The practice had been almost invariably in conformity with the law.

It might perhaps have happened that, on a day of great solemnity, when many honorary degrees were conferred, a person who had not taken the oaths might have passed in the crowd.

But such an irregularity, the effect of mere haste and inadvertence, could not be cited as a precedent.

Foreign ambassadors of various religions, and in particular one Mussulman, had been admitted without the oaths.

But it might well be doubted whether such cases fell within the reason and spirit of the Acts of Parliament.