Side
by side with these scholars will be educated a group of paying
pupils, who think that music is an art which, if worth studying
at all, is worth studying well. They are, then, prepared to
enter on a systematic course of instruction, of less severity
and continuance than that of the scholars, but still far removed
from the musical dilettantism of those who, induced by fashion,
not by taste, to study music, make progress enough to torment
themselves and distract their friends.

"I lay great store by the meeting of the various classes of
society in pursuit of a common yet elevating study. Such a union
softens asperities, inspires kindly feeling between various
classes, and proves that all mankind are akin when engaged in an
art which gives the highest expression to some of the best and
purest feelings of the human heart.

"The observations I have hitherto made relate only to the Royal
College of Music in its character of a teaching body. It is not
proposed, however, that the functions of the College should be
restricted to teaching. The charter under which we are
incorporated provides that the council are to cause examinations
to be held of pupils of the College, and of other persons who
may present themselves for examination, and after examination to
confer on those who deserve such distinctions the degrees of
Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Music,
certificates of proficiency, and other rewards. I propose that
this power should be exercised by an independent board of
examiners chosen by the Royal College in conjunction with the
Universities, and after consultation with the great musical
authorities of the United Kingdom. I trust thus to secure an
examining body whose impartiality will be above suspicion and
capacity beyond all question. I hope thus, through the
instrumentality of the Royal College, to raise the standard of
music throughout the United Kingdom and to create a central
influence which may be beneficially exercised over all
music-teaching bodies who recognise the advantage of a common
system of examination.

"Beyond and above all this I trust, as I stated on a previous
occasion, that the College will become the recognised centre and
head of the musical world in this country. It has been a
reproach to England that, with her vast re