FINAL EXAMINATION.

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"Schools," one being necessarily the School of "Literæ Humaniores." These two Examinations, however, need not take place in the same Term. In every one of these Schools Candidates of superior attainments are to receive Honours. They will be distributed, according to their merit, into four Classes. The names are to be placed, in each Class, in alphabetical order. The Examinations may be passed as early as the thirteenth term, and Honours may be obtained as late as the eighteenth; that is, as early as the beginning of the fourth, and as late as the middle of the fifth year from matriculation.

(1.) The First School is that of "Litera Humaniores," through which every Student must pass.

Subjects for Candidates for Common Degrees :

THEOLOGY-The Four Gospels, and Acts of the Apostles, in
Greek.

The contents, historical and doctrinal, of the Books of the Old
and New Testament.

The XXXIX. Articles, with proofs from Scripture.

The Evidences of Religion.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE-One Ancient Philosophical writer, wholly or in part, e. g.

Cicero's Offices, or six Books of Aristotle's Ethics.

One Ancient Historian, wholly or in part, e. g., five Books of
Livy.

Subjects for Candidates for Honours :—

THEOLOGY-as above. Candidates are also permitted to offer one or more of the Apostolical Epistles, or some portion of Ecclesiastical History.

LOGIC.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.

Aristotle's Ethics.

Politics.

The Republic, or some other portion of the Works of Plato.
Butler's Analogy; or,

Butler's Sermons.

ANCIENT HISTORY-Livy, ten Books.

Polybius, one Book.

Tacitus, Histories or Annals.

Herodotus.

Thucydides.

Xenophon, Hellenics in part.

RHETORIC-Aristotle's Rhetoric, or some of Cicero's Rhetorical

Works.

T

Questions will be proposed in the subject-matter of the Books, and Compositions required in Greek, Latin, and English. The list of Books may be greatly extended if the Candidate shall think fit, or diminished if he shall aim only at a lower honour.

(2.) The Second School-Mathematics, and Physical Science treated mathematically.

For common Degrees:-Six Books of Euclid, or the first part of
Algebra.

For Honours:-Mixed as well as Pure Mathematics.

(3.) The Third School-Natural Science.

For common Degrees :-An acquaintance with the principles of
Chemistry, Mechanical Philosophy, and Physiology, or two of
these Sciences, together with some branch of Science dependent
on Mechanical Philosophy.

For Honours: An acquaintance with the principles of all the
Three branches of Natural Science above mentioned; together
with some branch of Physics dependent on any one of these
Three.

(4.) The Fourth School-Law and Modern History.

For common Degrees :-English History, from the Conquest to the end of the reign of Henry VII., together with that part of Blackstone which treats of the law of Real Property; or English History from the death of Henry VII. to the accession of the House of Brunswick, together with that part of Blackstone which treats of the rights of Persons and the law of Personal Property. Justinian's Institutes may be substituted for Blackstone. The most approved edition of Blackstone to be used. For Honours :-Candidates must take up what is required, as above mentioned, for a common Degree. History, from the Birth of Christ to the year 1789; Jurisprudence, and especially the Laws of England; the Law of Nations; Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.

The changes effected by the new Statute meet the suggestions offered in many parts of the Evidence laid before us, and obviate many of the defects of the system hitherto in force. The licence to idleness is curtailed, the subjects of study are increased in number, and a wider range of choice is given. The intermediate Examination provides for a free study of classical literature, for the restoration to

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their proper place of the great orators and poets of antiquity, and for the cultivation of taste. Many principles of the highest importance are formally recognised, if not fully developed, in the Statute.

But we must observe that the recent changes, although anxiously desired by a large proportion of those engaged in the work of Education, were yet, in the first instance, rejected by the Heads of Houses; and, after they had received the approval of that body, met with great opposition in Convocation, partly, no doubt, from the aversion of a large number of its members to any changes; but partly from the necessity of removing defects in the measure, which compelled many of its supporters to vote in the negative, inasmuch as they had no power to move amendments.

It cannot then be a matter of surprise that a measure thus carried should contain imperfections and anomalies. And, although reluctant to criticise a scheme of which we appreciate the value, we feel it to be our duty to indicate some points in which the University, proceeding in the course on which it has so auspiciously entered, might, in our opinion, make further improvement.

Proposal to establish a Matriculation Examination.

I. It appears to us that it would be very beneficial to establish a uniform Examination for all young men before. they are admitted as Members of the University.

The recent Statute has made an approach towards this great improvement, though it has shrunk from carrying it out. The Responsions, or First University Examination, which formerly was to be passed between the sixth and the ninth terms of standing (inclusively), must now be passed between the third and seventh.

The advantage of an Examination before Matriculation may be at once inferred from the fact that the best Colleges. have already adopted it for themselves. These Colleges

require some facility in Latin writing, and a fair acquaintance with the grammatical principles of Greek and Latin. To this is now generally added Arithmetic and a portion of the Elements of Euclid. Several Colleges also require some knowledge of the Elements of Religion.

This ordeal, however, varies greatly in the different Colleges in which it is applied, and perhaps in the same College at different times. It is well known that a youth who is rejected at one of the better Colleges can gain admission elsewhere, the scale of requirement descending in proportion to the character of the College. From Gentleman-Commoners and Noblemen, and from Members of Halls, such an Examination is usually not required at all.

The introduction of this test has proved a great benefit to the Colleges in which it has been systematically applied; but the extreme facility with which young men are admitted in many Societies prevents the University at large from reaping the benefits which now accrue to particular Colleges.

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One or two gentlemen, in their evidence, oppose any such Examination, on the ground that Students come to the University as learners, and therefore "ignorance rather than "knowledge must be presumed on the part of those who come to be taught." No doubt Students come as learners, but not as learners of everything; and it is precisely to secure learners capable of receiving the instruction proper to their age that an Examination at Matriculation is required. The advantages of such an Examination, especially when considered in connexion with the extended studies of the University, are set forth by a great number of those who have laid evidence before us.

The arguments of Archbishop Whately appear to us very cogent. "As far as regards University Reform," says the Archbishop, "I have long been convinced that the very

Evidence of Dr. Twiss, p. 156. Compare that of Mr. Congreve,

p. 153.

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"first step should be a University Examination, preliminary "to Matriculation.*

"If everything else be put on the best possible footing, "and that one point be omitted, you will have a plan which "will look well on paper, but will never work satisfactorily.

"If, on the other hand, this one reform were introduced "and no other at present, it would be easy afterwards to "introduce indefinite improvements: indeed, some would "even grow up from it spontaneously.

"A Head of a House may accept or refuse an applica"tion for admission into his House. This is quite fair. "But if a man is to be a Member of the University, the University ought also to have a voice as to his fitness for "admission.

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"I have been told that a man is examined by the College-Tutors prior to admission. Sometimes he is, and "sometimes not; and when he is, how can the University "know or judge of the sufficiency of the Examination?

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"The fact is notorious, that men do obtain admission (at one College, if refused by another), who are quite unprepared to profit by what ought to be an Academical "Education. .

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"Fresh and fresh Examinations have been introduced "for various periods of the Academical Course; but all "must in a great measure fail without the preliminary one. "It would be no substitute, were you even to have a Public "Examination for the very first Term. The only way "is to subject a man to Examination prior to his entrance. "The evils of this want are:-1st. That either the gene"ral character of the College Lectures is lowered by being

* Evidence, p. 23. Compare the evidence of Prof. Browne, p. 6; Prof. Daubeny, p. 15; Prof. Walker, p. 22; Mr. Jowett, p. 39; Prof. Ogle, p. 41; Mr. Melville, p. 54; Mr. Bart. Price, p. 65; Mr. Wilkinson, p. 77; Prof. Vaughan, p. 84; Mr. W. H. Cox, p. 95; Prof. Donkin, p. 107; Sir C. Lyell, p. 121; Mr. Freeman, p. 136; Sir E. Head, p. 160; Mr. Litton, p. 177; Mr. Maskelyne, p. 186; Mr. Bon. Price, p. 192; Mr. Henney, p. 211; Bp. of Ripon, p. 213.