The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-10 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

The first tension of the London University having
terminated, a distribution of prizes among the pupils
of the general classes—those of Mathematics,
English Literature, Greek, Latin, Natural Phi-
- losephy, and English Law—took place yesterday in
one of the large lecture-rooms of the institution.
The room, which is capable of containing from ROO
to I,„„nne, persons, was crowded with students and
their friends, who took a lively interest in the pro-
. ceedings.. In the centre of the apartment seats
were reserved for the Professors, Members of the
• Council; and thidistinguished visiters who honoured
• the ceremony with their presence. - Among those
• present were Earl Grey, Lord Auckland, Colonel
L. Stanhope, Dr. Birkbeck, Mr. Brougham, Mr.
Hume, Mr. Otway Cave, &c.
• On the motion of Lord AUCKLAND, Earl Grey
%%8 called to the chair.
The noble CHAIRMAN expressed the sense he
entertained of the honour done him by the meeting
in calling him to the chair—an honour far beyond
VI desert of his : at the same time he could not
"IP saying he wished somebody more deserving of
the distinction had been selected as their chairman
upon this occasion. All that it was necessary for
him to do in this stage of the proceedings was
'aim* to state the object of the meeting. They
were assembled to witness the distribution of prizes
the different classes of Latin, Greek, English
literature, natural philosophy, mathematics, and
English law. To attempt by any thing he could
"17,.t0 add to the deep interest which all who knew
this institution must feel in its success, would be
equally vain and improper; he felt it would be im-
proper to interpose the slightest delay to their pro-
ceeding to the immediate business of the day. Mr.
Coates, in the absence of Mr. Horner, of whose
valuable services he regretted to say they were for
the present deprived by indisposition, would explain
the method adopted in awarding the prizes. The
Professors would make a report of the state of the
several classes, and then the distribution of the
Prizes would take place.
Mr. COATES stated, that the honours and prizes
hod been awarded by the result of answers in
vrriting to a series of questions printed for the stu-
dents of each professor. A copy of these questions
"as delivered to the student after he came into the
Examination-room. The answers were written in
- the Examination-room, and were collected at one
• time. •No book was allowed to be brought into the
room. The paper containing the answers was signed
only with a mark or motto, and the name of the
• student using it inclosed in a sealed envelope, in-
scribed with the mark or motto, was left with the
Warden, to be opened on the day of the distribution
of the prizes. Two prizes were given in each class,
and certificates of honours to all who had attained a
certain amount of excellence in their answers to the
questions. The Professor of each class would, in
succession, come to the table, with a list of the suc-
cessful competitors among his own pupils. He would
read the motto affixed to the paper of answers to
Which the first prize had been awarded. The sealed
packet would then be opened, and the name of the
successful competitor declared, who would come for-
. ward and receive his certificate and prize from the
Chairman. The Professor would next announce the
mottoes to which the second prize had been awarded,
and would read the names of those who had obtained
certificates of honours. The same student might
fta a prize or certificate in every class.
."1r- KEY, Professor of Latin, having handed in
the report, it was read by Mr. Coates. It was as
follows
" In presenting to the public this report of our proceed-
ing, during the past session, we cannot but express a con-
viction arising from our knowledge of the state of the classes
at its close, that the present state and prospects of the Uni-
versity far exceed the expectations which its most sanguine
friends could have formed at the period of its commence-
tient. We shall proceed to notice in succession those classes,
the students of which have submitted to examination, viz.—
Latin, Greek, English, mathematics, and natural philosophy.
The number of students who hare entered during the pre-
sent session, for the class of the Latin language and literature,
amounts to 102 ; of this number, 47 constituted the third
or highest class; of these again 33 voluntarily submitted to
an examination, and 19 have been found deserving of cer-
tificates:
" The second class consisted of 31, 20 of whom were
• examined, and of these eight are entitled to certificates.
4. The first or lowest class contained 25 pupils ; 20 were
examined, and certificates have been assigned to six.
" Though the great majority of these students were well
qualified for attending a course of lectures such as have been
given in the late session, a few have injudiciously entered,
Who, from their age or other causes, had not acquired the
necessary previous knowledge, and who consequently could
derive but little benefit from even the most diligent attendance.
"The Professor, too, must acknowledge on his part, that
the peculiar difficulties of a first session have prevented him
front paying that attention to some parts of his subject which
the interests of his class require—an evil which, in another
session, he trusts he shall be able to remedy. In the course
of the past session, the highest class have read one or two
books of Casettes Gallic War, the life of Coeur by Sueto-
tonius, the 21st, 22d, and part of the 23d Books of Livy,
and the Letters of Cicero, both miscellaneous and those to
Atticus, between the years 685 and 696 of Rome.
"The second class have read two or three books of Cxsar's
Gallie War, the Ist of the Civil War, the 21st Book of
Livy, and the 9th Xueid of Virgil.
" The first, or junior class, have read five Books of
Caesar's Gallic War, and the Ist, and one half of the 2d
• Book of the Civil War.
" In all these classes the attention of the students has
been carefully directed, on the one hand, to the structure
of the language, and on the other, to the historical and
• geographical matter connected with the several subjects.
The number of students who have entered the Greek class
during the last year, was '79. After a short experience,
• it was found necessary to form them into three divisions,
and to adapt the kind of instruction to the proficiency of
the several classes.
" The junior class studied the first four Books of Xeno-
Awes Anabasis, and received instructions on the compara-
tive geography of Greece and Asia Minor.
" The second class studied three books of the Anabasis,
and the Prometheus of Xschylus, receiving instruction
. also in a geography similar to that given to the first class,
and in such subjects as were connected with their studies.
" The third class studied a part of Xenophon's Anabasis,
daft entire first book of Herodotue, and parts of the second
and third relating to general Geography ; the Prometheus
of Nschylus • and also a part of the lEdipus Coloneus of
• 80phocies. 'Their studies were not limited to the diligent
. examination of the Greek text, but their attention was also
directed to all the collateral and incidental matter that is
worthy of observation. The Professor expresses his full
hope and confidence, that a large part of the students of
the Greek class will, by a continuance of their industry,
make such a proficiency as will confer honour on the In-
.
etitutton.
" The number of students who have entered for the
English class amounts to 32, out of which the average at-
tendance has been 24. Sixteen have voluntarily submitted
to examination, out of whom 13 have certificates of honour.
The number of students for examination would have been
-- greater, but the professor discouraged the attendance of
such pupils whom he did not consider qualified to pass
With credit.
• " The lectures delivered to this class were framed on the
pposition that it would consist principally of persons
who had already received the rudiments of a classical edu-
' entices, but were deficient in a critical knowledge of their
• .•
4noa language. About one half of the students entered
Were of this description ; but there were also several
tereigners, whose acquaintance with the English language
Was very slight ; and not a few of the junior students, who
Were far from being adequately qualified by their previous
attainments to comprehend the subjects that were treated
• ut the lectures. The consequent difficulty under which
• ,the professor would labour, from the necessity of adapting
nie instructions to students of such different ages and at-
• tninment, may easily be conceived. It will, however, be
• obviated in the next Session by the formation of two dis-
tinct classes—one for senior, and another for junior stu-
, • 11,,ents—the experience of the past year having convinced
ha
professor that the instruction required by the latter is,
1.4 a majority of instances, of the most elementary character.
" The number of students who have entered the
mathematical classes during this Session is about one
' hundred. These have been divided into classes, the
lel:liar of which has studied in the lecture-room
• the subjects of conic sections, spherical trigonometry,
't the theory of equations, the application of analysis to
geometry, and the very first elements' of the diffe-
calculus, and calculus of differences. A few have
Proceeded farther into the latter subjects; but the very