(Undated. The results of the Mathematical Tripos in which M. J. M. Hill was fourth wrangler, as mentioned in this report, were announced on 24 Jan. 1879.)
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Transcript
[Proof.] {1}
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTIES OF ARTS AND LAWS AND OF SCIENCE ON THE TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS.
Adopted by Senate to be forwarded to the Council.
For the last ten or eleven years, that is to say since the Session 1868–69, the studies of Mathematics and Physics in this College have been under the charge of three professors. From 1868 to 1871 the Chair of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics was held by Professor B. T. MOORE; and since 1871 it has been held by Professor CLIFFORD. Professor Clifford’s very serious illness has been a cause of deep regret to his colleagues. He is not only unable to lecture now, but it is also certain that if he regained some measure of health, we could hope only to be benefited in future by occasional short courses upon subjects which he is unusually well qualified to teach; he could not undertake hard work throughout a session.
The Faculties of Arts and Laws and of Sciences think it undesirable that the arrangements for efficient conduct of one of the chief studies of the College, should remain provisional. They, therefore suggest to the Senate that the following proposals be submitted to the Council, with the assigned reasons for each, and that authority be asked of the Council to plan in accordance with them the next arrangements for teaching Mathematics and Physics. It is hoped that they may be advertised in the Prospectus of the Faculties of Arts and Laws and of Science which is now being prepared, for publication in the latter part of April.
It is proposed that Professor CLIFFORD remain in possession of his chair, and that if, against the expectation but in accordance with the most earnest desire of his colleagues, he should so far recover health as to be able to lecture, he should be invited to lecture upon special subjects in Mathematics, to which he could bring his own rare qualities of mind without being subjected to any strain of constant necessary work.
The reasons for this proposal are, that Professor CLIFFORD’S strength, if he recovers, will never be equal to such strain, while even partial recovery is almost beyond hope; that when comparatively strong, although his lectures were of the highest interest and value to advanced students, original and suggestive, and, therefore, adding to the credit of the College, he showed less aptitude for the concerted action that is necessary for efficient covering of a large subject taught by more than one Professor. Should Professor CLIFFORD be able to lecture again, he would probably attract larger classes to small special courses of his own choice, within the range of the subject of his chair, than by any other form of lecturing, while other provision would be made for necessary work.
It is proposed, that the growing demands for an extended teaching of Mathematics and Physics be now met wholly by the Professors of those subjects; that the Professorship of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics might, if it then seemed desirable, be abolished at the end of Professor CLIFFORD’S tenure of it, or reconstituted under new conditions, and that meanwhile the substantial work hitherto entrusted to three Professors, shall be in the hands of two Professors and two Assistant Professors. It is further recommended that MICAIAH J. M. HILL, M.A., of London, and B.A. of Cambridge, lately fourth Wrangler and first Smith’s Prizeman, and old student and now a Fellow of this College, be appointed Assistant-Professor of Mathematics, and that OLIVER J. LODGE, D.SC. of the University of London, who during the present session is Professor CLIFFORD’S substitute, and by his original writings in Physics is rapidly taking a high position as a scientific man; be appointed Assistant-Professor of Physics.
The reasons for this proposal are very distinct. There are no subjects taught in the Faculties of Arts and Laws and of Science […]
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{1} The square brackets are in the original.
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