The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-07 00:00:00

OXFORD MIDDLE-CLAW EXAMINATION.

The third annual report of the delegacy to con-
'winos ha. just been ignited. Amongst other matters con-
ceded with the iiiiildle.class examination, it states that
the amber of cmdid ate. examined was 573 juniors and
211 seldom (ft timer candidates 134 juniors and 87 seniors
obtained honour., 212 juniors and GS seniors gamed without
honour', and 22 juu;ors and I;PJ seniors failed to satisfy
the examine,.. The geteral character the work done at
this examination, as of that drew in 1359, indicated a .low
but still very perceptible and decided improvement.
The delegate. have endeavoured, year after year, to make
sleh change. a. experience suggested. But there yet re.
main two of considerable importence, which are eer7
rally ilemateled, but which involve serious difficulties. It
ha. been urged upon the delegates that to prepare candi-
dates for two examinations of this kind in a 'eagle year is
more than any school eau rightly undertake ; while, on the
other band, a very great number of schools are unwilling to
lose their counexion with either 'Divinity. It was thought
that some node of co-operation might be devised by which
Oxford snd rambridge should hold the examinations is
alternate years. The obstacles to this were the dif-
ferret age. of the junior candidates in the two
allellllll, the different programmes of examination, the
different forms of the division lists, and the fact that a title
was granted be Oxford and not by Cambridge. Of these
olatacke one has been already removed by the assimilation
of the age The proeranones could not well be made abler
lutely identical ; but it would probably Dot be difficult to
assimilate the two examinations so nearly as to make it
practically indifferent whether a candidate prepared for one
or the other. The difference in the form of the division
li.te might be got rid of by the publicatioo of both an agar
gate and a aectienal list by the two Universities. But the
lest mentioned difficulty still remains as great as ever. The
committee. of the various local centres, however, have been
informed that an arrangement will be made with any of
them that nay desire it, to hold the examination only in
altercate years, and thus to leave the other yearn to
('.abridge. And this seeta3 all that an be done.
still re serious importance u the difficulty which has
been found io dealing with the examination in the rudi•
meats of faith and religion. The statute had prescribed an
iixiiiiiinatioa not ouly iu the Bible but also in the doctrines
of the church of England, and it was understood to be the
intention of the ruiversitythat these should out be divided,
end that no account should be taken of knowledge of
the Bible where there was not also a satisfactory knowledge
of the liturgy and catechism. To an examination in these
last many, perhaps moat, dissenters conscientiously object.
It was felt, therefore, that the result of givi marks for
this part of the examination would he to refuse ng
dissenters all
recognition of their knowledge of the Bible, while the same
knowledge when possessed by members of the church of
Eogland was rewarded. And it was represented that this
would tend to drive the teaching of the Bible out of dime-
ters' school, altogether. For thin reason tbedelegacy deter-
mined to recognise this part of the examination
But this
as-
whams only, and not in the division lists. But this was
found not to be enough ; and in order to give additional en-
::t to the stusly, the Dame@ of those who had
, were narked with asterisks in those lists. It
sow appears that evert this were not sufficient. The desire for
• high place in the division list over-powers every other coo.
sideration. The scheolmasters find, themselves usable to
persuade the bulk of their pupils to give severe labour to
a subject which misses this chief reward, and perhaps in
some oases sympathim with this feeling too much to strive
against it very earnestly. The delegacy have thus been led
to ine cum:fusion that the difficulty me only be
List by allowing meek. for this part of the examination,
and at the Larne tame so arranging it rte give the diges-
ter. the benefit of the knowledge which they may be able
to *how. If the diameters can be admittedin any way to
the examination in the Bible, and have their knowledge of
it recognised, it will no longer be unjust to give marks for
the whole examination is religion. What the diameters
lose by their reluctance to be examined in the Prayer-book
they may ensile make up by giving additional time to some
one er more of the other stuilme But it does not follow
that there should be any change in the certificates
now Meech It seems unadvieable that an Oxford certifi•
of satisfactory attainments in religiose knowledge
should he given to those who have declined one potties of
the examinetioe which the University offers. But therms
ebjection doss not apply to the Oriel; of marks fore part el
the examisatim without reference to the other part. C
dilates already receive is the division lists the Mesa et
ell the marks which they get, even in subjects where they
do met get smirk, enough to pass. If the same were
to the mainisation in the Rudiment, of Faith and Re=
• diseseter, though he did not peas in this
subjoin, and cousejuently did not find any notice
of IS in his on iffiest., would receive in the
division lists the full benefit of his knowledge.
The period for which the first delegacy was appointed is
sew expired, and a new delegacy has been nominated. At
the sag time the Rev. Dr. Sewell, now warden of New
Whim, has felt himself compelled to resign the office of
esseehey. And the outgoing delegates would he ungrateful
telhat gentleman if they did lot, in concluding their last
teport. acknowledge the debt which they and the Univer-
sity is general owe to him for his able and indiehtaphle
seviriesa It is not too much to my that the SUCCUMB which
these anaminatioos have met is in nu smell degree dm to
his exertions and jedgment.