obtained 21 medals and one national medallion.

The awards in the 1st

and 2nd grade examinations in London were as follow:-1st grade rewards, in 1860, 280; in 1861, 365. Elementary prizes, in 1860, 301; in 1861, 156. 2nd grade rewards, in 1860, 366; in 1861, 140. Prize studentships, in 1860, 4; in 1861, 17.

The average number of children taught in parochial schools in London through the agency of the central school was 10,701, exhibiting an increase of 900 on the year before, and the total number of persons who have been thus under instruction was, in public or other schools, 11,499; in central schools, 983; together 12,482. The head-master reports favourably on the advance made by the students of the female classes, who may now be held to be equal with the male classes in proficiency.

The total number of art schools throughout the kingdom, not counting classes for teaching drawing in connection with schools, was 87 in 1861, against 85 and 78 in the two preceding years. New schools have been opened at Hull and Sunderland. The number who were taught at the central provincial schools rose to 15,483, or nearly what they were in 1859. In 1860, there had been a considerable falling off in these classes, which was ascribed to the volunteer movement. During the past year also the teaching in parochial schools was somewhat affected by the anticipated action of the new code of the education department; nevertheless, the total number of children under this head who received instruction shows an increase on the preceding year, being 76,303, against 74,267 in 1860, and 67,490 in 1859.

The character and results of the examination in drawing of the diocesan and other training colleges have been closely similar to the last reported on. In 1861, the number examined were 2813; the number successful, 1523; and the certificates granted, 122. In 1860, the corresponding numbers were 2721, 1600, and 79. The increase in the number of certificates is due to the fact that the students are gradually working through the necessary number of papers to complete their certificates, which are taken at yearly

intervals.

The following are the total number of prizes and medals issued in the past three years:-For drawing on slates, in 1859, 1282; in 1860, 1836; in 1861, 1050. First grade prize, in 1859, 2822; in 1860, 2785; in 1861, 3046. Second grade prize, in 1859, 3718; in 1860, 3300; in 1861, 2038. Local medals, in 1859, 758; in 1860, 861; in 1861, 918. National medallions, in 1859, 67; in 1860, 76; in 1861, 85.

Aid by examples has been granted in 175 cases of art schools or classes, to the amount of 305l. 15s. 4d. In 1860, the number was 203, and the amount of aid 417. 148. 9d. The reduction has been mainly caused by disallowing aid on all duplicates or drawing materials.

The grand total of persons taught drawing through the agency of the department, in the last three years, has been as follows:-1859, 84,972; 1860, 89,481; 1861, 91,836: and the fees paid—1859, 15,3667. 4s. 6d. ; 1860, 17,2211. 68. 8d.; 1861, 17,903. 1s. 3d.

II.-SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.

The new courts for the reception of the art collections of the Museum, for which a vote was taken in the year 1860, have advanced towards completion. The north court,* with its surrounding cloisters, has been arranged

This court was opened on the 30th of April, 1862.

for the reception of specimens, chiefly of Italian art, in sculpture, pottery, glass, and furniture. The south court will, during the present year, be devoted to the exhibition of a collection of objects of medieval art, brought together from royal, collegiate, municipal, and private collections throughout Great Britain and Ireland. It is proposed to open this court, thus filled, in the month of June, so as to supplement and illustrate the collections of modern art workmanship in the International Exhibition.

The picture galleries, under the charge of Mr. Redgrave, have received some valuable additions by donation. Mr. Redgrave reports that the condition of the pictures is all that could be desired; that the ventilation and heating of the rooms have continued to be satisfactory; and that the preservation of the more important and perishable pictures by glazing has been proceeded with.

The art collections have received some highly important additions, especially from the Soltikoff collection. Several of the principal objects of that collection have been acquired by the nation, and are now deposited in the Museum. The rooms have been entirely rearranged, and the Italian sculpture is for the first time exhibited. Numerous loans of value have been received, and a selection from the casts brought together by Sir Charles Barry for the Houses of Parliament has been arranged in one of the temporary corridors.

The circulation of objects from this central Museum to the provinces has continued on a largely increased scale. The superintendent reports that not a single accident has occurred, either to the travelling collection itself, which consists of 820 objects, or to 2970 additional loans. The travelling collection was visited by 221,281 persons.

The sale of photographs and reproductions has continued under the conditions named in the last report. The production by the department of photographic negatives not otherwise obtainable, and their publication by the trade, has been successfully commenced in the case of Turner's Liber Studiorum. The number of photographs issued during the year was 8884, and the amount received 7157. 148. Of this sum, 111. 178. 7d. was paid to the trustees of the British Museum, on account of positives sold and as royalty on negatives. The total sale in the photograph office, since its opening, in October, 1859, has been 24,468 impressions, and the amount received 15871. 48. The number of visitors to the exhibition-room has been, in the last year, 20,187, against 22,933 in 1860.

The educational collections have increased during the past year, and the library has been consulted by 4525 persons, while in 1860 the number was 3037. The additions have been numerous and valuable; but want of space has rendered it necessary to decline many others which were offered. The removal of the art collections into the new courts and adjoining cloisters will afford more room to these collections in the course of the present year.

The collection of animal products has remained in nearly the state in which it was at the date of the last report. Want of space has precluded any considerable enlargement of the collection; but a few interesting additions have been made, and some portions have been improved.

The food collection has obtained increased room, and is better displayed than formerly. At the same time, some additions have been received which are well exhibited. Dr. Lankester, the superintendent, reports specially on the labelling of, and the scientific inquiries in connection with, the last two collections with which he has been charged.

The structural collection has received some additional space from the alterations in the art collections. It has acquired 478 new articles during the year, mainly exhibited by producers.

The great increase in the number of visitors to the Museum which took place in 1860 has been maintained (with a very slight variation) in the past year. The returns for the four complete years since the opening are as follows: 1858, 456,288; 1859, 475,365; 1860, 610,696; 1861, 604,550. The difference in the numbers during 1861 is to be ascribed to the closing of the Museum for a week on the occasion of the death of H.R.H. the Prince Consort. The average of that week in the three preceding years was 5993, which, added to 604,550, would give a total of 610,543 for the year. The experiment of opening the Museum free on Saturday evenings, instead of by payment of 6d. on Wednesday evenings, has been tried since the 1st of January, 1862. 39,612 persons have visited the Museum on the Saturday evenings up to the 14th of June in this year, while 5937 came on the corresponding Wednesday evenings in 1861.

The lectures delivered in the theatre of the Museum, exclusive of the usual class lectures on anatomy by Dr. Marshall, and on ornament by Mr. Hudson, have been restricted to two courses on ancient, mediæval, and modern art by Dr. Kinkel, and to a course on science instruction in connection with the science minute of 2nd June, 1859. The latter were delivered by Dr. Lankester, the Rev. B. M. Cowie, Dr. Percy, W. W. Smyth, Esq., Professor Hofmann, and Professor Huxley.

III. - INSTITUTIONS SUBJECT TO THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT.

Geological Survey, Museum of Practical Geology, and School of Mines.— The area surveyed during the past year in England and Scotland has been about the same as that of the previous year, namely, 1430 square miles, the work having been retarded by the nature of the ground and the resignation of some of the officers, whose places could not be immediately supplied. In Ireland 837 square miles of the six-inch maps have been examined, and boundary lines of 1114 miles followed, besides other districts re-surveyed, and 250 miles of boundary lines re-adjusted. The issue of maps and explanatory pamphlets has continued. In the Museum 3244 fossils have been labelled, tableted, and arranged. Some valuable additions have been made in this branch of the collections. To the Museum generally and to the library, numerous and valuable donations have been made, and the cataloguing and arranging of the specimens generally have advanced.

The director-general reports that in the School of Mines the occasional students have considerably increased in number, but the matriculated students have been fewer. In the sessions of 1859-60, 107 occasional students, and 14 matriculated students entered. In the sessions of 1860-61 these students were 187, and 6 in the respective classes. The professors of the school have met the supposed causes of the diminution in the number of matriculated students, and the entries of the present session show a decided increase. The students in the chemical laboratory were 110 in 1861, against 108 in 1860; and those in the metallurgical laboratory 30, against 27 in the same periods. The evening lectures, besides the lectures to working men, have been continued, with the same success as last year. The fees received at the school have been 810l., against 6467. 10s. in the previous period. The Mining Record Office has received large additions, and its statistics have, in several particulars, been corrected and enlarged.

The number of visitors has been 24,151, being about the average of the last few years.

Sir Charles Trevelyan, K.C.B., has kindly aided us in an inquiry into the present working of the establishment in Jermyn Street, with a view of extending and improving its working, and especially that of the school of mines. So soon as this inquiry has been brought to completion, its results will be laid before your Majesty.

The director of the Museum of Irish Industry reports that the number of visitors, during the past year, to that institution has been 24,843 in the day, and 10,150 in the evenings, including the lectures and other meetings, being a total of 34,993, or an increase of 1994 over those of the previous year. The arrangement and cataloguing of the collections have been continued, and a portion of the catalogue has been published. The detailed work of the several divisions of the Museum and school, and lists of donations and purchases, are given in Sir R. Kane's report.

The total average attendance at the various courses of lectures delivered under authority of the Royal Dublin Society, from February, 1861, to April, 1862, was 2295. The Botanical Gardens, which, since the 18th of last August, have been open to the public on Sundays, have been visited by 133,780 persons, of whom 80,655 were on Sundays; the remainder showing an increase of 13,782 on the preceding year. The total attendance on all the divisions of the society, including the lectures, cattle shows, museums, art exhibition (190,000, which is noticed in the statistics of the travelling collection), and art school, was 460,136; in 1860 it was 111,360. The visitors to the Royal Zoological Society were 129,507, against 143,310 in 1860.

The foundation-stone of the new building for the Industrial Museum of Scotland was laid by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, on the 23rd October, 1861. This was the last public act of that Prince.

Arrangements have been made to exhibit temporarily some portions of the collections during the present year, in the old houses in Argyle Square, which occupy part of the site of the future Museum. During the past year, upwards of 3000 specimens have been presented to this Museum, in a very liberal manner.

The regius keeper of the Museum of Natural History reports that the total attendance of the public, students, and others amounted to 100,154, being nearly 17,000 in excess of the previous year, and more than 11,000 over the highest year, 1858. The Museum has received many additions and donations to its collections.

Report of Mr. Thompson, Keeper of the Food Museum, for the Year 1861.

The food collection continues to be attractive to the general public. Many additions have been received during the past year, some of which possess considerable interest and value. Towards the end of the year a large additional space was acquired, which has enabled the collection to be more favourably exhibited. A good part of the collection is now shown in glazed cases, which not only protect the specimens from injury by exposure, but display them to a much greater advantage. Among the more important additions presented to the Museum may be mentioned a collection of food products from Siam; a smaller collection of the like nature from Japan; a case of mounted game birds from Nova Scotia; a series of cocoa and its preparations; a collection of edible sea-weeds; and a large diagram illus

trating Dr. Normandy's process of converting ordinary sea-water into aërated fresh water, with specimens of the water so obtained.

The total number of additions during the year is as follows :-Donations, 165; purchased, 63; and sent for exhibition, 18. These numbers are exclusive of the Siamese and Japanese collections, which consist of 74 samples of specimens.

The following cases of chemical analysis have been prepared, and show the composition of wheaten bran, gooseberries, peaches, dates, cocoa-nut, millet, plantains, cucumber, Iceland moss, and carob beans. It having been considered desirable that a duplicate set of analysis food cases should be prepared for the purpose of being sent on loan to the provinces, 25 cases were completed for that purpose; and during the year have been sent to Banbury, Manchester, Dorchester, and Southampton. The cases were accompanied by 22 large printed labels in glazed frames.

Report of Mr. Thompson, Keeper of the Animal Products Museum for the Year 1861.

A considerable number of interesting additions have been made during the past year, illustrating the application of animal products to industrial purposes. The great want of space, however, not only hinders the proper display of many specimens, but makes it impossible to receive most of the offers made to augment the collection. In some sections, particularly those devoted to woollen and silk manufactures, it is very desirable to renew the greater part of the manufactured specimens, which have not only become much deteriorated from long exposure, but do not fairly represent the present state of manufacture, which has, in many instances, made great advances on those exhibited. With these exceptions the collection is, generally speaking, in good condition. It is believed there would be little difficulty in obtaining the required fabrics if additional space was provided for showing

them.

Among the more important additions that have been acquired during the year, may be mentioned a very interesting and valuable collection of Chinese silks and embroidery, obtained by the British troops at Pekin during the Chinese war. This collection attracted much attention, and remained on view for more than four months, when it was withdrawn owing to a fear on the part of its proprietor that it would be injured if longer exposed to the action of light. In the fur division many new and valuable specimens have been received, and the entire collection newly exhibited in glazed cases made specially for it since the last report. A series of bees-wax from various parts of the world forms a valuable addition to the division illustrating animal oils and fats. Some interesting examples of animal products have been received from Siam, but for want of room are not at present shown in their proper places. Portions of these products have been distributed to the museums and other places mentioned in the report on the food collection.

Report of Dr. Lankester, Superintendent of the Food Collection.

National Food. The particular additions to this part of the Museum will be found in the report of the keeper, Mr. Richard Thompson. To some of these additions I would, however, call special attention. During the past year two national collections of food have been presented to the Museum by her Majesty's Government, one from Siam and one from Japan. Both these