XVI. The plan of the examination, adopted in the refolutions of the late fyndicate, is the fame with that which is pursued fo fuccefsfully at the time of the bachelor's degree, and is at large defcribed in my former publication. It has, however, frequently been urged as an objection to the regulations in question, that all young men are not equally qualified to stand the terrors of a public examination: and, confequently, that modest merit will often remain unrewarded. I am not surprised that perfons, who are ftrangers to our method of conducting public examinations, fhould think that there is fome force in this objection. But it is inconceivable that it fhould ever seriously be urged by any gentleman, who is acquainted with the folemn trials of the ftudents, every half year at St. John's college, and, every quarter, in the univerfity of Dublin. In the former of thefe feminaries, the questions are propofed, and the answers given, in the presence of the whole fociety; in the latter, in the hearing of the divifion, which confifts fometimes of between twenty Whereas in the exa and thirty perfons. mination for the bachelors degree, which is proposed as the model of the new examinations, being indeed the only practicable model, feldom more than fix are examined together at the moderator's tables; which tables ftand at a distance from each other, and are intirely withdrawn from public observation. The examination by the other members of the fenate is still more private, the examiner and the ftudent always retiring to a place by themselves. To all who shall attentively inquire into the nature and circumftances of this celebrated examination, its conftitution will appear most admirable; whether we confider the inducements it affords to diligence in the examining parties, the guards it opposes to partiality, or the means it provides for eliciting the most latent merit of the student. It is moreover conducted with fingular humanity in every cafe that requires it. Infomuch, that I believe scarcely a fingle instance can be produced of a person, who who failed in obtaining the degree of credit he deserved, through diffidence of his abilities; while many occur, every year, of those, who having failed in the public difputations, where effrontery is more fuccefsful, have afterwards in the fenate-house, by the univerfal fuffrage, been invested with those accumulated honours, which real abilities, united with their most amiable attendant, modefty, fo justly demand. XVII. XVIII. Thefe propofitions are transcribed from the refolutions of the fyndicate, altered only with refpect to dates. It will be fufficient to obferve that, at the time of their publication, they were very generally approved. Having now exhibited that form of literary difcipline, which, upon the maturest reflection, appears moft practicable in our prefent circumstances; having alfo endeavoured to establish the propriety of each particular measure by fuch arguments, as to my apprehenfion are conclufive, I have only further to add at prefent, that, in compliance with Bb II. the the defire of many judicious and respectable friends, I intend to offer the preceding propofitions, in feparate graces, to our academical fenate, upon fome day near the close of the ensuing October: trusting, that the fame generofity and candour, which I have hitherto experienced, in fuch abundant meafure, from the numerous patrons of the propofed inftitution, will continue to attend my well intentioned efforts to promote the interests of virtue, and advance the cause of ufeful learning. July 17, 1774. AN |