| | PAGE |
| Introduction | [1] |
| Importance of provincial centres | [2] |
| Report of the Midland Institute | [4] |
| Success of the French classes | [5] |
| Less success of English history | [6] |
| Value of a short comprehensive course | [8] |
| Dr. Arnold's saying about history 'traced backwards' | [9] |
| Value of a short course of general history | [10] |
| Value of a sound notion of Evidence | [16] |
| Text-books of scientific logic not adequate for popular objects | [21] |
| A new instrument suggested | [21] |
| An incidental advantage of it | [23] |
| General knowledge not necessarily superficial | [25] |
| Popular culture and academic organisation | [25] |
| Some of the great commonplaces of study | [29] |
| Conclusion | [34] |