4 PRESIDENT S .ADDRESS. 



papers in the Science subject, Chemistry, of to-day and of the 

 early years of the University, it is evident that no progress has 

 been made, but that the standard in the Science subject in the 

 Matriculation Examination is now lower than in the first period 

 of the University's existence. Whilst the Matriculation candi- 

 date had formerly the option of Chemistry or Geology, he has 

 now the option of Chemistry. Physics, Botany or Zoology. 



The B.A. Degree in the early days of the University was a 

 so-called mixed degree. The regulations stated: — 



"Candidates shall be examined in the following subjects: — 



:. Languages, Literature and History. 



(r) The Constitutional History of England. 



(2) The English Language and Literature. 



(3) Modern Languages — Dutch or German or French. 



(4) The Greek and Latin Languages. 



(5) Ancient History. 



(6) Outlines of Logic. 



2. Mathematics. 



(i) Arithmetic. 



(2) Algebra. 



(3) Plane Geometry. 



(4) Plane Trigonometry. 



(5) Plane Co-ordinate Geometry. 



(6) Elementary Mechanics. 



3. Physical Science. .\ny one of the following subjects to be 

 selected by the Candidate : — 



(i) Chemistry — Inorganic Chemistry. 



(2) Light and Heat. 



(3) Electricity. 



We are surprised to find so large a number of subjects for 

 one examination, and do not expect that in all these subjects the 

 standard was very high. For example, in Chemistry it was 

 only Inorganic Chemistry, of about the standard of Cliemistry 

 in the present Intermediate Examination, less the practical 

 laboratory training which the candidates for the InteiTnediate 

 Examination are nowadays expected to have gone through. 



The former B.A. candidate was not expected to have had 

 any practical lalboratory. teaching ; at the colleges he had in 

 the Science sitbjects merely blackboard instruction, and at home 

 book study. 



A radical change was made in connection with the B.A. 

 Examination in 1883, when a new examination, the present 

 Ititermediate Examination, was interposed between the Matricu- 

 lation and the B.A. Examination, and the B.A. Examination 

 itself divided into two branches: — 



1. Literature and Philo.sophy. 



2. Mathematics and Natural Science. 



