Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/18

 of a very high standard, similar to that required for honours in other Universities, and it is much to the credit of these young men that they should voluntarily offer themselves to undergo such an ordeal. I would only offer them this one word of advice, that they should not attempt to grasp their academical honours by hurrying through their studies for the examination. The honour they will attain is substantial and permanent, and well worthy of being sought by patient and laborious study. What I have said relates solely to the graduates in Arts. As regards the graduates in Medicine, I find many circumstances of peculiar interest. This is the first time that the Grant Medical College has surrendered its privilege of conferring diplomas to the University, and that the College duty of testing the attainments of the students has merged, in the examination for a University degree, I would beg the successful candidates to bear in mind the greater responsibilities as well as the higher honours which devolve on them by this change. They go forth to the world with the stamp, not of a school, but of a University; while they will find their abilities and industry tasked to the utmost to maintain the reputation of the school of Medicine in which they have been educated, and which boasts among its professors and graduates some gentlemen members of this Senate, who are second to none in their noble profession in professional reputation and scientific attainment. I trust that the young licentiates will not rest content with the lowest degree, but will aspire to the higher degree of Doctor, which can only be attained by laborious practical as well as theoretical study, and which will justly confer on them the highest honours the University can bestow.

While I cannot but congratulate the Senate on the great and rapid progress which the University has already made, I would venture to remind every one connected with it that we shall have a hard struggle to maintain a generous rivalry with the sister Universities of the other Presidencies. At an examination which took place shortly before I left Calcutta I was informed that nearly 1,100 candidates had presented themselves at the examination for matriculation, and the greatest enthusiasm appears to prevail on the subject of University education in Calcutta. The range of University studies there, too, is much wider than it is here. I can only hope that we may here make up in depth for what is wanting in expanse, and that when the time arrives for comparison, we may be found inferior to no University in India in