THE AMERICAN SCHOOL AT ATHENS.

In a previous number of the Aion, one of last year, if we are not mistaken, we announced that a society in America had undertaken the establishment at Athens of an American school similar to the French and German schools already existing in our city. We are happy to announce that statement has been realized, and that a third school of archaeology (that of the Americans) has already begun its work in Athens. The personnel of the school embraces the director, Mr. William Goodwin, and four regular pupils sent out by the colleges and universities co-operating in the support of the institution.... In addition to those already present others are expected, and with them the well-known Hellenist, Mr. Felton. All the members of the American school have already acquired an extensive knowledge of ancient Greek. The director of the school, a man fifty years of age, is the leading Hellenist in America and England, a professor in Harvard University at Cambridge, translator of the Morals of Plutarch, author of a Greek grammar, of a most excellent work on the Syntax of the Greek Moods and Tenses, and of many other philological treatises.... The school, for the present, until it shall have erected its own building, has rented a newly repaired house near Hadrian's Gate and the Pillars of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. We heartily welcome the coming of this new school of the Americans, and sincerely hope that the results of its work will be worthy of the great expectations which it has aroused, and of the high scholarship of its members. The young researchers from America may rest assured that they will have that hearty welcome from the Greeks which all those have received who have come from the prosperous communities of the New World to the cradle of political freedom, the lessons of which they have so admirably comprehended and enforced." - [From the Aion, (Athens, Greece).

The above will be of interest to all who have watched the foundation and progress of this school, so largely the portege of Harvard. At the recent meeting of the committee of the school in New York (Prof. J. W. White, chairman), the following facts were reported : "The six pupils now in the school comprise two who hold the degree of A. B. from Harvard, one graduate of the University of Vermont, and another from the same college who is a candidate for the degree of Ph. D. at Harvard, one from the University of Virginia and one from Wesleyan. Other American students in Athens, who are not regular members of the school, are studying temporarily under its auspices. It appeared that at least three pupils, in addition to those now in Greece, are preparing to join the school next year.

The chairman reported the expenditure of $1000 for the library of the school, which had been procured and was now in use in the large salon of Professor Goodwin's house. The committee authorized the appropriation of $750 for the annual rent, $750 for furniture, and a sufficient sum to pay for the services of a permanent servant. The committee which now has the pledged support for ten years of nine different universities and colleges, guarantees the payment in subsequent years of the rent and pay of the servant and the cost of additions within given limits to the library and furniture.

A sub-committee was appointed to report at the next meeting of the committee to be held in Boston on the third Friday in May, a scheme for the publication of a yearly bulletin, which shall contain the theses of students and other results of the work of the school.

Professor Packard of Yale accepted the directorship of the school for the academic year 1883-84. Professor Tyler of Amherst and Professor Van Benschoten of Wesleyan University were added to the committee, making the total number fourteen. The chairman reported that he had received favorable letters from Dartmouth and the University of Virginia, and had reason to expect equally encouraging replies from Cornell, Union and the University of California, by whose acquisition a total sum of $3500 would be pledged for the annual expenses of the school for ten successive years. It was also reported that the good offices of the United States government had been obtained, and that the director would be made an attache of the bureau of education. While this is merely an honorary appointment, without any accompanying salary, it is, nevertheless, a great aid, as it places the American school on an equal footing with the French and German schools in Athens, which are governmental institutions. It will also give the director the entree to many places from which he might otherwise be debarred. The prospects of the school seem very encouraging."