REPORT OF MR. HINTON.
139
tion with this subject, in selecting and sending to Paris a body of as intelligent practical artisans as they could find. The observations and ideas these men gathered while there, were afterward printed and published in what made a notable book, calling forth a wide-spread utterance on the subject of Technical Education from every one interested in the advancement of the nation.
The artisans paid but little attention to the subject of Design and art taste, except to notice the rapid and more facile methods in vogue on the continent for teaching the art of Free-Hand Drawing; but they at once saw and felt the disadvantages under which the British artisan labored in competing with the workmen of Germany, France, Belgium and other countries where there are so many schools of different grades and kinds for the instruction of the workman, foreman and directors in technics of the several crafts that they followed.
The press took up the theme with ardor; meetings Vere held in almost every town or industrial centre to consider the question; much was written and spoken explanatory of the systems of education established in France, Germany, etc.
Quite a flood of literature, purporting to deal with the mteresting subject, appeared, some of which is of value; as, for instance, "Cassell’s Technical Education.”
At last, a Royal Commission of eminent men was constituted, with powers to examine into what existed, to hear testimony, opinions, etc., of those who could throw light u Pon the matter, and finally recommend such alteration in the existing system as they should deem necessary.
The result of the Commissioners’ labors appeared in 1872, iu the form of a voluminous Blue-Book, containing much that ls interesting, and much more that is not. From this report a few facts are selected that help to throw light on the history °f tbe attempts to popularize science among the English People.
■^fr. Cole, late head of the South Kensington Museum, but ^bo resigned that post upon accepting a similar position over e Annual International Exhibition, held in London, was the rst witness called, and his testimony is the main basis of the a °ts collected.