"The Father of a College takes the student of a different College aside, and, sometimes for an hour and an half together, strictly examines him in every part of mathematics and philosophy, which he professes to have read.

"After he hath, from this Examination, formed an accurate idea of the student's abilities, and acquired knowledge, he makes a report of his absolute or comparative merit to the Moderators, and to every other Father who should ask him the question.

"Besides the Fathers, all Masters of Arts, and Doctors, of whatever faculty they be, have the liberty of examining whom they please; and they also report the event of each trial, to every person who shall make the inquiry.

200 "The Moderators and Fathers meet at breakfast, and at dinner. From the variety of reports, taken in connexion with their own Examination, the former are enabled, about the close of the second day, so far to settle the comparative merits of the candidates, as to agree upon the names of four-and-twenty, who to them appear most deserving of being distinguished by marks of academical approbation.

"These four-and-twenty are recommended to the Proctors, for their private Examination; and, if approved by them, and no reason appears against such placing of them from any subsequent inquiry, their names are set down in two divisions, according to that order, in which they deserve to stand; and afterwards printed; and read over upon a solemn day, in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, and of the assembled University.

201 "The names of the twelve, who, in the course of the Examination, appear next in desert, are also printed, and are read over, in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, and of the assembled University, upon a day subsequent to the former.

202"Four additional names are generally inserted in the former list, (which is called the list of the Wranglers, and Senior Optimes) at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor, two Proctors, and the Senior Regent; and the numbers are sometimes varied, from a regard to accidental circumstances. In the latter list, or that of Junior Optimes, the number of twelve is almost constantly adhered to.

203 "It is to be observed, that no student can be a candidate for the medals, annually given by the Chancellor, for the encouragement of classical learning, unless his name appears in the former of these lists.

204 "The students, who appear to have merited neither praise nor censure, pass unnoticed: while those, who have taken no pains to prepare themselves for the Examination, and have appeared with discredit in the schools, are distinguished by particular tokens of disgrace."

205 In this stage of the history of the University, the Disputations, to which as we have seen, great importance was attached, formed a prominent viva voce element in the system, and undoubtedly produced much of the beneficial effects which we have noticed as belonging to that element; namely, the sympathy of the students in a common subject (158), the fixation of their attention on difficulties and their solutions; the discipline of promptness and clearness in the disputant, as well as of knowledge, and also, as we have stated (165), the public evidence of the fitness of the Moderator for his important office.

206 But even in this stage, there were causes at work which tended to give the paper part of the system an ascendancy over the oral portion. One of the principal of these was probably the difficulty of combining the results of oral and written examinations in the arrangement of the candidates. We see in Dr Jebb's [PT. I.]

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account traces of considerable vagueness in the mode of aiming at this arrangement. The students were, as we have seen (195), formed into divisions of six, eight, or ten, according to their performance in the Schools, with a view to the ensuing examination; and the Moderators settled the comparative merits of the candidates from the variety of reports of the Fathers of Colleges, Masters of Arts, and Doctors of all Faculties: and then the list of Wranglers, Senior Optimes, and Junior Optimes, was formed. It must have been very difficult for the Moderators to avoid inconsistency and injustice, in combining such various elements of judgment; and accordingly, we have reason to believe that inconsistency and injustice were not always avoided. Examinations were, at that time, looked upon with unlimited hope and confidence, as instruments of good Education; for no inconvenience had yet been experienced from their prevalence. The Master of St John's (Dr Powell) had introduced a system of Examinations into his own college, which was conceived to produce a highly beneficial effect*. Dr Jebb himself was extremely desirous that the University should institute examinations in which each student should be examined every year.

207 After various exertions a Grace passed the Senate July 5, 1773, of which I subjoin a portion.

"Cum reipublicæ nostræ nonnullis interesse videatur, publicum quotannis totius Juventutis Academicæ examen institui, idque, Ipsi publicè nos et obnixè exposcant et efflagitent:

"Ne rem tam speciosam aut neglectui prorsus habuisse, aut tam novam tantique momenti temerè nimis et inconsulto arripuisse, Academiæ vitio vertatur:

"Placeat vobis," &c. It is decreed that all the Heads of Colleges, the three Regii Professors (of Divinity, Law, and Medicine), the Two Senior Tutors of Trinity and of St John's, and the Senior Tutor of every other College, be a Syndicate to

* Jebb's Works, Vol. 1. p. 275.

deliberate on the propriety, and if adopted, on the details, of the Annual Examination.

We may see, in the phraseology of the above grace, very palpable evidence of impatience at the importunity which had pushed the proposal so far; and it cannot surprize us that the Syndicate when assembled rejected the proposal of an annual examination. This importunity had already been felt to be so troublesome, that Dr Powell had suggested the propriety of a grace to prevent Dr Jebb offering any more graces on this subject. And thus the proposal of annual University examinations was put aside.

208 Still, however, the University was not satisfied with the condition of its studies and examinations, as appears by the following Grace of the ensuing year; although it does not appear that the appointment of this Syndicate led to any practical result.

1774. Feb. 17. "Cum plurimis in ore sit; "Literas humaniores atque ipsa Matheseos et Philosophiæ Naturalis Elementa penè inculta jacere, Juvenum animis vel secordiâ torpentibus, vel in quæcunque recondita, quæcunque sublimia, impetu quodam fervido ruentibus:

"Placeat vobis ut Ds Procanc., Dr Cooke, Dr Plumptre (Coll. Regin.), Dr Barnardiston, Dr Watson, Dr Hallifax, Dr Waring, Mr Beadon, Mr Collier, Mr Lambert, Mr Wilgress, Mr Dealtry, Mr Longmire, Mr Johannes Hey, Mr Farmer, Mr Gould, Mr Gardner, Mr Paley, Mr Squire, Mr Arnold et Mr Pearce sint Syndici vestri qui convocante Do Procanc. conveniant; collatisque inter se consiliis deliberent et dijudicent quonam potissimum modo hisce malis ingravescentibus nobis obviam sit eundum; et ut eorundem Placitum in scripta digestum, majoris partis totius numeri Syndicorum nominibus subscriptis, ante diem decimam sextam Aprilis proxime insequentis in Senaculo vestro publicetur: ita tamen ut quicquid iis visum fuerit minimè Statuti vim habeat nisi postea vestris suffragiis comprobetur." No Report of this Syndicate appears in the Grace Book.

209 A few years later, in 1779, we find indications

of the growing importance of the Examinations of the Questionists, of which we have spoken. The Moderators of the preceding year are added to the existing Moderators, as Examiners; and an attempt is made to provide time for the Examinations of the Prælectors and others. The "Classes quam minimæ," here spoken of, as to be published on the fourth day, were familiarly called the "Brackets." In order to give a more complete view of the history of our studies and exercises, I insert two other Graces passed at the same time, referring, one to the Examination in Moral Philosophy, and the other to the requirement of a knowledge of the Elementary before the Higher parts of Mathematics.

1779. Mar. 19.

"Cum Philosophia Moralis in Examinatione Quæstionistarum quæ per tres dies continuos in mense Januarii haberi solet, plerisque nimium neglecta videatur idque temporis angustiæ partim, aliis partiın causis deberi constet:

"Placeat vobis ut"...The Examination to be continued till 5 p.m. on the fourth day: and on the third day the Examiners to propose viva voce Questions only in Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Locke.

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Mar. 20. The Moderators, and the Moderators of the preceding year to be the Examiners for B.A. These four Examiners to examine only two Classes at a time :— 'Quo cautum sit ne Quæstionistæ ab Examinatoribus nimium occupati, aliorum Regentium et Non-Regentium Examinationi minus vacare possent:" except in the examination on the third day in Moral Philosophy. Mar. 20. On the fourth day the Examiners with the Proctors, at 10 a.m. to place at least thirty names "Optimè merentium in Classes quam minimas prout singuli mereri videantur," and the Examiners to have the opportunity of assistance "Prælectorum aliorumque qui examinaverint, priusquam finalis Honorum designatio fiat, in quâ Moderatores anni præcedentis et Moderatores pro tempore existentes idem valeant."

Same Date. "Placeat vobis ut Tutores Collegiorum Pupillos suos certiores faciant, Senatum velle, et deinceps pro Regulâ, cujus observantiæ Examinatores quotannis instituti sese devinctos intelligant, esse habendum :—