Queen's Coll., Birmingham.
_Title of D.D._ (Vol. ii., p. 13.).--The remark of your correspondent
EYE-SNUFF, "that any lay scholar of adequate attainments in theology is
competent to receive this distinction, and any university to bestow it
upon him," is incorrect in two ways, as far as the university of which I
am a member is concerned. A reference to the Oxford University Calendar,
or to the Statutes of the University, will show him that no one can take
the degree of B.D., or D.D., without first exhibiting his letters of
priest's orders: and the theological attainments represented by the
degree D.D. are next to nothing; the exercise required for B.D. used to
be a mere form, and I believe is little more now; a certain number of
terms kept in the university, and payment of certain fees, being all
that is necessary for proceeding D.D. The case is the same, I imagine,
at Cambridge.