Calendar: 1898-1899 Page 82

78 FACULTY OF ARTS Although the scope of action of the Imperial Institute as defined by its Charter does not embrace the exercise of actual educational functions its governing body has considered that the creation and development of an organisation for providing in the United Kingdom the important aid to the official and commercial sections of the community which is furnished to Continental nations by such establishments as above named might prove work of considerable utility There have existed at University College and at King's College since their foundation Professorships of certain Oriental languages the Indian School of University College on the one hand and the Oriental section of King's College on the other have accomplished useful work in the pre- paration of candidates for the Indian Civil Service and other Government departments by affording facilities for the study of some of the Eastern languages The committee of the Institute having met with cordial response from the councils of the two Colleges to proposal to consolidate the work of this nature now being performed there and to bring it into harmonious working with scheme for affording practical instruction in other important Oriental languages now desire to direct attention to the results of careful consideration of the whole subject by Special Committee appointed by them for that purpose which includes representatives of the Councils of University and King's Colleges Arrangements have been completed by this Committee and approved of by the governing bodies of the Imperial Institute and of the two Colleges for the organisation of School in London designed both for giving instruction in modern Oriental languages and also for the pursuit of studies relating to the history literature commercial and physical geography political economy and the natural and industrial resources of the countries and districts in which the various t& languages are used It is in contemplation to arrange for the delivery of special leetures or courses of lectures from time to time in connection