The conditions of admission to the examination for the degree of Bachelor of Science are simply, sixteen years of age, and the payment of fees amounting to about 200 fr. (10_l._) Examinations are held three times a year by the Faculties at Paris, Besançon, Bordeaux, Caen, Clermont, Dijon, Grenoble, Lille, Lyons, Marseilles, Montpellier, Nancy, Poitiers, Rennes, Strasburg, and Toulouse, and once a year at Ajaccio, Algiers, and nineteen other towns. There is a written examination of six hours, and a viva voce examination of an hour and a quarter. It is, of course, only a _pass_ examination, and is said to be much less difficult than the competitive examination for admission to St. Cyr.--_Report of English Commissioners_, 1856. THE POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL OF FRANCE. CONTENTS. PAGE. POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL AT PARIS, 11 SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION AS PRESCRIBED FOR ADMISSION IN 1850, 13 PREPARATORY COURSE IN THE LYCEES, 49 HISTORY, MANAGEMENT, CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION, COURSE OF STUDY, EXAMINATIONAL SYSTEM, AND RESULTS, 55 I. FOUNDATION AND HISTORY, 55 Out growth of the Necessities of the Public Service in 1794, 56 High Scientific Ability of its first Teachers, 58 Peculiar Method of Scientific Teaching, 59 Characteristic features of the _Répétitorial_ System, 59 The _Casernement_, or Barrack Residence of the Pupils, 60 Permanent Organization in 1809, 60 Commission of 1850, 62 II. OUTLINE OF THE PLAN, OBJECTS, AND MANAGEMENT, 63 Public Services provided for in its General Scientific Course, 63 Admission by Competition in an Open Examination, 63 Annual Charge for Board and Instruction, 64 Exhibitions, (or _bourses, demi-bourses_,) and Outfits (_trousseaux_,) 64 Length of Course of Study, 64 Number of Professors and Teachers, besides its Military Staff, 64 Military Establishment, 65 Civil Establishment, 65 General Control and Supervision, 65 1. Board of Administration, 65 2. Board of Discipline, 65 3.