IF a student is at all doubtful of his position, it is of course very important that he should know precisely where he stands; and a desire to know what marks have been awarded at examinations is by no means confined to the class of people who regard their studies as necessary evils. A number of men of high standing are very anxious to know what the success of their work has been; and a knowledge of marks has an influence rather beneficial than otherwise upon all. If the mark is high, it is an incentive to push on, in hope of the Phi. B. K., or of a Commencement part, or at least of the Rank List. If it is low, it is equally an incentive to improvement, for nobody likes to fall behind his old standard, and the idea of a condition is universally unattractive.

In view of this, many of the students have lately expressed a wish that the marks awarded at the semiannual examinations could be made public a little earlier than they are. The utter ignorance of their position, in which many men find themselves, is very dispiriting. That our instructors are hard worked nobody pretends to doubt; and that as a rule they return the examination-books at the earliest moment compatible with their convenience is generally admitted. Yet, perhaps unreasonably, many of the students think that their marks might be announced within a fixed period, - three or four weeks from the examination, for example, - and our instructors may be sure that a sacrifice of their personal convenience in this respect would be thoroughly appreciated by all their pupils.