The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-08 00:00:00

NUMBERS AND AGES OF ST-UDENTS3

It is peculiarly gratifying to me to be able to re-
port that, notwithstanding the exertions made to
embarrass the progress of the Queen's Colleges,
and to prevent students from availing themselves
of the advantages therein afforded for superior
education, the beneficent intentions of your Majesty
in the foundation of this college have been satisfac-
torily carried out by the entrance of a still larger
number of matriculated students in the session just
now closed than in that of the preceding year ; and
further, that notwithstanding the influences employed
to prevent the students of the last year from return•
ing to the college, so large a proportion have con-
tinued their college studies as to render the total
number of matriculated stud- nts almost double that
exhibited in the report submitted at the end of last
year.
The precise numbers are as follow
Of 70 matriculated students who were in the callego
last year, there have prosecuted their studies this
year ••• •• ••• ••• ••• ••• 47
There have entered this session, matricula'ed
students ... ... 71

Non-matriculated students 38

Total number of students of the session now closed 156
Those students; were dkributed ai
Matriculated. Non-matriculated. Total.
Faculty of arts ... 56 ... 12 ... 68
Faculty of medicine 31 19 ... 50
Faculty of la 4 ••• 3 ... 3 ... 6
Course of engineering 18 ... 1 ... 19
Course of agriculture 10 ••• 3 ... 13

The true significance of these numbers may not,
however, be fully understood without a brief expla-

nation.

It has been objected by those opposed to the Queen's
Colleges that the numbers of students who entered in
the preceding year did not indicate any conviction of
the merits of the educational system, but had been at-
tracted by the many scholarships, which purchased a
support that might not have been accorded on mere
principle. But it is now seen that in this year,
although, by the scholarships having to be divided
between the students of two years' classes, the number
of those prizes available to the candidates entering
this year was reduced to one-half, nevertheless a
larger number of students presented themselves than
in the last year for matriculation, and to follow out
the academic course for degrees. Another remark-
able fact is, that many of the students of last year at-
tenchd the college as non-matriculated students, and
mirely followed one or two courses of lectures, from
an interest in special subjects, have, in the session now
closed, from an experience of the system of education,
joined as matriculated students, to pass through the
entire course, and graduate in the Queen's Univer-
sity. Hence the number of merely nun-matriculated
or extra collegiate students is not greater than in last
year, as the tendency has been to the complete ab-
sorption of those students into the collegiate organi-
sation.

In regard to the ages of students the averages ap-
pear nearly the same as in last year's report. For the
matriculated students the average ages are—

Ye4re.

In the Faculty of arts ... ... 18
Faculty of medicine 19/.
Faculty of law ••• 18
Course of engineering ... 18
Course of agriculture 19 1-3
General average 18/
Of the entire number of students there are 14
under 16 years of age ; 82 between 16 and 21 ; and
25 over 21 years of age. The extreme ages are 14
and 35 years. The ages of non-matriculated students
are generally higher than those of the matriculated,
but are not entered, as those students are not subject
to the statutes for residence and supervision.

MATRICULATION, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND COURSES OF

INSTRUCTION.

The nature and circumstances of the matriculated
examination in the several faculties and courses hav-
ing been fully explained in the preceding report, it is
sufficient now to mention that a very distinct advance
has been remark-d by the examining professore in the
degree of proficiency exhibited by the young men
who presented themselves this year for entrance.
Tne nature of the education system of the Queen's
Colleges and University being now better understood
by the managers of schools, the absolute necessity
for a high standard of preparation is recognised, and
will be carried into effect by a strict enforcement of
the entrance examination by the authorities of the
college.
The examinations for scholarships were held at the
periods arranged in accordance with the statutes, and
were conducted by the professors of the several branches
of literature and science engaged in the courses for the
first and second years' scholarship respectively.
Those professors reported to the council the result of
their examination, and the council thereupon allo-
cated the scholarships. As in the former year, the
council, anxious to render your Most Gracious Ma-
jesty'srew a
reward
fvalid liberality
in founding those scholarships the
d o
idand superior merit, did not confer any
scholarship except on evidence of positive ability and
knowledge. There have, consequenly, remained also
in this year some scholarships not filled up, but from
the active competition and higher preparation of the
candidates, the number undisposed of is much less that
in the case of the preceding year.
It gives me much pleasure to be able to report that
the systematic instruction in the various departments
of science and literature in the college (Acuities and
courses has been carried on by the several profes•
sors with a degree of zeal, diligence, and ability,
generally most highly credieable to thernselve.e and
most useful to the public; and although in some
very few instances the class arrangements haves not
yet fully acquired the form which the objects of the
collegiate instruction will ultimately require, I am
confident that with the anxiety which the college
council and the professors generally have shown to
promote
the interests of education, every possible ex-
ertion will be made to realise the full extent of your
Majesty's beneficent intentions in organising the im-
proved system of collegiate and university education.
The classes of the second year's course of the al ti
faculty having Come into play during the session