The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-16 00:00:00

THE NIATIIEMATIDAL DEPARTMENT,

under the care of Mr. Elliot, Mr. Gerrard, and Mr. Carpenter,
consists of 158 pupils. The nightly attendance varies much,
and seldom exceeds eighty. This irregularity of attendance is
not to be ascribed to indifference on the part of the pupils, as
the time the greater portion of them is under the control of
others. It is, however leared that some of them cannot offer so
reasonable an excuse for their non-attendance.
A cot rect. registry of the nightly attendance of each pupil is
kept by one of the masters in each department, and patents
and masters are earnestly requested to make occasional in-
quiries about the attendance of their sons and apprentices. The
Directors suggest to their successors the propriety of appro-
priating a moderate sum of money to each department, for the
put pose of purchasing books to he awarded as prizes to those
pupils who may have distinguished themselves by regularity of
attendance, and propriety of conduct
,
1 hose pupils who have attended the schools regularly have
made considerable progress, which affords ample proofs of the
skill and attention of the masters. The system of teaching in
classes has been partially introduced into this department, and
it is hoped when more matured that this mode of instruction
will prove beneficial to the pupils. The directors feel it to be
their duty to express publicly their approbation of the manner
in which the masters of this department have carried their
wishesinto effect, and the order and discipline which prevails
to consequence are most creditable both to the masters and the
pupils.

THE MECHANICAL DRAWING CLASS,

Hitherto under the superintendence of Mr, M'Pherson, has
lately been plaCed under the care of Mr. Charles Ritchie, and
now consists of 36 pupils. This class (one of the most impor-
tant in the institution) has nut made that progress which was
anticipated. One cause has been the great deficiency of work-
ing drawings as copies for the pupils. The directors have paid
considerable attention to this subject, but have found it difficult
to remedy the evil, as such drawings as are required are seldom
offered for sale. They therefore suggest to their successors the
propriety of making application to the proprietors of extensive
machinery establishments to give or sell working drawings of
pumps, cranes, lathes, mill gearing, and sections of marine and
land steam engines, which are of little value to them, but
which would prove most useful to the younger students in this
department of the institution.
This class is now attended not only by the workmen and ap-
prentice of millwrights, engineers, and machine :nakers, but
also by the sons of merchants and others who intend to become
engineers. These young men being fully aware that a know-
ledge of the art of mechanical drawing is indispensably ueces-
liary to the engineer, are devoting their evenings to theacquire-
meta of this useful art, and many of them are making rapid
progress. The conduct of every member of this class has been
most satisfactory to the directors.

THE LANDSCAPE AND PERSPECTIVE DRAWING CLASSES
Remain under the superintendence of Mr. Pugh. The number
of pupils on the school list is 88—the average attendance 40.
The great majority of the pupils in this class are very young,
and have but lately become members of it. The master
speaks favourably of their progress, and it is hoped that at the
next annual meeting some solid proofs of their skill will be
placed before the members.

THI3 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING CLASS
Is under the care of Mr. Cooper, and consists of 24 pupils.
The average attendance is 16. The directors regret that they
cannot report that this class has realized their expectations.
There has been a falling off of 12 members since the date of the
last report, and the attendance of the pupils, with a few honour-
able exceptions, has bee❑ irregular in the extreme. The sub-
committee appointed to examine into the state of the drawing
classes have had several reasons for this decrease assigned to
them, none of which are of a satisfactory nature. The directors
therefore wish to apprise their successors that much remains to
be done to make this class what it ought to be, and render it of
more consequence in the opinion of the students. It should be
evident to the pupils that a competent knowledge of practical
geometry, and the beauties and advantages of architectural
ornament, cannot fail to raise them to higher positions in their
respective employments than they could hope to attain without
such acquirements.