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The student having passed this preparatory step, has next to perform the usual exercises required by the statutes for the degree which he has in view.

In the beginning of the month of January, one of the Proctors' servants goes round to every college in the University, (King's college excepted) and requires of the tutors a list of the students (denominated Sophs) who, in the subsequent January, intend to offer themselves candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The names being thus collected, are delivered to the Moderators.

Upon the second Monday in Lent term, the Moderator whose turn it is to preside, gives written notice to one of the students in his list to appear in the schools to keep an act on that day fortnight. The notice (delivered by a person styled the Moderators' man) is in the following form:

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This person, who is now called the Respondent or Act, waits upon the Moderator soon after with three propositions or questions, the truth of which he is to maintain against the objections of any three students of the same year, whom the Moderator (from the reports prefixed to the names in his book) shall think proper to nominate, and who on this occasion are called Opponents.

The questions proposed by the Respondent are written upon four separate papers according to a form of which the following is a specimen :

Q. S.

Recte statuit Newtonus in Septimâ sua sectione Libri primi.

Iridis primaria et secundariæ Phænomena solvi possunt ex principiis Opticis.

Recte statuit Lockius de Qualitatibus Corporum.

Coll.

-Resp. Martii 5, 18—

The first question is in general taken from the Principia of Newton, the second from some other writer on Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; the third is

called the moral question, and is generally taken from Locke, Paley, or Butler.

At the bottom of three of these papers, the Moderator writes the name of a student, whom he thinks capable of opposing the questions of the Respondent, with the words Opponentium, primus, secundus, or tertius, denoting the order in which the three opponents are to appear. One of these papers is sent to each opponent. When one Moderator has thus given out the exercises for a week, or five acts, (exercises being held for five days in a week during term,) the other proceeds according to the same method for the following week.

The fortnight of preparation being expired, the Respondent enters the Schools at one o'clock; the Moderator, attended by one of the Proctors' servants, appears at the same time, and, ascending the chair, says, "Ascendat Dominus Respondens.”

The Respondent mounts the rostrum, and reads a Latin dissertation called a thesis, upon any one of the three questions he thinks proper; generally upon the third or moral question. As soon as the Respondent has finished his thesis, the Moderator calls upon the first opponent to appear. ("Ascendat Opponentium primus." He immediately ascends a rostrum opposite to the Respondent, and opposes his arguments against the questions in syllogistic form.

Eight arguments, each consisting of three or four syllogisms, are brought by the first, five by the second, and three by the third opponent.

The opponent is dismissed by the Moderator with such a compliment as he deserves; and after the other two opponents have performed their parts, the exercise closes with the dismission of the Respondent in a similar manner.

The distinguished men of the year appear eight times in this manner in the Schools, twice as acts and six times as opponents; that is, twice in each character of opponent. One act and three opponencies are kept before the Commencement, and one act and three opponencies are kept during the October term.

SENATE-HOUSE EXAMINATION.

The Vice-Chancellor appoints the first Monday of Lent Term, and the four following days, for the examination of the Questionists, this being the appellation of the students during the last six weeks of the preparation. The Moderators having formed the Questionists into classes (the persons in each class being arranged alphabetically) according to their performance in the Schools; the first six are exhibited at Messrs. Deighton's shop on the Thursday preceding the examination day. On the Monday morning, a little before eight" o'clock, the students enter the Senate-House, preceded by a Master of Arts, who, on this occasion, is styled the Father of the college to which he belongs. The classes to be examined are called out, and proceed to their appointed tables. There are three principal tables, at which six examiners preside. At the first the Senior Moderator of the present year, and the Junior Moderator of the preceding year. At the second the Junior Moderator of the present, and the Senior Moderator of the preceding year. At the third the two Moderators of the year previous to the two last, or two examiners appointed by the Senate. While this examination is proceeding between the hours of eight and nine, printed Problems are delivered to each person of the first and second classes. On two pillars at the entrance of the Senate-house are hung the classes, and a paper denoting the hours of examination of those who are thought competent to contend for Honors, of which the following is a copy :

* Every Student who is not punctual at this and every hour appointed during the examination is subject to certain fines.

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CLASS PAPER OF THE HOURS OF EXAMINATION, 1827.

EXAMINATION ON THURSDAY.

The hours of attendance are the same this day as on the former. The examinations are confined solely to logic, moral philosophy, and subjects relating to natural and revealed religion, &c.

The examinations of this day conclude as usual at five o'clock; but the fatigue of the examiners is by no means diminished; for during the whole of this, as on the preceding nights, they have a multitude of papers to inspect, and to affix to each its degree of merit; according to which a new arrangement of the classes is made out, called the Brackets.

EXAMINATION ON FRIDAY.

On Friday the examinations are resumed. At eight o'clock the new classifications or brackets, which are arranged according to the order of merit, each containing the names of the candidates placed alphabetically, are hung upon the pillars. Thus in the examinations of the preceding days, should any have distinguished themselves above the rest, and be nearly equal, they are included in the same bracket. The next who prove nearly equal to each other, are included in the second bracket. The next who are found to be nearly on a level with one another, are included in the third bracket; and thus the whole number are bracketed. Each bracket is then called out for examination, and the situation of each individual is thus finally determined. At five o'clock the examinations are finished, when a select number, thirty at least, (Stat. Acad.) of those who have most distinguished themselves, are recommended to the Proctors for their approbation, and their names are set down according to merit, and classed in three divisions, viz. Wranglers, Senior Optimes, and Junior Optimes, which constitute the three orders of Honor. The seventh and eighth classes are also arranged according to merit.

Those who take the degree of Bachelor of Arts at any other time than this, are arranged alphabetically in classes according to their supposed acquirements, either

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