UNIVERSITY DEGREES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Many " honour men " must have felt keenly how mis- leading are the degrees conferred by the Universities in these days. Long ago, to be an M.A. meant to be proficient in arts ; now, as you say, any ignorant B.A. can buy it. The uninitiated in the country think that an M.A. who has passed with difficulty is superior to a B.A. who has taken high honours. I have known the Governors of a Grammar School to act on that belief in choosing a Head-Master. Therefore I think it is high time the Universities corrected this defect. They are both in want of money. Now, what I propose would bring them in a fair income, and make their degrees of some value,—at present they are valueless. I propose that every man or woman who obtains a first-class in any subject should have the degree of Doctor,—Ph.D., or Sc.D., or Hist.D., or Math.D. ; that the fee should be not more than £25. Let all living " firsts " have the degree. At once a large increase of income would flow in. Many of us older men would seek the honour, of which we have been so long worthy.—I am, Sir, &o., OXFORD DOUBLE-FIRST.
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