mind in insisting once more on the same topic. It must, nevertheless, be done, as the evil is far from being cured. The purpose of the grammatical questions set forth by the Examiner's papers is to draw out from Candidates an expression of their way of learning; but I regret to say that their answers show generally a want of method and accuracy in the most elementary knowledge. The best Candidates are not always free from the grossest blunders when writing the simple tense of a French verb. My impression is, that they have disregarded the rudimentary part of the language to store their memory with words and phrases, and the consequence is that they do not apply them correctly. The course of studies in French at the Royal Military Academy must be affected by the state of superficial knowledge in which the average Candidates come to this Examination. Their further progress is no doubt much hindered, and sometimes stopped altogether, by that want of practical training. Something more might be done in the schools towards a sound teaching of the French grammar. I am convinced either that the system of teaching is too loose in this respect, or that the Candidates have not given to the subject that study and attention which secure positive attainments.

One main object for which modern languages are learned is to use them as a medium of communication between one country and another. The power of Candidates in this point of view is tried by the Essay or Letter. Not a few have attempted to do it; but to one unacquainted with the English language their French would be hardly intelligible. I by no means intend to represent this as a type of the work performed by the best Candidates. I only allude to the majority. To express one's ideas in a foreign tongue is always a matter of difficulty, but more so, of course, when the writer has not been sufficiently trained. I fear this exercise is too much neglected in the English schools. Better even than mere translations, it tests the real capacity of students, and answers the highest purpose of education in modern languages. Practically, French taught as a vehicle of social intercourse, would assist the successful Candidate in after life to fulfil the duties of their military calling.

I feel rather diffident in expressing an opinion about the present Examination as compared to the others; but it is not, certainly, a step backwards."

French.-Monsieur Savoye.

Very few of the Candidates-9 only out of 112-have availed themselves of the opportunity left to them of writing a French Essay instead of translating from English into French. Five of these Essays are well done and creditable. In writing from dictation, translating from French into English, and

grammar, some very good papers have likewise been produced. But they are only a small minority in comparison to the total number. As a whole, this Examination is not brilliant; and I have to state the regrettable fact that many of the Candidates have done their Examination from French into English very insufficiently, and, as it seems to me, in a very careless way.

German-Professor Max Müller.

The Examination in German was satisfactory, the failures were comparatively few, and most of the Candidates had acquired a knowledge of German that would enable them to read with ease any German book in which they happened to take an interest. More care should be bestowed on the translation from English into German. Several of the Candidates, who had answered the grammatical questions quite correctly, allowed their translation into German to be disfigured by grammatical blunders, which a little more practice or a moment's consideration would have enabled them to avoid.

German.-Rev. C. Schöll, Ph.D.

The result of this Examination is very satisfactory; not one of the Candidates has failed to obtain the minimum of marks; and no less than 9 Candidates out of 29 have obtained upwards of two-thirds of the maximum marks. The translations especially were much better than at the last Examination.

Experimental Sciences.--Professor G. D. Liveing, M.A.

I am sorry to be obliged to remark that the answers on this occasion are decidedly below par. Making all allowance that can fairly be made when the subject has to come into competition with others, I cannot say that more than four or five have done well. More than half have sent up answers so imperfect, and indicating such confusion of ideas, that it is evident that either they have been very inefficiently taught, or are incapable of mastering the subject. One makes a sort of apology for his answers, that he has "only learnt during five weeks," and I fear that others have been labouring under a similar disadvantage.

It seems to me worthy of remark that almost all the Candidates attempt answers on all the several branches of science comprised in the papers, and those who fail generally answer ill in all. Those who have not the opportunity of learning all would gain more credit by answering well a few questions than by many indifferent answers on the whole range. This is the more important, because the knowledge of one branch, if sound, would be useful to the Candidates if they failed in this competition, while loose and confused information is of little value either in a competitive examination or in after life.

Experimental Sciences.-F. A. Abel, Esq., F.R.S.

The results of the Examination held by me are generally similar, though not quite equal, to those of the last Examination. In a considerable number of instances the replies to questions, though furnishing evidence of some acquaintance with the subjects discussed, were incorrect on those points which really tested the soundness of the Candidate's knowledge of the subject.

Two or three of the more simple questions, relating to matters of which every well-educated person should possess some acquaintance, were generally much more imperfectly answered than others of a more difficult nature coming within the range of the special courses of preparation for these Examinations.

Natural Sciences.-Warington Smyth, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.

On the whole the answers have been tolerably satisfactory; and those of numbers 25, 75, and 121 are a good deal beyond the average.

Geometrical Drawing.-Lieut.-Col. Scott, R. E.

I see very little alteration in the general character of the replies and the drawing. The results are much the same as in the last Examinations.

Free-Hand Drawing.-Rev. W. Kingsley, B.D.

My impression of their work is, that it is the worst I have ever had, so far as proficiency is concerned. With one exception, however, all have easily got more than the minimum number of marks, and none have made reckless drawings. About half-a-dozen are fairly prepared in elementary work, but none even of these have made any advanced progress in the subject. I do not think there is any one fault very common amongst them, but simply the work is that of the merest tyros. Number 104, who has obtained the highest marks, promises to make a good draughtsman in a short time, and his work proves him to have acquired no manner, being very varied in method of execution.

The exercise that has been most fairly executed after the geometrical figures is the symmetrical outline.

The Council have pleasure in observing that the Mathematical Examiners bear testimony to the wellgrounded knowledge, possessed by a large portion of the Candidates, of the principles of Mathematical Science;

and that the reports of the Examiners in History, Geography, and the English Language are also very favourable.

Candidates who intend to compete at future Examinations would do well to pay attention to the remarks of the Examiners in French on the characteristic defects of the Exercises in that Language which have been sent in.

A less satisfactory report is made by the Classical Examiners. They remark on the improvement in Grammar, but consider that the translation and composition reflect but little credit on the Candidates.

Professors Liveing and Abel also speak unfavourably of the answers in Experimental Sciences; but notwithstanding these exceptions the Council feel justified in reporting the result of this Examination to be of a satisfactory nature.

The Council cannot close their report without expressing their regret at being unexpectedly deprived of the services of Dr. Woodward, one of their Examiners in Natural Sciences, who for more than six years has rendered them most valuable and willing assistance, and whose death occurred during the early portion of this Examination.

(Signed) F. W. HAMILTON, Major-General

Vice-President.

F. ABBOTT, Major-General.

HENRY MOSELEY.

T. ELWYN, Colonel.

E. H. F. POCKLINGTON, Colonel.

13, Great George Street, S.W.,

5th August, 1865.

EXAMINATION PAPERS.

JULY 1865.

GEOMETRICAL DRAWING.

LIEUT.-COL. SCOTT, R.E.

Instructions.

[The whole of the work is to be carefully inked in, and the letters and figures necessary are to be neatly printed. Written descriptions of the processes employed are unnecessary; but the construction of each problem is to be clearly shown in dotted lines. These dotted lines, however, need not be produced to a greater distance than is sufficient to indicate the points to which, and from which, they are drawn. Full credit will be awarded for complete and neat solutions of the last six questions.]

1. Divide a straight line 3 inches long into 10 equal parts with every alternate division as a centre, commencing with the second division, describe a semicircle of 3 inch radius, arranged alternately on opposite sides of the straight line.

2. Draw a triangle having its sides equal to 2, 2.5 and 3 inches respectively. Draw 9 lines parallel to