22 FEBRUARY 1868, Page 3

A subscription for a true College for women,—in the Oxford

sense,—an institution in the country where young women should be resident during the whole of the academical (half the actual) year, has becu begun by a magnificent donation of 1,0001. by Mrs. Bodichon, followed by many subscriptions of 1001. each from various ladies and gentlemen who are anxious to set on foot an educational institution for women, beginning from a higher basis of academical learning than those now chiefly known as Ladies' Colleges have been able to insist upon. Moreover, local residence is to be a condition sine gad non. The institution itself to be in the country,—a healthy situation, somewhere between London and Cambridge, has been proposed. "The resident authorities will be women, but the various classes will be taught by either men or women, as may in each case be found expedient," the only principle being to secure the very best attainable teacher in each subject. The buildings, with accommodation for 100 students, are estimated to cost 30,0001., and it is intended that the College course, in- cluding board and lodging, shall not cost more than 801. a year for each student. The plan seems to us thoroughly good, and in every way worthy of public help. The Council, which includes the Bishop of St. David's, Lady Churchill, the Dean of Ely, Lady Eastlake, Mr. Llewellyn Davies, Dr. Gull, Mr. Gorst, M.P., Mr. Russell Gurney, M.P. (the Recorder of London), Mr. Paget, Miss Swanwick, Miss Dora Greenwell, Miss Emily Taylor, and other eminent persons, will carry great weight, and the Executive Com- mittee quite as much. The Honorary Secretary, Miss Davies, 17 Cunningham Place, N.W., will receive subscriptions. We under- stand that the true collegiate idea will be honestly carried out as regards separate sets of rooms for each student. Girls need nothing so much for true culture as emancipation from the gossipy and effeminate friendships of forced boarding-school intimacies.