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 Mathesews et Philosophie 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 partim 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.

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 :

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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 :

Quod nisi quisquam in Euclidis Geometrie Elementis et in notissimis Philosophiæ Naturalis partibus versatissimum se exhibuerit, altiora Matheseos nequicquam se assecutum sciat: Quodque in toto Scientiæ Campo Eruditionem limatam perspicuamque potius quam diffusam Honores Academici maneant.

"Postremo ut Regulæ jam sancitæ in omni examinatione in posterum publicè in Senatu habendâ pro Gradu Baccalaureatûs in Artibus serventur."

210 The main subject of the University's solicitude hitherto appears to have been those students who were candidates for honours; the few; but in 1791, we find an important Grace, which contemplates the case of the many, and establishes a classification of the sophists who fell below the Junior Optimes. These are familiarly called the Polloi; and we shall take the liberty of using this name. The Grace by which they are recognized is as follows:

1791. Ap. 8. "Cum in solenni Sophistarum Examinatione

complures Sophistarum quotannis reperiantur de quibus non satis cautum sit ut Honores Academicos aut mereantur aut optent: cavendum sit tamen ut nequis temere ignominiâ notetur:

"Placeat vobis ut duo Examinatores anni præcedentis constituantur denuo Examinatores qui Sophistas honoribus Academicis non insigniendos examinent et eorum nomina in quatuor classes videlicet quartam, quintam, sextam, et septimam pro merito distributa publici juris faciant; ita tamen ut nomina in quâcunque classe ordine alphabetico, si ita examinatoribus placeat, recenseantur, et ut septima vel sexta vel etiam quinta classis vacare possit, si eorum omnium merita vel sextam vel quintam vel quartam videantur vindicare."

It is provided that the rights of Proctors, Moderators, Regents, Non-Regents to take part in the Examinations are not to be diminished.

It is added,

"Placeat vobis ut dictorum Sophistarum nomina ne prelo committantur."

211 So far as I am aware, this law of the Univer

sity has not been superseded by any subsequent Grace. Its directions are very plain:-that the polloi are to be divided into classes not more than four; that in each class, the names are to be arranged alphabetically; and that the names, though published, are not to be printed; that is, not printed by authority, as those of the first three classes are. These are very proper and reasonable directions; for an arrangement of the polloi according to merit in greater detail, can hardly be effected. The amount of their performances does not allow of an arrangement of each person according to merit; and any attempt to effect such an arrangement, can hardly fail to perplex the Examiners, and mislead the public. If there be 200 of the polloi, there cannot be 200, nor 100, nor 50 distinguishable shades of merit among them; and to throw them into four alphabetical classes, is sufficient for their encouragement and guidance. Yet, in this respect, the Grace has been habitually neglected in modern times. I do not know whether it was ever literally obeyed; but, of late years, the whole body of the polloi have been arranged in an asserted order of merit, man by man. I believe the inconvenience and difficulty of this proceeding have recently become matter of general notice; and I hope the Examiners in future will remedy these evils by conforming to the law of the University; which, as I conceive, they are bound to do, or, at least, fully justified in doing.

The direction, that the names of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th classes were not to be printed, was suggested, I presume, by the belief that such a notification of these classes would put them too much upon a level with the mathematical Honours. The names are not printed on the Tripos Papers, as those of the Wranglers, Senior Optimes, and Junior Optimes are; or in the Cambridge Calendar. It would, probably, be neither necessary nor easy to prevent lists of the other

classes being circulated in print, now when every thing is printed. But the Examiners may easily, and with great public advantage, conform to the Grace so far as their own conduct is concerned.

212 The Disputations of the Sophs, at this period regulated, as we have seen, the Classes before the Examination, and had a great share in determining academical reputations. They were a matter of great general interest; and this interest it was wished to maintain. They had hitherto been held after dinner, that is, from two o'clock in the afternoon till four; and it was a common habit of students and of graduates to resort to the Schools after dinner, to witness these exercises. But when the general dinner-hour became later, a corresponding alteration was made in the hours of the disputations by a Grace, which thus begins: 1792. Feb. 14. "Cum Academiæ nostræ plurimum intersit

ut sophistarum disputationes quam maxime frequententur, tempora autem hisce peragendis assignata parum convenientia et opportuna jamdiu evaserint :”And it provides that thenceforth these exercises shall take place from three o'clock to five in the afternoon.

213 The next step of legislation on the subject implies a growing importance in the Examinations. It is as follows:

1808. Dec. 1. "Cum visum sit plerisque eorum qui nuper in annuâ sophistarum examinatione versati sunt, tempus examini accurate habendo vix sufficere, atque etiam in ratione examinis instituendi quædam in melius mutari posse: Placeat vobis ut Ds Procancellarius, Mr J. Wood, Mr Tavel, Mr Hudson, Mr Barnes (Coll. Regin.), Mr Hornbuckle, Mr Woodhouse, una cum duobus hujus anni moderatoribus, sint syndici vestri, qui collatis inter se sententiis videant utrum aliquid de hâc re vestris suffragiis stabiliendum proferre expediat."

This Syndicate offered recommendations which were confirmed by a Grace, Dec. 15. A fifth day was added