The Express.
London, England, 1859-10-26 00:00:00

01701 D UNIVERSITY BIDDLE-CLAW

EXAMINATION.

The distribution of the title of Associate of Arta,
and the certificates te the junior candidate. who had success•
fully passed the recent examination of the above university
at Birmingham, took place yesterday (Tuesday), in the
Theatre of the Midland Institute. The Rey. Dr. Terri.;
lived Master of Ruby School, presided. The Right Hon.
C. B. Adderley, M.P., Rev. Dr. Miller, Rev. R. H. Gifford,
sad the Rev. Dr. Bedroll were also present. Ice the course
of his Welter, Dr. Temple said he had recently hid the
opportunity of ;ccespariag the results of the examinstione of
thu and the previous year, and he ford that though the
number was not so great the work done was decidedly better
than in the previous year, particularly in the preli-
minary examination. On the whole, the work was
very fairly done, and in no instance was there
I say aeoreity for lowering the standard of the
first ekes. The avenge work in most of the tires
was rather higher than last year, except in mathematics.
Far each fiectarione they must be prepared. There would
be cue year • pretty good show, and the other would net be
so geed. The object of the university In conferring the
title of Associate of Arts upon the moire was, at it were, to
bold eat the right head of fellowship to all who showed they
appreciated the value of leering. To all ouch, however
educated, or from whatever err of society they might
spring, if they showed they were in possession of sound,
solid attainments, the University a Oxford held out the
right-hand of fellowship to acknowledge them as
brethren In the great republic of learning. Younger
brethren had yet • great deal more to learn if they
wished to rank higher in that great republic. The ob.
jact of the examination wee to 'ordain it the attainments
of the candidates were thoroughly reel, and to discourage
anything like superficial study. It might happen thet some
of those who pared the examinatino might afterwards fall
off is coneugmenc• of not making use of the powers they
possessed, end such might thus bring some small disgrace
upon the tide they beer, but the Uni rer.ity of Oxford believed
that tree who had r far does well would weir in unfurl-
I leg the title they had received, and in showing that the edu-
cation they hod received had 'IA been thrown away. Dr.
Temple afterwards presented the prizes and certificates to the
succeseful pupils. Of the number receiving the A.A. de-
gree the larger portion fell to the Proprietary School at Bir-
mingham, conducted by Dr. &drum.

On Saturday evening, Mr. Adam Blaek, M.P.,
delivered a lecture on " Wages, Trade.' Unions, and Strikes,"
in Danedia-ball. Edinburgh. The hall was crowded in every
pot, upwards of 2,000 persona being present. Among the
gentlemen who accompanied Mr. Black to the platform were
the Right Hon. Sir John Melville. the Lord Provoet.

DRINKING FOUNTSINS.--It baying been dorm.
miced to pleat a drinking fountain in a tunable locality at
Chelsea, the math-wee& eagle of the north-west entrotre of
Sioeoe•aquerelha been eh...en as the roost eppropriate ate
for the proposed erection, which will be immediately com-
menced. The mural fountain. at the Britoil Museum are
now completed. The MMus are sculptured from biotite of
grey marble Nominating 'bolls, end stream. of water mue
from the mouths of lions carved in hemo-rellem, firming a
highly ornamental object on either side of the principal 'n•
Mona ander the portico. . .

TAXATION AND POTDLATION.—It may be into.
Natio, to eats the proportiou which OSIiOIIII expenditure
beats to population its mine of the European states. 1. 1866
the estimated population of the Austria", empire was returned
at 39,411,309, aud the public expenditure wee 40,268,6184
or an average of 11. Os. Id p.r heed. la 1867 the estimated
population of Spain was 16,301,831, .ad the public expeadi-
tore was 18,0113,0011., or an average at IL 2.. Id. per head.
1. 1854 the population of Portugal was 3,499,121, said the
public expenditure wee 2,766,2924 or as average of 164. per
head. The population Blniseriand to 1867 was estimated
at 2,500,000, and the public expenditure was 808.2401, or
about 6.. per head. The population et Greece is 1864 was
1,013.163. and in 1858 the public expenditure was estimated
at 640,9411., or about 12s. per head.