A great deal of attention has recently been given to the problem of revising both school and university syllabuses of pure mathematics. Though applied mathematics has not escaped attention, it has been discussed less intensively. It is therefore of interest that in his inaugural lecture, Professor Bonnor subjected the London University syllabuses in this subject to searching criticism on the ground that it gives a possibly unnecessarily thorough training in classical theoretical physics. He noted that, excepting Imperial College, most of the subject matter contained in the London B.Sc. Special Examination contains ideas which are eighty years old, or older.