Page:The study of history in Holland and Belgium (IA studyofhistoryin00frrich).pdf/32

 a professor in part repair the fault committed twice in succession by the legislature?

M. P. J. Blok, professor of history at Groningen since 1884, thought it could be done. In 1885–86 he boldly opened a practical course (privaat-college) and renewed the attempt in 1887–88 with success.

The plan of this historical work is as follows: Once a M. Blok meets the amateurs for a couple of hours in his study. After an introduction by the professor, which takes a dozen meetings and is devoted to an examination of the principal sources for the Middle Ages and to giving some notion of diplomacy, the students are each charged with the study of some special subject. In 1887–88 the subjects chosen were: the value of the chronicle of Alpertus Mettensis in regard to the events which took place near Nimeguen at the commencement of the eleventh century; the foundation of Dordrecht; the assassination of Count Florent V of Holland; the determination of the period at which the popular language began to be used in the charters of the Netherlands; the elevation of Count William II of Holland to imperial dignity. Each student gives in his work, written, and the professor hands it over to another student, who is charged to make a written criticism of it. Finally M. Blok himself criticises both manuscripts in presence of all the students and the disputed points are discussed in common.

In the intervals between the discussions, professor and students investigate in detail some point of local history. In 1887–88 this investigation bore upon the office of burgrave at Groningen in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The registrar of the province put at M. Blok's disposal all the documents in his depository and from these unedited papers the work of the course was done. The students copied the papers one after another as they examined then), and were thus initiated at the same time into paleography.

This practical course, which has each year consisted of about ten amateurs, has already contributed to form some specialists who have taken places in the administration of records.