Railway carriages, breaks, and signals-2005-W. H. Petitjean and 1868. L. A. Herrmann and E. I. | 1839. A. J. Paterson.

257. Is the competition for the scholarships public? 250. It seems to be mere matter of form; the two-It is conducted by the various professors of the bodies are practically the same?—Yes.

rate.

the principal the general superintendence of the Aca-teurs should be educated in the Academy at a reduced demy. He is the intermediate authority between the Committee and the professors, and he is there the greater part of the day.

260. He is that intermediate authority-not the secretary? The secretary never had anything to do with that.

261. Who notes down the attendances of the professors? There is a book kept in the hall, and every professor is required to enter his name as he arrives, and the porter puts in the hour and minute at which he arrives; and on leaving the Academy the professors enter their names in another book to show when they leave, so that there is a complete check upon the time they attend.

277. You would have no objection to amateurs joining the Academy if they paid sufficiently remunerative fees?--I think it might be managed, but I doubt whe ther it would be expedient.

278. Does the Academy require that they shall be professionals?--It is understood that is their intention either to become public professors or teachers.

279. You have had long experience in Parliamentary life and proceedings. Have you any expectations that Parliament could be induced within any reasonable time to give a grant of £10,000 a year to the Academy ?—I cannot say that I have.

280. Perhaps if a more modest request were made, 262. Referring to the Charter, I find that the number and put upon sufficient grounds, it might be more suc of members may be indefinite?-That means the sub-cessful?--I doubt very much at the present time whether scribers; that is, the body corporate may be indefinite. any Chancellor of the Exchequer would venture to pro263. The board of directors is to consist of thirty pose any great increase upon the present grant. members ?-Yes.

264. Besides these thirty directors there is to be a committee of management of not more than fifteen, nor less than seven? It does not appear from the charter that they necessarily are the same persons?-No.

265. But practically at the present time they are ?We can get no others.

266. Do the Directors or the committee of management appoint the professors?-The directors have attended as a matter of form for many years; they attend one or two meetings a year.

267. Are the Professors paid wholly by fees?-They are paid at so much per hour of attendance.

268. Not acccording to the number of students?-It is so to a certain extent; because, as they give half an hour's separate instruction to each pupil, a professor who has twice as many as another must attend double the time and receives double the amount of remuneration. They are paid according to the number of students they have under them, because that makes the time.

269. Then a professor has a pecuniary interest in the number of pupils he teaches?-Certainly.

270. Have you any students whose fees are wholly remitted-I think none at this moment.

271. But you have students who pay different grades of fees?-As a matter of favour some indulgence has been given.

272. You have some who hold scholarships ?- - We have four scholarships; two King's scholarships which nearly pay the whole expenses of the education. The others pay only about one-third part of it.

273. Should you consider it desirable to increase these scholarships Yes: I think it would be a means of inducing promising pupils to remain till their education was completed, which is frequently not the case now from want of means on the part of their friends to keep them at the Academy.

281. Any materially increased assistance from Government must come from an expression of public opinion in favour of it?—Yes; perhaps so.

282. What, in your opinion, would be the result of a Parliamentary committee of inquiry-A committee of the House of Commons on the subject of music I think would do no good. If any inquiry is made it would be better to have a Royal Commission.

283. You are entirely on the side of the improvement of the present Acadamy if it can be effected ?—We have stated publicly, and distributed circulars to the effect, that our object is to have the fullest inquiry into the management, and our desire to adopt any alterations and improvements that may place the Academy upon a more popular basis.

284. If you had premises suitable in all respects rent free it would aid you materially?—Yes.

285. I believe the authorities of the Academy applied to the Royal Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 for their aid in providing a new site for premises at Kensington-I was deputed by the committee to communicate with the Prince Consort on that subject, and his royal highness, I believe, was quite willing to have assigned a portion of ground at Kensington for the purpose; but it was merely as to the site. I explained to his royal highness that it was quite out of our power to erect a building upon it.

286. If, in addition to a site, a building suitable for your purposes were put up on it, you would receive it with great satisfaction?—Yes; I should indeed.

287. Then it is not correct, as has been stated, that you have declined the assistance of the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 ?—No; we do not refuse the smallest donations.

288. We understand that the principal of the Academy has the entire responsibility of the musical educa tion How long has that existed? Was there not 274. Do you think it likely increased subscriptions at one time a board of professors -A board was ap would be obtained by increasing the number of scholar-pointed as assessors, to assist the principal in any cases ships?--I think it would be a likely means of doing so. he required.

275. You would have no objection to the funds being 289. The principal has been the only responsible perincreased by some process of that sort-That would son ?-Yes. educate at a reduced rate a certain uumber of pupils, but 290. And he has been the person to appoint the teachit would not afford funds for carrying on the generalers-He has not had the selection of the teachers alone. business of the Academy.

276. If the institution was made thoroughly efficient, and very attractive, it is not difficult to conceive that some classes of students, sufficiently rich, would pay fees enough to cover the cost of management, and you might look forward to obtaining from the State a sufficient endowment to establish several scholarships --The friends of pupils who join the Academy with the intention of devoting themselves to the musical profession can only pay fees which cover the expense of the education. The object of the Academy is to afford the means of more thorough musical education to persons who devote themselves to it professionally. It is not our wish that ama

He recommends to the committee of management that such and such persons should be appointed, and he gives recommendation as to the distribution of the pupils to the various professors.

291. Do you think it for the advantage of the Academy that there should be one superintendent only, or that the responsibility should be divided---I think it better to have one sole and undivided authority.

292. If you appoint a musical professor to the office of principal, he is practically chosen for life, and there would be some difficulty in removing him from it-It might be difficult.

293. I would ask you whether you do not think that

a disadvantage ?-It depends upon a judicious selection being made in the first instance.

294. Is the present principal paid by a salary?-Yes: that is a recent arrangement. We thought it would add to the dignity of the office to pay him a fixed salary, the amount of which is as near as possible what he received as a teacher of harmony in the Academy.

295. Is it not usually found to be the case in educational institutions that they generally succeed better if the masters and teachers are paid according to the success of the institution; at our great schools the success or otherwise is judged of by the amount of income of the principal ?-That arises from the number of students and a capitation allowance.

296. Do you think that principle might be introduced with advantage into the Royal Academy of Music? Only to a limited extent, perhaps; because I do not think it desirable to increase the number of musical teachers in the country beyond a certain limit, as there might be no opportunity for their being absorbed as performers or as instructors.

297. Would you not have the institution grow to any extent possible, within the capabilities of management? -You might go so far as to make the supply of teachers far beyond the demand. We have not come to the limit yet, certainly.

305. Can you give the committee any idea of the average expense for each pupil in an Academy of Music conducted as you would wish it to be, and with a sufficient amount of education-I say from £40 to £45 a year would be amply sufficient; and if the funds of the Academy amounted to a sufficient sum, we would like a reduced contribution from the pupils.

306. With regard to the amount of fees paid by the pupils, do you consider it to be generally too high?--I am afraid it is too often felt to be so by the parents. We have had cases in which the friends of pupils of great talents have said unless the fees were reduced they would be obliged to withdraw the students.

307. Do you think that might be met by having graduated payments? Or do you think it impolitic to admit students at too low a fee, and that the cheaper you make musical education the more common you make it, and that the tendency would be to lower that class of education ?-I think it could hardly be the case with a musical academy. It would make it important to get admission, and there would be a stricter examination. At present no person with talent is refused, at a moderate rate of payment-two-thirds or one-half the usual amount is sometimes taken to induce them to remain till their education is completed.

308. You would be in favour of taking smaller fees in cases of great competency and promise ?--Yes; we have done so. In many instances we have agreed to take a smaller amount than the regular fee from pupils who have shown great talent.

298. Is it your opinion that, in addition to a liberal salary, the principal should be remunerated according to the success of the institution ?--I think that would be a very valuable principle; and, perhaps, the best mode of judging of results, that there should be something in 309. The amount of annual subscriptions to the Acathe nature of a capitation allowance for each scholar.demy do not much exceed £200 ?—No, they do not. It might be of service in stimulating the exertions, not only of the principal, but of the other professors altogether.

310. To what do you attribute that small amount of public subscriptions? Is it to want of popularity of the institution ?-People do not subscribe money generally, 299. Is it not desirable that you should make periodical unless they get a quid pro quo. What have we to offer? reports to Parliament upon the working of the institution, If there were the inducement of attractive concerts seeing you are now receiving Parliamentary funds?- it might be different. As it is we have no public induceWe may be called upon to do so. I may mention gene-ments to hold out. rally we have found great difficulty for years in carrying 311. Could you not hold out the inducement of reon the institution in what I consider a perfectly satis-peated concerts?--We hold concerts of the pupils, and factory manner, from the deficiency of funds. In some respects we have been obliged to reduce our establishment to the lowest point compatible with efficiency, and I am afraid we have to some degree gone beyond that, particularly in dispensing with the services of a general superintendent--not a professional musician-whom we had at one time, and to whom we paid a moderate salary.

we find the expenses exceed the receipts.

312. Do you think some system might be devised by which benevolent people of musical tastes, and wealthy, would be disposed to pay at once the necessary fees for the education of a student, and having the right of maintaining a student?-We have had instances of persons undertaking to pay the fees of a student for two or three years.

300. Now you have only a principal ?-That is all. 313. As you are aware there are numerous charit301. At that time the principal was not salaried?-able and educational institutions in which the donation No. of a certain sum, £100 or £500, as the case may be, 302. It appears by the paper which has been fur- entitles the donor to a nomination to the institution; nished by Mr. Gimson, of the receipts and expendi- do you not think that plan might be applicable to the ture of the Academy, that the cost of each pupil, in- Academy of Music?--I think there is hardly sufficient cluding maintenance of the establishment, is on an public interest in music to hope much from that source. average £45 a year?-That would vary according to the The Academy would be only too happy if it were so. number of students there happened to be in any particu-We should be ready to modify the system in any way lar year. If there were a great number of students a small surplus over what is paid for the musical education would be sufficient to maintain the establishment; but some years there are a small number of pupils, and then the expenses divided amongst that small number would be high.

303. Do you consider the amount of musical education given in the Academy in each branch sufficient to complete the pupils --I should say so if they remained at least three years.

304. Practically do you find that the pupils derive their education during the term they are at the Academy, solely from the Academy, or do you find in some instances they have private tuition besides?-I am not aware of any such cases. Their time is so fully occupied with lessons and practice, and the expenses of the Academy are so much complained of, that I doubt whether any of the pupils go beyond that.

that might be thought desirable.

314. Is there any person in the existing governing body of the Academy to make new rules for the regulation of the Academy-The directors and committee may make bye-laws, not inconsistent with the general provisions of the charter.

315. Would it be in the power of the directors to make a bye-law that persons making a certain donation to the Academy should be entitled to the nomination of pupils:-There could be no difficulty about it, nor do I imagine there could be any objection to it whatever. The Committee then adjourned.

APPENDIX.

Copy of a Letter from the Lords Commissioners of Her
Majesty's Treasury.

Treasury Chambers, June, 29, 1863.
MY LORD, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners

of Her Majesty's Treasury to acknowledge the receipt ing not to throw upon the state a task refused by private of the memorial addressed to the Chancellor of the Ex-liberality, but to obtain by the countenance, as well as chequer by the directors of the Royal Academy of the funds of the state, power to prosecute its proper aims, Music for the grant of assistance from Her Majesty's upon a scale more fully adequate to their importance. Government. My lords are quite willing that the Directors of the Royal Academy of music should make such use of this communication as they may think proper. I am, My Lord, Your obedient servant, (Signed)

Their lordships have also had before them a paper, signed by the Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, forwarded on the 29th of April last, submitting observations and suggestions on behalf of the professors of the Royal Academy of Music, and a memorial of the professors, members, associates, and honorary members of that Institution.

My lords are disposed to agree that it may justly deserve consideration, whether on general grounds it might not be proper to afford some public aid or recognition to the art of music. They are also of opinion that the remarkable extension of taste and knowledge with respect to this art, which has taken place within a recent period, does not of itself dispense with the necessity of special efforts, and of special institutions with a view to the scientific training of well-selected pupils in the principles and practice of the art. It has been found in the case of the general education of the people, that there is much more disposition to support the teacher when trained than to assist in keeping at work the machinery which is necessary for training him. The same thing may be true with such qualifications as the difference of subject suggests in the case of the artist

in music.

My lords are therefore disposed to take into consideration, before the estimates of next year are proposed, the question whether some aid or recognition by the state might not fitly be extended to the art of music, and to some institution connected with it.

Undoubtedly the institution which first offers itself to view as presumptively entitled to the benefit of such consideration of the general question, is the Royal Academy of Music, from the high character of the countenance it has enjoyed, from the services it has rendered during a series of years, and from the testimony which has been borne to its merits in the memorial from the Professors of Music to which reference has been

made.

The Earl of Wilton,
Chairman of the Directors of the
Royal Academy of Music.

G. ARBUTHNOT.

Proceedings of Institutions.

CHATHAM, ROCHESTER, &c., MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.The twenty-eighth annual report says that during the year there has been no increase of subscriptions, but rather

the reverse.

The previous report showed that more than £100 remained over and above the necessary expenditure at the close of last year. £46 has been expended for the purchase of books, which enabled the committee to place about five hundred fresh volumes in the library. An addenda to the old catalogue was also prepared, at a very considerable expense, which has found but few purchasers, so that its publication has entailed a heavy loss upon the Institution. The statement of the librarian that 6,240 volumes have been issued during the past year, shows The committee are that the readers must be numerous. endeavouring to increase the inducements for artizans to join the Institution, and to that end have again made efforts for the formation of classes, and, that no one may be excluded from participating in their benefits by want of means, it has been determined to issue a ticket of membership, the price of which shall be 18. 6d. per quarter throughout the year; and that to join a class, it will only be necessary to pay sixpence per quarter additional. A mechanical drawing class is now in operation, under Mr. T. Merritt, and a Latin class will, it is hoped, be formed immediately, under the Rev. S. Arnott, Vicar of Chatham. Other gentlemen have also kindly offered their gratuitous services, so that the committee can undertake to find a teacher for almost any branch of study which six of the members may express a desire to enter on. The committee point out the benefits which may be derived by entering the classes, and speak of the advantages of examinations. One of the candidates, a member of this Institution, who took a first-class certificate, and the second prize in arithmetic of three guineas, as well as a second-class certificate in algebra, had the pleasure not only of receiving these rewards from the hand of the Prince of Wales, and of having his certificate signed by Mr. Charles Dickens, as president of the local board of examiners, but of almost directly being appointed to a clerkship on the Cobham estate, by the Earl of Darnley, who considered these documents quite satisfactory evidences of his fitness for the office, which will 2. In particular, they will deem it necessary to be doubtless prove a first step to his advancement in le. assured, by sufficient proof, that the institution which The committee, while mentioning that the Institution has may claim to be the immediate recipient of aid is not been affiliated to the Kent Association, express their only one entitled to acknowledgments for past services, admiration for the public spirit and energy displayed by but is also in possession of the general confidence of the the chief promoter of this union-Mr. W. Monk, of profession, and is constituted in the most effective man- Faversham, through whose indefatigable exertions the ner, and on the most liberal principles for the prosecu-people of that town have obtained an institute which tion of its purposes; or else is engaged in adopting such measures as may entitle it to claim to correspond with this description.

It is, however, one thing to aid by money or building an institution already self-supporting and efficient, with a view to its greater and more lasting utility, and another thing to undertake to supply similar support to an institution whose resources appear to be diminishing and wasting away, so that the state might soon, and yet unawares, become virtually pledged to engage to supply both its maintenance and its management.

My lords regret to perceive the extreme slenderness of the present funds of the Royal Academy of Music. Upon the whole they think it their duty to attach to the statement they have made above in favour of the consideration of the question, the following reservations:

1. In the event of their taking any step such as has been shadowed out, they remain free entirely to consider what shall be the nature, particulars, and conditions of any aid which it may be proposed to give.

may be well taken as a model for the formation of others of a similar character. The greatest effort made by the committee during the past year was that for getting up a 3. They would think it necessary that measures should local exhibition of things curious, beautiful, and interestbe adopted by the Royal Academy of Music to obtain aing, in the lecture hall; this was a complete success as much more extended amount of voluntary support, so as an exhibition, although, in a pecuniary sense, to some to secure to it the character of an institution having the extent a failure, the expenditure having exceeded the promise of permanence from its own resources, and seek-receipts by about £10.