1 LIFE OF DB. BOLLESTON. 



element always added force and elevated the tone of any as- 

 sembly of which he was a member.' Among the measures which 

 he took up strongly was the affiliation to the University of 

 Oxford of colleges intended, like University College, Bristol, to 

 supply local needs. Another proposal which he took part in 

 deserves notice from its intrinsic importance, notwithstanding 

 that it was not carried out. This was that students passing an 

 Examination in the Final School of Natural Science, turning 

 mainly on their proficiency in the branches of science taken up, 

 should receive Degrees in Natural Science, and not in Arts. 

 This proposal was carried in the Hebdomadal Council, but was 

 eventually rejected by Congregation. The objections to the pro- 

 posed change came partly from those to whom the innovation 

 seemed in itself undesirable, but also partly from those on the 

 scientific side who thought that the recognised stamp of the 

 B. A. degree had more practical value than a B. Sc. degree un- 

 familiar to the public. As the question of the desirability of 

 conferring Science degrees as is done by the University of 

 London will doubtless arise again at Oxford, it is well to mention 

 Dr. Rolleston's position in the matter. His views on the general 

 subject of Examinations were strongly felt and not less strongly 

 expressed, tested as they had been by years of comparison 

 between a man's class and his merits as judged by the world in 

 after life. No one was more sensible of the use of examinations 

 within limits. Answering an enquiry made by the friends of 

 one of his students, he writes, ' He has been working steadily, 

 but from one cause or another he has not put the results of his 

 work so clearly before me as I could wish. More than once or 

 twice he has been ill at the end of Terms, and left me without 

 the evidence which a terminal Examination, an excellent institu- 

 tion, furnishes us.' It is interesting, however, to notice a certain 

 change in his opinions in the course of experience. In 1863, 

 toward the beginning of his professorial work, he writes to his 

 brother in New Zealand a carefully-considered letter on educa- 

 tion, in which he remarks, ' That frequent examinations are an 

 evil to the very best men I admit, but it is only to the very best 



