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 58 COLLEGE in 1304. Though they were charitable insti- tutions, some of them became so renowned for the learning and eloquence of their lecturers that nobles and princes of the blood placed their children in them. In the university of Paris, 15 colleges were founded in the 13th century, and the number has since been in- creased to about 100, more than half of which are of slight importance. Each college be- came a distinct faculty, having lectures and dis- putations only in a single department, and the university was a collection of colleges, each of which gave instruction exclusively in one branch of learning. The colleges in the Eng- lish universities assumed at first a different character, being not designed to confer instruc- tion, but to administer royal or private munifi- cence in aiding students through the uni- versity. The task of instruction was, however, gradually transferred from the university to the colleges, till at present the former retains only such general powers as the conferring of degrees or other honors. Each college, instead of limiting its instructions to one department, assumes the entire task of qualifying its mem- bers for degrees. The funds support a certain number of graduates termed fellows, who may retain this position for life, unless they inherit estates of greater income, or marry ; and there are scholarships, exhibitions, and other stipends which give entire or partial support to a por- tion of the undergraduates, all of whom are under the superintendence of tutors. Besides those who receive aid from the foundations, there are other independent students, who are styled, according to their rank and expendi- tures, noblemen, fellow commoners, or com- moners. Oxford has 20 colleges and 5 halls, the latter being merely unendowed boarding places, where each student lives at his own ex- pense. Cambridge has 17 colleges. Gresham college was established in 1575 by Sir Thomas Gresham, founder of the royal exchange. The lectures commenced, after his death, in his own house near Broad street, in June, 1597 ; and there, too, the founders of the royal so- ciety met in 1645. After the destruction of this building in 1768, the lectures were con- tinued in a room over the royal exchange. On Nov. 2, 1843, the present edifice in Ba- flinghall street was opened. It is only within the last 50 years that collegiate establishments belonging to Roman Catholics and dissenters have enjoyed the privilege of obtaining aca- demic degrees for their pupils, without having to subscribe to the thirty-nine articles. An attempt to remedy this injustice, and to provide a complete university and scientific education for the inhabitants of the metropolis, led to the founding of University college, King's college, and the university of London. The project originated with the poet Campbell and Lord Brougham. The latter in 1825 intro- duced a bill into parliament for incorporating the university of London, which was lost. The next step was to found and organize the institution at first named London university. The deed of settlement was dated Feb. 11, 1826 ; the building in Gower street was com- menced April 30, 1827, the first stone being laid by the duke of Sussex ; and it was opened by an inaugural lecture from Prof. Bell, Oct. 1, 1828. As the course of instruction was free to persons of every creed, and did not embrace positive religious teaching, a warm and persis- tent opposition was at once set on foot by members of the church of England, supported by Oxford and Cambridge, and even by roy- alty itself. George IV. gave toward the foun- dation of a rival establishment the ground on which stood the east wing of Somerset house. The new college, named after him King's col- lege, was incorporated by royal charter Aug. 14, 1829, and opened Oct. 8, 1831. Every effort made to obtain a charter for London university proved ineffectual until Nov. 28, 1836, when two charters were granted by William IV., one to London university, th< name of which was now changed to Universit, college, and the other establishing the univer- sity of London. This latter obtained a new charter in 1837, empowering it to confer de- grees on the pupils of King's college, as well as those of University college and all other like proprietary collegiate institutions in Eng- land. These powers have again and again been enlarged, and the university of London is now (1873) represented in parliament by Robert Lowe, chancellor of the exchequer. Among the many colleges which at the present time are connected with it in the British isl- ands and colonies, the following may be men- tioned : Manchester Independent college, found- ed for educating persons of the Independent persuasion ; the Owens college at Manches- ter, from which theological instruction is ex- cluded ; Manchester New college, belonging to the Unitarians; the Catholic colleges of Stoney- hurst, Lancashire (known as a first-rate scien- tific as well as classical school), and St. Cuth- bert's, Ushaw, Durham county, the rival of Stoneyhurst, and in which the historian Lingard counted among his pupils the late Cardinal Wise- man and the late Rev. John Larkin. Colleges in France are now a grade of public schools, corresponding nearly to the gymnasia of Ger- many, and educating pupils between about the ages of 10 and 18. They are either state or communal, according as they are sustained by the funds of the state or of particular cities. There are 83 of the former class (termed ly- ceums since 1850), including 5 in Paris, under the direction of an inspector appointed by the academy ; and 253 of the latter, superintended by the minister of public instruction. The course of study embraces religion, the French, Latin, and Greek languages, one or two foreign modern languages, philosophy, history, geog- raphy, mathematics, the natural sciences, and drawing. The college of France, founded by Francis I. in 1530, presents a system of instruc- tion hardly surpassed in vastness by any uni-