University and Educational Intelligence

Abstract

BIRMINGHAM.—At a meeting in Birmingham on May 8 of representatives of the engineering profession and others, the Lord Mayor presiding, a provisional scheme for celebrating the centenary of the death of James Watt was agreed upon. We are glad to note that the scheme includes the endowment of a chair of engineering at the University. A point which is sometimes overlooked in such matters was made by Sir Oliver Lodge, who reminded the meeting that endowments of this kind, though most desirable, should not be regarded as gifts conferring benefit only on the University. The University acted as a trustee, and every new chair endowed involved expense. Apparently no definite opinion was expressed as to the salary which should be attached to the chair; this would no doubt depend upon the sum collected for the memorial. Taking into consideration, however, the vast benefits accruing to the world from the genius of James Watt, we may hope that the endowment will be a liberal one, so that the full services of the best possible men may be secured. If a considerable sum could also be allotted as an endowment for the department over which the professor would preside, and a further amount to provide valuable research scholarships for promising, students from any part of the Empire, a memorial. worthy of the subject might be established. For example, the appointment of a professor, for ten years at a time, with a salary of 5000l. per annum, with a like sum towards the upkeep of the department, and, in addition, the provision of ten scholarships each of. 500l. per annum tenable for two years, might cost 300,000l., but the money would be profitably invested.