JOHNS

UNIVERSITY

HOPKINS

CI RCULARSPublishedwith the approbationofthe Board of Trustees

VOL. IX.—No. 78.] BALTIMORE, FEBRUARY, 1890. [PRICE, 10 CENTS.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES.The Anglo-SaxonVersionof theGospels. By JAMES

W. BRIGHT.

[Abstract ofa paperreadat a meetingof the UniversityPhilologicalAssociation,No-vember15,1889.]

The aim of thispaperwas to analyzethetraditions in which thehistoryof theAnglo-Saxonvernacularscripturesareboundup, andto re-determinetherelationshipof theGospelmanuscripts.

Bededoesnotheartestimonyto theexistencein his dayof scriptures inthevernacularof thefive peoplesthenconstitutingthepopulationof Eng-land. An ambiguityin thehistorian’sLatin is the occasionof this erro-neousinterpretation.

In theprefaceto the first printed edition of the Anglo-SaxonGospels(1571)JohnFox declaredthat Bede translated“the whole Bible in theSaxontoungue.” The reference,“In Prologo ante Biblia vetera,” whichFox placedagainstthis statementis of importance. TheProloguein ques-tion proves to be the “General Prolo,,ue” attributedby Forshall andMaddento Purvey. It was first printed by John Gough,in 1536 and in1540, as “The dore of holy Scripture.” RobertCowley publishedit in1550 with thetitle, “The Pathway to perfectknowledge. The truecopyeof a prologue,written about two C yerespaste,by JohnWycklyffe.” Inthe matter relating to Bede thePrologueappealsto the “Chroniclesandotherstories.” It is difficult to identify theseearliersources. JohnCaius(“De Antiquitate Chntabrigiensis Academice,London,1568) when speakingof Bede reliesupon thePrologue,but in his accountof theliterary activityof Alllfred remindsus of the “Ilistos-jola Cantabrigiensis” of NicholasCan-talupus. Throughthis latter work (written in the fifteenth century)wecome upon the earliest sourcefor the tradition that ~Elfred (not Bede)translatedthewholeof theOld andof theNewTestamentinto thevernacu-lar. This earliestsourceis the famous“Liber Eliensis.” The fiction re-specting

1Elfredwasafterwardstransferredto Bede. It is possiblethat bya similar transferenceof the accountof Bede’stranslationof thegospelofSt. John, iElfred cameto be reportedasengaged,nt thecloseof his life, ona translationof the Psalms.

ThatEadfrid(orEadfrith),Bishopof Lindesfarne,translatedinto Anglo-Saxon “plures Bibliorum libros,” is anothercuriousfiction which carelesswriters are ever repeatingastrue history. Usher (lust. Dogm., 1690)after themannerof Camden(“Remainsof a GreaterWork,” 1603) failedto observethe differenceof agebetweentheLatintext andtheAnglo-Saxongloss of theDurhamBook. Asidefrom this confusionasto Eadfrid’s trueinterestsin theDurhamBook, a moreseriousresponsibilityis to besharedbetweenWilliam Butler and John Bale, namely, that of confusingthenamesEadfridandEgbert, andof thusattributing manythingspertainingto theArchbishopof York to the Bishop of Lindisfarne. Unfortunately

Butler’s tract, “Contra TranslacionemAaglicanam,” 1401,a manuscriptpre-servedin Merton College,Oxford, hasbeen deprived of its first leaf onwhich theaccountof Eadfridmust havebeengiven. We cannotthereforeknow whether Butler gave Ecgfrid and Ecgbert as common variants ofEhfrid, Eadfrid, etc.,but it is clear that Bale is the first to attributetoEcgbertus,asBishop of Lindesfarne,greatactivity in translatingscripturesinto thevernacularat the injunction of Bede. The tradition thus estab-lishedis repeatedby FrancisGodwin(“CatalogueoftheBishopsofEngland,”London,1601) in thefollowing manner: “Eghert whomesomecall Edferthand otherEgfride, to him Bedawritte asharpeepistle,reprehendinghimfor remissenesseand carelesnesof his charge;which hetakingin goodpart,framedhimself to somebetter diligence and besidessome otherwritings,translateddiverspartsof theBible into theEnglishor Saxon tongue. Hedied721.” The lessobviousfactorin the growth of this tradition relatesto the“sharpeepistle” just mentioned. No otherlettercanbe meantthanthat which Bede wrote to ArchbishopEgbert, but it has beenmisinter-pretedasto theinjunction to translatescripturesinto the vernacular,andhasalso,becauseof theconfusionof names,becomeconfusedwith anotherfamousepistleaddressedby Aldhelm to Eahfridum.

Thereis everyreasonfor believing that no vernacularscriptureswereeverin circulationamongtheAnglo-Saxonlaity. All thetranslationsevermadeweremadein the religious houseswherethey were “religiously”kept. Translationsandglosseswereevenin thedaysof tElfric merelypro-fessionalaids. Thewhole Anglo-Saxonperiod is embracedwithin Bede’sadviceto Eghertto maketheCreedandtheLord’sPrayeraccessiblein thevernacular,and anexhortationcontainedin a manuscriptcomposedin theeleventhcentury(Cleopatra,B. XIII, fol. 57)whichappealsto thepeopletolistento the teachingof thegospelandto attendto thesayingof the Creedand of the Lord’s Prayer.

A numberof newly discovereddetailswerepresentedwhich throw addi-tional light on the interrelation of the manuscriptsof the Anglo-Saxonversionof theGospels. An importantclue is furnishedby thetwelve foliosof new parchmentin theBodl. MS. Theseweresuppliedunderthedirec-tion of ArchbishopParker. Threepointsin thehistoryof thismanuscriptare to bedistinguished:Bodl. (a), from which the Royal MS. was copied,lackedmerelytheendsof thegospelsMark,Luke andJohn,andLukeXVI,14, to XVII, 1; Bodl. (b) sustainedthefurther loss of two long passages,namely,Mark I, 1, to IV, 37, and John XX, 9, to a middle point in thelast verseof thegospel(thesedefects,therefore,arenot foundin theRoyalMS.); Bodl. (c) is themanuscriptin its presentrestoredcondition.

The practiceof theHattonScribedeservesattention. Of thefour lacunasin his original (the Royal MS.), hesupplied three,namely,theendsof thegospels, by direct translation from the Latin; he also transferredthesefragmentsof his own translationinto his original. Why thefourth omis-

JOHNS HOPKINS

sion (Luke XVI, 14, to XVII, 1) wasnot treatedin the samemannercanonly be conjectured. Two suppositionsare possible. The Hatton scribewas eitherappalledat thescopeof thepassage(this is themorecharitableview, andmay be favoredin mitigation of his yielding to anotherimpulsewherethe passageswere short),or, as is more likely, he neverbecameaware of the defect,there being no breakin the RoyalMS. to mark theomission. Thesixteenthcenturyrestorermadethe Hatton text completeby insertingat thisplacea new parchmentfolio.

Furtherdiscussionof the manuscriptswas offered in explanationanddefenseof thefollowing illustrativeoutline:

Original.

A.

[Abstractof a paperreadat a meetingof theUniversityPhilological Asiociation,December2~, 1889.]

(a). THE ETYMOLOGY OF tonsa, “an oar.”

ThereexistsamongLatinistsa certainreluctancein acceptingthederiva-tion of this word from the verb tondeo,in the sense“a tree-stemwhosebrancheshave beenloppedoff so asto make it smoothfor useasan oar.”The word tonsain Latin has always the meaning “oar,” and is found asearlyasin Ennius,by whom it is usedfour times (Ann.241, 244, 245; Sat.62, L. Mililer). Its derivationfrom tondereis given by Festus(Muller, p.357),who says: Tonsa,remus,quod quasitondeaturferro. Servius,in com-mentingon Aen.7, 28,says: tonsae,remi; dicti a decutiendisfluctibus; sicuttonsoresa tondendisetdecutiendiscapillis. Kocb acceptsthe derivationfrom tondeo,Forcellini preferstondeoto tundo,Lewis andShortgive: “tonsa:perhapsfrom tundo;” Georgesand Klotz do not attemptany etymology.That Serviusis not entitled to greatconsiderationin thematterof etymol-ogy needshardlybesaid: refer to his derivation of fur, Aen. 9, 350; Vir-bius, Aen. 7, 762; Tusci,Aen. 2, 781. It can beobjectedto thederivationfrom tunderethat this verb is neverusedof fluid substances,and generallyhas the accessoryidea of poundingor bruising. Tondere, on the otherhand,hasexactly themeaningwhich would be requiredto expresstheactof loppingor cutting off the branchesabouta tree,so Hor. Od. 4, 4, 57:

doris ut hex tonsahipennihus,

and tonderevitem in pollicem, Col. 4, 21, 3. That oarswere made in thisway is shownfrom Aen. 1, 552:

liceatet silvis aptare traheset stringereremos.

HereServinshasa good anda bad explanation: stringereremos,aut de-frondare, ut Ed. 9, 61, agricoltestringunt frondes,—autfractosstringereremos,i. e.ligare. The ideaof tying up brokenoars so as to makethemavailablefor the voyagefrom Africa to Italy will hardly commenditself,andthis requestcomesdirectly in connectionwith that for permissiontoobtainnew timberfor the ships. In fact stringere and tondereare nearlysynonymous,as shownby suchphrasesas: oleamubi nigra erit, stringito,Cato IR. R. 65, 1. Cf. Col. 6, 3, 7. I cite also Aen. 4, 399:

frondentesqueferuntremos.

We see,then,that the straightstemof a treeneededbut little shapingwith anedgedtool to makeit into an oar, and thestrippingoff of thefoli-agewastheprincipal act in its manufacture. Thus arosethe expressiontondereremum,andtonsameans“an oar.” (Cf., in carpentry,theverb “tostrip” a plank,and thenoun“strip” referring to the product.) That sosimplea processcould have prevailedis shownby the actual practiceofoar-makingin Norway,whereslenderspruce-treesareshapedinto oarswith

thehelponly of a draw-knifeand hatchet. Theoldestrepresentationof atrireme, foundby Lenormant in Athens in 1852, shows oars shapedverymuchlike thelong spruce-oarsusedin Norway atpresent.

(b). THE PRONUNcIATIONOF Milan.

The pronunciationMi-ldn has becomevery prevalent in the UnitedStates,and seemsto be increasing,particularlyamongthosewho havecomein contactwith theItalian Milano. It is well known that in Shakespearethe accentis alwayson thefirst syllable; theword occurs in his plays27timesin metrical passages,as Temp.5, 1

SheIs daughterto this famonsDuke of Milan.

In thefirst folio edition (1623)theword is alwaysspeltMillaine, as in theverse,Temp.5, 1:

WasMillainethrust from Millaine, that his IssueShooldbecomeKings of Naples?

In Clarke’sConcordanceis printeda citation fromK. J. 3,1,which seemsto makeanexceptionto thelaw for Shakespeare:

of fair Milan cathedral,but this turnsout to bea curiousmisprint of theline

I, Panduiph,of fair Milan casdisscl.In otherdramatists,we find theword ninetimes in Massinger’s “Duke

of Milan,” and alwaysaccentedon the first syllable,as:1,1. Disperseda silent mourning throughall Milan3, 1. And Milan, weighed with France,appearsatnothing.

In Beaumontand Fletcher’s“Maid’s Tragedy,” 4,1, occurs:I will nothave yourgilded thingsthat danceIn visitationwith their Milan skins.

So in “Valentinian,” 2, 2. Ben Jonson,in “The Caseis Altered,” 2, 3:Some fourteen

I hearthou bast,evenof our worthiestdamesOf anynotein Milan,—

and 3, 2:Next here in Milan, my mostdear-lovedlady.

Theword occursbut oncein Tennyson,in theline:0 Milan, 0 the chantingquiresl

(“ The Daisy.” Works, MacM. 2, 261,).In ordinary authorities,Lippincott’s Gazetteerand Ogilvie’s Imperial

Dictionary (London) give only Mi 1-an; Webster and WorcesterpreferMil-an, andthelatter quotesonly Wright as favoring Mi-lan. Thesefactscertainlydefendthemaintenanceof thehistorical Englishpronunciation.

Demonstration of a Theorem of Gauss. By JOSEPHDE PEROTT.

[Abstractof apaperreadbeforetheUniversityMathematicalSociety,December3,1889.]

In the DisquisitionesArithmeticce,Art. 306, VIII, occurs the followingpassage:Omnidetersninantesnegativiformo3—(216k +27), unieo—27excepto,irregularessunt, et exponensirregularitatis per 3 divisibilis; idemralet dedeter-minantibus negativisformce—(1000k 4-75) et—(1000k+ 675), unico—75excepto,infinitisque aliis.

Thepropositionhereconcernedis asfollows: Let q beanodd prime, t apositive odd number less than q, and k a whole numbereither positive

— 12t2

and> — 4t2 or 0 and > q2— 4t2, or negativeand > 32q ; theSq

negativedeterminantD Skq’

is irregular, andits exponentof irregularity is divisible by 3.

For, if t <q ~ 1 thefour forms2’

are reduced,andeachof theseforms compoundedthree timeswith itselfby theprocessof Gauss(Disq.arith., art.243, 5) gives the principalform.

1f on the otherhand,~> a— thefour forms2’

(q’ -I-. (q—t) q, 8kq+4t2+q2—2qt), (4,~1, 2kq3+~ t2q2+I)arereduced,andeachof theseformscompoundedthreetimeswith itself bythe processof Gaussgivestheprincipal form.

30 [No. 78.

Corp.

Two Philological Notes. By JAMES TAFT HATFIELD.

FEBRUARY, 1890.] UNIVERSITYCIRCULAPS.

Note on Cubic Curves. By JOHN F. SPRINGER.

[Abstract of a paperreadbeforetheUniversityMathematicalSociety,November7, 1889.]

Let a, 13, -y, ~ be the sides of a complete quadrilateral. The equationU+ii~ l$’y~ + ma’y~+ naf3~+ raf3’y 0

representsa cubic throughits six vertices. That this is the generalequa-tion of sucha cubic maybe shownas follows. The trilinear equationofanycubic is

A’a3+ B’$3+ ~ + D’a213 + +L’a13-y=0.

We mayexpresseachof thevariablesasa linear functionof theremain-ing two andthenew variable~. Substitutingsuchan expressionfor onefactorof each of the cubes,the equationwill consistof the termL’af3~y,togetherwith ninetermsof the typea213. Now, introducinga fifth varia-ble e,and expressingonefactorof thesquarein eachof theseninetermsasa linear functionof thetwo variablesnot occurringin that term and of e,

the equationwill consistentirely of termsof the type aj3’y, so that it maybewrittenAaf3

7+Ba13~+ Ca$e+Dcc7a+ Ea’ye+ FccaE+ G/37a+ HI37e+Kj3ae+L7~e 0.

If this equationbesatisfiedby the point ccI3, L = 0; and so, if it repre-sentsa curvethroughthesix verticesof ai3’y~, theequationis of theform U.

From U may be obtainedthe equationsof four conics, each of whichcircumscribesoneof thetrianglesI

3-y~, cc-ya, a13~, ccI3y, andtouchesUat eachvertexof thetriangle. Moreover,theseconicstouch eachother,thepointof contactof anypair beingthecommonvertexof their inscribedtriangles.The tangentsof contactare also tangentsto Uat the samepoints. Thetangentsmaybewritten

a+$0a+70 a+a0 13+7=0,=±~~=O,Y+a=O.

1 m 1 n’l r’m n m r n rThe tangentsatoppositeverticesof the completequadrilateral intersect

on thecubic,sincewe maywrite Uin threeforms of the type:y~(lf3+ ma)+ a13(na+r’y) =0.

When Ubreaksup into the line joining a~yto /3~, and a conic circum-scribingthequadrilateral(a13’y~), we havea caseof Pascal’sTheorem.

The tangentsat theverticesof a triangle inscribed in a conic intersecttheoppositesides in oneright line; to eachof our four trianglestherecor-respondssucha line. The equationsof theselinesin order,are

~-±-~+~=o,a+7++~++!h~2’~

Eachof theselines intersectsthesideof the completequadrilateralnotconcernedin its correspondingtriangleon theright line

a I3~ ~~ T7h~

0.Also, the pairs of tangentsat oppositevertices,whose points of inter-sectionwe haveseenlie on U, havethosesamepoints lying on Q. In allwe havedeterminedsevenpoints on theline Q. Thesetheoremsconcern-ing Q maybeshownwithout mention of the conics.

On the Hessian of a Product of Linear Functions.By F. FRANKLIN.

[Abstract ofa paperreadbeforetheUniversityMathematicalSociety,November7, 1889.]

It was shownthatif Li, L2, L3 L~, be homogeneouslinear func-

tions of k variables,and u= L1L2 L3 . . . . L,~, the determinantof thesecondderivativesof is is equalto

—(n—i) (—u)’~—

2~(~l2 . .i, L~~i Lk+2. .. . La)2,whereZ~12. . adenotesthedeterminantof the coefficientsof L

1, L2, . . . L1.Hence,supposingthe coefficients of theL’s all real, the following infer-enceswereobvious:

1~. TheHessiancannotvanishidenticallyunlessall theL’s passthroughonepoint.

2~. If theHessiandoesnot vanishidentically, it containsno real pointsexceptthoseof U.

OPENING OF LEVERING HALL.Levering Hall, the gift of Mr. EugeneLevering,of Baltimore, to the

Johns Hopkins University, for the usesof the Young Men’s ChristianAssociationof theUniversity, wasformally openedon Thursday,January16th,1890.

ProfessorIra iRemsen,Acting Presidentof the University, introducedHon. JohnW. Foster,of Washington,ID. C., who presidedover theexer-cisesof theevening.

The programmewas asfollows:I.

Readingof theScripturesby the Rev.M. ID. BABCOCK.I’.

Prayerby theRev.F. M. ELLIS, D.D.III.

Readingof the Correspondencerelatingto theGift of theBuilding.IV.

Responseby thePresidentof the Association,Dr. M. D. LEARNED.V

Hymn.VI.

Addressby Mr. WILLIAM B. DODGE, of New York.VII.

Addressby Mr. RUSSELL STURGIS,of Boston.VIII.

Hymn.1K.

Addressby MERRILL B. GATES, LL. D.,Presidentof RutgersCollege.K.

Benedictionby the Rev.J. E. GRAMMER, D.D.

After thecloseof theexercises,Mr. Leveringgavea receptionto invitedguestsathis residence.

ARCHITECT’S STATEMENT.

Thenew LeveringHall is situatedon the cornerof Little Ross StreetandLindenAvenue,with a frontageon the formerof 44 feet, and on the

latter of 50 feet. The exterioris of brownLongmeadow(Mass.)sandstone,in large blocks, rock faced up to sills of first story. Above this, thewallsarefacedwith dark-redsandbrick in black mortar,with bandsandsills of Lougmeadowstone. The roof is Isippedfrom four cornersandcov-eredwith black slates. Theentranceis throughadoor6 feetwideon LittleRossstreet,with aneasystairwayof thesamewidth, leadingto thesecondfloor.

On thefirst story is thereading-roomand library,28’ x 45’.6”. This isin ash,with alargecarvedmanteland amplefire-place. On the eastsidearetwo widebays,andon thesouth two windows,each six feet in width.Doublesetsof sliding doorsseparatethis roomfrom the prayer-meetingroom,which is 29’.6” x 27’.6”. A smallerroom ~ x 22’.0” for com-mittee meetingsadjoinstheprayer-meetingroomon thewest. This hasafire-placeandmantel,with facingsof polishedGeorgiamarble. Thesecondfloor containsthemain hall, 41’ x 65’. This hasanopentimberedroof ofGeorgiapine in its natural color. The windows are of clearglass, leadedin geometricalpatterns. The hall is seatedwith 430 folding chairs,inpolishedbirch wood. At theheadof the mainstairway is theoffice of thesecretary,12’ x 16’. The entire building is heatedby hot-airfurnacesinthecellar. The gasin themain hall is lightedby electricity. Thefinish ofmain stairway,vestibule,and main doors,is quarteredoak. Two smallerrooms on first floor, with mainhall and office, cypressin naturalcolor. Alavatory is providedunder main stairway,and a private staircaseleadingfrom first floor to main hall platform. All windows,except in hall, arefilled with polishedplate-glass. The lower floor hasthewalls andceilingsfrescoedin plain designs. ThearchitectsareMessrs.J. A. & W. T.Wilson,and thecontractorMr. GeorgeBunnecke.

Theseatingwas by the Andrews ManufacturingCo., of New York; gas fixtures,SchultzManufacturingCo.;electricwork, JohnRamsay;fresco,E. ID. Monfalcone;heat-ing,Win. E. Wood& Co.; mantels,Meislaha& Co.: tiling and marbleandmosaicvesti-bule,Riddle& Williams; Bevan & Son, stonework; Roche& Son, painting; Smith &King, mill work; Schroeder,stairbuilding; Garthe& Lowenstein,slating;GustavKrug& Son,wroughtiron work; Smyser& Co., eastiron girders.

31

JOHNSHOPKINS

AMERICAN ARCHIVES IN SAVILLE.[A letterfrom PresidentD. C. GILMAN, in theSun,Baltimore,Becember31, 1889.]

SEVILLE, SPAIN, December12.—If I couldmeetthehistoricalstudentsofthe JohnsHopkins Universityorthe membersof theMarylandHistoricalSociety I am quite sure that, with the aid of afew photographswhich Ican find here, and with the aid of a few books to which, as a hurriedtraveler, I cannotherefind access,theirinterestwould be quickly excitedin an accountof the celebratedcollection of paperspertaining to earlyAmericanhistory which I have just visited for the secondtime. I amnot so sure that by meansof a letter I canconveythe sameimpression;neverthelessI will try.

The Alcazar,which is to be comparedwith, if it doesnot equal, theAlhambraas aMoorish palace;theGiralda,amagnificenthell-tower,noblein size, proportionsanddetails,andfamousasanobservatoryin thedaysofMoorish supremacy,and the Cathedral,which containsa few of themostcelehratedworks of Murillo, form a group of buildings which has givenrenownto Seville and hasdrawntheadmiringgazeof architectsand poetsandhistoriansfrom everypart of thecivilized world.

Under the shadowof theseworld-famousmonumentsare two edificeswhich, in comparisonwith the threegreaterstructures,hardly arrestthenoticeof thesight-seeker,thoughtheyarebuildingswhich would be note-worthy for their age and dignity in any American city. One of thesecontainsthe ColumbianLibrary, founded by FernandoColumbus,son ofthe greatdiscoverer,and theothercontainsoriginal paperswhich pertainto the Spanishdiscoveriesin thenew world. It is of thesecondof theseremarkableand world-famouscollectionsthat I nowproposeto write.

CasaLonja is thenameof thebuilding in which arekept “the archivesof the Indias,” the title by which Spain hasdesignatedfrom theearliestdays until now the paperspertaining to her American discoveriesandpossessions. For a long period the authoritiesof this countryrefusedtoacceptthenameAmerica,and “only yielded to themajority,” asa Spanishwriter informs us, “when resistancewas useless.” ‘iIhe Lonja was builtnearly three hundred yearsago as a sort of merchants’exchange,andthereis a traceof its original purposein the apartmentsnow occupiedbythe Chamberof Commerce. It is amassive,simple,quadrangularbuilding,the sides of which maybe 200 feetlong, andit enclosesa beautifulcourt,in whichstandsastatueof ChristopherColumbus. The stoneof which itis partly built is of a dull brownhue,but in other respectsI wasremindedof the PeabodyInstitute in Baltimore. Thereare two lofty stories,theupper onebeingdevotedto thearchives. Ascendinga statelymarblestair-caseand passingtheouterofficesof theregistersor secretaries,we entereda longgallery,which extendscompletelyaroundthreesidesof thebuildingand must,therefore,bealmost600 feetin length. It is not interruptedbypartitions,is lofty, light, free from dust andin excellentorder.

Around thewalls arecasesopento theeye, in which are thousandsuponthousandsof packagescontainingoriginal lettersand reports from everypart of the globe. Each package is carefully tied up, and it bearsaconspicuouslabel stating the district to which thepapersbelongandthedates to which they relate. They are separatedin fourteen principaldepartments,correspondingwith the fourteenaudiencias, into which theexteriorpossessionsof Spainhavebeendivided. Not yet placedupon theshelves,but stackedin thecentreof thegallery,werea multitudeof pack-ageslatelyreceivedfrom Havana.

To the casualvisitor all this is impressivebecauseof its voluminousextent. If hehas anyantiquariantastehis appetiteis whetted to knowwhat thesepackagescontain,and whetherthereareanypapersof historicalinterestthat havestill escapedthekeeneyeof historicalscholars. But thecuriosity of thepassingvisitor is gratified, as it is in theBritish Museumandasit is in theLenoxLibrary of New York, by thedisplayunderglassof someof themostinterestingautographsand(locumentsbelongingto thecollection. Here are papersbearing the signaturesof FerdinandandIsabella,Philip le bel,Joannaor CrazyJane,CharlestheFifth and Philipthe Second,but to me the paperssentto thesesovereignsfrom thenewworldby thegreatnavigatorsandconquerorswereof farmoreinterestthanroyal autographs. Hangingupon thewalls wereportraitsof manyfamousdiscoverers,doubtless authenticlikenesses,thoughnot original pictures.We seemedto bebroughtinto thepresenceof thesegreatmenaswe lookedupon their facesand sawthelines which their penshadtraced.

The newspapersof thiseweekare filled with the splendidachievements

of Stanley,whosearrival at Zanzibaris justreported,andwith expressionsof pity for Emin Bey, who has met with suchan accidentafterescapingthe dangersof the Mahdi, imprisonment,sickness,battle and fatigue.These storiesof the explorationof Africa area freshcommentaryon theprivationsandperils encounteredwhenAmericawas “the dark continent.”In parallelcolumnswe arereadingof theexileof PornPedroII andof thesubstitutionof a republicanfor a monarchical governmentin the greatterritory of Brazil, last of all thecountriesin SpanishAmericato renouncethe authorityof a king. How obviousit is that the“archives” of to-dayare books and newspapers. The telegraphin a moment reportsfrom thelandsbeyon&theseaseventswhich threeorfour hundred yearsagowouldnot havebeenmadeknownfor monthsandyears.

Here,for example,is oneof thefirst letterswhich attractedourattention,from FernandoCortezto CharlestheFifth, dated May 15, 1522, and com-plaining that he hashad no answerto thedispatcheshehadsentduringthe threeyears he hasbeen in New Spain. He announcesthat he hasdiscoveredthe SouthSea,thecoastof which is inhabited,and that hehasbegunto build ships. He begstheKing to listen to themessengerswhomhe sends,assuringhim that this businessis far more important thanallthat pertainsto therestof the Indies. Contrastthisdelayin theexchangeof correspondencewith the telegramswhich havebeenpassedwithin thelast weekbetweenStanleyandtheKing of theBelgiansandthe Emperorof Germany.

Another letter which interestedmeparticularly wasthat of JuanPoncedeLeon,datedFebruary10, 1521, announcingthediscoveryof la isla floridaand expressinghis intention to go againand find out whetherthis is reallyan islandor a part of themain landof Velasquez.

Here wasa letter from FranciscoPizarro, datedatCuzeoin 1535, in thehandwritingof a secretary,who attachesthe signatureof the conqueror.Pizarromakeshismark on theright andleft of thesignature,asSpaniardsnow are wonted to subscribea flourish or dashof thepento their signa-tures.

I pausedwith special attention before theportrait of Fr. Bartol. delasCasas,in his clerical garb,and readhis letterto CharlesV, explaining tothe Emperorthat in addition to savingmanysouls,he might obtain thebestincome in the world fromtherich landsbeyondtheseasif he wouldonly adoptthemeasureswhich LasCasasproposed.

Here,too, we sawanautographof AmerigoVespucci,anotherof BernalDiaz, one of Magellan, oneof Balboa,one of Velasquez. Therewas alsodisplayedin oneof thecasesthetreaty—June5, 1494—betweenFerdinandand Isabellaand the King of Portugal with regard to their respectivepossessionsin the seas. We were also shownthe bull of May 3, 1493,deliveredby PopeAlexanderVI.

The autographof ChristopherColumbusis nothereto beseen. In theColumbianLibrary, nearby, aresomeof his books, with annotationsin hisown handwriting—booksthat have oftenbeenmentionedby thetravelerswho haveseenthem. Before leaving BaltimoreI readwith greatinterestthe accountof this library givenby Mr. S. Teackle Wallis in his recollec-tionsof Spain,and I will not attemptto redescribethat which hedescribedso well. Indeed,hisbooks oughtto bereprinted,andmadeaccessibleto anewgenerationof readers,for theyarejust asgood now aswhenthey werewritten. Cancopiesbe found in the New MercantileLibrary or in theHopkins Historical Rooms? If not, let someone give his copies, to bemadeaccessibleto thepublic.

Theconsulof theUnitedStates,Mr. Caldwell,introducedus to thechiefof thearchives,lImo. Sr. D. CarlosJimenez-Placer,and this distinguishedgentlemanaccompaniedus throughthehalls andansweredall our inquiriesin themostobliging way, and, althoughour knowledgeof Spanishwas notmuch better than his knowledge of English, we were able through anintelligentinterpreterto obtain a greatdealof information.

It appearsthat thecollection of thesehistoricalpapersatSeville is dueto oneof themostenlightenedof themodernkings of Spain,CharlesIII,who in 1781 issueda decreeestablishingin theCasaLonja, elreal archivo deIndias. Mostof theSpanisharchivesarestill atSamancas,northof Madrid,including, doubtless,many of thosewhich havebeenso serviceableto Mr.S. R. Gardiner in thepreparationof his admirablehistory of Englandinthereignsof JamesI andCharlesI, to Froudeand other recenthistorians.

I asked the head of the archives,Sig. P. Jimenez-Placer,whether ayoung manfrom the JohnsHopkins University,properlyaccreditedandhaving a definite historical purpose,might be allowed to prosecutehis

32 [No. 78.

inquiries in the Indiad archives. He replied that such authority couldonly be given in Madrid, and that application should be made to theministry of foreign affairs, properly, of course, through the Americanminister. In thetwo visitswhich I madeto thearchivesI saw no signsofaninvestigator. I alsoaskedfor anauthenticaccountofthearchives,printedin Spanishoranyotherlanguage,but I couldlearnof nothingmoresatisfac-tory thanthat which is givenin thelocal historiesandguidesto Seville.

At a meetingof theBoardof UniversityStudies,heldJanuary15th,1890,it was voted that UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPSfor the current sessionbeawardedto the gentlemennamedbelow:Biology—H. T. FERNALD (M. S., Me. State College),who waives the

emolument;—R. P. BIGELOW (S. B., HarvardUniversity).Chemistry.—C.C. BLAcKSHEAR (A. B., Mercer University).English.—T. P. HARRISON (S. C. Military Academy).Geology.—C.R. KEYES (S.B., University of Iowa).Greek.—B.NEWHALL (A. B., HaverfordCollege).History andHistoricalJurisprudence—B.C.STEINER(A. B., Yale College).Latin.—W. P. MUSTARD (A. B., University of Toronto).Mathematics.—G.H. GILMAN (A. M., Columbia College).Physics.—A.S. MACKENZIE (A. B.. DalliousieCollege).Politics.—W.W. WILLOUGHBY (A. B., JohnsHopkins University).RomanceLanguages.—E.S. LEWIS (A. B., WabashCollege).Sanskrit.—W.W. BADEN (A. B., JohnsHopkinsUniversity).

A list of previousappointmentsto UniversityScholarshipsis givenin Uni-versityCircular, No. 74.

ProfessorROWLAND, of Baltimore,waselectedto aforeignmembershipintheRoyal Societyof Londonon December5th, 1889.

The numberof foreign membersof theRoyalSocietyis limited to fifty.TheAmericanrepresentationnowconsistsofProfessorDana,of NewHaven,and ProfessorsNewcomb and Rowland, of Baltimore. Nature, London(Dec.12), statesthat ProfessorRowlandwaselectedin recognition of hiswork on the determinationin absolutemeasureof themagneticsuscepti-bilities of iron, nickel, and cobalt; for his accuratemeasurementsoffunda-mentalphysicalconstants;for theexperimentalproofof theelectro-magn~ticeffect of electric convection; for the theory and constructionof curveddiffraction-gratingsofverygreatdispersivepower; andfor theeffectualaidwhichhehasgivento theprogressof physicsin Americaandothercountries.

COMMEMORATION DAY will beobservedasusualon Saturday,February22, 1890. The public exercisesof thedaywill be heldin theMt. VernonPlaceChurch.

The ARCH AiOLOGICAL INSTITUTE of America(BaltimoreSociety)met inHopkinsHall January21, 1890. Addressesweremadeby Mr. W. W. Rock-hill, on ajourney throughThibet,ProfessorH. Hyvernat,on his travelsinArmenia,ProfessorA. L. Frothiugham,Jr., and others.

33

In one of the bookstoresI have found a copy of theCartasdeIndias,published at Madrid, in 1877, by the minister of Fomento,a magnificentquarto volume, containingfacsimilesof two letters of Columbus,and ofmany other important papers,illustrated with notesandessays. I lookedupon the book with theenviouseye of a librarian and theeconomicaleyeof a collegepresident,but whetherI shall buy it for theuniversityor not,to-morrowwill decide.

On Monday,January6th, 1890, the variouscoursesof medicalinstruc-tion, lecturesandclinics previouslyadvertisedin connectionwith theJohnsHopkins Hospital, were commenced. Graduatesin medicine,residentinBaltimore, will be admitted without chairge to the following lecturesandclinics in theamphitheatreby registeringat theoffice of theHospital andobtainingticket of admissionto thesame:

Lecturesby Dr. WELCH, at 4.30 p. m. on Fridays duringJanuaryandFebruary.

Lecturesby Dr. COUNCILMAN, at4.30 p. m. onWednesdaysduringJanuary and February.

Lectures by Dr. OSLER, at 4.30 p. in., Tuesdaysand ThursdaysduringJanuaryand February.

Lecturesby Dr. KELLY, at 4.30 p. in., MondaysduringJanuary.Lecturesby Dr. HALSTED, at 3.30 p. in., MondaysduringFebruary.Lecturesby Dr. HUED, at 4.30 p. in., MondaysduringFebruary.Clinicsby Dr. OSLER,duringJanuaryandFebruary,on Wednesdays,at

2.30 p. m.Clinics by Dr. KELLY, during Januaryand February,on Wednesdays,

at3.30 p. m.Clinicsby Dr.HALSTED,duringJanuaryandFebruary,onFridays,at9 a.m.

The regularfeesare asfollowsAdmissionto all courses, - - -

Thechargefor all coursesin Pathologyis,For eithercourse,For all coursesin Medicine, - - -

For either course,For all coursesin Surgery, - - -

For eithercourse,For all coursesin Gynaecology, - -

For eithercourse,For all coursesin Hygiene, - - -

- - $100- - 50- - 25- - 50- - 25

502550

- - 25- - 50

Mr. JOSEPHBE PEROTThasresignedtheFellowshipby Courtesy,to whichhe wasrecentlyappointed.

WALTER LEFEYRE (Ph. D., Heidelberg)will deliver a courseof twelveclass-lectureson the History of Greek Philosophyfrom its origin to Soc-rates,on Thursdays,at5 p. in., in theHistorical Library.

PROCEEDiNGS OF SOCIETIES.Scientific Association.

Decembe,’11.—Ninety-secondregularmeeting. Dr. Williams in the chair. Thirtymemherspresent.

Papersread:Modern Viewsof Electricity,hy A. L. KIMBALL.Exhihition of a CuriousCaseof the AdhesivePowerof the Fingers,hy Professor

SIMoN,of the MarylandSchoolof Pharmacy.

Jcssucry29.—Ninety-thirdregularmeeting. Dr. Williams in the chair. Forty-fivememherspresent.

Papersread:GeographicalDevelopmentof Northern New Jersey,hy ProfessorW. M. DAVIS, of

HarvardUniversity.ThePresenceofOzonein theAir, hy E. RENOUF.TemperatureLimits of Vitality of the MammalianHeart,hy E. C. APPLROARTM.

Pisilological Association.

December20.—Ninety-eighthregularmeeting. ProfessorGildersicevein the chair.Fifty memherspresent.

Papersread:On theValueof StatisticalStudiesin GreekStyle asan Indexof Genuinenessand

Chronology,by B. L. GILDERSLEEVE.On two CopticIisscriptionsby Mr. W. MAX MIlLLER, readhy C. Adler.Two EtymologicalNotes,hy J.T. HATFIELD. (Seep.30.)

Jessuary17.—Ninety-ninth regular meeting. ProfessorGildersiceve in the chair.Thirty-five memberspresent.

Papersread:Beginningsof the “Classical” HeroicCoupletin England,hy H. WooD.TheFragmentsof Derosuswith referenceto parallel passagesin theDihie and the

CuneiformInscriptions,hy I. CASANowIcE.

Mathematical Society.Jcssuary16.Papersread:

On the IdenticalVanishingof the Hessianof a Productof LinearFunctions,hyFABIAN FRANKLIN.

OntheIdenticalVanishingof theHessiansof TernaryQuantics,hy H.P.MANNING.Noteon Determinants,by B. A. MURRAY.

Historical and Political Science Association.DecemberMeetiegs.—Dr.H.D. Adamsin thechair.Papersread:

Early History of Oberlin College,by J.R. COMMONS.TheSupremeCourtasa Checkin ourConstitutionalSystem,byW. W. WILLOUGHBY.Whatis Civilization? GeneralDiscussion.TheCannibalsof Australia,by CARL LUMHOLZ.TheDevelopmentof InternationalLaw asto newly discoveredterritory, by W. B.

SCAIFR.

Jc ucryMeetingz.—Dr.H. B. Adamsin thechair.EducationalHistory of RhodeIsland,by W. H. TOLMAN.PracticalWorkingsof theSupremeCourt.TheAncientRdgimein Japanandthe AdventofForeigners,by T. K. IYENA4IA.History of NegroColonization,by J. H.T. MCPHERSON.FinancialSystemsof Switzerland,by J. M. VINCENT.

FEBRUARY, 1890. UNIVERSITYCIRCULABS.

JOHNSHOPKIJVS

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEGREE OFBACHELOR OF ARTS.

At theConferenceof College Presidentsand Professorsin Philadelphia,November26, 1889, ProfessorE. H. GRIFFIN reada letter from PresidentGILMAK asfollows:

October17th, 1889.* ~ * * * If I hadbeenpresentI shouldhaveaskedleaveto pre-

sent to your considerationsome thoughts respectingthe baccalaureatedegree,but asI cannotattend,on accountof absencefrom the country,IhaverequestedProfessorB. H. Griffin to saya few wordsin my behalf.

The pointsto which I shouldhave directedattentionarethese:1st. The American propensityto multiply academictitles so that the

realsignificanceof a degreeis obscured.2d. The tendencyto confer thebaccalaureatedegreein so manyforms

andphrasesthat its meaningcannotbe discoveredeven from the nameoftheinstitution which confersit, but must often be worked out by a studyof cataloguesconstructedin differentordersof complexity.

3d. Theenumera.tionof themanifoldforms of the baccalaureatedegreenow givenin this country.

4th. The historical significanceof the bachelor’s degreeas markingattainmentof thefirst grade in the fellowship of scholars,a gradewhichmaybeattainedin any faculty of auniversity, arts, medicine,theologyandlaw.

5th. Thevalueof a certificatethe meaningof which is obvious at firstsight,consideredfrom the point of viewof the holderof a diploma, and,secondly,from that of thepublic.

6th. The importanceof restoring, if possible,the baccalaureatedegreeto anhonorablesignificancebeforeit is altogetherlost.

7th. Theimportanceof acknowledgingthat it is not essentialthat anyonecurriculumshouldbefollowed in order to attain thedegreeof bachelorof arts.

8th. It is essentialthat the candidatewho receives that degreeshouldhave receivedmuch instruction in (a) ancientand modernlanguagesandliterature, (b) in mathematics,(c) in thenaturalandphysicalsciences,and(ci) in historicalandmoralsciences.

9th. It is alsoessentialthat thecandidateshould pursuethesestudiesina public institution,under competentinstructors,for a definiteperiod,in asystematicway, subjectto examination,the results of which are to be re-corded,proclaimedandcertified to by a formal diploma. * *

After readingtheletterProfessorGRIFFIN spokeasfollows:

That theBaccalaureatedegreehaslostsomethingof the“honorablesig.nificance” of which PresidentGilman speaks,there can be no doubt. Arecentwriter in oneof our magazinesdeclaresthat “A. B. is asmeaninglessanabbreviationasexists.” This, we are gladto know, is anexaggeration,but it is anexaggerationwhich containsanuncomfortableelementof truth.

So far asit is true that theBachelor’sdegreehasdeclined in dignity andvalue, theevil is aseriousone. In view of its historical significance,theinterestsof learningand thecredit of thefellowshipof scholarsrequirethatthis title, which marksthecompletion of a definedstageor periodof train-ing, shouldbekept in its original repute. It is a graveinjustice that onewho hasgainedthedegree,atgreatexpenditureof money,time and labor,shouldfind that others have gotten it upon so much easiertermsthat itbecomesalmostworthlessasa guarantyof acquisition. The public havearight to assumethat learneddistinctionsare bestowedin good faith, andupon somebasisof commonunderstanding,and ought not to becompelledto go back of academictitles to find out what they mean. Whether weconsiderit from thepoint of view of thepublic, or of the individual, or ofthe generalinterestsof learning, few academicquestionsare of greaterconsequencethan the propersignificance,and most effectivedefenseandmaintenance,of theBachelor’sdegree.

The causeswhichhavecontributedto this lossof considerationare—someof them, at least—obvious.

As is well known, theinstitutions of higher learning first establishedinthis countryweremodeled,not after theEnglish universities,but after theEnglish colleges. This was inevitable under the circumstances,and theAmericancollegehascertainlyshownitself well adaptedto the conditionsof our nationallife. As respectsacademictitles, however,the systemhas

haditsdrawbacks. In GreatBritain and Irelandthereare,I believe,eleveninstitutionsconferringdegrees;in the United States thereareabout 400,not countingcollegesfor women,of whichthereare,perhaps,100exercisingthis prerogative. Theseinstitutions are,of course,of all gradesof merit.Someof them arenot greatlyunlike thecollege in the far West, of whichProfessorBryce speaksin the “American Commonwealth,”whose presi-denthadmuchto sayabouttheviewsof his Faculty, and whathis Facultyweregoing to do—the“Faculty” consistingat thetime, asit appeared,ofthat dignitaryand his wife. A peculiar infelicity hasattendedour systemasappliedto honorarydegrees—asin theologyandlaw—thesebeing givenby institutionswhich offer no instruction in thesesubjects. An eminentAmericancomposeris said to have declined the doctorateof musiccon-ferredby Yale, on theground that asthe university did notrecognizethissubjectin its systemof education it was presumablyincompetentto pro-nouncejudgmentaboutit. However uniform and thoroughmight be thestandardof acquirementtheoretically establishedby our colleges, theirinordinate number,involving wide diversitiesof scholarly and teachingpower,mustpreventtheir certificatesof graduationfrom bearinganythinglike a uniform significance,in respectto the amountandquality either oftheinstructionoffered,or of theproficiencyattained.

So far as the Bachelor’sdegree has sufferedfrom this cause,thereisprobably no immediateremedy. The suggestionoccasionallymade thatthecollegesof a State,or of alargerextentof territory, might, for certainpurposes,affiliatethemselvesinto a kind of university,and bestowdegreesthrougha common board,is not likely to be receivedwith favor. It ispossiblethat somethingmaybedonetoward thecreationof a public senti-mentunfavorableto theendowmentand charteringof unnecessaryinstitu-tions. But the main reliance must be upon such a gradualincreaseofresourcesand elevationof standardsasshall diminishthe evils which can-not bewholly removed. If an agreementof theoryand practice couldbereachedamongour mostinfluential institutions in regardto theBachelor’sdegree,this would domore than anythingelse to determineusage,and tofix.the connotationofthe title.

In looking over the reportsof the Commissionerof Education,one isstruck with thefertility of imaginationandinventiondisplayedin academictitles. Thefollowing enumerationof variations of theBaccalaureatetitleis probablynot exhaustive:

Bachelor of Arts, Science,Philosophy, Letters, Laws, Divinity, SacredTheology, Surgery, Music, Painting, Pedagogics,English,EnglishLitera-ture,LatinLetters,Agriculture,ScientificAgriculture,Agricultural Science,Architecture,Engineering,Civil Engineering,Mining Engineering,Metal-lurgical Engineering, Mining Metallurgy, Chemical Science,MechanicArt, Veterinary Science,DomesticArt. The collegesfor women add anewand pleasingelementof variety from thefact that it seemsto be sup-posedby somethat theword “ bachelor” is a designationof sex, andso wehaveLicentiate,Laureate,Graduate,Proficient, and,in more distinctan-tithesisto Bachelor,Maid.

The first criticism that onepassesupon this list is that mostof thetitlesindicateprofessional,rather than liberal, acquirements. The BachelorofScience,of Philosophy,of Letters,may havepursuedstudiesentitled to becalled liberal; the samemay betrue of the Bachelorof Laws,Divinity,Music, of others in the list; but it is certain that theholdersof mostofthesedegreeshave acquireda technical,rather than a general training.Why then,it may be asked,should they lay claim to the title to whichusagehas attacheda different meaning? Is it historically just, or is itpracticallywise,to disregardthedistInction betweenatechnicaland alib-eral education by applying the baccalaureatetitle indifferently to both?Mostof thecollegesrepresentedin this AssociationdistinguishbetweentheBachelor’sdegreesof Arts, Science,and Philosophy, and the technicaldegrees,PracticalChemist,Mining Engineer,Civil Engineer,and therest.It is important that thosewho hold to the old idea of a broadtraining infundamentalstudies,precedentto specialization,shoulddo this.

A questionmight arise as to what modifications of the Baccaulaureatetitle shouldbeconsideredpermissibleunder this principle. Thedegrees,Bachelorof Science,Letters,and Philosophy,are so well establishedthatit is probablyuselessto make any objection to them; yet it is afair ques-tion whetherthesubdivisionis of anyadvantage. If thesedegreesdo notcertify to a courseof studyproperly ranked as liberal, theyought not,accordingto this view, to beconferred;if they do, would not the simpler,morehistorical,more intelligible way beto comprisethem all under the

34 [No. 78.

FEBRUARY, 1890.] UNIVERSITYCJRCULAI?S.

Bachelorof Arts? The contrast betweenthesciencesandthehumanitiesit may be well to recognise by retaining the Bachelor of Science; butBachelorof LettersandBachelorof Philosophyareof suchindeterminatesignificancethat it wouldbe a relief to have themabandoned. Is it worthwhile to retain degreeswhosesignificanceno one can tell without knowingtheinstitution which conferred them, or thenwithout a carefulconsulta-tion of thecatalogue? It seemsto methat theBaccalaureatedegreewouldbegreatlyaugmentedin dignity, if it were conferredonly under the titleBachelorof Arts, or, atmost,with thevariationBachelorof Science.

If the reductionof all the non-technicaldegreesto asingle form,ortotwo forms,wereto beaccomplished,it would be necessaryto reacha moredefiniteunderstandingthan atpresentexists asto whatconstitutesa liberaleducation. The proposition laid down by PresidentGilman, that “it isnot essentialthat anyonecurriculumshould be followed in orderto attainthedegreeof Bachelorof Arts,” would now be generallyconceded. Therigidly exactedcourseof study which formerlyprevailedin all our institu-tions is now admifted to be impracticable. The effort to adaptit to thedemandsof the new sciences,and themodern languagesand literatures,madeit so fragmentaryand kaleidoscopic,so far impaired its disciplinarypower,that somechangewas acknowledgedto be inevitable. The onlydif-ferenceof opinionnow is as to what subjectsshall be insistedupon. Themodifications of the Bachelor’sdegreefirst named (Bachelorof Science,Philosophy,Letters,)ordinarily indicate that one, atleast,of the classicallanguageshasnot beenpursued. Theabsenceof this acquisitionseemstorendertheBachelorof Arts degreeunsuitable,and,in defaultof a scientificspecialty, one of the other titles is resortedto. If it were decidedtoabandonthese,whatcouldbedonefor theclassof studentsfor whom theyweredesigned? This must,of course,dependon our view of what is neces-sary to a liberal culture. Why not give to thosewho have studiednoancientlanguagesuchcertificatesandtitles asbestdescribetheirwork, andto thosewho havesufficientlypursuedone, concedethefull rank of Bache-lor of Arts?

Thata liberal educationmaybeproperlyheldto requireawiderhistori-cal andmoralhorizonthanthemoderntonguesalone can give, can hardlybedisputed. An.acquaintance,at first hand,with themannersand senti-mentsof a civilization remotefromour own,oneunmodifiedby Christianity,is so preiminentlyliberalizing, soquickensone’spowerof intellectualsym-pathy,so deepensone’ssenseof theunity of history, so enlargestherangeandperspectiveof one’sthoughts,that it may properly be madethediffer-entia betweena generalanda specialtraining. But are two ancient lan-guagesnecessaryfor this? Is it even necessarythat one of the classicallanguagesshould be pursued? Would not Semitic or Sanskritstudies,iftheseshould happento be unaccompaniedby Greekor Latin, securethesameend? The main thing is to get a genuine hold upon a distantpast.

Theliterary andnstheticreasonsfor thestudy of theclassicallanguages,that is, of Greek,which is therealissue in the case,it is not necessarytobelittle theforce of. But howfewof our candidatesfor thedegreeof Bach-elor of Arts ever acquireanyrefinementordelicacyof Greek scholarship!How few teachers—happilythereare signal and distinguishedexceptionsto this remark—teachGreekotherwisethan asa grammaticaldrill, or, atthebest,a philological discipline! Was evertheHellenic spirit andformbetterreproducedthanby Keats,who couldnot readGreekatall?

It is not, asit seemsto me,easy to justify theinsistenceuponboth Greekand Latin asessentialto a liberal education. We may bein dangerof dis-playingin behalfof Greekstudiessomethingof thesameexcessivedefer-ence to traditionary habits and standardswhich worked so powerfullyagainsttheir reception in the fifteenth century. It is undeniablethat the

35

majority of menin two, at least,of the so-called learnedprofessions—lawandmedicine—ineditorial work and in politics, are not, in the academicsense,liberally educatedmen. Is not this due,in part, to the fact that wehave beentoo rigid at certainpoints,making our education seem remotefrom life and pedantic? If it should seemwise to bestowthe Bachelorof Artsdegreewithout Greek,we couldsimplify our nomenclatureby dis-pensingwith the degreesof Bachelor of Letters and of Philosophy; wecouldcarry to full graduationsomewhonow pursuepartialcoursesof study;wecouldobviatecriticisms,whichproceednotalwaysfrom so-called“prac-tical” men,but often from personsabundantlyqualified to form anopinion,graduates,notrarely,of our own institutions.

But while this additional freedommaywiselybe conceded,it is of thelast importancethat we insistupon thosefundamentalsubjectswhich anyrational theory of a liberal education must include. PresidentGilmanenumeratestheseas follows: “It is essential that the candidatewhoreceivesthat degreeshould have receivedmuch instructionin (a) ancientandmodernlanguagesand literature,(b) in mathematics,(e) in thenaturaland physical sciences,(d) in historical and moralsciences.” I neednotstop to showwhy thesefour classesof subjectsare essential;we are notlikely to disagreeaboutthat. Experiencehasshown,whatone’sknowledgeof humannaturewould lead oneto expect,that youngmen, left wholly tothemselves,will not apportiontheir time equitablybetweenthesedifferentinterests.

ProfessorWest,of Princeton,took the trouble,threeor four years ago,to summarizethe choicesof electivestudiesmadeby membersof a recentclassatoneof our leadingcolleges. A morecareful administrationof thesystemprobablyprevents,at thepresenttime, suchextremeabuseofliberty,yetthesefactsareinstructiveasanillustration of adangeragainstwhich weneedto guard. The first manin standingomittedtwo of theclassesof sub-jectsnamedby PresidentGilman,taking nocoursein mathematicsor in sci-ence. Thesecondomittednearlythree,taking no coursein mathematics,inscience(exceptbotany), in philosophy,history, or political science. Thethird took no science,and no philosophy. The fourth took no courseinphilosophy,history, political science,classics,modernlanguages. How canwe considera manliberally educatedwho hasstudied,duringhis collegiateresidence,no modernlanguage,no ancientlanguage,no loGic,psychologyorethics,no history, nopolitical or social science? Omissionsof like signifi-canceoccurin thecaseof each of the ten highest men,while themen atthebottomof the classshow a markedinclination to the easiestsubjects.We cannotpleadtheexample of the Germanuniversities,for we havenosuch preliminary training as the Germangymnasiaafford. It is obviousthat unrestrictedliberty of election cannotbepermitted. No degradationof theBaccalaureatedegreeis comparableto that which would comefromthegeneraladoptionof sucha systemin our colleges. The degreehas,atpresent,anapproximateuniformity of meaning. This would speedilyandtotally disappear.

The suggestionswhich I offer, on thebasis of PresidentGilman’s paper,are, then, these:

(1) Diminish the evilsgrowing out of the number of our colleges,andtheinferiority of someof them, throughan agreementamongthestrongestandbest,which would have theforce of anauthoritativeexample.

(2) Distinguish sharply betweenthe technical and the baccalaureatedegrees,reducingthelatterto one,or, at most,two forms.

(3) Relax the requirementin regardto Greek,acceptingone ancientlanguageassufficient for theBachelorofArts degree.

(4) Allow no electionson thepart of studentsthatwill preventasuitabledistribution of attention betweenthe four greatgroupsof subjectswhichhavebeennamed.

CONTENTS.

The Anglo-SaxonVersionof the Gospels, -

Two Philological Notes, - - - -

Demonstrationof a Theoremof Gauss, -

Noteon Cubic Curves, - - - -

OntheHessianof a Productof LinearFunctions,

PAGE

2930

- - - - - 30- - - - - 31

- - - - 31

Openingof LeveringHall,AmericanAi-cliives in Seville,CurrentAnnouncements, - - - - - - -

Proceedingsof Societies,TheSignificanceof the Degreeof Bachelorof Arts, - -

PAGE

- 31- 32- 33- 33- 34

JOHNSHOPKINS UNIVERSITYCIRCULAPS.

NEW PUBLICATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

F~SSAYS AND STUDIES.B~ BASIL L. GILDERSLEEVE.

It is proposedto collect and publish the principalliterary EssaysandStudiesof ProfessorGildersleeve. They will makea volumeof aboutfourhundredand fifty pages.

It will contain the following papers: 1. Limits of Culture; 2. Classicsand Colleges; 3. University Work in America; 4. Grammarand Aes-thetics; 5. Legendof Venus; 6. Xanthippe and Socrates;7. Apolloniusof Tyana; 8. Lucian; 9. The EmperorJulian; 10. Platen’sPoems;11.Maximilian, Emperorof Mexico; 12. OccasionalAddresses.

The price to subscribersin advancehasbeenfixed at $2.50. This pricewill be increasedafterpublication.

The edition is limited to six hundredcopies.Notice will besentwhenthevolume is readyandremittancesmaythen

beforwarded.

TilE BEf~LNNINGS OF A1~LE1{ICAN NATIONALITY.

B~ PRESIDENT SMALL, of Colby Univer3ily.

Commencingthe seriesfor 1890 of “Studies in Historical and PoliticalScience”is nowready.

Price$1.00. Subscriptionfor the annualseries(12 nos.) is $3.00.

THE JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL REPORTS.No. 1 [for 1890] of The JohnsHopkinsHospital Reportsis now ready.

Price 50 cents. It containspapers:—on Feversof HepaticOrigin, particu-larly the Intermittent Pyrexia associatedwith Gallstones,by WILLIAMOSLER, M. ID.; someremarkson Anomaliesof theUvula, with special ref-erenceto Double Uvula, by JOHN N. MACKENZIE, M. ID.; on Pyrodin,byH. A. LAFLEIJR, M. D.; Casesof Post-febrileInsanity,by WILLIAM OSLER,M. D.; Acute Tuberculosisin anInfant of Four Months,by HARRY TOUL-MIN, M.D.; RareFormsof CardiacThrombi, by WILLIAM OSLER, M. ID.;Noteon Endocarditisin Phthisis,by WILLIAM OsLER, M. ID.

No. 2, February,1890, is in press.Subscription$5per yearlyvolume. Thepriceof thepartswill varywith

the numberof platesandpages.

THE JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL BULLETIN.No.1 (December,1889)containsa programmeof themedical instruction

in theHospital; a brief sketchof theHospital; areportof theexercisesatthe opening of the Nurses’Home and theTraining Schoolfor Nurses; apreliminary report of investigationsconcerning the causation of HogCholera, by W. H. WELcH, M. ID.; a note on the value of Laveran’5Organismsin thediagnosisof malaria,by WILLIAM OSLER, M. ID.; proceed-ings of societies,etc.

No. 2 (January,1890)is just ready. It containspapers—on Hysteror-rhaphyby H. A. KELLY M. ID.; on Atypical Epithelial Growths, by W.T. COUNCILMAN, M. ID.; on Pathologyin itsRelationsto Biology, by W. H.WELCH, M. ID.; proceedingsof societies,etc.

Subscriptionperyearlyvolume $1.00. Priceof singlenumbers15 cents.

THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN DIALECT.B~ MARION D. LEARNED, PH. D.

120 pp., 8o., paper,50 cents.

DISSERTATIONS PRESENTED FOR THE DEGREE OFDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY.

A few copiesof thefollowing dissertationscanbefurnishedatthepricesnamed:

ANDREWs, C. M. The River Towns of Connecticut:A Studyof Weth.ersfield,Hartford,and Windsor. (1889). 126 pp., 8o. $1.00.

BURTON, W. M. TheAtomic Weight ofZinc, asdeterminedby the com-positionof theoxide. (1889). 33pp., 8o., and2 plates. 35cents.

BRAcIKETT, J. R. The Negroin Maryland: A Study of the Institutionof Slavery. (1889). 270 pp., So., cloth. $2.00.

CALLAWAY, M., Jr. The AbsoluteParticiple in Anglo-Saxon. (1889).52 pp., So. 50 cents.

IDOHME, A. R. L. Ortho-Sulpho-BenzoicAcid and ~ne of its deriva-tives. (1889). 38 pp., 8o. 35 cents.

ELMER, H. C. The Copulative ConjunctionsQue, Et, Atque, in theInscriptionsof theRepublic,in Terence,andin Cato. (1888). 39 pp., 8o.40 cents.

GORTON,W. C.L. Line Congruences. (1889). 20pp., 4o. 40 cents.HAWORTH, E. A Contribution to the Archaean Geology of Mis-

souri. (1888). 40 pp., So.,and 1 plate. 40 cents.HODGE,C. F. SomeEffectsof ElectricallyStimulatingGanglionCells

(1889). 27 pp., So., and1 plate. 30 cents.HUTCHINSON,C. T. Onthe Electro-MagneticEffect of ConvectionCur-

rents. (1889). 15 pp., So.,and1 plate. 25 cents.KASTLE, J. H. Paranitro-Sulpho-BenzoicAcid and someof its deriva-

tives. (1888). 27 pp., So. 30cents.LENGFELD, F. Researcheson the Stability of the Alkyl Bromides.

(1888). 32 pp., So. 35 cents.MOULTON, C. W. On PhthalicSulphinideand someof its derivatives.

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AMERICAN CHEMICAL JOURNAL.Edited by PROFESSOR1~EMSEN.

Volume XI, No. 8, December,1889.

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NotesSupplementaryto Studiesin Historicaland Political Science.

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