[300] “Poll,” [Greek: oi polloi οἱ πολλοἱ].
[301] In 1835 Goulburn (afterwards Bishop of Trinidad) was second wrangler and senior classic; in 1828 Selwyn, another bishop, was senior classic and sixth wrangler. For the 2 triposes cf. iv. p. 238 n.
[302] “Within 2-1/2 miles in a direct line” from Great S. Mary’s. For the academic year see iv. p. 241, and n. p. 182.
[303] Part I. of most of the divided triposes entitles to the degree. Advanced and research students (p. 241) are entitled to the B.A. and higher degrees after receiving a “certificate of research” and residing for 6 terms at the university.
[304] The Previous Examination or “Little-Go,” as it is popularly called, consists of two parts, the first containing 5 papers on (a) one of the four Gospels in Greek (set book) (b) a Latin classic (set book) (c) a Greek classic (set book) (d) simple unprepared passages in Latin (e) simple Latin and Greek syntax. Since 1884 a Greek or Latin classic may be substituted for the Greek Gospel. Part II., since June 1903, consists of 5 papers on (1) Paley’s Evidences, for which since 1884, elementary logic may be substituted (2) geometry (3) arithmetic (4) elementary algebra (5) subjects for an English essay from some standard English work or works. Until 1903 the geometry paper was exclusively on Euclid’s lines, and required knowledge of the first three books and of parts of the vth and vith books. To qualify for admission to an ‘Honours’ examination a student must pass in certain subjects ‘additional’ to the ordinary Previous Examination. He is now allowed to choose between (1) additional Mathematics (Mechanics and Trigonometry) (2) French (3) German.
A student must satisfy the examiners both as to grammar and orthography in answering the questions—a last relic of the grammar studies of the university!
The General Examination, taken by those who read for the ordinary degree, includes (in Pt. I.) (1) a Greek classic (2) Latin classic (3) mechanics (4) simple trigonometry [(5) English passages for translation into Latin prose]. (Pt. II.) (1) The Acts of the Apostles in Greek (2) English history, selected period (3) subjects for an English essay, from the selected period (4) elementary hydrostatics and heat [(5) a paper on a Shakespeare play or on Milton’s works]. The 5th paper in each part is not obligatory.
The Cambridge General Examination for the ordinary degree leaves much to be desired.
The Special Examination for the ordinary degree may be in one of the following subjects: (a) Theology (b) Political Economy (c) Law (d) History (e) Chemistry (f) Physics (g) Modern Languages (h) Mathematics (i) Classics (k) Logic (l) Geology (m) Botany (n) Zoology (o) Physiology (p) Mechanism and Applied Science (q) Agricultural Science (r) Music. The standard for the subjects k, l, m, n, o, is that of the papers on those subjects in the first part of the moral and natural sciences triposes. The standard in the Theological Special examination may be judged from the following: Pt. I. (1) Outlines of O. T. history (2) a gospel in Greek [(3) history of the Jews from the close of O. T. history to the fall of Jerusalem]. Pt. II. (1) Selected portions of historical and prophetical books (2) one or more of the epistles in Greek (3) outlines of English Church history to 1830 [(4) selected portion of historical books of O. T. in Hebrew. (5) outlines of Early Church history to the death of Leo the Great. (6) paper on a selected period of English Church history]. (7) Essay subjects on the subject matter of papers (1) (2) and (3). But paper (3) in Pt. I. and 4, 5, and 6 in Pt. II. are not obligatory. Law Special examination:—Pt. I. (a) some branch of English constitutional law (b) English criminal law [(c) select cases in illustration (voluntary)]. Pt. II. (1) elementary English law relating to real property (2) English law of contract or tort, or similar. [(3) select cases in illustration (voluntary)]. (4) Essay on the subject matter of (1) and (2).
The first part of the Historical Special examination consists of 3 papers on English history before 1485, the third on a special period being optional. Pt. II. contains 5 papers (1) outline of general English history from 1485-1832. (2) outlines of English constitutional history for the same period (3) a period or a subject in foreign history (4) a special period of English history. [(5) an essay, optional]. The Mathematical Special is all elementary. The Classical Special is on the lines of the Previous Examination—set papers on portions of two Greek and Latin prose and two Greek and Latin poetic authors; to which is added an unprepared Greek and an unprepared Latin translation and a Latin prose composition. The papers on Greek and Roman history belonging to Pt. I. (Greek) or Pt. II. (Latin) are optional. Candidates for all these examinations may present themselves again in case of failure.