Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/702

Rh LONDON. 691 LONDON. of the Rolls' Court, in Chancery-lane, and Fetter-lane. It faces northward, and will form one side of the new street which is to be continued eastward from Carey- street to Cheapside. It contains historical documents and archives of inestimable value, and these are all allowed to bo used and consulted in a room provided for the purpose by means of an order to be obtained under the sanction of the Master of the Eolls. The University of London consists of the two colleges of University College, in Tipper Gower-street, Bedford-square, and King's College, which occupies the E. wing of Somerset House, in the Strand, where it extends in a straight line down to the river. The former of these stands upon 7 acres of ground, and the building consists of a central part 430 feet in length, with a portico and a dome, and two projecting wings, the whole forming three sides of a quadrangle. It contains several large lecture rooms, a library and museums, a hall 90 feet in length by 45 in breadth, and 23 in height, a laboratory, suites of apartments for some of the professors, and rooms for the meetings of the council and the accommodation of the officers of the establishment ; and in Gordon-square is a hall in connection with it, presided over by some one appointed by the council, for the express purpose of providing board and lodging at fixed payments for a certain number of students who may choose to live there. This hall was formerly founded at Manchester under the title of " Manchester New College," for the training of young men for the Protestant Dissenting ministry. A certain number of these pupils now reside there and attend classes and lectures given on the premises, but the lay department is separate from the theological. In the college there is a museum containing a collection of models by the celebrated Flagman, and the " Manner Homericum " of the Boron do Triqueti. The University College school and the junior school in connec- tion with it, which have been founded for the instruction of boys between 16 and 7 years of age, are not only well attended, but have earned a well-deserved reputation. The college itself was designedly established for the pur- pose of receiving stndents without any theological test or teaching, and it therefore numbers among its graduates and undergraduates Jews, Dissenters, and members of a great variety of religious denominations. It possesses several exhibitions and scholarships, while the number of subjects embraced in ita art and humanity examina- tions, far exceed those required at Oxford and Cam- bridge. This, in the opinion of several who are well qualified to judge, renders the education too diffuse, and is the cause of its failing to turn out scholars as accom- plished as those who come from the older universities. King's College has on the ground floor the hall, the lecture-rooms, and the secretary's office. In the first of these are two grand staircases leading to the anatomi- cal museum on the S. side of the first floor, and the library on the N. side. The educational system em- braces the four branches of theology (in which the distinction of "Theological Associate" is granted), general literature, science, and science as applied to arts and medicine. The principal and professors are for the most part men pf great reputation for sound learning and varied accomplishments, and there is an excellent school connected with the college, and evening classes for students engaged during the day. There are some scholarships of 50 per annum, and two medical scholar- ships of 25 each. Both University College and King's College have hospitals attached to them, and both rank high as medical schools. There are several schools and collegiate establishments, both in London and the country, in connection with the University of London, who send up candidates for degrees without their stndents having been either to University or King's colleges. The examinations for degrees are held at Burlington House, in Piccadilly, which is now devoted to this and similar purposes, such aa the meetings of learned societies, the middle-class examinations, &c., and the degrees conferred are those of LL.D., LL.B., M.A., B.A., and M.B. The governing body of the university consists of a chancellor, vice-chancellor, fellows, and graduates, and both University and King's College publish each year a calendar containing the names of graduates and undergraduates, lists of prize- men, examination papers, and other matters connected with their status and progress. The College of Precep- tors grants certificates to schoolmasters who have passed itaBUninations ; and the Society of Arts, in John-street, jBRphi, grants honorary and pecuniary prizes for inventions, discoveries, and improvements in art. Up- wards i/j 250,000 have been spent for the promotion of the objects of the last-named society since its establish- ment jfc 1754, and it was at one of its meetings, under the presidency of the late Prince Consort, that the Mea of the first Great Exhibition, which was held in Hyde Park in 1851, was originally mooted, and the plan for 'the International Exhibition of 1862 discussed and finally arranged. There are some fine pictures in its meeting- rooms, and its conversaziones at South Kensington are attended by vast numbers of the aristocracy and gentry, among whom are to bo seen a great proportion of i whose names have become celebrated throughout the world on account of their eminence in various branches pf literature, science, or art. The garrison of London is usually composed of three regiments of household cavalry, two battalions of the brigade of foot guards, and a line infantry regiment in the Tower. There are also troops stationed at Windsor, Hampton Court, Hounslow, and Woolwich, who could easily be brought up to the metropolis in case of need. The principal infantry barracks besides those at the Tower and the Horse Guards are, the Wellington Barracks, in Bird- cage-walk, St. James's Park, a large winged building 110 feet in length, fronting the park. They have, besides a chapel, a school for infants and adults, a laundry and washhouse, fitted with steam machines for. doing all the washing of the soldiers stationed at the Horse Guards and the Tower, and all the modern im- provements which have been introduced into barrack life since the close of the Crimean war. There are cavalry barracks in Albany-street, Eegent's Park, at Knightsbridge, and at St. John's Wood, and the army clothing depot is at Pimlico. The foot guards are always on duty at the royal palaces, the opera hoi, and certain public places; and at the Horsa Guards two mounted sentinels and cavalry soldiers on foot are on guard. The Honourable Artillery Company ranks first of all the metropolitan volunteer regi- ments. Its exercising and parade ground lies in the E.G. district between Bunhill-row and the W. side of Finsbury- square. The late Prince Consort was colonel of this corps, which often forms guards of honour nt royal visits and other state occasions in the City. 1 : are upwards of 18,000 volunteers in London, be.--; about 2,600 Eoyal Naval Volunteers ; and many of volunteer regiments, such as the Inns of Court (com- monly called the "Devil's Own"), the Victoria, the Queen's, Westminster, the Civil Service, and : others, have carried high encomiums from the hii;) military authorities on account of their nppearui discipline, and aptitude for active service in the !', They, as well as the regular troops, are frequently inspected in Hyde Park, the Eegent's Park, and else- where, and once a year a regular volunteer encampment is formed at Wimbledon (generally in the month of July), at which prizes are shot for by riflemen of regiments, members of the houses of parliament, all comers, scholars from the great public schools, &c. ; these meetings not only attract a great number of visitors, but keep up the zest for good shooting, i mote social and friendly feelings among the members of the different corps, and effectually increase the gn; efficiency of the volunteer service. A most deserving and useful society, composed of men who have serve the aimy, and who have been disabled by wounds or sickness, has within the last few years been establi under the name of the Corps of Commissionaires. It is partly self-supporting and partly maintained by gifts and subscriptions. Its members five in a barrack vl: has been provided for them, and wear a regular uniform.