“On Saturday, Jan. 18th, the degrees were conferred in the usual way.  It had been arranged that my brother and sister should come to see me take my degree of B.A., and I had asked Gibson to conduct them to the Senate House Gallery:  but Mr Hawkes (a Trinity Fellow) found them and stationed them at the upper end of the Senate House.  After the preliminary arrangements of papers at the Vice-Chancellor’s table, I, as Senior Wrangler, was led up first to receive the degree, and rarely has the Senate House rung with such applause as then filled it.  For many minutes, after I was brought in front of the Vice-Chancellor, it was impossible to proceed with the ceremony on account of the uproar.  I gave notice to the Smith’s Prize Electors of my intention to ‘sit’ for that prize, and dined at Rothman’s rooms with Drinkwater, Buckle, and others.  On Monday, Jan. 20th, I was examined by Professor Woodhouse, for Smith’s Prize, from 10 to 1.  I think that the only competitor was Jeffries.  On Tuesday I was examined by Prof.  Turton, 10 to 1, and on Wednesday by Prof.  Lax, 10 to 1.  On Thursday, Jan. 23rd, I went to Bury by coach, on one of the coldest evenings that I ever felt.

“Mr Peacock had once recommended me to sit for the Chancellor’s medal (Classical Prize).  But he now seemed to be cool in his advice, and I laid aside all thought of it.”

* * * * *

It seems not out of place to insert here a copy of some “Cambridge Reminiscences” written by Airy, which will serve to explain the Acts and Opponencies referred to in the previous narrative, and other matters.

Theacts.

The examination for B.A. degrees was preceded, in my time, by keeping two Acts, in the Schools under the University Library:  the second of them in the October term immediately before the examination; the first (I think) in the October term of the preceding year.

These Acts were reliques of the Disputations of the Middle Ages, which probably held a very important place in the discipline of the University. (There seems to be something like them in some of the Continental Universities.) The presiding authority was one of the Moderators.  I apprehend that the word “Moderator” signified “President,” in which sense it is still used in the Kirk of Scotland; and that it was peculiarly applied to the Presidency of the Disputations, the most important educational arrangement in the University.  The Moderator sent a summons to the “Respondent” to submit three subjects for argument, and to prepare to defend them on a given day:  he also named three Opponents.  This and all the following proceedings were conducted in Latin.  For my Act of 1822, Nov. 6, I submitted the following subjects: 

“Recte statuit Newtonus in Principiis suis Mathematicis, libro primo, sectione undecima.”

“Recte statuit Woodius de Iride.”

“Recte statuit Paleius de Obligationibus.”