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WALES. Vol. Ill] JUNE, 1896. [No. 26. THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALKS. By W. J. Wallis-Joues, It. C. \V HE University College of Wales, situated at Aberystwyth, in the north of Cardiganshire, deserves to be more well-known as regards its inner working and history than it is. The eve of the installation, within it,of thePrinceof Wales as the Chancellor of the University of Wales,—a memorable occasion in the history of Welsh education, is a tit time for presenting a short sketch of the history, progress, and influence of this college. The University College of Wales has been the pioneer of education in Wales ; and has, in a short time, attained to the very first rank of the University Colleges of the United Kingdom,—indeed, I doubt whether any college in the kingdom can show a better list of successes in the educational world for the past year, more particularly those in connection with the University of London, than Aberystwyth College. Even now, in its infancy we might say, it can boast of a host of names closely connected with the life of Wales to-day, and with that of the world at large, as the names of its alumni. In this paper I should like to .answer three questions concerning the institution,— what it is ; how it works ; and with what success,—and to give a short history of its rise, together with a few remarks on its influence in Wales. Perhaps it would be well, before coming to the period of its definite formation, to give a brief 1C 241 outline of the efforts which culminated in its establishment in 1872. The great name in connection with the movement from the very beginning to the end is that of Sir Hugh Owen, whose efforts on behalf of education in general, and especially in connection with the establishment of the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, deserves the sincerest gratitude of his countrymen for his life of toil and self-sacrifice on their behalf. In April, 1854, Sir Hugh Owen convened a private meeting in London for the promotion of the establishment of colleges iii Wales similar to the Queen's College in Ireland. A committee with officials was formed and an " outline of constitution" of Welsh Queen's Colleges drawn up. For various reasons this was soon dropped, and the project lay dormant till 1862, when public attention was aroused to the subject of higher education in Wales by a series of able letters by Dr. Nicholas in the Cambria Daily Leader. Sir Hugh Owen and Dr. Nicholas met each other at meetings in connection with the National Eisteddfod in September, 1863. October 26th, they and Sir G. (then Mr.) Osborne Morgan and Mr. Morgan Lloyd met in London at 1, Mitre Court, Temple, and there discussed the question of establishing colleges in Wales. They resolved to em¬ bark on an undertaking, invited those interested to join them, and drew up an address calling attention to the subject of higher education in Wales, setting forth the brilliant advantages possessed by Ireland and Scotland, and the substantial aid ex¬ tended by Government to the University of London. Welshmen were called upon to set matters aright and to be up and