City and Guilds of London Institute

Abstract

THE Fifth Annual Report of the Council of this Institute, which was presented last week to the Governors by the Lord Chancellor, gives evidence of marked progress in all departments of the Institute's operations. During the last five years, the advance made in this country in providing technical schools of various grades has been very great, and brings us educationally within a measurable distance of France and Germany. Much praise is certainly due to the City Companies for the very energetic manner in which they have set about giving effect to the important objects they have undertaken. The Technical College at Finsbury and the Central Institution at South Kensington are important additions to the educational establishments of the metropolis, That the Finsbury College has supplied a great want is shown by the rapid increase in the number of students during the two years since it was opened. The number of evening students might have been expected to be large, because in very few places, if in any, do evening students have the same advantages as at Finsbury of obtaining practical instruction in physics and mechanics. But the great success of the College is shown in the increasing number of its day students. In little more than two years the number has increased from 30 to 148; and nearly all these students are in regular attendance throughout the whole day, and go through the complete course of instruction as laid down for them in the programme. Some changes have taken place in the staff of the College in consequence of the opening of the Central Institution. Mr. Philip Magnus has been relieved of the duties of Principal, which he temporarily undertook in addition to his other duties as organising Director of the Institute, and Profs. Ayrton and Armstrong have resigned the Chairs of Physics and Chemistry for similar positions at the Central Institution, The appointment of Dr. Silvanus Thompson as Principal and Professor of Physics at Finsbury promises well for the future of the College, and the Council have been well advised in this selection. The Professorship of Chemistry is still vacant.