FIRST PUBLISHED MDCCLXXV.

"An english citizen, or, if you will, fenator, (for this is the ftation to which our greater citizens do, and our best should aspire) can never acquit himself of the duties he owes his country, under this character, but by furnishing himself with all those qualities of the head and heart, which his fuperior rank and pretenfions demand." Bp. Hurd's Moral and political dialogues, vol. iii. p. 69.

“Tọ think justly, to write well, to speak agreeably, are the three great ends of academic inftruction. The univerfities will excufe me, if I obferve, that both are, in one refpect or other, defective in these three capital points of education. While in Cambridge the general application is turned altogether on fpeculative knowJedge, with little regard to polite letters, tafte, or style: in Oxford, the whole attention is directed towards claffical correctness, without any found foundation laid in fevere reasoning and philofophy; in Cambridge and in Oxford, the art of speaking agreeably is so far from being taught, that it is hardly talked or thought of. These defects naturally produce dry unaffecting compofitions in the one; fuperficial taste and puerile elegance in the other; ungracious or affected fpeech in both." Dr. Brown's Eftimate of the manners and principles of the times, vol. ii. p. 68.

AN ADDRESS, &c.

I AGAIN fubmit, with all deference and refpect, the following plan of public examinations to the confideration of the fenate of Cambridge; and, at the fame time, declare my intention of propofing it to the fuffrages of that affembly, upon fome day near the close of the ensuing February.

As the propofitions, which form this plan, will be offered in diftinct graces, it is to be prefumed, that a difference of opinion, concerning the particular mode of execution, will not obftruct the establishment of those, which comprehend the merits of the main queftion. If the introduction of public examinations should be efteemed a neceffary measure, and yet the means now propofed appear exceptionable, means, better adapted to the circumstances of the university, may become the fubject-matter of fubfequent deliberation. I fhall only obferve, that the measures here fubjoined are, in every material

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rial respect, the fame with those, which were suggested by the committee, appointed by a grace of the fenate on the 17th of February, 1774.*

I have alfo re-printed fuch preliminary

poftulata," as appear to point out the ne

ceffity

The following confiderations may perhaps appear worthy of fome attention.

1. The gentlemen who compofed the above committee, were perfons of the moft diftinguished character and station in the univerfity. They formed a fair and equal reprefentative of the heads of houses, public tutors, and profeffors. The whole number confifted of twenty-one, of whom seventeen have, upon various occafions, declared themselves ftrenuously in favour of the propofed measures.

2. The scheme of annual examinations, which was the refult of their labours, received the honourable teftimony of the chancellor in its favour. And it is well known, that many of our prelates have expressed their wishes, that it might be carried into effectual execution.

3. It has frequently been intimated, that the public tutors have declared themselves as difinclined to adopt the plan of examinations, induced by an apprehenfion, that the education of youth would thereby be transferred to improper perfons. On the contrary, it is a fact, that a very confiderable majority of the public tutors are known to approve the projected inftitution.

This objection, which never appeared to me as of any weight, is, however, I trust, fufficiently obviated, by the alteration introduced into the fifteenth propofition,

ceffity of some alteration in our literary course.

The mode of tranfacting business in our legislative affembly, which, unfortunately, is not of the deliberative kind, each component part being generally understood to be poffeffed only of a negative voice, too frequently prevents the proper difcuffion of many of those important queftions, which are proposed to its fuffrages; and is, moreover, attended with various other inconveniencies.

A grace, for instance, is drawn up and offered to the caput; it is judged deficient in point of form, or in fome other respect objectionable; and is confequently rejected. An event, against which there is no security, as the perfons who compofe this council, of whom each poffeffes a negative, are not esteemed to be under any obligation to affign the particular reafon of their conduct.

In the period between the paffing of a grace in the caput, and the time of voting it in the non-regent and the regent houses, the minutest amendment is abfolutely inadmiffible. Objections are started in the interval,

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terval, which, upon a little reflection, might be obviated, or, by a flight alteration in fome uneffential circumstances, totally removed; the main question is, however, loft, for want of fuch amendment; and cuftom hath decreed, that it cannot again be offered in that term.

After infinite labour, the various objections are collected, obviated, or proper amendments inferted in the grace. New objections are, however, started on the day of trial, and the question is again rejected. After a certain number of such rejections, the friends of the measure, thus difcouraged by repeated failures, no longer exert themfelves with vigour in its fupport.

How far thefe obftructions have operated in the present instance, the hiftory of the whole procedure may one day evince.

The preceding observations evidence the propriety of fubmitting every question of importance to public difcuffion before the time of its propofal to the fenate.

I am also fatisfied, that every fair opponent ought to esteem it a point of honour, to offer his objections in fuch a manner, as

to