Questions. Riders. Aggregate. By a Wrangler, between the 1st and 7th 69-1/2 25-1/2 95 1 in 2.36 By a Wrangler, between the 12th and 22nd 48-1/2 12-1/2 61 1 in 3.68 By a Wrangler, between the 22nd and 32nd 36 12-1/2 48-1/2 1 in 4.62 By a Sen. Opt. between the 1st and 10th 17-1/2 5 22-1/2 1 in 9.95 By a Sen. Opt. between the 10th and 20th 14-1/2 2 16-1/2 1 in 3.60 G.B. AIRY. _1868, March 12_. * * * * * ST PETER'S COLLEGE LODGE, CAMBRIDGE, _March 13th, 1868_. MY DEAR SIR, I am much obliged by your letter and enclosed paper. Anything done in the last five days by a Junior Optime only shews (generally) that he has been employing some of his time _mischievously_, for he must have been working at subjects which he is quite unable to master or cramming them by heart on the chance of meeting with a stray question which he may answer. The chief part of the Senior Optimes are in something of the same situation. I think that the proposed addition of a day to the first part of the Examination, in which "easy questions in physical subjects" may be set, is, on this account, a great improvement. Our new Scheme comes on for discussion on Friday next, March 20, at 2 p.m. in the Arts School. It is much opposed by private tutors, examiners and others, and may possibly be thrown out in the Senate this year, though I hope that with a little patience it may be carried, in an unmutilated form, eventually. The enclosed Report on the Smith's Prize Examination will be discussed at the same time. I will consider what is best to be done on the subject to which your note refers, without delay. With many thanks, I am, Very faithfully yours, H.W. COOKSON, _The Astronomer Royal._ * * * * * In this year certain Members of the Senate of the University of Cambridge petitioned Parliament against the abolition of religious declarations required of persons admitted to Fellowships or proceeding to the degree of M.A. The document was sent to Airy for his signature, and his reply was as follows: ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH, LONDON, S.E. _1868, March 18_. MY DEAR SIR, Though I sympathize to a great extent with the prayer of the petition to Parliament which you sent to me yesterday, and assent to most of the reasons, I do not attach my signature to it, for the following considerations: