Calendar: 1896-1897 Page 639

REPORT xlix The Duke in his reply intimated grave doubts whether the scheme of the Gresham Commissioners did not involve injustice to the members of the Convocation of the Uni- versity of London and he has taken no public steps in the matter since The Council would be glad if the difficulties evidently involved in enforcing the recommendations of the Commissioners led to the adoption in however modified form of the scheme approved by the Privy Council in 1891 for the establishment of Teaching University in London distinct from the present London University The attendance of Students remains on the whole much the same as last year except that while the Non-Matriculated Students have increased the Matriculated Students have somewhat diminished The total number in attendance in the Faculties of Theology Arts Science Engineering and Medicine is 024 as compared with 002 last year theprin- cipal increase being in the Non-Matriculated Students in the Morning Classes This is perhaps due in great measure to the increasing tendency to specialisation in some branches of Science The Medical Department suffers like most of the Medical Schools of London from the continued refusal of the privileges afforded by connection with teaching University which are enjoyed by the Provincial Schools of Medicine It has lost during the past year the services as Dean of Dr Curnow the distinguished Professor of Anatomy who has done invaluable work in the office of Dean during the past twelve years In his place they have appointed as Dean Sir Hugh Beevor Bart one of the Assistant Physicians of the Hospital The Ladies' Department under the able management of its Vice-Principal Miss Faithfull maintains its satisfactory condition The School has slightly increased in numbers but the Council earnestly wish it were possible to obtain sufficient pecuniary support to remove it to the neighbourhood of London if possible at Wimbledon There is an acknowledged need for first-class public Day School in that portion of Surrey and the Council believe that if the removal could be effected the School would be welcomed and would be very successful