§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is the fact that a Fellow of the Royal University set the same questions in the honour paper at the second University examination in Arts, last September, in English language and literature, as he had set to his own class at the sessional examination in Cork Queen's College; and, can he explain why this paper is omitted from the College Calendar just published?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I regret very much that this Question was put on the Notice Paper of the House of Commons, as it will be read as conveying an imputation of favouritism which is quite undeserved. There were, I am informed, 12 questions in each of the examination papers referred to. There was one question common to both, and in one other case a superficial resemblance between two questions; but I really put it to any hon. Member who knows what University examinations are, whether such a circumstance could possibly convey any charge? The Professor who prepared the papers states that this very partial reproduction of the questions was entirely unconscious on his part, and that he had not the first paper before him when he set the second, which was prepared during absence from home. He adds that, if he had had the first paper before him, he would have avoided the one repetition referred to. With regard to the non-appearance of the paper in the College calendar, papers are frequently omitted, sometimes by accident, often by design. In the present instance, it was accidentally omitted, owing to circumstances with which the Professor was wholly unconnected. In fact, he was not even aware of the omission.
§ MR. TREVELYANThat is a matter of importance to the gentleman concerned, and I do not like to mix it up with anything else, beyond vindicating his character.