For every unexcused omission of a forensic, or of reading a forensic, a deduction shall be made of the highest number of marks to which that exercise is entitled.  Seventy-two is the highest mark for forensics.—­Laws of Univ. at Cam., Mass., 1848.

What with themes, forensics, letters, memoranda, notes on lectures, verses, and articles, I find myself considerably hurried.—­Collegian, 1830, p. 241.

                                  When
  I call to mind Forensics numberless,
  With arguments so grave and erudite,
  I never understood their force myself,
  But trusted that my sage instructor would.
    Harvardiana, Vol.  III. p. 403.

FORK ON.  At Hamilton College, to fork on, to appropriate to one’s self.

FORTS.  At Jefferson and at Washington Colleges in Pennsylvania, the boarding-houses for the students are called forts.

FOUNDATION.  A donation or legacy appropriated to support an institution, and constituting a permanent fund, usually for a charitable purpose.—­Webster.

In America it is also applied to a donation or legacy appropriated especially to maintain poor and deserving, or other students, at a college.

In the selection of candidates for the various beneficiary foundations, the preference will be given to those who are of exemplary conduct and scholarship.—­Laws of Univ. at Cam., Mass., 1848, p. 19.

Scholars on this foundation are to be called “scholars of the house.”—­Sketches of Yale Coll., p. 86.

FOUNDATIONER.  One who derives support from the funds or foundation of a college or a great school.—­Jackson.

This word is not in use in the United States.

See BENEFICIARY.

FOUNDATION SCHOLAR.  At the University of Cambridge, Eng., a scholar who enjoys certain privileges, and who is of that class whence Fellows are taken.

Of the scholars of this name, Bristed remarks:  “The table nearer the door is filled by students in the ordinary Undergraduate blue gown; but from the better service of their table, and perhaps some little consequential air of their own, it is plain that they have something peculiar to boast of.  They are the Foundation Scholars, from whom the future Fellows are to be chosen, in the proportion of about one out of three.  Their Scholarships are gained by examination in the second or third year, and entitle them to a pecuniary allowance from the college, and also to their commons gratis (these latter subject to certain attendance at and service in chapel), a first choice of rooms, and some other little privileges, of which they are somewhat proud, and occasionally they look as if conscious that some Don may be saying to a chance visitor at the high table, ’Those over yonder are the scholars, the best men of their year.’”—­Five Years in an Eng.  Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 20.