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"That no graduate or under-graduate of any university of the United Kingdom, no student of any of the learned professions, no certificated schoolmaster or pupil teacher, shall be eligible for examination by the Society's Examiners.

"That no person under fifteen years of age shall be admitted to examination.

"That every candidate shall undergo a previous examination in writing from dictation, and correcting faulty English composition, to test the handwriting, spelling, and knowledge of English grammar possessed by each candidate.

"That no candidate shall be examined in more than three subjects.

"That the Society's Examinations for the North of England be held at HUDDERSFIELD, during the week commencing June 1st, 1857.

"That a sum of ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS be awarded by the Society's Examiners in general prizes at the ensuing Examinations of the Society in June next."

Several Trade Schools and Commercial Schools having applied to the Society to be taken into union, in order that the pupils of such schools may avail themselves of the Society's Examinations, it was resolved

"That TRADE SCHOOLS AND SUCH OTHER SCHOOLS AS PROFESS TO TEACH THE ELEMENTS OF MANUFACTURING OR COMMERCIAL KNOWLEDGE BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION INTO UNION ON THE SAME TERMS AS MECHANICS' INSTITUTIONS.

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* Purely classical Schools are not admissible.

SIR,

SOCIETY OF ARTS' REGISTRY.

Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce,
Adelphi, London.

1 Sept. 1856.

I AM instructed to bring under your notice the subjoined recommendation of the Board of Examiners appointed to conduct the Society's Examinations, and confirmed at a recent meeting of the Council of this Society.

"The Board of Examiners are entirely of opinion that "a great additional value would be imparted to the Cer"tificates issued by the Society of Arts and to the prizes "awarded, were the Council to open a PUBLIC REGISTRY "of all those persons who from time to time shall obtain "the Society's Certificates, and shall be desirous to pro"cure employment. Through such a Registry the "Council would be enabled to afford to employers pre"cise and accurate information-the result of a prolonged "and searching inquiry-as to the attainments and in"tellectual ability of any of their certificated candidates.'

The Importance of a Registry of this kind, if freely used by the public, can scarcely be overrated. To employers, who may wish to secure the services of intelligent and industrious young men, it will afford a precise and in most cases an unerring* test of the actual attainments

*It has long been known that the system of granting appointments upon the faith of testimonials is a bad one. Carelessness-what is called good nature, but which would be more justly described as want of principle-private interest—the desire to repay an obligation or get rid of a bore-these are the prolific parents of recommendations which ought never to have been given, but against which it is extremely difficult for the dispensers of patronage to guard themselves.—Athenæum, p. 1021, Aug. 16, 1856.

and ability of those persons whose names appear on the register. They must all possess a certain amount of industry, intelligence, and acquirement; for no one will be permitted to place his name on the register who shall not have obtained at least one Certificate at the Society's Examinations. The Registry will be so arranged as to give the name, age, place of residence, previous occupation, employer if any, and the subjects in which Certificates have been granted. Employers who take an interest in the progress of National Education, and who desire to encourage habits of self-instruction and of steady application in the young men of England, are invited to avail themselves of the facilities which will be afforded them, free of charge, by the Society of Arts' Registry. Every appointment thus filled will not only have rewarded some industrious and deserving young person, but will stimulate many others to enter on and persevere in a course of patient labour for their self-improvement.

Although employers must satisfy themselves of the moral qualities of the candidates, and the Council do not profess to give any guarantee on this head, yet they are of opinion that a young man who must necessarily have devoted to study a large portion of the time at his disposal, often very scant, can scarcely have had much leisure for idle pursuits or vicious indulgences.

I beg to call your attention to the subjoined " Declaration," which has received upwards of five hundred signatures, including those of Manufacturers, Merchants, Bankers, Ironmasters, Shipbuilders, Railway Companies, Insurance Companies, and various other firms, &c.; as also to furnish you with a list of those persons who obtained Certificates at the Society's Examinations held on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of June last, at the Society's house in the Adelphi, with the subjects in

which Certificates and prizes were awarded to them.. The Council desire the expression of your approval to a plan, which, if generally supported, may become a great national benefit.

I have the honour to be,

your very obedient servant, P. LE NEVE FOSTER,

Secretary.

DECLARATION.

We, the undersigned, having considered the Memo"randum of the Council of the Society of Arts, and the

plan therein set forth, for examining and granting "certificates to the students of classes for instruction in "the Literary and Scientific Institutions, Mechanics' "Institutes, Athenæums, and other similar bodies in "union with the said Society, do hereby declare that "6 we desire to promote the success of the said plan, and are prepared to regard as testimonials worthy of credit "such CERTIFICATES as may be awarded in conformity "thereto."

EXAMINERS' REPORT.

SUBJECTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES IN JUNE, 1857.

The Board of Examiners at the request of the Council of the Society of Arts have drawn up the following instructions, suggestions, and recommendations for the use of those persons who propose to present themselves for examination before the Society's Examiners.

The text books mentioned in the following pages are sanctioned by the Board of Examiners.

MATHEMATICS.

The Examiners in Mathematics recommend that the mathematical course should comprise :

Arithmetic.

A knowledge of the principles of a decimal currency on the basis of the pound unit.

Book-keeping by double entry.

Algebra, including Quadratic Equations, and the Theory and Application of Logarithms. Elements of Euclid, Books I. II. III. and VI., XI., (first 21 propositions,) and XII., (first 10 propositions.)

Mensuration.

Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, with the solution of both plane and spherical triangles by the use of Logarithmic Tables.

Land Surveying.

Nautical Astronomy.

The properties of Conic Sections treated geometrically, or graphically by the method of projections.

The Examiners do not attach much importance to the selection of the manuals in which mathematics may be learned. Such text books as those of Colenso, or

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