21 JULY 1967, Page 24

A whiff of sour grapeshot

Sir: In his article on Oxford examinations (14 July) Mr Bevis Hillier misquoted and misattributed a certain 'epigram.' The correct text is 'The night- ingale got no prize at the poultry show.' The author was not Dr Johnson, but the revered Professor Sir Walter Raleigh, from Some Thoughts on Exami- nations. In the same work there was another pun- gent observation, 'The Oxford Final Schools and the Day of Judgment are two examinations, not one.'