The Express.
London, England, 1858-07-29 00:00:00

TILE LATE OXFORD MIDDLE CLASS

EX.dMINATIONS.

Several curious and unexpected results appear in
the stationed of the examination. It is remarkable that Ox-
ford had the largest saber of candidates (133) after Lon-
don. This arose, not nom Its being sought by schools in the
neighbourhood, but frets its attracting persons from all
quarters, and often from the greatest distance.. Tho Oxford
candidates came from South Wale., from Newcastle-on-
Tyne, from Dover, from the late of Wight, from Bury fit.
Edmunds, and from other much remote looslides.
The number of cendidates at the Dither °entres we. nearly
in proportion to population. Manchester furnished 126;
Leeds, 108 ; Liverpool, 98; Birmingham, 94 ; Exeter, 76;
Cheltenham and Bads 74 each; Southampton, 47; and
Bedford, 36. It is curious, however, to remark the inclina-
tion and disinclination shown towards certain subject, in cer-
tain places. Classics appeared to flourish most 'al/seer and
Cheltenham, when nearly six4evonths of the boys took
up Latin ; least in Manchester and Southampton, where
it we. presorted by less than one-MIL Chanlatry
showed itself the practical antithesis to clunks, being pre-
sented at Southampton by two boys in every five, and at
Manchester by two in every seem; while at Cheltenham it
wee only given In by one boy In every eight, and at Exeter it
disappeared altogether. The floe arts suffered a divorce,
drawing flourishing most in Birmingham, where there I. an
excelled school of demise ; and music in Exeter, where the
cathedral service is so well conducted. English, foreign
language., and mathematics exhibited no
_very remarkable
Vaal Wale ; but, strangely enough, while at Bath above one-
third, and at Liverpool nearly one-fourth, of the senior can-
didates presented political economy, it wee quite ignored at
Manchester and Southampton. Natural philosophy stood in
a nearly similar position, being presented by a tingle
candidate only at Southampton, and by two at Manchester ;
while at Exeter and Liverpool it wee taken up by one oan-
didate in four.

ip;efFils;l interest attaches to the statistic" of the religious
examination. It was feared at one time that its optional
character would cause It to bo very generally declined by
parents, especially u it wee not to count in any way to-
wards honours, or even towards • pass. The event has en-
tirely falsified this expectation. Of the 1,226 candidates,
818, or more than two-thirds, accepted the examination in
the "Rudiments of Faith and Religion." Very few church-
men can have declined the examination, end no smell nim-
ble of disputers must have accepted it. We should be glad
if the details could be so arranged that churchmen might be
under no temptation to decline, and that dissenters generally
might be induced to accept. The whole question will .
come anew before the delegate; with the fresh light=
has been throws upon It by the feeta of the examination end
thou=entaficoo of than store especially interested.—

DORSET CENTRAL RAILWAT.—The half-yearly
meeting of this company was held at Wimbetne onTuseday;
Mr. Seymour, M.P., chairmen of the board, presiding. The
report stated the agreements had been concluded for the
purchase of the whole of the land required for the line be-
tween Wimborne and Blandford, except In three cone, fa
which the trestles would probably be concluded In a few
days. The toted cost of the line to Blaadford la estimated at
128,0001. Of this sum there is a deficiency at present of
31,3601. Of this the contractor have proposed to take up
the sem of 10,0001., prevkled the remainder is subscribed foe
in a short time. They will also undertake to complete the
line next spring. The excess of payments over receipts up
to June 30 is 8,1401. 7s. 44., whfoh the directors have ob-
tained as a loan oa their personal security. The directors
for the present propose to devote their attention to the
completion of the first section of the line between Wimborate
and Blandford.

FATAL FIGHT.—The Cumberland Packet stem
that two young men, aged 21 and 24 years, ironfoundere at
Parton, quarrelled and fought on Saturday last, and that one
of them is not expected to recover. The circumstances out of
which the fight arose may be briefly described se follows :
0a the afternoon of fiatnrday there was a race between two
hosts or the coast at Parton, and one of the craft was
favoured by Wilkinson, a proceeding which occasioned mores
little jealousy or contention between tho friends and partisans
of the owners, as this boat proved the winner. In the even-
ing Wilkimoo, Trnheer and his father and several frier,-1'f'
,sleet to the Sun Inn, kept by Mr. John Wilson, antit;
was bra (bat the partite got into tlentelehM hot contention
reepeotisg the boat race of the afternoon, the merits of the
respective boats being pretty freely cmvaseed. They re-
mained in the house, however. until dosing time, no serious
outbreak occurring , and on leaving this place at midnight,
Wilkinson and tha elder Trobear quarrelled. A sat-to
between bees persona was Imminent, until the pair,
Trokwar, taking the part of hia father, interbred, an ex-
claimed. "Now, Judi, if It's lighting thou went., light ma,
and not my father." • fight took place, and after threes:
four round. Wilkinson wee unable to rime. It was found
that his spine wee severely injured. Both men had bursa
go d characters., and Troll's?, on hearing of the probable 4te
oClus antagonist, was greatly elected.