Excerpt from The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, Vol. 13: New and United Series of the Philosophical Magazine, Annals of Philosophy, and Journal of Science; July December, 1838

It has long been a subject of regret that no institution existed in England in which young men might receive an education which should peculiarly fit them for the higher branches of the profession of a Civil Engineer. That profession is comparatively of recent origin. It has been formed by the exigencies of the times, and has had to struggle with great disadvantages. The names of Smeaton, Brindley, and others recall to our minds the difficulties which those men of masterly abilities had to encounter, in order to devise the means and create the instruments necessary to accomplish the purposes which their genius conceived. A portion of this difficulty still subsists; while the attainments necessary to enable the engineer to meet the emergencies which he has to encounter, have continually become more varied and extensive.

The construction of canals, harbours and railroads, the successful application of steam to the purposes of navigation and of locomotive engines on land, the increased activity in opening out the treasures of coal and other minerals, in situations hitherto deemed inaccessible, have combined to offer a field of almost boundless extent for the exercise of talent of the highest order. In the meanwhile the profession of civil engineer has risen in the scale of national importance, in consequence of the immense capital employed under his direction.

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