and substituting Algebra for Logic. To this Messrs. Walker and Stanley would add one Gospel, and Mr. Hussey a knowledge of the contents of the books produced as distinct from a mere grammatical exercise. All too would seem to wish the Examination to be placed earlier in the University career. Why not in any term before the fifth? so that to some, as Mr. Walker suggests, it might serve as a trial of their fitness for the University, and might be often undergone before residence begins. Further Mr. Hussey would have a class of "Candidati Insigniores" who should take up Herodotus in addition to the four Greek Plays required of all. We will state this part of the Professor's plan in his own words:

"Viewing the whole from the point of sight taken above, viz. that it is intended to accomplish the same results as at present, but with greater ease by means of a division, it seems naturally to follow, that we should also make a similar division in the awarding of honours ; that is to say, that the first and second Examinations should, if possible, be made to assist in the trial, and final distribution of distinctions. The Pamphlet, Suggestions,' recommends a Class List,' &c. at the second Examination, in the same manner as is done now at the final Examination. This seems to be too much: the plan suggested there in fact amounts to giving the Degree of B.A. with Honours in the second Examination, and then adding a year of residence to attend Lectures.

"The first Examination, or the present Responsions, has been generally thought below the rank for awarding honours. I think so too: but I think that both might be made useful for honourable distinction eventually, by a graduated scale of Examination, in this way :

"That no one should be admitted to be a candidate for high honours at the third Examination, who had not produced a certain quantity of attainments at the second Examination.

"That no one should be admitted to be a candidate for anything above the average (pass) at the second Examination, who had not risen above a certain line of distinction drawn in the first Examination.

"To carry this out, it would be necessary to make the distinction in the first Examination, by admitting those who wished to proceed onwards to honours, to add something to the subjects required as the minimum. These would be such authors as the more advanced and industrious men would commonly read in the first year and no more honour need be awarded to them than the publishing their names as having passed in the higher division, as future candidates for honours, if they desire to proceed.

"For the second Examination it would be necessary to admit (in the same way) additional subjects: and these should be such as form part of the sterling qualifications for honours, and are commonly produced now at the Examination; and such as by being detached from the third Examination would most lighten the great labour of that Exumination, and at the same time most fitly prepare the way for other things to be the subjects of the third Examination As, for instance, Logic, Rhetoric, and Poetics, which would lead on to Metaphysics, Ethics, and Politics, in

the third Examination; many of the historians, extensive reading in the Poets; Philology. But here, again, I think there is no necessity for a Class List: one class of Candidati Insigniores would be distinct enough for all who now, for the second time, gained admission into the number of those who were working on to honours.

“A plan of this kind would, I think, have many good effects.

"It would relieve both Examiners and Examinees, and shorten the final Examination, by getting over a good part of the subject-matter a year beforehand.

"It would facilitate the preparation: because the candidates would have their work divided into two courses.

"It would ensure a necessity of continued exertion and industry in the candidates for any honours, and prevent idleness for a year or more, in the hope of making up for it afterwards. And thus it would go far to introduce the habit (if not the motive) of attending to what is required in every examination, instead of seeking only eclat at the last.

"It would diminish the excessive and unhealthy intensity with which the minds of the young men are often fixed on the Examination at present, by dissipating some of the interest felt in it, and turning attention in due degree on other parts of the University system; and yet without lowering either the standard of merit, (but possibly raising it,) or lessening the real value of the distinction to be gained.

"It might also operate beneficially (in various ways) on some who would be glad of an honour so respectable as that of the Candidati Insigniores of the second Examination, but yet did not desire to go on to try for a high place in the Class List at last. For all persons who have had experience in tuition, know that many meritorious and valuable men are discouraged in the present system, because it seems to give no place to them, except as unsuccessful competitors for the highest honours, for which they were never fit; and at the same time a lower course of preparation would have done them more good, had any such been open to them with credit."

This long extract, which however could not conveniently have been curtailed, carries us far into the proposed second Examination. We will first however make a few remarks upon the principles here laid down by Professor Hussey, pointing out, as we go on, some of the extravagant and mischievous proposals which they were designed tacitly to overthrow. In the "Suggestions" it was recommended by Mr. Stanley-there can be no want of delicacy in naming Mr. Stanley as their author-to have a Class List at the second Examination, and to leave the third year to be employed, according to the tastes of the different individuals, in the study of Theology, or Moral Philosophy, or History, or the Natural Sciences. In other words, the third year would, as far as the

It would be a vain attempt to refer to all the blunders of this very inconsiderate writer. It may be enough to remark, that he proposes a School of Theology, from which Theology, as a science, is excluded, and a School of Natural Sciences, which as Dr. Daubeny has justly pointed out, is constructed in entire ignorance of all scientific principles.

majority is concerned, be surrendered to idleness; or at all events the mental training of the University course would be reduced from three years to two, and in lieu of the year lost there would be substituted a brief course of instruction for the several professions of life.* "It would be found that the great majority of Undergraduates being intended for the Clerical profession would be induced to select the Theological School in preference to either of the other two (for the third Examination), simply for the sake of saving themselves labour, as the knowledge which enabled them to pass through the former is of a nature to be available at their subsequent Examination for orders, while that required in the other schools would not equally serve that purpose."+ Moreover it would be conferring no honour on Theology, instead of making it, as at present, a necessary qualification to all candidates for the B.A. degree, to constitute it a branch of study on the same terms that men may choose to study Chemistry, or History, or Political economy.

There is reason to fear also that the author of the "Suggestions" is not to be acquitted of an attempt under the guise of advocating theological study, to introduce that study under its new German character, which makes the Sacred Scriptures a "corpus vile" to be experimented upon by every novice with a view of extracting some new theory, or proposing some possible, unheard of construction. We ask with all sincerity, can any one believe that a habit of regarding the text of the Bible in a spirit of criticism is a thing to be desired for our young men? Is not rather what they want a knowledge of the plain positive truths of their religion as conveyed in the Catechism, and embodied in the Prayer Book; and, as a mere intellectual exercise, would not the reading such a work as Pearson on the Creed, be beyond comparison more useful than the knowledge of all the various readings in the Bible, or of all conceivable theories about its plenary or partial inspiration?

We will now give the scheme of the three Examinations as drawn out by Mr. Hussey, and will then offer a few remarks on each of them.

* Mr. Haddon, in the name of the Bar, protests against the University pretending to give professional education.

+ Daubeny, p. 12.

At

In respect to the first Examination it remains only to notice the proposal to require Euclid and Algebra, whereas at present the option is allowed between Euclid and Logic. In Mr. Hussey's scheme it will be observed Logic is also required at the second Examination. In this recommendation we most heartily concur. the first perhaps it will be found a little difficult occasionally to drive Euclid and Algebra into heads that have been unacquainted with such subjects to eighteen or nineteen years of age; but there will be no difficulty at all, when it is made--as the regulation to require it at the first University Examination would at once effectan integral part of an ordinary school education. In the same manner we should desire to see Logic insisted upon for the second year. It is quite ridiculous to allow the same books and subjects to be produced at two consecutive Examinations. In addition to the "four Gospels," we should much wish to see a knowledge of the Book of Common Prayer, or else the Acts of the Holy Apostles, doctrinally explained, required at the second year's Examination. The subjects proposed for the last Examination open questions that will of course be most liable to controversy.

With regard to "Theology" Mr. Hussey does not enter into details, but we may be sure that he uses the term in its ordinary

Amongst the number we certainly do not include the omission of the German language, and such subjects as Political Economy and Constitutional Law, which were advocated by Mr. Stanley. To state such a Suggestion" is to confute it.

accepted sense, not as a mere science of criticism. His Theology, it may be presumed, would be dogmatic and historical, drawn from the earliest and purest sources, and founded upon the study of recognized text books, as Pearson, Butler, Hooker; Eusebius, the Apostolical and early Fathers. And here we must mention a proposition which forms the conclusion of the Professor's Pamphlet, and which we think well worthy of consideration. Mr. Hussey proposes that, whereas at present, men are not permitted to attend the Lectures of the various Professors of Theology, until they have passed the Examination for the degree of B.A., they should in the event of three Examinations being established, be allowed to become "Scholares in Sanctâ Theologiâ," at the end of their second year, not, as in Mr. Stanley's Suggestions, exclusively or to the neglect of other studies, but simply in order to their attaining greater proficiency in that one among the whole subjects of Examinations; just as, we presume, in "Natural Science" they would attend the Lectures of the various Professors and Readers in that department. And then, after the third Examination, they would be permitted also to undergo the Theological Examination. At present this Examination can only be passed four terms later in the academical course: the result of which has been-not altogether, we fear, irrespectively of the character and opinions of certain of the Professors, and above all of the Examiners appointed by the (late) Vice-Chancellor-that not more than about one candidate a year has presented himself for examination. It is the opinion of Mr. Hussey that this change might "afford a beneficial diversion of interest to a highly respectable class of men, who might obtain a place in the list of the distinguished in the second Examination, without a chance of a place high enough in the Class List eventually to compensate for the trouble of undergoing the final trial."

We pass on to the proposal to add an entirely new branch of study to the subjects which are now required by Statute of Candidates for Degrees at Oxford-the study of "Natural Science." By this term we do not mean a smattering of information such as Mr. Stanley advocates, "about the habits of the birds of the air and beasts of the field”—even though it were more accurate than what the Bishop of Norwich has written on the former subject-nor do we mean that jumble of unscientifically arranged Sciences, which Professors Daubeny and Walker have so well exposed; but we will state the case in the words of a wiser and more temperate advocate.

Many persons say that we ought to give more encouragement to the physical sciences than we do. What do they mean? They mean

* The "Suggestions" propose significantly for Pass-men at the third Examination the History of the Reformation, but not of any earlier period of the Church.