UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

The university of London was constituted by a royal charter, dated the 28th of November 1836, which confers on it the power of granting degrees in arts, law, and medicine, under regulations to be determined by the university, subject to the approval of the secretary of state. By a second charter, dated 5th December 1837, some of the powers granted in the first were modified, and two new members of senate were named. The objects proposed to be effected by the institution, as stated in the charter, are "the advancement of religion and morality, and the promotion of useful knowledge," by holding forth "to all classes and denominations" of persons, without religious distinction, "encouragement for pursuing a regular and liberal course of education," and "rewarding" with academic honours and distinctions those who, by the pursuit of such course of education as the senate, with the concurrence of the government, shall prescribe, have acquired certain attained degrees of "proficiency in literature, science, and art." The university consists of a chancellor, vice-chancellor, and thirty-six fellows, who form the senate, or governing body, and are invested with the sole power of managing and superintending its affairs, and of forming regulations for examinations and the granting of degrees, such regulations to be submitted to one of the secretaries of state, and "approved of and countersigned by him."

The chancellor is appointed for life by the crown, under the sign manual; the vice-chancellor, whose office is annual, is elected by the fellows from their own number. The original fellows were appointed by the crown, under the sign manual; and the charter provides that, "if at any time, by death or otherwise, their number shall be reduced below twenty-five, exclusive of the chancellor and vice-chancellor for the time being," the members of the senate "shall elect twelve or more fit and proper persons" to complete the requisite number of thirty-six. The power of visitation is retained by the crown. In contemplating the effects likely to result from an establishment invested with such extensive powers, and directed to such noble ends we cannot but regard the university of London as calculated eventually to attain an important station among similar institutions in the empire, and as destined to give powerful impulse to the advancement of learning and science.

The university comprehends two colleges, named University College and King's College, both situate in London. University College was established by a company of shareholders, for the purpose of furnishing to the inhabitants of the metropolis, at a moderate price, a general education embracing a wider range of subjects than those in which instruction is given at Oxford and Cambridge. Students are admitted without reference to their religious opinions. The classes were opened in October 1838; and a second charter of incorporation was granted in 1836. The constitution of both colleges nearly resembles that of the Scotch and German universities, and retains much of the simplicity by which the ancient academical seminaries were characterized. The students do not reside in the college; and the academical discipline is therefore confined to the class-room. The professors are dependent on the fees which they receive from their pupils, and deliver their instructions by means of public lectures, accompanied by catechetical examinations. There are public examinations at the end of the session, when prizes are awarded to the most distinguished students. The government is vested in a council, consisting of a president, vice-president, and twenty-four other members, which has the power to make regulations, accept endowments, appoint professors, tutors, &c., and to manage generally the affairs of the college. All the members of council are elected by the proprietors. Instruction is provided in the three faculties of arts, law, and medicine. The college contains thirty-two professorships—nine in literature, six in mathematical and physical science, three in ethical and political sciences, three in law, and eleven in medicine; but some of these are held along with other professorships.

King's College was incorporated by royal charter 1829, and is confined principally to the education of members of the church of England. The funds for the erection... The university of Durham was incorporated by a royal charter, dated the 1st of June 1837, under the name of "The Warden, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Durham," which authorizes the body corporate to have perpetual succession, and a common seal, and to enjoy all the rights and privileges which "are incident to a university established by royal charter." It consequently possesses and exercises the right of granting degrees in all the faculties.

The great and increasing population of the north of England, and its remoteness from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, had long pointed out the expediency of establishing in this part of the kingdom an institution which should secure to its inhabitants the advantages of a sound yet not expensive education. Accordingly the late bishop of Durham, with the dean and chapter, believing that the means of supplying the deficiency might be provided from the resources of that body, without contravening the principles on which it was incorporated, agreed, by an act of chapter in 1831, to appropriate property producing £3000 per annum to the support of an academical institution in connection with the cathedral church. The bishop, at the same time, promised to provide eventually for the warden, the professor of divinity, and the professor of Greek, by attaching prebendal stalls to the several offices. In pursuance of this arrangement, an act of parliament was obtained in 1832, authorizing the bishop, and the dean and chapter, to carry their munificent resolution into effect, by empowering them to establish a university for the advancement of learning in connection with their cathedral church. The university was opened in October 1833, and a regular system of instruction commenced. After the course of study had been finally fixed, and the arrangements for conducting the business matured, a statute was passed by the dean and chapter, in July 1835, and approved by the bishop, instructing the ordinary management of the university, under the bishop as visitor, and the dean and chapter as governors, to the warden, a senate, and a convocation. A body of regulations for conducting the studies and the general business of the university was soon after prepared, and was approved by convocation on the 4th of March 1836. The various acts of the dean and chapter were ratified by the charter of foundation in the following year.

The university consists of a warden or principal, a professor of divinity and ecclesiastical history, a professor of Greek and classical literature, a professor of mathematics, two proctors, and readers in law, medicine, Hebrew, history, and polite literature, natural philosophy, chemistry, and modern languages; with graduates and scholars. The warden and the professors of divinity and Greek are appointed by the bishop of Durham; the professor of mathematics and the other officers are nominated by the dean and chapter. The business of the university is conducted by the warden and a senate and convocation. The senate, which consists of the chief officers of the university, transacts the ordinary business, and is competent to originate regulations and other measures relating to it, but such regulations and measures are not in force till they are confirmed by the convocation. The convocation, which, besides the members appointed on the first establishment of the university, consists of all persons regularly admitted to the degrees of doctor in divinity, the civil law, and medicine, and to the degree of master of arts, cannot alter or reject what is submitted to it by the senate, but has not the power to originate or amend.

By the regulations of the university, provision has been made for a regular course of general education similar to that which is given at Oxford and Cambridge. The qualifications of the students are ascertained by examination before admission; and their proficiency during the continuance of the course is tested by public examinations held annually, particularly at the end of the third year for the degree of bachelor of arts, and at the end of the fourth year for the degree of master. Instruction in theology is likewise given; and those who at the end of the course pass the requisite examination, and produce the necessary testimonials, receive under the common seal of the university a certificate of competency and character, which is called a licence in theology. In 1837, an important extension of the benefits of the university was made by the establishment of a course of instruction for students in civil engineering and mining, suggested by the extensive public works in the country. The students in this department are examined, on admission, in the Latin language, in arithmetic, and the elements of mathematics. The full course of study extends over three years; the competency of the students is tested by a public examination at the end of each year; and those who have passed all the requisite examinations are admitted to the "academical rank" of civil engineer. Besides the regular courses of professional education, public lectures on various branches of literature and science are also delivered from time to time, which are open, under certain regulations, to persons who are not members of the university.

Six university fellowships have lately been endowed by the dean and chapter, which are open to any member who has passed the examination for the degree of B.A., and are tenable for six years. The fellowships are vacated by marriage, or by holding preferment, office, or property real or personal, producing £369 a year or upwards. There are also twenty university scholarships of the annual value of £39 each; and others founded by the trustees of the late Sir Robert Murray. Prizes of various kinds are given for the encouragement of merit.

University College was formed at the opening of the university, for the purpose of uniting a system of domestic discipline and superintendence with academical instruction; and residence within the college is enforced on every student, unless a dispensation to reside elsewhere is granted by the warden. College examinations, independent of those appointed by the university, are held at the end of every term.

Degrees. Degrees are conferred by the warden and convocation, but every grace for a degree must be allowed by the dean and chapter before it is proposed in convocation. The academical year consists of three terms, of not less than eight weeks each, called Michaelmas, Epiphany, and Easter. Michaelmas term commences not earlier than the 16th of October, and Easter term ends not later than the 30th June. No religious test is exacted till a student proceeds to his degree. For the terms and exercises requisite for proceeding to the different degrees, see Durham University Calendar for 1841.