legal procedure, and to trade, shipping, and manufactures, be revived.-XV. Standing Committee on Agriculture. That a third Standing Committee be appointed for the consideration of all Bills relating to agriculture, which may by order of the House be committed thereto. That Standing Order No. IX., "Motions for adjournment before Publie Business," be rescinded. Offensive Language. (a) That Mr. Speaker and the Chairman do check the use of offensive language, whether by way of interruption, or in debate; and that any member who persists in such offence, or fails to retract any such expression and tender his apology, shall be named by Mr. Speaker or the Chairman. Any member so named shall stand suspended from the service of the House, and such member shall withdraw from the House forthwith. Such suspension shall continue for one fortnight, and for such further term until he in his place expresses his regret for his disrespect to the House, and gives assurance that he will not so offend again. (b) That any member who persists in the use of offensive language, whether by way of interruption or in debate, shall be named by Mr. Speaker or the Chairman. Any member so named shall stand suspended from the service of the House, and such member shall withdraw from the House forthwith. Such suspension shall continue during the remainder of that day's sitting, and for such further term until he in his place expresses his regret for his disrespect to the House, and gives assurance that he will not so offend again.

Process Blocks. See ENGRAVING, AUTO

MATIC.

Proctor, Richard Anthony, B.A., b. at Chelsea 1837. Educated at King's College, London, and St. John's, Cambridge, graduating 23rd Wrangler (1860), F.R.A.S. (1866). Having analysed results collected by the Herschels, Struve, and others, and carried out a series of original researches, he was led to a new theory, established by subsequent discoveries, of the structure of the stellar universe. He also published many illustrative charts. In 1875 Mr. Proctor announced his secession from the Roman Catholic Church, with which he had been connected some years. Mr. Proctor has published numerous and important works on The Sun," "The Moon,' "Other Worlds than Ours," etc.; editor of Knowledge (q.v.).

Rarely protoplasm is found free-i.e. not enclosed by any cell-wall. Instances of free protoplasm are certain zoospores or active asexual bodies of the lower plants, and in the division of fungi known as myxomycetes, of which æthalium or flowers of tan is the best known (muxa, mucus, mukes, fungus). Here masses of naked protoplasm called plasmodia, of creamy look, creep about over the surfaces of bodies. Generally, however, protoplasm is the main contents of vegetable or animal cells where four regions often present themselves. The layer immediately within the wall, in vegetable cells at least, is non-granular, and is called the primordial.

Province Wellesley. A territory of the Straits Settlements (q.v.).

"Science

Provincial Colleges (non-Theological). The foundation of Owen's College, Manchester, in 1851, led the way in a movement which, aided by the stimulus of "University Extension" (q.v.) has during the last twelve to fifteen years spread to many of the large non-university towns of Great Britain. The following is a list of such institutions, with date of foundation :-Durham University College of Physical Science, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1871; University College of Wales, Aberystwith, 1872; Yorkshire College, Leeds, 1874; University College, Bristol, 1876; Firth College, Sheffield, 1879; Mason College, Birmingham, 1880 (originally a college, but extended in 1881 so as to include a Faculty of Arts); University College, Notting. ham, 1881; University College, Liverpool, 1882; University College, Dundee, 1883; University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, Cardiff, 1883; University College of North Wales, Bangor, 1884. The scheme of most of these colleges is to provide a higher education after the type of University College, or King's College, London, and they all (except Newcastle) include chairs belonging to "Arts subjects, though several of them began as pure "Science" colleges. The government is vested in a council and an academic board or senate, composed of the professors; most of them have a principal, and are open to both sexes without distinction. This, the first important experiment in mixed education in this country, has been an indisputable success; no difficulties have arisen, and the presence of lady students in the classes is generally pronounced_to have a beneficial effect upon discipline. The curriculum may be generally divided under two heads: (1) regular or systematic instruction in the day classes, (2) popular instruction in the evening classes; but some colleges are taking steps to provide systematic evening instruction, especially for teachers in elementary and other schools who desire to widen their culture, and also, in co-operation with school boards, to provide a course of training for the government (teachers) certificate. The regular day students usually aspire to a degree at the University of London (or Oxford, which in 1884 opened most of its honour examinations to women without the condition of residence), or else are engaged in preparation for technical or industrial pursuits. The colleges are also largely attended by non-regular students (mostly ladies), who have no professional object in view, but welcome an opportunity of study under the direction of a professor. The average proportion of male and female students may be roughly stated as two-thirds males and one-third females. The colleges

Progressist Ministry. See ITALY. Promenade Concerts (Covent Garden) were established in 1880. The best music is provided, and the concerts are very largely attended. They have been imitated at the Crystal Palace and elsewhere.

Prorogation of Parliament. See PARLIA

MENT.

=

Protoplasm (protos: first; plasma formative matter). The physical basis of life. A semifluid, granular substance, consisting of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen-probably sulphur and phosphorus in proportions that are at present unknown, and are possibly variable. Protoplasm is stained by solution of magenta, of carmine in ammonia and water, and of iodine in a solution of potassium iodide, and is soluble in a solution of caustic potash. It is formative, and is, under favourable conditions, transformed into formed material such as cellulose (q.v.), etc., which neither stain with the re-agents just named, nor dissolve in potash.

have for the most part secured as their professors men of the highest academical standing. The problem of the future is the development and grouping of these colleges as provincial universities-a matter intimately connected with the new movement for the creation of a teaching university of London. The history of Manchester, which obtained its charter for Victoria University in 1880, points to the establishment in course of time of a University of Wales and a University of the Midlands.

Prussia. See GERMANY; and for Ministry, etc., see DIPLOMATIC.

Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm, Crown Prince of. See FREDERICK WILLIAM.

Psychical Research, and the Society for. Founded 1882, under the presidency of Professor H. Sidgwick, of Cambridge, "for the purpose of making an organised attempt to investigate that large group of debatable phenomena designated by such terms as mesmeric, psychical, and spiritualistic." The main work of the Society has hitherto been the examination of telepathy-viz., the affection of one mind by another otherwise than through the recognised organs of sense. Such communication may be established voluntarily for the purposes of experiment, and also appears to take place spontaneously between absent persons on occasions of special excitement, and particularly at the moment of death. Reports of a number of varied and careful experiments in induced telepathic communication are published in the "Proceedings," and a large collection of spontaneous cases has been recently published in a book entitled "Phantasms of the Living," The reality of this telepathic communication is now becoming acknowledged amongst scientists. A committee of the Society has also investigated the alleged marvels in India connected with the Theosophical Society, and has exposed their fraudulent character. The "Proceedings' (Trübner) contain papers on telepathy in its various forms, on mesmerism, on alleged apparitions of the dead and "haunted houses," on automatic writing, divining-rods, and other subjects. A monthly Journal is also issued to members and associates. The Society has about 700 members and associates; and an allied society has recently been established in the United States. Hon. Sec. Mr. E. Gurney; Offices and Library, 14, Dean's Yard, Westminster. Public Bill. See PARLIAMENTARY PROCE

DURE.

Public Clocks. See CHURCH CLOCKS.

2.

Public Schools of England. Many of the great public schools are richly endowed, and since the report of the Royal Commission their condition has greatly improved, and in several new schemes have been adopted which have resulted in increased benefit flowing from the endowment. The Commissioners of 1861 reported on the nature and application of thẹ endowment of the following nine great endowed schools, together with their management and system of study. (1) Winchester, (2) Eton, (3) St. Paul's, (4) Shrewsbury, (5) Westminster, (6) Merchant Taylors', (7) Rugby, (8) Harrow, and (9) Charterhouse. 1. Winchester College, the oldest of our public schools, founded (1387) by William of Wykeham, as a nursery for the "New College" he had recently founded at Oxford. Until 1854 the scholars were nominated without examination, but in that year the old system was exchanged for open competition. Head Master-Rev. W. A. Fearon, D.D. Motto"Manners makyth man." Eton College, founded by Henry VI. (1440) for twenty-five scholars, under the name of the "Blessid Marie of Etone by Wyndesore." It is closely connected with its fellow-foundation of King's College, Cambridge, to which a number of scholars are annually sent. The first Head Master was William Waynflete, who was removed from Winchester by Henry VI., and became subsequently Provost. The boys are divided into collegers or king's scholars (seventy in number), and oppidans or town boys. Eton is a boarding-school, but the oppidans may reside with their parents. Head Master-Rev. Edmond Warre, D.D. Motto-"Floreat Etona.' 3. St. Paul's School, London, founded (1509) by Dean Colet for 153 sholars; was situated under shadow of St. Paul's Cathedral. The school was richly endowed, and placed by its founder under the care of the Mercers' Company; each child paid on entrance fourpence "for once and for ever." A new scheme has been settled by the Charity Commissioners, under which education may be provided for 1,000 boys and 400 girls. New governors have been appointed, and the scheme is being carried out. The school is now situate in King's Road, Hammersmith. It remains, as it has always been, a day school. High Master-F. W. Walker, M.A. Motto-"Doce, Disce, aut Discede." 4. Shrewsbury, established by the bailiffs and burgesses of Shrewsbury in 1531, and endowed under name of "the Free Grammar School of Edward VI. The original scheme was modified in Elizabeth's reign, and again by the Act of 1798 and the scheme of 1853. Head Master-Rev. H. Whitehead Moss, M.A. Motto "Intus si recte ne labora." 5. Westminster School, or the Royal School of St. Peter's, Westminster (1560), when the statutes were given; but there is little doubt a grammar

Public Libraries Acts, 1875-77. Under these Acts the town council of any borough, local board of any local board district, and vestry of any parish, may, and upon the request in writing of ten ratepayers shall, by means either of a public meeting, or by the issue and collection of voting papers, take the sense of the ratepayers on the establishment of a free library or n.useum. Should there be a majority of votes in the affirmative the town council or local board may establish and maintain such a library or museum; but a vestry must appoint for that purpose not less than three nor more than nine ratepayers to act as commissioners. The commissioners go out of office one-third at the end of each year, and are to meet once every month. The property of the library, etc., is vested in the commissioners, local board or

Quakers. See FRIENDS.

of "

Quarterly Review." Founded Feb. 1809, its first editor being William Gifford, the translator 'Juvenal." The Quarterly has long maintained a high reputation as the leading review of the day, its political articles and reviews being contributed by the first authorities, amongst whom have been, and are, the most distinguished names in literature. Editor, Dr. W. Smith (7.v.) (1867).

nor.

Quebec (from an Indian word meaning "take care of the rock "), a province of the Dominion of Canada. It lies eastward of Ontario, occupying both banks of St. Lawrence. Area 193,355 sq. m.; pop. 1,973,228; mostly descendants of original French colonists, called habitans. Capital Quebec, pop. 65,000; a picturesque, impregnable fortress, with historic associations. Montreal, a splendid city, chief seaport, head of St. Lawrence navigation. Other towns are Three Rivers, Levis, Sorel, St. Hyacinthe, Sherbrooke, Stanstead.-Divided into districts and a large number of counties.-Principal rivers are the St. Lawrence, and its tributaries the Saguenay, St. Maurice, Richelieu, ChauHiere, etc., which present magnificent scenery. Province more varied in character than Ontario, hilly in parts, with much pine forest abounding in furred and feathered game. Valuable fisheries, forests. Gold, silver, copper, iron, plumbago, and other minerals. Climate healthy; winter intensely cold, with heavy snow and ice, but dry and pleasant; summer warmer than in England, and admitting of a richer flora.-Administered by a Lieut.-Governor and responsible Ministry. A Legislative Council of twenty-four members appointed for life by the Lieut.-GoverLegislative Assembly elected by sixtyfive constituencies. Quebec has twenty-four seats in the Dominion Senate and sixty-five in the House of Commons. Religion chiefly Roman Catholic. Education superior, denominational. Primary education obligatory, not free, under local control.-Industries less forward than in Ontario. Much small farming. Timber trade most important. Settled districts denuded of timber, and planting carried on. Wheat and other grain, roots, hemp, tobacco, hops, apples, peaches, grapes, tomatoes, the chief crops. Much pasturage and large dairystock, breeding and grazing. Cheese factories. Rising manufacture in the towns. Fresh-water fisheries important. Improved farms sell at £4 to 6 per acre, unimproved at 1s. 8d. to 2s. 6d. per acre, four-fifths deferred. Certain sections free grants in hundred-acre lots. Eastern townships on United States border, settled by royalists after War of Independence, are an excellent location for English emigrants. -Quebec was settled as a French colony in 1608. In 1759 it was captured by British troops under General Wolfe, and in 1763 ceded to England by Treaty of Paris. It became a province of the Dominion in 1867. See CANADA; and for Ministry, etc., see DIPLOMATIC. (Consult Faillon's "Histoire de la Colonie Française en Canada," Garneau's "Histoire du Canada," "The Canadian Almanac for 1887," Petherick's "Catalogue of York Gate Library," etc.)

not

the purpose of augmenting benefices sufficiently endowed, and an Act was passed giving effect to the message. The "firstfruits were one year's profit at first of vacant bishoprics, and afterwards of other benefices, levied from those who succeeded to them; and the "tenths" were an annual impost of a tenth upon the ratable value of all benefices. Originally levied by the Popes, the "tenths and "firstfruits" passed to the Crown at the Reformation; but as they were calculated, not upon the improved value of benefices, but upon a valuation made in the time of Henry VIII., they never produced a large sum, and now produce less than £15,000 a year. The fund formed by their appropriation to the augmentation of benefices is known as "Queen's Anne's Bounty." It has been employed in two ways. (1) In making loans to enable the parochial clergy to build or improve their residences or the buildings used in the cultivation of their glebes. These loans are repayable by small annual instalments out of the income of the benefices. The total of such loans outstanding in March 1886 was £1,051,000. (2) In the augmentation of the income of poor livings. In aid of this object Parliament granted to the Bounty in each of the eleven years from 1809 to 1820 a sum of £100,000. All augmentations by the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty are conditional upon an equal or larger sum being raised for the same purpose by private gift or contribution. Thus in the years from 1880 to 1885 the augmentations from Queen Anne's Bounty, amounting altogether to £135,800, were met by private gifts to the amount of £166,851.,

Queen's Advocate. See Advocate, Lord. Queen's Counsel. The first King's Counsel was appointed in 1604, and was Francis Bacon; in 1668, Francis North received a similar appointment. They have superseded to a great extent the older rank of serjeant-at-law (q.v.). Lord Eldon appointed several "batches," and his practice has been followed by succeeding Lord Chancellors. There are about 200 Q.C.s now-two batches having been made during 1886. Until 1845 newly-made Q.C.s were made benchers of their respective Inns on receiving their appointment.

The

Queensland. The most recently organised of the Australian colonies. Comprises the N.E. section of the continent, immediately N. of New South Wales. On the W. it is divided from South Australia by 141st meridian of E. long. from New South Wales boundary_to_26° S. lat., thence by 138th meridian to Gulf of Carpentaria. It is 1,300 miles N. to S., . and 800 miles E. to W., including 668,497 sq. miles of area. Population, 326,916. capital is Brisbane (pop. 31,268), situated on Moreton Bay, 500 miles N. from Sydney; and is a thriving city, rapidly increasing, and provided with various excellent institutions. Other leading towns are Cooktown, Gympie, Ipswich, Mackay, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Roma, Toowoomba, Townsville, Warwick, and Charters Towers, together with a number of rising municipalities and townships.-The colony is divided into 12 districts; a very small portion being subdivided into 37 counties. For other purposes there are 17 municipalities, 6 boroughs, 3 shires, and 88 divisions The districts are

Queen Anne's Bounty. In the year 1704 Queen Anne sent a message to Parliament declaring her wish to grant the "tenths" and "firstfruits to a corporation chartered for