Star.
London, England, 1828-10-01 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

A Special General Meeting of Proprietors in this
Corporation was held at three o'clock yererday after-
noon, in one of the Lecture rooms of the Dive; sity.
It was wry numerously attenied, and umnog tr..e Pro-
prietors present were, the Doke of SOMERSET, Lord
AUCKLAND, Lord SANDON, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Dr.
LUSHINOTON, Mr. WARBURTON, Mr. HALLAM, Mr.
DENMAN, Mr. Sergeant Witos, &C. _ _

On the modem of Lord AUCILLAND.—Mr. TABBING
TON was called to the Chair.
Dr. Lusistanvs? said that k would be bad taste and
- - - -

bad judgment in him to detain the proprietors by any
observations of his from the important business for
which they were that day assembled together. He
could not, however, on an occasion so important to all
the proprietors, and of such consideration to the inha-
bitants of
.the metropolis in general—he could not, he
said, refrain from offering to them some congratulations
on. the actual com•- 'meet of their great undertalc-
' the - for •--

ing—on _ opening of an iniversity for every grea►
object of instruction and learning, without regard Or
distinction, excluding no dabs of any denomination or
persuasion, and at the same time offering all the hest re-
wards of distinction to those who, by their study and pet-
severance deserved to attain them. He trusted that in that

place no power, no rank, no wealth, no religious persua-
sion of any kind, would ever interfere with that great and
principal maxim--petfect impartiality—which was the
corner-stone of all their proceedings. The report of the
Council would convey to them in detail many circum-
stances well deserving of their consideration. The pro-
prietors would perceive from it,that the Council had been
enabled to complete the original design to the extent
which' therhad contemplated, without incurring any
debt which they were not prepared to discharge, anti
that they had now ample funds in band t 3 meet
any expense a hich they bad incurred, or were likely
to incur, on behalf of the University. He was sure
that the proprietors, when they coot mplated the ex-
tent and beauty of the building, and reflected os the
short period of time within which it had been built,
would feel that their thanks were due to the eminent
architect who had designed the fabric, and to those
assistants by whose exertions his design had been com-
pleted within the time specified for its erection.
,It. was,
he believed, a circumstance unexampled in the history
of extensive buildings, to find one of them completed
within the period contemplated by those who had Oil..
ginelly designed it. As the Council 'had been called
upon to•cc:voider various arrangements, it was only
fair in him to state, not only that their attention
bad been directed co such arrangements as were
likely to be mast condutive to the improvement of the
atudents-in various breathes of instruction and learning,
but that they' had not forgotten how important it was
to provide them with some conveniences for paising
their. leisure hours in the intervals between the lectures
of the different professors. 'They trusted hat' Those
arrangements would enable every student who deired
to attend different lectures, to attend them in such a
manner as would be not only satistactory but bene-
kial to himself. It was intended that .• a course of
education should be laid down for these individuals
who became regular student, f the University,, and
who looked up to the University for a system of
education; but he thought it right at the same time to
observe, that though the Council felt it to be their
duty to chalk out such a course, they did not mean
to render it imperative either upon the guardians if stn.
'dents or upon the students themselves to comply wait it.
Each person might select such paits of it as was most
compatible with his own objects; and attendance on any
onocoursr of lectures might be had by any individual,
however advanced in age'he might be. He trusted that
this facility would be acceptable to many, who, from
the want of a similar institution in former years, bad not
been able to obtain that instruction which it, was the
purpose of the London University to afford; and the
Council felt that, though the primaty object of the in.
stitetion was the education of the young, there w as no
perio.l of life at which the acquisition of k,owWge was
-sot desirable to the individual himself, and ultimately
beneficial to all who were connected with him. lie was
also desirous of stating, that the utmost economy had
been practised' in providing arrangements for the at-
tendance of students, so far as. was consistent with the
attainment of the great end which the institution had in
view; for it would have been idle to base offered to
profesetnicif eminence emoluments which would not
have induced them to employ their talents in behalf of
the proprietors, or which would have been smile-
coming the tank which it was essential for the Uni-
versity That they should maintain. He bad now to
inform the' proprietors, that it had been deemed ne-
cessary by the Council to eitabli,h a dispensary •to
assist the medical school-of the University. Part of
the expense of that dispensary must be defrayed nut
of the' qunds - the proprietors; but the Council
were satisfied that that part would be very limited
indeed, and they hoped that the proprietors who
interested themselves in such an establishment, so bene-
ficial to medicine, and so useful to the poor of the sur-
rounding district, would come forward and meet the
expense by voluntary contributions. He was unwilling
to detain them any longer than. just to express a hope,
that in' the succeeding year they should meet 'gait) in
the same place, with the heartfelt satisfaction of seeing
their anticipations carried more fully into effect-741)dt
they should have the pleasure of seeing that. by their
exettionss. they bad at last rendered the access to learn-
ing throughout the capital and its vicinity more conve-
nient titan it ever had been in former times—that for their
soni, relations, and connexions, they had facilitated the
means of acquiring learning and instruction, which they
believed Would be beneficial to all of them individually,
and to tbeir country and to the world collectively. It
would be'the earnest object of the Council to adhere to
the principles which they had originally laid down, and
they felt confident that, if they did so, their efforts
would ultimately be crowned with success. He should
now submit the Report of.the Council to the considera-
tion of the proprietors.
Mr. L. HOWIE". Warden of the University, then read
the following Report I
" SZPOIT OP TNT COOPOIL TO TUT 4111111TaLlITTTIPO OP PROIMITT
'OP TOUDAT, Tem Sera or urerm":--

It is with no ordinary feelings of satisfaction that
the Council congratulate their constitoents upon a Ge-
neral Meeting Of Proprietors being assembled for the
first time within the walls of the University. The build-
ing is now so far completed as to be riady in all essen-
tial particulars for the commencement of the intended
system of instruction ; all other necessary arrangements
have been made. and the University is now opened at
the earliest period which the Council ever ventured to
anticipate.
44 The special purpose for which this Meeting has
been convened is to lay before the Proprietors a report
upon the state of the building. and the arrangements
which have been made for the opening of the classes ;
but it will probably be agreeable to the Proprietors to
I kayo some istotnsetion as to the leading objects• to

which the attention of the Council has ken directed
since the last General Meeting in February.
"They have organifed the details of the system by
which instruction is to be aff.rded within the walls of
the University ; the resn't of this part of their labours is
made known in their • second statement' already before
the public ; but since the,publication 4 f that statement,
some new alterations have become necessary.
The Pi otessorsbip of Roman Language and Liters•
ture having unexpectedly become vacant, the Council
have had an opportunity of supplying the place to their
entire satisfaction by the appointment ref rtn.s. Hewitt
Key, Esq. A.M. of Ttinity College. Cambridge.
• The appointment of a Professor of French Litera-
ture has been suspended f it the present, but classes for
teaching the French language will be opened in No-
vember, under•the directian of Merlet.
." The Professorship of Surgery has been filled up by
'the appointment of Mr. Charles Bell, who is to lecture
three times a week on that subject in the eveniag, and
twice a week on physiology in the morning.
" The establishment of a Hospital contrnaes to be
viewed by the Council as an object of high importance,
and consequence of what -occurred i.t the last Gene-
ral Meeting, they have made many inquiries• and they
find that to erect a Hospital,coniaining 100 beckwould
require a caritarof not less than 15,0001. An eligible site
has :teen offered to the Council on reaschstble terms, but
until the necessatt fends' have been subscribed the
Council do not feet warranted in adwpting any Measures
fcr the commencenVeat.of this Mork.

" A dispensary has been established by the Council
in George-street, Etkott.square, immediately adj ining
the University; and it wat opened on the Silt of the
'present month. Ir it attended by the Pi ofessor t f the
Nature and Treatment of Diseases, and the P. . fes-or of
Nlateria Medics, as ph)s:ciaus ; by the P. ()lessor of
Midwifery for that department ; and by the Professor r f
Atiatomy and operaiiveStneely, as surgeon t and here
is a resident aputfiecaty, . This Disrensary is under the
immediate management of a Cominittee of eiebt pro-
prietors selee• est by the council, who have to thank these
Gentlemen for.their kindness in undertaki g this • utf.
In medical education.the opportunity of ob.etvi. g di:.
pensary practice is most impottant, and the Count if were
so (oily convinced
sof the advar•t sge the t upils, of the
University would derive from witnessing the praelice cf
their teachers, that they felt justified in appropria ing a
small part of the funds to the attainMent of this ne-
cessary object. his expected that the annual expenses
will be covered by the tees of the pupils and by veun-
tagy contributions, the expenses being reduced'hy the
Medical Professors giving their assistance gratuitously.
For any deficiency the fonds of the Univrisity mu.t be
liable; but the Council earnestly hope that there will
be no occasion to resort to this source. By theestablish.
'tient of dispensary the improvement of the pupils
is materhily assisted, And 'relief is afforded to the sick
po4 in a dittiict rapidly increasing in population,
without adequate means of obtainrig medical aid;
and, where two suolealtjects are combined, tie Council
feel assured that the Prvpriet-Ts and their friends will
not hesitate to give a entail annual subset iption to its
maintenance.

"In the spring of the ensuing year Mr. T. Camp.
hell will deliver a course of lectures on the History of
Classical Litarature. The Council were cl!,irous of
appointing Mr. Campbell. Professor of the History of
Literature; but by a clause in the deed cf s-ttlement,
Ito proprietor, for one year after he shall have ceased to
be a member of the C,,uncil,can be elected a professor.
" At tie request of Profc.sor Amos, Mr. Humphreys
has kinkily coasented (Arotuitrosly) to deliver to the
students who att. rid theelass of English law, occasional
lectures on the law of real property; the Proprietrrs
pill feel very grateful for this benefit conferred on the
Uoierrsity, and the students will not jail dirly to apples
ciate the advantage so liberally proffered to them by one,
who, to the most profound learning in this department
or the law, unites a truly philosophic spirit, and thereto
faculty of communicating instruction on the most ab-
trust subject in the moat intelligible add rerspicuous
style. The professorships of histor y. ltgoc„.and the phi-
losophy of the human mind, and of moral and political
philosophy, are still vacant. The Council feel it requisite
to exercise a more than ordinary degree of caution in
selecting persons for duties so important and difficult.
The only other chairs for which professors are not se-
lected are mineralogy and geology, and chymistry op-
plkd to the acts; but for the present these subjects will
be taught, to a certain extent, by the professor of chy-
mistry.
" The Council hating asceitiined that' the hour of
half after eight in the morning, which was fixed tor the
V Greek and Latin clakses, would be very inconvenient to
those residing iu the villages round London,have altered
the hour for those classes to half p ist nine. "Bat the
business of the University will c.mimence at eight, as
the Council have made arrangements for classes for the
French, German, Italian, aria Spanish languages; Irma
eight to nine o'clock.
" Upon the state of the building, the Council have to
report .that all the lecture Teems anti outer apartments
required for carrying on the system of the University
during the ensuing session are finished, *ith the excep-
tion of the small .Library and the Museum of Anatomy,
which will be completed in the course of next month.
The workmen wilrbrio engaged with the dome and por.
tico for some month', but they will nut in any way in-
commode the students. The completion of the great
Library, the Museum of Natural History, and the Hall,
not being indisfensaSle to the opening of the Unites.
ssty, the finishing those per s of the building has been
postponed for the acceler- lion of the more necess,ry
works; but the Council Will proc err.' with the exect von
of the whole of theerignal design, as soon as circuon•
r.tancerinay render it expedient.
' "To enable the proprietors and others to become at-
(painted watt the internal arrangements, a description
of the building has been drawn up, and a copy of it
has been delivered to each proprietor this day; and as
lit may be considered as firmieg apart of this Report.
further explanation is unnecessary ; but the Council feel
it incumbent on them to bring to the notice of the pro-
prietors the very meritorious exertions of Messrs. Lee
and Sons, the contractors, by which the design of Mr.
Wilkins, so beautiful in itself, and so admirably
adapted to the purposes for which it is intended, has
been accomplished within the tins. specified, and
the exprciadons of the proprietors realized. The
Council have opened the medical classes on the Ist of
October, as it is the usual time when the courses r f other
medical schools is Landon begin. To give the public
the means of obtaining iufutruatios respecting to e in.
tended course of medical education, it has been (healed
advisab!e thatheach of the medical professors 'l cold coat.
mence at the same hour on successive days. and :hat 04
these days there should be admission without palment
of fees, on the production of tickets. A linked number
of these tickets has, upon the occasion of this first open.
ing of the University, been reserved for the proprietors,
and those who wish to attend will obtain ticket. by 411:.
placation at the office; persons not proprietors may ob•
min them at Mr. Karlin s, SO, Upper Gower-sun!, rre
of •any of the professors. The other classes will aped iq
'IL

-..,

-t

i

..-..

1‘