THE PLUMIAN PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY AND EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY.

This professorship was founded in 1704 by Dr. Plume, Archdeacon of Rochester. The deed regulating its duties was drawn up under the advice of Sir Isaac Newton, Mr. Flamsteed, the celebrated astronomer, and Sir J. Ellis, Master of Gonville and Caius College.

The duties of the professor were prescribed, "and the series of observations which he was directed to make, comprehended the principal points of the solar, lunar, and planetary theories. These observations and two Latin prælections on Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, were ordered to be presented to the Vice-Chancellor every year, and printed, or preserved in the archives of the University. He was further required to hold various courses or collegia (for such is the term which is used) at his residence, on Astronomy, Optics, Trigonometry, Mechanics, Statics, Hydrostatics, Magnetics, Pneumatics, and other subjects of the kind; the students who attended them being required to pay for the experiments, as well as an adequate reward for the professor's labours. It was further suggested that the Lucasian Professor should hold such collegia in conjunction with his colleague, they sharing equally in the expenses and rewards of their common labours."

The electors to the professorship are the Vice-Chancellor, the Masters of Trinity, Christ's, and Caius Colleges, and the Lucasian Professor for the time being; and in case one of these masters is Vice-Chancellor at the time of election, the Master of St. John's College is one of the electors. The electors are required to choose the candidate whom in their consciences they consider to be most fit for the office. The competition is free to all, whether single or married, Englishmen or foreigners, if only they are competently learned and of good life and morals.

In 1823, the Plumian Professor became the director of the observatory, which the University had then built and furnished. In consequence of a representation made in 1829 of the inadequacy of the stipend of this Professor, it was aug

mented to. £500 a year, by annual grants from the University chest, by Grace of the Senate.

In 1861, the Lowndean Professor was appointed, by Grace of the Senate, director of the observatory on the resignation of the Plumian Professor, with a stipend of £250 a year.

The new statutes repeal nine provisions of the foundation deed, and declare that the Plumian Professor shall comply with all the provisions of the statute issued as a common statute for the Lucasian, the Plumian, the Lowndean, and the Sadlerian Professorships.

They also provide that the Lowndean Professor and the Sadlerian Professor shall be added to the board of electors named in the foundation deed.

THE PROFESSORSHIP OF ANATOMY.

This professorship originated in a Grace of the Senate, in 1707, which conferred the title of Professor of Anatomy on Mr. George Rolfe, who for some years before had taught Anatomy in the University. A subsequent Grace in 1728, which declared the professorship vacant, in consequence of Mr. Rolfe's neglect of duty and absence from the University, seemed to recognize the existence of the office, which was filled up accordingly. The appointment has generally been made by Grace of the Senate, naming the person chosen ; but special Graces were passed, from time to time, authorizing the election by open poll, in the mode adopted in the election of members of Parliament.

There is no endowment, but the professor used to receive £100 by an annual vote of Parliament, upon producing a certificate that the lectures had been delivered.

The Professor of Anatomy is to be chosen and appointed, from time to time, by the persons whose names are on the electoral roll of the University.

It is also provided by the new statutes, that the University shall have power to determine, from time to time, by Grace of the Senate, the time for which the Professor of Anatomy

is required to be resident in the University in every year, such time not to exceed eighteen weeks.

THE REGIUS PROFESSORSHIP OF MODERN HISTORY.

This professorship was founded by George I., in the year 1724. (See. Lib. Cant., Part I., p. 181.)

The new statutes provide that the directions affecting the Professorship of Modern History, contained in the Royal Letters Patent, September 28 (2 Geo. I.), and April 11 (1 Geo. II.), are repealed, except so far as relates to the appointment of the Professor by the Crown.

They also provide that the professor shall reside in the University within one mile and a half of Great St. Mary's Church, eighteen weeks at least during term time in every year, six of such weeks being in the Michaelmas Term, and the remaining twelve being in the Lent and Easter Terms; and the professor shall deliver to the Vice-Chancellor once in every year, before the end of the Easter Term, a statement in writing of the number of weeks in each of the three terms during which he has so resided.

THE PROFESSORSHIP OF BOTANY.

This professorship, like those of Chemistry and Anatomy, originated in a Grace of the Senate, in 1724, which gave the title of Professor, honoris ergo, to Mr. Richard Bradley, a very skilful botanist, who had likewise promised to superintend the formation and arrangement of a botanic garden. In the year 1762, Dr. Richard Walker, Vice-Master of Trinity College, conveyed to the University the site of the old botanic garden, to be used as such, appointing the Vice-Chancellor, the Masters of Trinity and St. John's, and the Regius Professor of Physic, perpetual governors and trustees of the He also appointed and authorized his trustees, after his decease, to continue to appoint a Reader in Botany and a Curator of the Garden.

same.

Professor Martin, who succeeded, on the resignation of his

father in 1762, was subsequently appointed the King's Reader in Botany, with a salary of £200 a year; with these offices was also combined that of Dr. Walker's Reader. Professor Martin died in 1825, when Mr. Henslow having been appointed King's Reader and Dr. Walker's Reader of Botany, the professorship was discontinued, as unnecessary.

A course of lectures is given by the professor in the Easter Term every year.

The new statutes provide that the Professor of Botany, heretofore called the King's Reader in Botany, shall be chosen and appointed, from time to time, by the persons whose names are on the electoral roll of the University.

The University shall have power to determine, from time to time, by Grace of the Senate, the time for which the Professor of Botany is required to reside in the University in every year, such time not to exceed eighteen weeks.

THE LORD ALMONER'S READER IN ARABIC.

This Readership in Arabic was founded in 1724, and the appointment vested in the Lord Almoner. It is not known whether there is any deed of foundation in existence, or statute to regulate the duties of the Reader. The stipend of £50 a year is paid from the Almonry Bounty, after a deduction of £9 10s. for exchequer fees.

THE WOODWARDIAN PROFESSORSHIP OF GEOLOGY.

This professorship was founded in 1731-2, in conformity with the will of Dr. Woodward, who left his cabinets of English fossils, with funds for the purchase of an estate of not less annual value than £150, of which £110 should be paid to a lecturer, £10 for an annual dinner, £10 for two inspectors of his fossils, and £20 for contingencies. The rental of the estate which was purchased is now about £350 per annum, of which sum £218 6s. 5d. is paid to the professor, and the rest is applied to the other purposes of the will and the maintenance of the museum. The founder required the

professor to be unmarried, for which he gives the following reason:-"And my will is, that none be chosen but bachelors or men that have not been married.; and in case of the marriage of any of the said lecturers afterwards, his election shall be thereby immediately made void, lest the care of a wife and children should take the lecturer too much from study and the care of the lecture."

He also thus expresses a preference for a candidate who is not in Holy Orders :-" And my will further is, that if a divine shall at any time happen to be a competitor with a layman for this lectureship, in case the latter shall be as well qualified, he shall ever have preference of the former-not out of any disrespect to the clergy (for whom I have ever had a particular regard), but because there is in this kingdom better provision and a much greater number of preferments for the clergy than for men of learning among the laity."

The founder prescribed rules for the duties of the professor, which rather tended to retard than promote the advancement of the science of Geology. The present professor has justly observed, that "to comply with the letter of Dr. Woodward's will was morally impossible. It would have been a mockery to lecture on an exploded theory of the earth, or to enlarge on the mistakes of Dr. Camerarius," both of which provisions were most scrupulously made in the founder's will. On the election of the present professor, the University, under the sanction of a Grace of the Senate, ordained that £100 a year should be added to the Woodwardian stipend, on the express condition that an extended course of lectures he given, year by year, gratuitously to the members of the University. A course of about thirty lectures is regularly given every year.

The new statutes for the Woodwardian Professor repeal several of the provisions contained in the will of Dr. Woodward; that which required the professor to be a bachelor being one of them. The remaining provisions of the will, as far as they are consistent with the provisions of the new statutes, are re-enacted. In addition to these, it is further provided that the professor shall be elected by the persons