18 MAY 1872, Page 3

Mr. Lowe also declared himself on a subject which had

engaged the attention of Convocation on the previous day, and led to a very narrow division,—the desirability of dispensing with a knowledge of Greek at the matriculation of those students who proceed to degrees not in Arts but in Science. To this he was favour- able, arguing that the very slight knowledge of Greek required at the matriculation examination is useful only for those who are to pursue the study subsequently,—i.e., for students in Arts, —and is of little value for those who really look to Science as the ground and main line of their culture, while the great multiplication of subjects does detract from the possibility of requiring thoroughness of attainment. With regard to the argument that Greek is needful for the knowledge of scientific terminology, he showed by his own mistaken interpretation of the meaning of the word "aneurism," that it quite as often misleads as leads right, —and intimating that it was quite easy to learn the scientific meaning of such words without studying the etymology, he clinched the argument in one of Keeley's old jokes, " If you know what I . mean, what does it matter what I say ?" Convocation, like all new bodies, is more Conservative. It had decided for delay and further consideration by 47 to 42 on the previous evening.