Collège de France

Collège de France, originally a Collège de Trois Langues merely, founded by Francis I. in 1530, is now a very important educational institution giving instruction over a very wide field of literature, history, and science. It is independent of the University of France (q.v.), is directly under the Minister of Public Instruction, and is supported by the government. As in the Sorbonne (q.v.), the lectures are gratuitous; and for the most part are designed to attract auditors older than ordinary university students. The college comprises two faculties, one literary, one scientific; and each has about twenty professors. Amongst the professors have been some of the most distinguished scholars and scientists in France, such as M. Renan, M. Laboulaye, M. Gaston de Paris, in the literary department; and M. Brown-Séquard in the science division. Amongst the subjects discussed are political economy, Assyrian and Egyptian archaeology, Arabic, Slavonic literature, French literature; physiology, anatomy, and embryology.