating the admission of selected candidates, and our acknowledgments are particularly due to those of the Central Criminal Court.

It will be recollected that her Majesty's commissioners who were appointed in 1853 to consider the reform of the judicial establishments and laws of India, prepared codes of civil and criminal procedure, intended for adoption in the presidency towns and throughout the provinces of India. The new codes passed by the local legislatures in consequence of the reports of the commissioners, besides deviating in some points from the recommendation of the commissioners, affect the provinces only; but notwithstanding this limitation, they regulate the proceedings of all courts in which civil servants preside. Further changes have been carried into effect by the local legislatures, involving the abolition of the criminal law previously in force in the provinces, and also of that which, being in force within the local jurisdiction of the supreme courts, was applicable to British subjects throughout the provinces, as well as in the presidency towns. An uniform code (Lord Macaulay's), applicable to all persons in all places within the British territories in India, has been substituted. It has been our endeavour, by the instructions which we have issued, to direct the attention of candidates to the law as they will find it on their arrival in India.

An Act was passed in the last session of Parliament, in order to carry out another recommendation of the commissioners, the abolition of the present supreme and sudder courts, and the substitution of a single tribunal, to be called the High Court. We propose to bring the changes which may result from this important measure under the notice of the candidates who may this year be selected.

SCIENCE AND ART.

Ninth Report of the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education.

THE Report is arranged under the following divisions:-I.-Aid given to the industrial classes in obtaining instruction in the branches of Science and Art which have a direct bearing on their several occupations. II.The administration of the South Kensington Museum as the central repository for examples of Science and Art, which, so far as may be possible, are made available for the benefit of the United Kingdom, and are circulated to provincial schools. III.--Institutions for the promotion of Science and Art which are subject to the superintendence of the Department.

I.-AID GIVEN TO THE INDUSTRIAL CLASSES IN OBTAINING INSTRUCTION IN THE BRANCHES OF SCIENCE AND ART WHICH HAVE A DIRECT BEARING ON THEIR SEVERAL OCCUPATIONS.

As respects Science.-1. Our report for the year 1860 contained the results of the second annual examination of teachers under the science minute of the 2nd of June, 1859. The present report embraces the third examination of teachers and the first examination of classes. In both cases this branch of the department has worked satisfactorily. Of the examination of teachers for certificates, which is held in November of each year, we have to report the results as follow of the three consecutive examinations :—

In 1861 there were 103 candidates, of whom 97 passed. In 1860 there were 89 candidates, of whom 75 passed.

Of the number passed in 1861 only five or six have received any special scientific training at the cost of the State. The system of State-training for masters of science schools, which a few years since was by some thought to be indispensable, is thus proved to be unnecessary. Many masters came up to improve the grade of their certificate, showing that a healthy stimulus is given to their teaching power by the present system of payment on results. Of the total number, 57 were new candidates.

The first annual examination of classes in May was held at 35 centres. Of 1000 papers that were worked by students, 725 were passed; and of these, 310 obtained" Queen's prizes." The 1000 papers were distributed to about 650 students. Captain Donnelly, the inspector for science, estimates the number actually under instruction at 2200 persons, but of them 870 were not taught by certificated masters, and the classes in which they were taught were in existence before the science minute was passed. Excluding these 870 students, the progress of science instruction under the minute is as follows:-In 1859 there were 4 schools and 438 students. In 1860, 9 schools and 500 students; and, in 1861, 38 schools and 1330 students. The examination in May, 1802, promises to show a large increase in these numbers.

The report of the inspector for science exhibits the detailed working of the scientific instruction of the department. The navigation schools at Hull, Newcastle, Sunderland, Great Yarmouth, and Shadwell (London) show about the same results in the past year as in 1860. Captain Harris, the occasional inspector for navigation schools, reports favourably of their general condition, notwithstanding the fluctuating attendance of boys who go to sea at certain seasons of the year. This observation, however, does not apply to the Hull school, where a progressive and systematic system of education is followed. The teaching of officers and seamen is generally more satisfactory than that of boys. The Board of Education in Ireland is zealous in the effort to train pupil-teachers who shall hereafter form navigation classes in the seaport towns.

Aid by examples, &c., has been granted in 25 cases against 20 in 1860, and the aid has been 155l. 13s. 94d., against 101. 11s. 2d. The increase in the establishment of science classes has caused this augmented grant.

As respects Art.-The report of the head-master of the Central School of Art, South Kensington, shows that this school has continued to advance during the past year. The number of students was, in the last two halfyearly sessions, respectively 423 and 376, and the amount of fees 1589l. 38.; as compared with 389 and 358, and in fees 1,457l. 16s. in the previous twelve months,

As the art schools in the provinces have gained permanence, it has been found possible to reduce year by year the number of students in training for masterships who receive allowances from the department; in 1860 they were 57 against 68 in last year: this reduction will be cautiously continued. On the other hand, the students to whom their fees were remitted have been more numerous, 59 against 40. The certificates and medals taken show an increase corresponding to these statistics. They were:-Certificates, in 1860, 40; in 1861, 59. Medals, in 1860, 43; in 1861, 61. National medallions, in 1860, 8; in 1861, 14.

The metropolitan district schools in connection with the central school