THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Cl4E^a 
 
 
 
K 
 
 » 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 I 
 
 o 
 
 H* 
 
 o 
 
 C 
 *—• 
 
 Q 
 
 i-*- 
 
 3 
 
 <P 
 
 >3 
 
 (D 
 
 P 
 
 in 
 
 CD 
 
 tn 
 
 3 
 
 *0 
 
 *0 
 
 £ 
 
 O 
 
 •-< 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 w 
 
 »—»• 
 
 a. 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 Cl 
 
 <D 
 
 <D 
 
 cl 
 
 
 <J 
 
 3 
 
 >1 
 
 I-4-, 
 
 »-*■ 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 3 
 
 o' 
 
 tn 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 *< 
 
 n 
 
 0) 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 »-► 
 
 3 
 
 ■-< 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 d 
 
 <D 
 
 Cr 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 Cr 
 
 o 
 
 •i 
 
 C* 
 
 *3 
 
 P 
 
 ip 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 0 
 
 ►-< 
 
 *3 
 
 3 
 
 >-( 
 
 O 
 
 & 
 
 £L 
 
 Q 
 
 N 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 3 
 
 n 
 
 3 
 
 & 
 
 H* 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 •3 
 
 *—• 
 
 P 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 P 
 
 f- 
 
 3 
 
 □ 
 
 H 
 
 e: 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 »-•• 
 f—♦* 
 
 H ■ 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 3, 
 
 > 
 
 3 
 
 r«* 
 
 C3 
 
 O 
 
 *3 
 3 
 >-< 
 H ■ 
 
 O 
 
 St 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 *3 
 
 3 
 
 P 
 
 >-< 
 
 D 
 
 P 
 
 H* 
 
 3 
 
 O 
 
 l-H 
 
 ►1 
 
 o 
 
 •§ 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 w 5 
 
 oS 
 
 3 g 
 
 w 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 o' jjj 
 
 (D 
 
 *d ^ 
 
 ® o 
 
 o 
 
 cl 
 
 w 
 
 3 
 
 43 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 r^ - 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 w 
 
 tn 
 
 tn 
 
 > 
 
 f 
 
 co 
 
 CD 
 
 -Q 
 
 c 
 
 <D 
 
 Q 
 
 3 
 
 a. 
 
 -i 
 
 CD 
 
 Ts 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 Co 
 
 rr 
 
 CD 
 
 CD 
 
 n 
 
 ® 33 ^ 
 3 O ^ 
 O CO 
 
 O 
 
 co 
 
 C/3 
 
 £□» 
 
 tr 
 
 >-< 
 
 p 
 
 ►i 
 
 *3 
 
 •I 
 
 p 
 
 H 1 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 p 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 "i 
 
 ►« 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 r _«. 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 N 
 
 
 3 
 
 < 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 CL 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 3 
 
 •-i 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 o 
 
 •n 
 
 W 
 
 o 
 
 w 
 
 w 
 
 o 
 
 M 
 
 s: 
 
 o 
 
 W 
 
 W 
 
 > 
 
 w 
 
 *•< 
 
 a 
 
 p 
 
 >-! 
 
 CL 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 13 
 
 M 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 W 
 
 D 
 ■ ■ 
 
 tn 
 
 w 
 
 3 
 
 p 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 tn 
 
 £ 
 >-> • 
 O 
 *-< 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 H 
 
 2 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 
 o 
 
 CO 
 
 
 M 
 
 o 
 
 £ 
 i— • 
 
 Q 
 
 3 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 <P 
 
 W 
 
 tn 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 > 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 tn 
 ■ ■ 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 »-*• 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 i—i 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 3 
 
 w 
 
 tn 
 
 3 d 
 
 O 
 
 tn 
 
 H 
 
 CO 
 
 o 
 
 3' 
 
 3 
 
 Cl 
 
 ?r 
 
 3 
 
 CL 
 
 tr 
 
 x3 
 
 > 
 
 n 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 •t 
 
 St 
 
 3 
 
 <q 
 
 O 
 
 3* 
 
 3 
 
 > 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 i—i 
 
 3 
 
 H 
 
 M 
 
 W 
 
 f 
 
 i—i 
 
 W 
 
 w 
 
 > 
 
 w 
 
 Kj 
 
 ►H 
 
 3 
 
 r-** 
 
 3 
 
 tr 
 
 X 
 
 p 
 
 H 
 
 >< 
 
 t- 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 CL 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 > 
 
 3 
 
 W 
 
 tn 
 
 O 
 
 a 
 
 tn 
 
 w 
 
 H 
 
THE 
 
 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC 
 
 PURSUITS 
 
 WHICH ARE ENCOURAGED AND ENFORCED 
 
 V* 
 
 IN THE 
 
 tBnfoemtp of Camfortijge, 
 
 BRIEFLY DESCRIBED AND VINDICATED. 
 
 WITH VARIOUS NOTES. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Rev. LATHAM WAINEWRIGHT, A.M. F.A.S. 
 
 OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE, IN THAT UNIVERSITY; 
 
 AND 
 
 RECTOR OF GREAT BRICKHILL, BUCKS. 
 
 IIoAAay <(p0 If.xoicn Sz^wgriTou $a,<ji'kXv<Ti ) 
 
 rToXAov dt 'ctIoA/Wo'/, 'zroXvv ^ txyciQotixiv erat^oij. 
 
 Theoc. Idyll. 17. 
 
 LONDON; 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. HATCHARD, BOOKSELLER TO JHE QUEEN, 
 NO. 190, OPPOSITE ALBANY, PICCADILLY. 
 
 1815 . 
 
/ 
 
 i 
 
 S. Gosnell, Printer, Little Queen Street, London, 
 
CA*L 
 
 * 
 
 TO THE 
 
 RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT PALMERSTON, 
 
 SECRETARY AT WAR, 
 
 AND 
 
 M. P. FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 The following statement and ob¬ 
 servations are intended, in some measure, to 
 supply a desideratum which has long been 
 felt by many intelligent persons, desirous of 
 forming an impartial estimate of the merits 
 of those ancient foundations which have 
 been so frequently aspersed by prejudice 
 and calumny. It is somewhat a singular 
 circumstance, that while so many of the 
 higher and middle classes of society resort 
 to Cambridge for the completion of their 
 education, there should exist no description 
 
 a 2 
 
4 
 
 of its studies and pursuits, claiming confi¬ 
 dence by its authority, and at the same 
 time adapted to the purpose of general 
 readers, though the subject is, beyond doubt, 
 closely allied to the best interests of the com¬ 
 munity. A publication, therefore, which 
 professes to afford some remedy for the want 
 of authorized information respecting this 
 University, cannot be better recommended 
 to the attention of the public, than under 
 the sanction of Your Lordship’s name.— 
 While it becomes us to rectify the errors of 
 those who gratefully acknowledge the sin¬ 
 gular advantages resulting from our civil 
 and ecclesiastical establishments, it is equally 
 expedient that we should endeavour to coun¬ 
 teract the mis-statements and false accusa¬ 
 tions of men, w’ho are not only uniformly 
 hostile to all that wears the venerable form 
 of antiquity, but who, in their incoherent 
 projects of reformation, would reduce the 
 attainments of every order of the State, 
 however elevated by rank or dignified by 
 
5 
 
 profession, within the limits prescribed by 
 their own contracted and illiberal views. 
 
 It has been objected to the eloquent and 
 splendid defence of our English Universities, 
 affixed to the publication of a great scholar 
 of the present day, that the author con¬ 
 ceived it more consistent with prudence to 
 
 dazzle his readers by a display of the powers 
 
 * 
 
 of impassioned language, than to enter into 
 a sober detail of what, it is alleged, he was 
 apprehensive might shrink from the test of 
 minute inquiry. This objection, then, un¬ 
 founded as it is, I have here attempted to 
 obviate, as far as it involves the merits of 
 Cambridge; fully persuaded, that, whatever 
 may be the inadequacy of the writer, an 
 undisguised statement of facts will alone be 
 sufficient to vindicate that renowned Univer* 
 sity, which justly regards Your Lordship as 
 the able and firm supporter of its rights and 
 privileges, from the obloquy of the political 
 innovator, and the intemperate attacks of the 
 unlettered enthusiast. With the warmest 
 
 A 3 
 
0 
 
 wishes for the undiminished prosperity of 
 our common Alma Mater, and with an ar¬ 
 dent expectation, that, when the tumultuous 
 scenes of the present generation shall have 
 passed away, this illustrious institution will 
 remain an imperishable bulwark of religion 
 and learning, I have the honour to be, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordship’s very obedient 
 
 And obliged Servant, * 
 
 LATHAM WAINEWRIGHT. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 IN publishing the following pages , the author 
 has been principally influenced by the suggestions 
 of others. After reading the History of Cam¬ 
 bridge, recently published by Mr. Dyer , he has 
 discovered nothing in that work to supersede the 
 necessity of the present , either with reference to 
 the information it is intended to convey , or to the 
 principles which it incidentally inculcates. He 
 trusts that in point of correctness of detail, but 
 little will be found to call for animadversion , as he 
 had the satisfaction of submitting his manuscript 
 to the inspection of two members of the University , 
 of learning and station , upon whose judgment he 
 could place implicit reliance. It may not be irre¬ 
 levant to observe , that though the author occasion¬ 
 ally speaks in the first person , he has , during the 
 last twelve years , ceased to reside in the Univer¬ 
 sity ; but as he continues to be a Member of the 
 Senate, he retains a vote in all its deliberative 
 
 a 4 
 
8 
 
 measures , and feels the highest interest in what¬ 
 ever is connected with the dignity and reputation 
 of that learned body . He is not aware that he has 
 said more than is requisite to enable the reader to 
 frame a just opinion on the subject; but should he 
 in some instances appear to be too diffuse, he must 
 trust for his vindication to the words of Quintilian: 
 “ Non minus autem cavenda erit , quce nimium cor- 
 ripientes omnia sequitur, obscuritas; satiusque est 
 aliquid narrationi superesse quam deesse 
 
THE 
 
 i 
 
 EtteratT anti §?ctenttfic fhinmtts, 
 
 & c. 
 
 <l Quels sages, rassembles dans ces augustes lieux, 
 
 “ Mesurent l’univers, et lisent dans les cieux; 
 
 “ Et, dans la nuit obscure apportant la lumiere 
 “ Sondent les profondeurs de la nature entiere! 
 u L’erreur presomptueuse a leur aspect s’enfuit, 
 
 €i Et vers la verite le doute les conduit.” 
 
 Henriade, Chant 7. 
 
 In the wide range of human inquiry, if we 
 except those political events, which still asto¬ 
 nish us by their unexpected occurrence, there 
 is no topic which has recently more occu¬ 
 pied the public mind, than the principles and 
 policy of general education. With all our 
 acknowledged dereliction of duty, and amidst 
 all the distraction inevitably created by the 
 prolonged evils of warfare, an ardent zeal 
 for the improvement of the mind, and an 
 
10 
 
 anxiety to diffuse the advantages of instruc¬ 
 tion among the lower orders of societ}^ have 
 in this kingdom been carried to such an unex¬ 
 ampled extent, as to form one of the cha¬ 
 racteristic distinctions of the present age. It is 
 no longer an axiom with legislators and states¬ 
 men, that ignorance is the best security against 
 the revolutions of empire. It is no longer con¬ 
 sidered as an indisputable truth, that the busi¬ 
 ness of private life is transacted with more 
 regularity, and that the correctness of private 
 morals is rendered less obnoxious to the tumults 
 of passion, by excluding the great mass of the 
 people from every acquirement which can tend 
 to enlarge the conceptions and to humanize the 
 * understanding. Experience certainly affords no 
 authority for believing that he is the most 
 rigorously observant of the principles of justice 
 and honour, whose mind is most devoid of ra¬ 
 tional ideas; and that he who is farthest re¬ 
 moved from intellectual improvement, is best 
 disposed to listen to the claims of gratitude and 
 benevolence. A position less liable to contro- 
 
 i i 
 
 yersy cannot well be imagined than this—that 
 no man forms a worse subject of govern¬ 
 ment, or a less useful member of the com mu- 
 
11 
 
 nity, because his intellects have been expanded 
 by the beams of truth and knowledge. To what 
 extent, indeed, this cultivation should be car¬ 
 ried, and what are the most efficacious means 
 for accomplishing the object in view, so as at 
 once to secure the subordination and to aug¬ 
 ment the happiness of social life, are points 
 which, we might naturally suppose, would give 
 rise to a diversity of sentiment; but respecting 
 the expedience of affording the opportunity of 
 instruction to the ignorant and depraved of 
 every condition, it is scarcely possible that, in 
 these enlightened times, more than one opinion 
 should prevail. 
 
 It is an ancient observation, the truth of 
 
 ■ 
 
 which, however generally acknowledged, has not 
 on that account been the less disregarded, that 
 the bulk of mankind, in their anxiety to avoid 
 one extreme, are too apt to rush with heed¬ 
 less impetuosity into the opposite. They 
 who have suffered in every aggravated form 
 the oppressions of monarchical despotism, 
 have, in their eagerness for the attainment of 
 liberty, too often terminated their efforts in de¬ 
 mocratic anarchy; while, on the other hand, the 
 
i 
 
 12 
 
 same spirit which has actuated the people in 
 demolishing the tyranny of some daring faction, 
 has in many instances led them to submit to a 
 state of degradation and slavery, equally injuri¬ 
 ous to their domestic happiness, though less de¬ 
 structive perhaps to their political prosperity. 
 Thus it has also happened with too many of the 
 enemies of Popery, who, in their zeal for abo¬ 
 lishing every vestige of superstition, placed no 
 restraint upon their rage for reform, till they 
 had fallen into the wildest excesses of heresy and 
 fanaticism. The same truth, it is to be appre¬ 
 hended, may be in some degree exemplified in 
 the subject before us. Enchanted by the pro¬ 
 spect held out of universal improvement, and 
 misled by their admiration of the plans which 
 have been recently introduced for the instruc¬ 
 tion of the young, there are not a few who 
 imagine that they cannot sufficiently testify 
 their ardour for the success of these modern in¬ 
 stitutions, except by depreciating the value of 
 the ancient. They think it impossible to ad¬ 
 mit the utility of the new system, without pro¬ 
 scribing, in the most unqualified terms, the 
 very primeval principles of the old. After all 
 
13 
 
 that has been advanced by the excessive par¬ 
 tiality of some, or attempted by the active 
 temerity of others, still the peculiar advantages 
 which belong to the mode of education now so 
 deservedly encouraged by the patronage of the 
 public, are principally conspicuous in its ap¬ 
 plication to the poor. The communication of 
 elementary knowledge is thus effected at a very 
 trifling expense* and its benefits may be thus 
 diffused to an extent beyond calculation. There 
 are, however, some persons of sanguine tem¬ 
 perament, who have expressed a firm belief that 
 the same plan may be introduced with equal 
 effect, into the higher departments of literature 
 and the more elevated classes of society ; but 
 they are obviously unmindful, that what may 
 be admirably calculated for the purpose, where 
 the strictest economy is an essential requisite, 
 and where the utmost ambition does not extend 
 beyond the attainment of the simplest principles 
 of knowledge, would be but ill adapted to a 
 sphere of life, where an early foundation must 
 be laid for polite accomplishments, and in many 
 cases, for profound scholarship, and where the 
 
 habits and notions of the individuals require a 
 
 3 
 
14 
 
 more polished as well as a more exact mode of 
 tuition. It was the remark of a celebrated 
 orator, long a distinguished ornament of the 
 British senate, which, in its unperverted sense* 
 is certainly entitled to our frequent recollec¬ 
 tion, that “ to innovate is not to reformand, 
 I believe, it will now scarcely he disputed by 
 those who have been most accustomed to exer¬ 
 cise their observation, that human systems, 
 which have been newly created throughout 
 every part of their texture, have seldom been 
 attended with the same success as alterations 
 and improvements cautiously effected in the 
 constitution of those which have been long 
 established. The effects of the former are fre¬ 
 quently not visible till they are rendered so by 
 approaching ruin; while, on the other hand, 
 the latter have rarely given rise to evils of so 
 destructive a nature, as not to admit of timely 
 remedy. 
 
 Whoever is at all acquainted with those 
 ephemeral theories of philosophy and religion 
 which owed their existence to the frenzy of the 
 French revolution, must unavoidably have ob- 
 served that men then estimated the extent of 
 
15 
 
 their talents by their success in removing every 
 vestige of opinions held sacred by the majority, 
 and that he was considered as possessing the 
 most brilliant intellect who was most daring in 
 divesting the mind of every useful prejudice, 
 and in recommending principles of action which 
 had no other claim to admiration, than their 
 repugnance to the authority and experience of 
 past ages. But though subsequent events have 
 in great measure corrected these aberrations 
 from reason and truth, and though the con¬ 
 templation of those tragic scenes which the last 
 five-and-twenty years have crowded on our 
 view have contributed to sober the extrava¬ 
 gances of these revolutionary speculatists, yet 
 
 * The present remarks were written before that lament¬ 
 able reverse in the affairs of Europe, which is now defeating 
 the results of the most sanguinary contest ever recorded in 
 the annals of civilized nations, and which really sets all pro¬ 
 spective reasoning at defiance. We are almost compelled to 
 acknowledge that the principles of politics have been ren¬ 
 dered, by the events of the present crisis, as difficult of 
 comprehension to ordinary understandings as the differ¬ 
 ential calculus of Newton and Leibnitz is to the novice in 
 science* 
 
4 
 
 16 
 
 some particles of the poison still lurk behind, 
 and occasionally show their existence, by pro¬ 
 ducing* effects which may ultimately prove in¬ 
 jurious to the repose of society. To the remains 
 of this once formidable passion for novelty may 
 be traced that disposition to condemn some of 
 our most venerable establishments, still observ¬ 
 able in minds of inferior attainments, and that 
 indiscriminate rashness which has led men of 
 higher consideration in the community, to cen¬ 
 sure the plans which have been adopted, and 
 the pursuits which are encouraged, in the two 
 primary Universities of this empire. 
 
 There are even some who have ventured to 
 
 proceed a step farther, and who have allowed 
 
 themselves to believe, that to send a young 
 
 ♦ 
 
 man to finish his education at college in the 
 present times, is, in truth, to introduce him into 
 a scene of idleness and dissipation, where the 
 tutors, lulled by luxurious ease, are indifferent 
 to the encouragement and reputation of learn¬ 
 ing, and where science, if not despised, is at 
 best cultivated with little success. These sen¬ 
 timents, so completely at variance with the 
 real fact, appear to have principally origin- 
 
17 
 
 ated in the mis-statements # and the exagge¬ 
 rated accounts which were published several 
 
 * Whatever foundation for just complaint may have ex¬ 
 isted at Oxford, when Dr. Knox published his treatise on 
 Education, his observations are generally admitted by the 
 candid, to have been overcharged even with regard to that 
 University; but, when applied to Cambridge, they serve only 
 to betray the prejudice and inaccuracy of the author, and 
 his want of diligence in making the requisite inquiries. To 
 deny the existence of any cause for animadversion in the 
 latter establishment, would be to suppose a state of perfec¬ 
 tion never to be found in human institutions. Let any one, 
 however, direct his view to the seminaries projected at va¬ 
 rious times for the education of those who call themselves ra - 
 tional Dissenters (to say nothing of similar foundations for 
 the Independents and the Methodists), in which the defects 
 and corruptions of the English Universities were professed 
 to be avoided, and the acquirements of learning were to be 
 accomplished with infinitely less toil and less consumption of 
 time; let him observe the success of these visionary at¬ 
 tempts, and ask where are now the academies of Warring¬ 
 ton, Daventry, and Hackney, and what is the condition of 
 the few which have escaped the wreck of their companions, 
 and he will then be less disposed to indulge in unreasonable 
 declamation against those venerable and magnificent institu¬ 
 tions, which have endured the trial of so many ages, or tp 
 he led away by chimerical dreams of the possibility of ev 
 
 £ 
 
IS 
 
 years ago by a popular and respectable writer 
 on education, who in bis strictures upon the 
 Universities, has included both in one sweeping 
 sentence of condemnation; and, regardless of 
 the accuracy so essential in the dissemination of 
 pointed censure, has charged the defects and 
 errors of the one, with equal and undistinguished 
 violence on the other. It is certainly a point of 
 no trifling importance, and one which is nearly 
 allied to our national prosperity and manners, 
 to ascertain whether these invectives and com- 
 
 emption from practical error. A slight comparison of the 
 different effects of the established and the experimental plans, 
 will be sufficient to determine their respective merits. The 
 very superficial attainments of the great body of Dissenters , 
 acknowledged even by some of their own members, but to 
 which I admit there are a few brilliant exceptions, will alone 
 justify the reprobation of all their absurd and puerile 
 schemes, which have arisen from their enmity against exist¬ 
 ing establishments, and from their once favourite doctrine of 
 the perfectibility of man. Even to the most rational of the 
 ideal plans, which have been formed by men of some inge¬ 
 nuity perhaps, but of more vanity, we might apply the re¬ 
 mark of Baron de Grimm, speaking of the writings of Rous¬ 
 seau — u On est toujours tente de dire, cela est tres-beau 
 et tres-faux.” 
 
19 
 
 plaints are well founded, and to state to the 
 world the merits and demerits of those ancient 
 and opulent establishments, in which a large 
 proportion of our senators and lawyers*, and 
 the great body of the clergy, are destined to 
 prepare themselves for the exercise of their re¬ 
 spective functions. 
 
 In the observations and detail which oc¬ 
 cupy the following pages, I have confined my¬ 
 self to that celebrated Seat of Learning, which 
 possesses the strongest claim upon my gratitude 
 and veneration ; and I hope to be able to evince, 
 that the accusations which have been alleged 
 
 * It was formerly a remark, justified by daily expert 
 ence, that there was no class of men, unconnected with 
 mercantile pursuits, whose knowledge was more exclusively 
 confined to their own profession than that of lawyers. Since, 
 however, the advice of Judge Blackstone has been more 
 generally adopted, and it has become a more usual practice 
 to send young men designed for the Bar, to one of our 
 Universities, instead of paralyzing their faculties in the 
 noxious atmosphere of an attorney’s office, a visible altera¬ 
 tion has taken place, and our English advocates more largely 
 participate in those acquisitions of literature and science, by 
 which the other learned professions have long been dis* 
 tinguished, 
 
 k. 
 
 £ 2 
 
20 
 
 against our Universities generally, do not apply 
 to that of Cambridge, leaving the defence of 
 the sister University to some of her numerous 
 and grateful sons Let it not, however, be 
 imagined, that the plan of education here de¬ 
 scribed, will correspond with that ideal per¬ 
 fection, which the fancy of many may have 
 pictured to them in radiant but delusive colours, 
 or that it will not, in some particulars, admit 
 of improvements, which might contribute to 
 strengthen the interests of the republic of let¬ 
 ters. I am not attempting to delineate what 
 might be effected by the concentrated talents 
 of all the wise and great, were it possible to 
 obtain the result of their united counsels, but 
 what has been long adopted with success, in 
 the production of accomplished scholars and 
 exalted characters; not what speculation may 
 
 * The alterations and improvements which have, within 
 a few years past, been introduced into the Oxford system, 
 have been laid before the world, by the late Poetry Professor 
 in that University, who has since established an unequivocal 
 claim to the praise of every lover of learning, by the publi¬ 
 cation of the Prelections which he delivered while he occu¬ 
 pied the Professor’s chair. 
 
21 
 
 lead some few to imagine, might be attained 
 with less obstruction from prejudice and error, 
 but what is, in fact, openly displayed to the 
 world, and is proved to be practicable from its 
 acknowledged effects. Nor am I inquiring 
 whether particular instances may not be pointed 
 out, of individuals who have quitted the walls 
 of their college with as slender a portion of 
 learning as they possessed at their entrance, 
 and who may perhaps have injured their for¬ 
 tunes and their health beyond the reach of aid. 
 Such instances, we have reason to lament, will 
 occasionally occur in the best-regulated socie¬ 
 ties; but unless the causes to which they are to 
 be ascribed, can be proved to affect a numerous 
 proportion of those who are placed in the same 
 circumstances, they cannot be alleged as an ar¬ 
 gument of any force against the institution 
 itself. The state of our collegiate discipline, I 
 am persuaded, will be found greatly superior to 
 the opinion too often entertained on this point; 
 and it may be affirmed with confidence, that in 
 the majority of instances of irregular and disso¬ 
 lute conduct, the culpability will attach more 
 frequently to the folly and indulgence of pa- 
 
 b 3 
 
22 
 
 rents, than to any defect in our academical re¬ 
 strictions. Notwithstanding the deficiencies 
 and deviations of a few who absurdly suppose 
 that a release from the severity of school en¬ 
 titles them to disregard the regulations of col¬ 
 lege, I believe it may be said of this illustrious 
 establishment, that there is no society insti¬ 
 tuted for the advancement of knowledge, in 
 which a greater number of its members can 
 adopt with truth the sentiment of the younger 
 Pliny, “ Etgaudium mihi et solatium in literis'; 
 nihilque tarn lastum quod his lastius, nihil tarn 
 triste quod non per has sit minus triste.” 
 
 My more immediate object is to show, that 
 in the University of Cambridge every student 
 who comes properly prepared and well disposed 
 —and without these qualifications* the instruc¬ 
 tions of a Newton would be of little avail—has 
 the fairest opportunity of acquiring the most 
 valuable knowledge, and of cultivating almost 
 every species of science in the most advantage¬ 
 ous manner. In order to evince the truth of 
 this observation, it will be expedient to notice 
 the different branches of learning which are 
 there considered as the principal objects of at- 
 
23 
 
 tention, as well as the manner in which they 
 are generally pursued. For our present pur¬ 
 pose, these pursuits may not improperly be 
 classed under three heads,—Classics and general 
 Literature—Natural Philosophy and Mathema¬ 
 tics-Morals (including Political Philosophy) 
 Metaphysics, and Theology. 
 
 I. It has been often asserted, but has never 
 yet been proved, that classical literature, so far 
 from experiencing proper encouragement at 
 Cambridge, is both despised and neglected; 
 and it has been falsely imagined, that he who 
 
 0 
 
 there aspires to academical distinction, must 
 relinquish the fairy haunts of the Muses, and 
 for ever renounce the society of the poets, the 
 orators, and the sages of Greece and Rome, 
 who had been the companions of his earlier 
 days, and were destined, he had hoped, to con¬ 
 tribute to the comfort of his maturer years. 
 We have ample reason, however, to congratu¬ 
 late ourselves upon possessing a system of edu¬ 
 cation, as comprehensive as it is strict and ac¬ 
 curate, and which at once excludes a supposi¬ 
 tion not less erroneous than it is degrading. 
 Whilst the student pursues the sublimities, and 
 
 b 4 
 
24 
 
 ascends with perseverance the craggy precipices 
 of modern science, he neglects not to analyze 
 the beauties and to trace the paths of ancient 
 literature. The true state of the case is, that 
 classical lectures take place in every college 
 throughout that part of each term which re* 
 quires residence, and uniform attendance is en¬ 
 forced with a proper degree of strictness. Those 
 authors are selected which afford most scope 
 for critical remark, and which at the same time 
 are distinguished by a display of the higher 
 beauties of sentiment and composition *. The 
 
 * Were there no other proof of the high cultivation of 
 classical learning in this University, it would be quite suf¬ 
 ficient to refer to the erudite labours of the unrivalled 
 Porson, to the admirable editions of the Greek dramas, pub¬ 
 lished within the space of a few years by Professor Monk, 
 Mr. Blomfield, and Dr. Butler; and to a recent periodical 
 work printed at the Cambridge press, entitled Museum Criti - 
 cum. In the difficult department of Greek Metres, it can¬ 
 not be considered as any exaggeration to say, that there is 
 no production of the continental scholars which can be at all 
 compared to Professor Porson’s Supplement to the Preface 
 prefixed to his edition of the Hecuba of Euripides, or to Dr. 
 Burney’s “ Tentamen de Metris ab iEschylo in Choricis 
 Calitibus adhibitis.’’ The favourable opinion which this 
 
 5 
 
25 
 
 finest plays of the Greek Tragedians, Plato’s 
 Dialogues, the Histories of Herodotus and Thu¬ 
 cydides, Aristotle’s Poetics, Cicero’s philoso¬ 
 phical works, and the two treatises of Tacitus, 
 might be enumerated as some of the more usual 
 of the writings of antiquity chosen for this pur¬ 
 pose. The advantages on these occasions do 
 not consist merely in calling upon the student 
 to explain the text of the author then in use, 
 but principally in the opportunity afforded of 
 hearing the criticisms of a learned and judicious 
 preceptor, who, in addition to the result of his 
 own researches, can frequently avail himself of 
 manuscript observations not generally acces¬ 
 sible. By this means it happens, that scarcely 
 any striking beauties of expression, peculiarities 
 of structure, or niceties of prosody, are suffered 
 to escape the attention of his hearers. 
 
 Another instance, in proof of the attention 
 which is required to classical pursuits, is afforded 
 
 statement must create of the classical merits of Cambridge, 
 might be still farther confirmed by referring to the dedica¬ 
 tion of Dr. Burney’s edition of the Lexicon Technologicum 
 of Philemon. 
 
in the examination for the several scholarships 
 attached to every college, in which, with a few 
 exceptions, a proficiency in Greek and Latin is 
 considered as more essential than skill in mathe¬ 
 matics. The stipends annexed to these scholar¬ 
 ships indeed are, generally speaking, but small, 
 but still they are found by experience to be 
 amply sufficient to attract competitors, and to 
 create emulation. Nor must we omit to enu¬ 
 merate amongst these incitements, the excellent 
 institution of college prizes * *. Once or twice in 
 
 . -- i 
 
 * As a specimen of these annual college 'prizes we may 
 mention, that at Trinity there are two prizes for Latin de¬ 
 clamations and three for English, the former consisting of 
 money and the latter of silver goblets : also £10 for the best 
 essay on the character of William III.; the same sum for the 
 best qualified student of those who are candidates for their 
 Bachelor’s degree; and two smaller sums for the two best 
 readers in chapel, besides various prizes of books distributed 
 to those who compose the two first classes at the annual ex¬ 
 aminations. At St. John’s,* prizes to the amount of more 
 than <£?100 are annually conferred in a similar manner. Of 
 these there is one for the best proficient in moral philosophy 
 among the commencing Bachelors of Arts, and several for 
 the best declamations and themes. In almost every college 
 a short weekly composition, either in English or Latin, here 
 
the week, during term, according to the mag¬ 
 nitude of the college, a particular day is ap¬ 
 pointed for the public delivery of two declama-- 
 tions by the undergraduates in rotation, to be 
 composed in Latin and English alternately 
 every year. By taking opposite sides of the 
 question fixed upon for discussion, a greater de¬ 
 gree of exertion is naturally required, the rea¬ 
 soning faculty is more vigorously excited, and 
 a comparison between the different claimants is 
 more easily effected. Nothing, in truth, can be 
 more gratifying than to listen to these effusions 
 of youthful genius, destined, perhaps, at some 
 future period, to instruct mankind in wisdom, 
 or to influence their actions by the powers of 
 eloquence. 
 
 To this more private mode of encouraging 
 the pursuit of classical literature, I must not 
 
 termed a theme , is required from those undergraduates who 
 are in their first or second year’s residence, though the pre- 
 
 r 
 
 cise regulations may vary in our different societies: and if 
 the example of St. John’s College, in offering prizes for the 
 best themes , were generally followed, it would certainly add 
 very materially to the encouragement, which already exists, 
 to a proficiency in prose composition. 
 
28 
 
 neglect to add the public prizes and scholarships 
 instituted for the same purpose, and which, by 
 being open to general competition, afford a 
 more trying scene to the efforts of literary am¬ 
 bition, and are on that account frequently more 
 productive of meritorious exertion. Among 
 the foremost of these are the three medals , 
 which, in conformity with the will of Sir William 
 Browne, are annually distributed to such under¬ 
 graduates as prove themselves to be the success¬ 
 ful claimants, by the following compositions: 
 1st, The best Greek ode in imitation of Sappho; 
 2dly, The best Latin ode in imitation of Horace; 
 3dly, The best Greek and Latin epigrams, of 
 which the Anthologia and Martial are to be 
 considered as the models. They are afterwards 
 recited by the successful candidates in the 
 Senate House, before the members of the Uni¬ 
 versity, and a numerous assembly of visitors. 
 There are also two medals annually given by the 
 Chancellor of the University, to the two best 
 proficients in classical literature amongst those 
 who have just obtained their first degree, lit 
 the present instance there is an excellent regu¬ 
 lation—that no one shall become a candidate 
 
29 
 
 for these prizes, unless he was included in th« 
 two * first classes of honours, when he was ad¬ 
 mitted a graduate. A third medal has been 
 added by the present Chancellor, the Duke of 
 Gloucester, which is annually conferred upon 
 the undergraduate who shall be adjudged to be 
 the author of the best English poem, composed 
 either in the lyric or the heroic measure. 
 
 The next prizes which merit the attention of 
 persons unacquainted with the system at Cam¬ 
 bridge, are those which are given by the repre¬ 
 sentatives in Parliament of this University, to the 
 authors of the four best Latin prose dissertations; 
 and as they are confined to those who have taken 
 their first degree, they contribute to remove the 
 objection which has sometimes been made, that 
 when once a student becomes a graduate, all far¬ 
 ther incentive to exertion ceases to exist. The 
 same observation is applicable to the Seatonian 
 
 * It should here be observed, that the subjects of exa¬ 
 mination for the first degree (B. A.) consist of Natural 
 Philosophy, Mathematics, Moral, Political, and Intellectual 
 Philosophy; so that the above regulation secures the attain¬ 
 ment of most of the different branches of academical learning. 
 
30 
 
 prize , for the best English poem on a sacred sub¬ 
 ject, which is restricted to Masters of Arts. The 
 two following prizes I have introduced in this 
 place, because, though they are, strictly speak¬ 
 ing, designed for the encouragement of theolo¬ 
 gical learning, they contribute at the same time 
 to promote a proficiency in English composition. 
 The first of these, entitled the Norrisian prize , 
 was founded by a highly respected individual 
 (Mr. Norris), whose zeal for the diffusion of 
 Christian knowledge, and whose singular gene¬ 
 rosity of mind, have, in more than one instance, 
 claimed the gratitude of this University. He 
 left an estate for the purpose of furnishing an 
 annual premium to any member, under the de¬ 
 gree of Master of Arts, who should compose 
 the best essay, in English prose , upon some 
 sacred subject, to be appointed by the Norrisian 
 Professor of Divinity, and which is directed to 
 be afterwards published. Similar to this is the 
 Hulsean prize (so called from the founder’s 
 name), which is annually adjudged to the au¬ 
 thor of the best dissertation in English prose, on 
 some point connected with the evidences of 
 Christianity. The age of the candidate must 
 
31 
 
 not be less than twenty nor beyond thirty years; 
 and the essay which obtains the prize is re¬ 
 quired to be printed 
 
 Besides these public prizes, there are not 
 fewer than fourteen public scholarships, of which, 
 while some are upon nearly the same plan of 
 general competition, others are subject to some 
 
 * Should it be an object of curiosity with any person to 
 be made acquainted with the value of these public prizes, 
 the following will be found to be a correct statement. Sir 
 W. Browne’s prizes consist of three gold medals, of the 
 value of five guineas each. The Chancellor’s prizes consist 
 of three gold medals, equal in value to fifteen guineas each. 
 The Members’ prizes are fifteen guineas each, distributed in 
 money. The Seatonian prize amounts to forty pounds, the 
 Norrisian to twelve pounds (part of which is to be expended 
 upon a gold medal, and the remainder in books), and the 
 Hulsean likewise to forty pounds. It is a fact well deserving 
 of notice, and which furnishes an ample reply to any objec¬ 
 tion to this part of the Cambridge system, that the public 
 prizes, open to the competition of the whole University, 
 amount annually to nearly nine hundred pounds , three fourths 
 of which are appropriated to the encouragement of classical 
 literature and English composition: and that the yearly 
 amount of the smaller prizes peculiar to the different colleges, 
 may be estimated at about three hundred pounds, two thirds 
 of which are devoted to the same purpose. 
 
32 
 
 few restrictions, but most of them are designed 
 to promote the advancement of classical learn¬ 
 ing, and composition The last of these, en¬ 
 titled the Pitt scholarship, has been only very 
 recently established out of the surplus money 
 of the subscription raised for the purpose of 
 erecting a statue, in the Senate House, to the 
 memory of that illustrious character, Mr. Pitt; 
 and which was increased by a donation from 
 the members of the Pitt Club, formed in the 
 capital. It is not always consistent with fair¬ 
 ness of judgment, to estimate the merits of 
 particular measures by their ultimate success; 
 but it may surely be affirmed, without incurring 
 the imputation of prejudice, that the late glo¬ 
 rious termination of the long-protracted con¬ 
 tests of Europe, must be ascribed to a strict 
 adherence to the political system, so vigorously 
 pursued by that eloquent and profound states- 
 
 * The scholarships, here referred to, are the following t 
 Two, called Craven scholarships, founded by Lord Craven ; 
 one founded by Sir William Browne; one by Dr. Batti'e; 
 one by Dr. Davies, formerly Provost of Eton; and eight by 
 Dr. Bell, one of the present prebendaries of Westminster; 
 besides the Fdt scholarship. 
 
 \ 
 
S3 
 
 man: and it cannot but afford a source of 
 grateful reflection, that whatever may have 
 been the discordant opinions of the parties of 
 the day, the admiration of his talents will at 
 least be perpetuated in this earliest scene of his 
 exertions, by the institutions of literature and 
 the works of art. 
 
 Under this first division of pursuits, we 
 may, without any great violation of propriety, 
 class the public lectures on modern history , as 
 well as those on the laws of England. The first 
 course of lectures, on the former subject, were 
 delivered by the late Professor, Dr. Symonds, 
 whose learning and talents were displayed on 
 this occasion, with equal advantage to his au¬ 
 ditors and credit to himself. It has occasionally 
 been remarked, and apparently with some de¬ 
 gree of justice, that public lectures, upon any 
 subject which does not require illustration from 
 experiment, serve little other purpose than to 
 afford amusement for an idle hour, or to pro¬ 
 cure emolument for some literary speculator. 
 Were the generality of men sufficiently desirous 
 of knowledge, to induce them to search for it 
 in the numerous volumes within their reach, or 
 
 c 
 
54 
 
 eould they always command that share of per¬ 
 severance and attention which every intellectual 
 pursuit must unavoidably require, I should in 
 that case readily concur in the opinion, that 
 attendance on lectures of this description 
 would afford little more than rational entertain- 
 ment. But, alas! the great bulk of mankind are 
 too little solicitous about the acquirements of 
 learning, to sacrifice their indolent habits in 
 subduing its difficulties, without external assist¬ 
 ance; and we may safely pronounce that the 
 majority of those whom birth and fortune have 
 distinguished from the rest of the world, would 
 
 i 
 
 be destitute of much valuable information, were 
 they precluded from recurring to this public 
 and agreeable mode of instruction. It is not, 
 however, a mere recital of facts which consti¬ 
 tutes the substance of these historical lectures, 
 especially as they are conducted by the present 
 Professor. On the contrary, indebted to his 
 acute and multifarious researches, they are re¬ 
 plete with curious observations on the manners 
 and customs of different countries, their various 
 forms of government, and the maxims of policy 
 which have prevailed in each; and they dwell 
 
S5 
 
 with peculiar interest on all cnose grand topics 
 connected with the welfare of nations and the 
 principles of legislation, which render history 
 and political economy so essentially requisite in 
 the education of a statesman 
 
 Of similar utility are the lectures delivered 
 by the Dowing Professor of the laws of Eng¬ 
 land. The admirable Commentaries of Judge 
 Blackstone, it is true, now form part of the 
 library of every gentleman ; but though they 
 are, without question, entirely elementary, and 
 only profess to sketch the outlines of English 
 
 * The celebrated production of Dr. Adam Smith on 
 the Wealth of Nations , notwithstanding its liability to objec¬ 
 tion in some few of its principles, still maintains the highest 
 rank among the works which have been published on the 
 comparatively modern subject of Political Economy. In that 
 chapter, however, where the nature and condition of Euro¬ 
 pean Universities come under discussion, it may be affirmed 
 with justice, that some of his positions may, to say the least, 
 be considered as disputable; and that certainly the greater 
 part of his remarks have long been totally inapplicable to 
 our system of education at Cambridge. It is not improbable 
 that the sceptical sentiments of the author, on the subject 
 of religion, may have thrown a shade over his views of every 
 thing connected with ecclesiastical institutions. 
 
 C 2 
 
* • 
 
 36 
 
 jurisprudence; yet, to a beginner, they contain 
 several difficulties which require elucidation, 
 and not a few passages which may be rendered 
 more attractive by the remarks of a skilful 
 lecturer. The first and last volumes treat upon 
 subjects so interwoven with the transactions of 
 common life, that no one can be justified who 
 does not render himself familiar with the in¬ 
 formation they contain. To every man who 
 has the most distant prospect of becoming pos¬ 
 sessed of landed property, it is a desirable object 
 that he should acquire a general acquaintance 
 with the principal laws which regulate its de¬ 
 scent, and the various modes of alienation to 
 which it is subject. These particulars are 
 discussed with conciseness and precision by 
 this popular and constitutional jurist, in his 
 second volume. The third volume is, perhaps, 
 the least interesting to those who are not de¬ 
 signed for the legal profession. The detail re¬ 
 lative to the forms of proceeding in an action 
 at law and a suit in equity, and the intermix¬ 
 ture of technical terms, however necessary in a 
 work of this nature, certainly do not claim any 
 extraordinary share of attention from the gene- 
 
37 
 
 xal scholar, nor can they be supposed to afford 
 any very refined pleasure to a mind ardently 
 attached to the pursuits of literature. Some 
 particulars there are, however, in this third 
 volume, such as the description of the courts 
 of judicature, and the history and law of the 
 trial by jury, of too much importance to be 
 included in the scope of the preceding remark. 
 As it is highly probable that the “ Commen¬ 
 taries on the Laws of England” will be always 
 selected by the professor of the day, as the text¬ 
 book to be recommended to his auditors, it 
 must be a matter of no inconsiderable advantage 
 to have those chapters pointed out to them, 
 which may be omitted without affecting their 
 knowledge of what is useful op the subject.—A 
 course of lectures is also annually delivered in 
 this University on the Homan civil law , by the 
 Regius Professor of that faculty, of which 
 an excellent specimen is afforded in the analysis 
 published by the late Dr. Halifax, Bishop of 
 St. Asaph. These lectures are principally at¬ 
 tended by those who are destined to follow the 
 profession of a civilian, and by those who in- 
 
 c 3 
 
38 
 
 tend to take their first degree in law , instead 
 . of the more usual mode of proceeding in arts. 
 
 In describing the incentives to the cultiva¬ 
 tion of general literature, it is perhaps impos¬ 
 sible to mention any thing more conducive to 
 this great object, than a regulation which has 
 been for many years adopted by several of our 
 collegiate bodies; nor need I apprehend any 
 inclination to dispute the truth of this assertion, 
 when I name the college examinations *, which 
 owe their introduction into this place of edu¬ 
 cation to Dr. Powell, formerly Master of St. 
 John’s College. The students are examined 
 once, and in some instances twice, every year, 
 in the halls of their respective colleges, not only 
 in classical and mathematical learning, but on 
 various points of history, geography, chrono¬ 
 logy, and antiquities. At the termination, a 
 list is formed of all who have passed this lite- 
 
 * It certainly requires explanation why several of the 
 smaller colleges should entirely neglect a plan which has 
 been found by experience to be so productive of advantage; 
 nor can the plea of a probable want of emulation from 
 paucity of numbers be of any avail, till the trial has been 
 fairly made. 
 
39 
 
 rary trial, in which the names are arranged ac¬ 
 cording to their comparative merit, and rewards 
 are allotted to those individuals who compose 
 the two first classes. Many, to whom the ac¬ 
 quisition of fame has no charms, and who are 
 content “ to keep the noiseless tenour of their 
 way,” may elude the severity of the general or 
 university examinations, as well as some share 
 of the opprobrium inseparably attached to igno¬ 
 rance and stupidity, by an open avowal of their 
 aversion to the branches of science particularly 
 appropriated to those occasions, and their total 
 indifference to the attainment of distinction. 
 But in these more private examinations, the 
 number of candidates being smaller, and the 
 contest lying between those who daily associate 
 with each other, the abilities of each cannot 
 fail to be properly appreciated, and a spirit of 
 emulation is perhaps more effectually excited. 
 
 IL We now proceed to the second division 
 of those subjects of academical pursuit, which are 
 adopted at Cambridge, and which comprehend 
 Natural Philosophy and Mathematics. It seldom 
 happens that an acquaintance has been made with 
 these extensive departments of science at school, 
 
 c 4 
 
40 
 
 and hence we cannot feel much surprise, that 
 when they are first held out to the student’s 
 attention, they should present a formidable as¬ 
 pect. But, however forbidding the commence¬ 
 ment of these studies may appear, it has fre¬ 
 quently been observed, that, after the obstacles 
 which impede our early efforts have been sur¬ 
 mounted, there are no branches of knowledge 
 by which rational curiosity has been more gra¬ 
 tified, the ardour of the mind more excited, 
 and the reasoning faculty of the soul more 
 strengthened and improved. It is true, indeed, 
 that the celebrated and sceptical Gibbon, as ap¬ 
 pears from his Posthumous Works, relinquished 
 the pursuit of mathematics, because he conceived 
 that the habit of rigid demonstration, to which 
 it accustoms the mind, is destructive of the 
 finer feelings of moral evidence, which must 
 determine the opinions and actions of our lives. 
 The position, however, here advanced, is by no 
 means supported by actual fact; but, on the 
 contrary, it has been truly observed, that “ al¬ 
 most all the best judges of moral evidence, and 
 particularly the great modern advocates for the 
 evidences of Christianity, have been mathemati¬ 
 cians.” 
 
41 
 
 Attendance upon lectures on Geometry, 
 Trigonometry, Algebra, Conic Sections, Flux¬ 
 ions, and the four mathematical branches of 
 Natural Philosophy, in succession, is required 
 in most of the colleges, every day, and in others, 
 every alternate day; and if the enforcement of 
 punctuality on these occasions is more neces¬ 
 sary, it arises from that reluctance which these 
 subjects are apt to create in the minds of those 
 who have never been accustomed to the abstract 
 reasoning of pure mathematics, or to the accuracy 
 of philosophical induction. Numerous are the 
 works which have been offered to the public, 
 to facilitate the acquisition of geometrical 
 science; and while some have only attempted to 
 simplify the reasonings of Euclid, others have 
 recommended plans for teaching the subject 
 upon principles totally different, professing, in¬ 
 deed, to lead to the same conclusions, with 
 equal strictness of demonstration, but with less 
 obstruction to the comprehension of youth. 
 But whatever arguments have been alleged iij. 
 favour of these deviations from the beaten path, 
 the University has, in my apprehension, acted 
 wisely in adhering to the work of the great 
 
42 
 
 father of geometry, as presented to the world 
 by his best editor. It may be true, indeed, 
 that some of the difficulties discoverable in 
 “ The Elements,” may have been obviated by 
 the writers referred to; but it is also true, that 
 in most of them objections are to be found, 
 which more than counterbalance this boasted 
 advantage. The demonstrations of Euclid, in¬ 
 deed, have rarely occasioned any serious ob¬ 
 stacles to any one possessed of moderate capa¬ 
 city ; and it is evidently more desirable to 
 study the works of an author in their unaltered 
 state, when no decided advantage is to be 
 gained by abridgments and modifications. 
 
 It was not till within a few years, that any 
 general text-book was made use of on the sub¬ 
 ject of Natural Philosophy, but each college 
 adopted such works as appeared most eligible to 
 the tutor, or those which custom had long esta¬ 
 blished. No inconsiderable advantage has been 
 derived both to the tutors and the students from 
 the joint publication of Professor Vince and Dr. 
 Wood, recently elected Master of St. John’s Col¬ 
 lege, which comprises in four volumes the fol¬ 
 lowing subjects—algebra, fluxions, mechanics, 
 
43 
 
 hydrostatics (including pneumatics), optics, and 
 astronomy. The erudition and skill of both these 
 highly distinguished members of the University, 
 in the recondite parts of mathematical science, 
 no one I imagine will hesitate to acknowledge. 
 
 Whether indeed, in accommodating their talents 
 to the apprehension of younger minds, they 
 have in every case been sufficiently attentive to 
 perspicuity of expression and simplicity of ar¬ 
 rangement, has to some been a matter of doubt; 
 but by uniting into one comprehensive work 
 the substance of what is expected to be acquired 
 on those subjects in every college, they have! 
 unquestionably afforded a fairer opportunity for 
 the exertion of the student, than when he was 
 left to depend upon the variable judgment of 
 others for the choice of proper publications. 
 In addition to the subjects contained in these 
 volumes, the college lectures in this depart¬ 
 ment, after having passed through the elements 
 of geometry , trigonometry , and conic sections , 
 terminate with propriety in the Principia of 
 Newton . He, however, who understands the 
 term lecture in its usual acceptation, will in 
 the - present instance be greatly mistaken ; 
 for one of the most prominent excellences 
 
 (n j 
 
 
44 
 
 which distinguish the plan adopted at Cam¬ 
 bridge, consists in the personal exertions 
 required from every individual. The student 
 does not enter the lecture-room of his college 
 for the sole purpose of listening with passive 
 attention to the observations and comments of 
 the tutor, but is called upon to prove the va¬ 
 rious propositions offered to his class, sometimes 
 orally, but, in the generality of cases, by the 
 more explicit and less fallacious mode of writ¬ 
 ing. By this plan of committing the several 
 answers to paper, it at once becomes apparent 
 how far the subject is really understood by 
 each, and an easy method is furnished of esti¬ 
 mating their relative merit. Many to whom a 
 viva voce examination is formidable and embar¬ 
 rassing, are by this means enabled to call forth 
 the full strength of their faculties, unawed by 
 the dread of ridicule, and to display the result 
 of their private industry, without any impedi¬ 
 ment, which might possibly arise from the pre¬ 
 sence of vigilant competitors. 
 
 During the third year’s residence, every stu¬ 
 dent who aspires to the honour of a Bachelors 
 fegrec is required to keep his exercises in the 
 
 3 
 
45 
 
 philosophical schools . They consist in public 
 
 disputations before a presiding Moderator, whose 
 skill in mathematical and philosophical subjects 
 has been duly estimated before his election to 
 that arduous office. Three questions, previously 
 announced to the disputants, form the subject 
 of their discussion, of which the first is usually 
 one of the sections of Newton’s Principia; the 
 second, some point in Natural Philosophy, as 
 the aberration of light, or the theory of the rain¬ 
 bow; and the third is taken from some mora., 
 metaphysical, or political topic, as the nature of 
 moral obligation, the reality of innate ideas, or 
 the comparative merits of a limited monarchy 
 and a republic. These questions the respondent 
 is obliged to defend against the arguments of 
 three successive opponents , which, being gene¬ 
 rally founded upon some fallacy, afford full 
 scope for the exercise of acuteness and skill to 
 each of the contending parties. Many persons 
 who have been accustomed to hear of the ab¬ 
 surdities practised, till very recently, in the 
 schools at Oxford, and to despise those sense¬ 
 less forms which were only suited to the darker 
 ages, have been led to eutertain the same de- 
 
4 6 
 
 grading opinion of the public disputations at 
 Cambridge. So far, however, is this from being 
 the fact, that I may venture to affirm, that, con¬ 
 ducted as they generally are, they not only ex¬ 
 cite much preparatory exertion, but they pro¬ 
 duce at the time a most beneficial contest of 
 mental acuteness, and require no inconsiderable 
 share of information on the appointed topics of 
 dispute. It has been objected by many who 
 fully admit the utility of these scholastic exer- 
 citations, that they are carried on in the Latin 
 language; and since this certainly cannot be 
 said to promote the attainment of classical cor¬ 
 rectness, but, on the contrary, since it must, in 
 many instances, tend to impede that unembar¬ 
 rassed expression of thought so desirable on 
 these occasions, I think it might be an im¬ 
 provement to adopt the use of the vernacular 
 tongue, though I acknowledge it to be an ob¬ 
 ject of no essential importance Before these 
 
 * One advantage the present plan seems clearly to pos¬ 
 sess, in checking that cacoethes loquendi, which the most- 
 ignorant are too frequently the most prone to indulge ; and 
 
 i 
 
 with respect to those who have been educated at a public 
 school, the objection, perhaps, vanishes altogether. 
 
47 
 
 disputations take place in the schools, the study 
 of the works of Newton commences; but it 
 does not often happen that they occupy much 
 attention till the last year of residence. It is 
 certainly a reflection, not a little flattering to 
 this University, and affording an unquestionable 
 indication of our advancement in science, that 
 the Principia of Sir Isaac Newton, a work which 
 on its first appearance in the world baffled the 
 comprehension of some of the most renowned 
 mathematicians of Europe, is now read with fa¬ 
 cility, and studied with pleasure of no ordinary 
 kind, by many of our undergraduates who have 
 scarcely attained their twentieth year. To those 
 who regulate their opinions by their own at¬ 
 tainments, and who are accustomed to measure 
 the utility of any species of knowledge by its 
 tendency to promote the acquisition of wealth 
 or power, this ability to comprehend the sub¬ 
 lime reasoning of that transcendent and immor¬ 
 tal genius, may probably appear to be an object 
 unworthy of youthful ambition. We can 
 easily believe, indeed, that, to the minds of 
 men debased by a perpetual commerce with the 
 sordid part of society, the sentiment of the 
 
4S 
 
 Roman orator must be utterly beyond the most 
 laboured conception : “ Inest in eadem explica- 
 tione natural, insatiabilis qugedam e cogno- 
 scendis rebus voluptas; in qua una, confectis 
 rebus necessariis, vacui negotiis, honeste ac li- 
 beraliter possumus vivere # but to those who 
 view with feelings of delight the intellectual 
 improvement of the human race, and who think 
 that every advancement in knowledge carries 
 us another step towards the possession of ge¬ 
 nuine happiness, this superiority above our an¬ 
 cestors will appear to be not less honourable to 
 the system of education in which it originated, 
 than decidedly encouraging to our future pro¬ 
 spects. 
 
 Several of the public and private scholar¬ 
 ships also require a certain degree of proficiency 
 in the subjects of this second class,, and two 
 prizes were instituted by Dr. Smith, formerly 
 Master of Trinity College, and the author of 
 one of our most valuable works on Optics, for 
 the exclusive encouragement of the pursuit of 
 mathematics, which are annually conferred soon 
 ^ -- ■■ .■ ■■ .. . ■ ■■ 
 
 * Cic. de Fin. lib. iii. 
 
 v 
 
4ft 
 
 after the general examination in the Senate 
 House. 
 
 Under this second division of academical 
 pursuits at Cambridge, may properly be placed 
 the public lectures on physical science. Of these, 
 the first which claims our notice is the 
 course of lectures, delivered by the Plumian 
 Professor, on experimental philosophy, explain¬ 
 ing the principal phenomena of the natural 
 world, in a plain and perspicuous manner, with 
 no other admixture of mathematics than a re¬ 
 ference to general results. No one, who is at 
 all competent to decide, will deny that it is im¬ 
 possible to convey just and distinct ideas re¬ 
 specting the causes which operate in producing 1 
 the various appearances of nature, and their 
 peculiar mode of acting, by any other expe¬ 
 dient than experiment. To say nothing of the 
 durable impression this method is calculated to 
 produce, it may with truth be affirmed, that 
 the most correct and best executed engravings 
 can afford but a very inadequate conception of 
 the theories and facts they are designed to ex¬ 
 plain, and perpetually leave the student embar¬ 
 rassed by the intricacy of the diagram, or by 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 the impossibility of preserving the rules of per* 
 spective. Let it not be forgotten, however, by 
 those who are desirous of becoming proficients 
 in this interesting branch of knowledge, that 
 experiment without the aid of mathematical learn¬ 
 ing, however it may contribute to gratify the 
 curiosity of the mere sciolist, can never effect 
 the formation of the real philosopher. 
 
 Next to these, in point of utility, the lec¬ 
 tures on chemistry have the best claim to our 
 attention. Chemistry has been so much the ob¬ 
 ject of attention within the last fifty years, and 
 has given rise to so many inventions of the 
 highest concern to the well-being and comfort 
 of civilized society, that it is now become al¬ 
 most discreditable for any person, who professes 
 to have received the education of a gentleman, 
 to be entirely ignorant of its principles and 
 facts. The able and distinguished Prelate who 
 now holds the regius professorship of divinity, 
 was one of the first persons who regularly lec¬ 
 tured on this science in the University; and the 
 Essays, which he afterwards published, contri¬ 
 buted, in no small degree, to obtain popularity 
 for a subject which was before supposed to be 
 
 3 
 
51 
 
 possessed of little attraction. Since the first 
 appearance of this publication, chemistry has 
 made many gigantic strides*; and such has 
 been the ardour of research which actuated its 
 admirers, as not only to give birth to disco- 
 
 „ f r • V 
 
 veries of the highest interest, but to occasion a 
 total revolution both in its principles and its 
 
 * Notwithstanding the assiduity and devotion with 
 which this science has been cultivated for many years, the 
 recent researches of Sir Humphrey Davy have plainly shown 
 that it is still in its infancy. No two substances were appa¬ 
 rently marked by more distinct and unvarying characters 
 than acids and alkalies , and yet the experiments of this very 
 acute philosopher, which led to his discovery of the new 
 metals designated by the appellations of 'potassium , sodium , 
 and ammonium , have tended to confound this distinction, or 
 at least have entirely altered our opinion respecting that es¬ 
 sential difference which, till then, was supposed to subsist 
 between them. Even the French theory of combustion has 
 been rendered questionable by some of the last experiments 
 of Sir H. Davy, in which this phenomenon has been observed 
 to take place without the presence of oxygen. Highly valu- \ 
 able as this science must, beyond all doubt, be considered, I 
 yet the present uncertainty of its first principles is sufficient I 
 to justify its exclusion from our academical examinations . 
 
 dS - 
 
52 
 
 nomenclature *. The phlogistic theory, so long 
 prevalent in Europe, which found its most stre¬ 
 nuous, as well as its last advocates in England^, 
 
 * The merits of the new system of chemical names 
 have justly been the object of universal admiration; and 
 were it possible that every science could imitate the nomen - 
 clature of chemistry, and the classification of botany, the 
 advancement of the mind in its various acquirements would 
 evidently be free from all those obstacles which now so often 
 arise from technical language, unconnected with the ideas 
 it is designed to convey, or from the perplexity not less 
 frequently produced by the want of lucid arrangement. 
 
 f It is rather a singular circumstance that the same 
 individual who, in modern times, has shown the greatest 
 pertinacity in contending for the errors of Unitarian theo¬ 
 logy, should have been the most persevering defender of 
 that system of chemical philosophy which has been proved 
 to be completely false, and which his own experiments have, 
 in fact, contributed to subvert. In both cases the triumph 
 of his adversaries has been complete. While, however, I 
 consider myself justified in censuring the rashness of Dr. 
 Priestley as a polemic, rendered still more reprehensible by 
 his want of scholarship, I feel no disposition to detract from 
 the fame he has acquired as a philosopher, though engaged 
 On the unsuccessful side. But I cannot forbear mentioning 
 a strong contrast to his character in the instance of Mr* 
 Kirwan, so long the able advocate of the theory of phlo- 
 
53 
 
 at length gave way to the system introduced 
 by the French school, and which, since the 
 death of Lavoisier, has been acquiring strength 
 every hour. Hence it has necessarily happened 
 that the learned Bishop's work has lost part of 
 its original utility, though it still contains much 
 information, delivered in a style well adapted to 
 the views of the general reader; and hence our 
 academical lectures have assumed a more scien¬ 
 tific form, and of course comprise all those va¬ 
 ried improvements which the zeal of modern 
 chemists has crowded upon the world. 
 
 Closely connected with this subject, one of 
 
 giston. It certainly affords an example of magnanimity (for 
 it can be called by no other name) rarely to be met with in 
 the records of science, that a man, who had devoted the 
 greater part of his life to the defence of a favourite system, 
 should at length be induced, by the force of argument alone, 
 to divest himself of all his former prejudices, to abandon for 
 ever what he had long considered as the legitimate result of 
 his most laborious exertions, and to adopt opinions diame¬ 
 trically opposite. Nothing but an extraordinary share of 
 candour could enable him, at so late a period, to perceive 
 his errors, and nothing but the genuine spirit of philosophy 
 could lead him to renounce them. 
 
 D 3 
 
 i 
 
54 
 
 the most useful series of lectures delivered in 
 the University, is that which owes its origin to 
 the active mind of the present Jacksonian Pro¬ 
 fessor of Natural Philosophy. Mr. Farish com¬ 
 menced this course when he filled the professor 
 of chemistry’s chair, in consequence of his find¬ 
 ing* the peculiar subject of his office pre-occu¬ 
 pied by another lecturer. Certain it is, that he 
 could not have selected any department of 
 knowledge more replete with utility and in¬ 
 terest than the application of chemistry and natu¬ 
 ral philosophy to manufactures, agriculture, and 
 the arts ; and comprehending, as his plan of ne¬ 
 cessity does, so wide a range of objects*, nearly 
 
 * To enumerate the various topics which form the sub¬ 
 stance of these lectures, would be only to copy the articles 
 detailed in the syllabus. Metallurgy in all its departments, 
 mining, and the smelting of ores, the modes of purifying and 
 compounding the metals in common use, with a description 
 of the manufactures in which they are concerned; the pro¬ 
 cesses of procuring and preparing sulphur, alum, nitre. 
 Salt, and other chemical substances, with the different pur¬ 
 poses to which they are applied, not omitting the theory and 
 manufacture of gunpowder ; the inventions and plans which 
 have been adopted in agriculture for Iffingmg the vegetable 
 
55 
 
 allied to the concerns of common life, it cannot 
 
 \ 
 
 but afford the highest gratification to every in¬ 
 quisitive and intelligent mind. In what manner 
 this task is executed, they who have enjoyed 
 the opportunity of attending these lectures need 
 not be informed • but it would be an act of in¬ 
 justice to omit stating that no trouble and exr 
 pense, no exertion of mind, or toil of body, 
 have been wanting on the part of the Professor, 
 to acquire the best-founded information on the 
 numerous points which his plan embraces, and 
 to illustrate the inventions and processes of the 
 manufacturer and the artist, by models at once 
 ingenious, accurate, and satisfactory. The in- 
 
 and animal substances, which constitute the materials of 
 human food and clothing, to a state of the greatest perfec¬ 
 tion, with an explanation of the implements recommended 
 for the abridgment of labour; a description of the arts of 
 weaving, dying, bleaching, and printing cotton and wool, 
 and also of engraving and etching on copper; the nature of 
 complex machinery, and the mode of working it by steam, 
 together with the construction of canals, locks, aqueducts, 
 bridges, harbours, and the principles of naval architecture ; 
 these, and numerous other particulars, are comprehended 
 jn the plan of this most useful course. 
 
 D 4 
 
56 
 
 genuity, indeed, displayed by Mr. Fairish in the 
 construction of these models has frequently ex¬ 
 cited just admiration, particularly in cases where 
 the greatest variety of movements and complex¬ 
 ity of mechanism are designed to be explain¬ 
 ed to his auditors. So much interesting inform¬ 
 ation is communicated in these lectures, that 
 they unquestionably merit the attendance, not 
 only of that class of young men who are des¬ 
 tined to the inheritance of independent pro¬ 
 perty, but of every member of the University 
 who is desirous of extending his view beyond 
 the limits of abstract science, and of observing 
 the progress of society in adding to the accom¬ 
 modations and refinements of ordinary life. It 
 will not, perhaps, be too much to assert that the 
 two courses of lectures, on modern history, and 
 on the application of chemistry to the arts, as 
 they are now delivered in the University of 
 
 Cambridge, may be considered as superior to 
 
 « ■ • ■ - . * 
 
 any prelections of a similar description, within 
 the boundaries of the united empire. 
 
 The series of lectures on mineralogy , deli¬ 
 vered by Dr. Edward Clarke, already well 
 known to the world by the publication of his 
 
57 
 
 Travels, are of recent date, as they only com¬ 
 menced shortly before his appointment to the 
 office which he now holds, and which was 
 founded by the University seven years ago, in 
 a manner highly flattering to his talents and 
 acquirements. When it is stated that the esta¬ 
 blishment of this professorship took place in 
 consequence of the opinion entertained of Dr. 
 Clarke’s lectures on the subject, during the two 
 preceding years, it must be altogether needless 
 to enlarge on their acknowledged merit 
 
 * The plan which the Professor pursues is in some par¬ 
 ticulars peculiar to himself. Besides the usual information I 
 on the subject, it contains remarks on the natural history of 
 the various materials which have been adopted, both inj 
 ancient and modern times, in architecture and sculpture^ 
 and professes to elucidate the knowledge possessed by \ 
 the ancients of mineralogy, as it is displayed in the sacred 
 Scriptures, or in the writings of the Greeks and Ro¬ 
 mans. The numerous specimens which Dr. Clarke col¬ 
 lected on his travels, are deposited in an apartment ap¬ 
 propriated for the purpose, and are open to public inspec¬ 
 tion. The University is much indebted to this enlightened 
 traveller for the present of some venerable fragments of Gre¬ 
 cian art which now adorn the vestibule of the Public Library; 
 
 v ‘ 
 
 and it is much to be lamented that it cannot boast of pos- 
 
58 
 
 There still remain to be noticed two other 
 courses of lectures on the principles of anatomy , 
 and on the use and abuse of domestic medicine . 
 And here it must be confessed, that whatever 
 may be the extent of merit we claim in other 
 respects, the science of medicine does not re¬ 
 ceive that share of attention, to which, from its 
 supreme value, in our estimate of human com- 
 
 sessing the valuable MSS. offered by the same gentleman, 
 but which have since been disposed of in another quarter. 
 
 The present respected Professor of Botany has for some 
 years discontinued his lectures on that subject; but they who 
 are disposed to follow this pursuit, either with a professional 
 view or as an elegant amusement, have within their reach 
 the means of accomplishing their object in a manner infi¬ 
 nitely superior to any oral instruction whatever, I believe 
 jt is acknowledged by the best judges, that the Botanic Gar¬ 
 den at Cambridge contains one of the finest collections of 
 plants in the kingdom, and is onty inferior to the Royal 
 Garden at Kew. The class Cryptogamia may probably form 
 an exception to this statement. He who possesses the ad¬ 
 vantage of constant access to this extensive collection, to¬ 
 gether with the works of Professor Martyn and Sir James 
 E. Smith, the president of the Linnaean Society, can well 
 dispense with the assistance of lectures, in acquiring the 
 elements of this popular branch of science. 
 
59 
 
 fort, it is evidently entitled. As one proof of 
 this assertion, may be adduced the lectures re¬ 
 ferred to, as delivered by the late Professor of 
 Anatomy, which, however amusing in them¬ 
 selves, and however sufficient for conveying 
 competent information to the man of general 
 knowledge, could, certainly, lay no claim to the 
 character of scientific; nor were they by any 
 means calculated to promote that proficiency 
 which is now considered as essential, even to 
 the practitioners of pharmacy. There can be 
 no question, I imagine, that at present Edin¬ 
 burgh and London are the two first schools for 
 the healing art in the British dominions; but it 
 is surely extremely unreasonable, to make use 
 of no harsher epithet, that the defective appli¬ 
 cation of the means in our possession, should 
 compel a numerous class of those who are de¬ 
 signed for the medical profession, to resort tp 
 so remote a place as the capital of Scotland, for 
 that theoretic knowledge which ought to be sup¬ 
 plied from our own resources. The regulation 
 passed by the College of Physicians not many 
 years ago, which imposes the necessity of gra- 
 duating in an English University upon all who 
 
60 
 
 are candidates for becoming fellows of that 
 learned body, and the establishment of the 
 Downing Professorship of Medicine, in the 
 year 1800, will probably be the means of intro¬ 
 ducing, at no very distant period, a more effec¬ 
 tive mode of qualifying our medical students 
 III. We are now arrived at the last division 
 of the primary pursuits which are encouraged 
 in the plan of education adhered to in this Uni¬ 
 versity, comprehending Moral and Political 
 Philosophy , Metaphysics , and Theology. At¬ 
 tendance upon lectures on the first of these 
 j subjects, is required in each college, du¬ 
 ring one term of every year, when a text- 
 { book is adopted, and the students are exa¬ 
 mined both viv& voce and by writing. The 
 
 * 
 
 * Let it not, however, be imagined that I mean to in¬ 
 sinuate that a student, designed for the medical profession, 
 cannot acquire such a portion of valuable learning at Cam¬ 
 bridge, as will enable him to become a more accomplished 
 physician than if he had never resorted to the University. 
 All I mean to affirm is, that more might be expected from the 
 ample provision which has been made by the establishment 
 of three professorships for the advancement of the science 
 of medicine, than is actually effected. 
 
61 
 
 work which has for many years been univer- j 
 sally selected for this purpose is, “ The Prin- j 
 ciples of Moral and Political Philosophy,” by 
 
 j 
 
 the incomparable Archdeacon Paley. Nothing 
 
 i 
 
 can show in a stronger point of view the good 
 sense and liberality of the college tutors at 
 Cambridge, than the adoption of a work which 
 is composed in the true spirit of philosophy, 
 and which is distinguished by no common share 
 of originality of remark and impartiality of 
 judgment. It is impossible that any treatise of 
 this nature, however characterized by sagacity 
 and moderation, should be entirely free from 
 objection and error; and though this is in a few 
 particulars the case with Dr. Paley’s work, yet, 
 considered as a whole, it is amply entitled to 
 our admiration and praise. Notwithstanding 
 its conciseness, it contains almost every thing 
 which is essential, and displays a perspicuity 
 of style and a happiness of illustration rarely to 
 be met with in writers on science. Considering 
 how averse the generality of young men are to 
 moral disquisitions when first presented to their 
 notice, the world is essentially indebted to this 
 most able and acute divine, for rendering a 
 
 \ 
 
62 
 
 subject, so little attractive in the estimation of 
 the many, both intelligible and interesting to 
 the plainest understanding and indeed we 
 may almost adopt, in the case before us, the 
 language which Cicero applies to Socrates, in 
 his Tusculan Questions;—“ Primus philoso- 
 phiam devocavit e coelo, et in urbibus colloca- 
 vit, et in domos etiam introduxit.” The cele¬ 
 brated productions of Clarke, Wollaston, But¬ 
 ler, and Hutcheson, furnish the lecturer on 
 these occasions with sources of illustration and 
 remark; but, taken separately, they cannot be 
 considered as at all comparable to the work of 
 Dr. Paley, for the purposes of academical in¬ 
 struction. 
 
 On the subject of Metaphysics , or, to use a 
 term less formidable to modern ears, of the 
 
 * One of the peculiarities of Dr. Paley is, the talent 
 which he possesses of placing the objections and arguments 
 of his adversaries in the strongest possible light; and when 
 they are clearly refuted by the subsequent reasoning, this 
 method certainly tends to produce a greater impression, and 
 a more decided conviction: but this art, I apprehend, would 
 not be perfectly safe in any but the hands of a master. 
 
63 
 
 Philosophy of the Mind, Locke’s Essay on the 
 
 P 
 
 Understanding has long been the standard | 
 book of examination; and this, with the ele¬ 
 mentary works of Watts and Duncan on Logic, 
 
 are considered as abundantly sufficient for con- 
 
 % 
 
 veying a competent knowledge of the structure 
 and operations of the human intellect. Since the 
 time of that great philosopher, some few errors, 
 indeed, have been discovered in the admirable 
 system which his sagacity led him to form, by 
 applying the principles of Lord Bacon to a 
 science too long subject to the tyranny of Ari¬ 
 stotle. These errors principally relate to his 
 opinions on the nature of language and abstract 
 ideas (to say nothing of his chapter on power); 
 but, as the fundamental parts of his work re¬ 
 main unshaken, that circumstance will not 
 diminish its general utility, when properly ex¬ 
 plained by a judicious preceptor. The publica- 
 tions of Dr. Reid, Dr. Beattie, and more particu¬ 
 larly of Professor Dugald Stewart, are frequently 
 referred to in the lecture-room, though they are 
 not used as books of examination; and I have 
 occasionally heard it remarked as a matter of 
 
64 
 
 surprise, that the writings of Dr. David Hartley 
 one of the greatest ornaments of this Univer- 
 
 * In mentioning the few points of objection, which 
 have been urged against Mr. Locke’s system, it should be 
 observed, that it is the opinion of Dr. Hartley, that our 
 most complex ideas are all derived from sensation ; and that, 
 therefore, the former is erroneous in making reflection a dis¬ 
 tinct source. At the same time he admits the error to be of 
 little consequence. “ We may conceive,” observes Dr. H. 
 “ that he called such ideas as he could analyse up to sensa¬ 
 tion, ideas of sensation; the rest, ideas of reflection, using 
 reflection as a term of art, denoting an unknown quantity.”— 
 Respecting Dr. Hartley’s celebrated theory of solving the 
 phenomena of the human mind by the agency of vibrations 
 and association , the former of these doctrines is certainly 
 subject to great difficulty of actual proof, w hatever presump¬ 
 tion there may be in its favour: but the operation of the 
 latter principle is so consonant to our general experience, 
 and so well supported by clear and forcible argument, that 
 it may be considered as established beyond all reasonable 
 doubt. 
 
 When I observe that the valuable works of the Scotch 
 philosophers on this subject are frequently referred to in the 
 lecture-room, I do not mean to intimate that their peculiar 
 theory respecting the origin of our ideas and principles is 
 either approved or recommended. If I am not mistaken, 
 their singular doctrine of a common sense is still principally 
 
65 
 
 sity, should not also be recommended to the 
 attention of the student. I am perfectly per¬ 
 suaded, however, that the profound researches 
 of this Celebrated metaphysician are but ill 
 adapted to the purposes of college lectures, and 
 that where a taste for this science really prevails, 
 it can only be pursued with advantage, to its 
 full extent, in the retirement of the closet. 
 Whatever attachment particular individuals may 
 feel to these speculative inquiries, I apprehend 
 that no one who is free from the contracted 
 sentiments of those who despise every pursuit 
 unconnected with their own, would wish to see 
 the subtle controversies respecting the materia¬ 
 lity of the human soul, or the freedom of the 
 human will, substituted for studies of more 
 practical utility, and which are exempt from 
 those acknowledged difficulties so apt, in 
 younger minds, to engender a disposition to be 
 more easily captivated with objections, than to 
 be satisfied with preponderating evidence. 
 
 confined to Scotland; nor is it likely to obtain any cordial 
 
 reception in our English Universities, till it is supported by 
 
 * * * h‘l ; I 
 
 less objectionable evidence than has hitherto been advanced 
 
 in its favour. 
 
 E 
 
66 
 
 As so large a proportion of the students of 
 the University are designed for the sacerdotal 
 order , it will naturally be expected that an. 
 ample provision has been made for the acquire¬ 
 ment of that species of learning which this im¬ 
 portant profession peculiarly demands. Com¬ 
 plaints, however, have sometimes been made, 
 that this provision is in many respects defective, 
 and that it is by no means commensurate with 
 
 the wishes of those to whom the ordination of 
 
 \ 
 
 the clergy is assigned by the church. What¬ 
 ever cause for objection may formerly have 
 existed on this point, it has for many years been 
 almost entirely removed, and an opportunity is 
 now afforded to every intended ecclesiastic, I 
 do not say of completing the character of a 
 profound theologian, which can never be effect¬ 
 ed during any academical course of studies, but 
 of acquiring such a Competent knowledge of 
 the various branches of divinity, as will qualify 
 him for passing a very respectable examination 
 previously to his admission into holy orders. 
 In some colleges one term of every year, and 
 in others one day in the week, is appropriated. 
 
67 
 
 in the lecture-room, to the Greek Testament; 
 and, unless counteracted by particular circum¬ 
 stances, the critical remarks of the lecturer, 
 and his judicious use of the labours of former 
 scholars and commentators, must be the means 
 of exciting a desire for biblical information, 
 and of forming a taste for biblical pursuits. 
 And here we cannot but observe the vast supe¬ 
 riority of the mode of studying the Sacred 
 Writings, recommended and enforced on these 
 occasions, to the careless and superficial manner 
 so common in dissenting institutions, where a 
 notorious deficiency in classical and oriental 
 literature, and a general ignorance of the laws 
 of just criticism, must obviously give rise to a 
 mistaken interpretation of the original text, 
 and to the consequent formation of erroneous 
 opinions. 
 
 Whether a new and more correct transla¬ 
 tion of the Scriptures should be substituted by 
 public authority, for that which is now in com¬ 
 mon use, is a question which has frequently 
 been agitated with considerable warmth, and 
 still continues to divide the opinions of many 
 
 x: 2 
 
 <# * . 
 
of our best divines *. Notwithstanding* the 
 
 O 
 
 objections which may be urged, and many 
 
 * There is one point evident beyond all question—that 
 every translation, framed with the view of favouring the 
 doctrines of any particular party, similar to that of the New 
 Testament, not long ago introduced by the Unitarians, for 
 the use of their own sect, can merit nothing less than un¬ 
 mingled disapprobation. The scanty portion of critical skill 
 possessed by the disciples of Socinus, in common with every 
 other class of dissidents, forms no mean security against the 
 prevalence of their labours, amongst men armed with the 
 learning of an English University; but still it is the part of 
 policy to guard against their attacks, when made in a direc¬ 
 tion where alone they have any chance of becoming effective 
 —amongst those who lay claim to a more than common 
 liberality of opinion, but which is ill supported by their 
 literary attainments. Amidst the heterogeneous mass of 
 commentaries and notes on the Scriptures, which are daily 
 sent from the press by sectaries of every denomination, each 
 strenuously contending for his own peculiar errors, we have 
 great reason to rejoice at the task which has been under¬ 
 taken by two able divines of our own Establishment, under 
 the auspices of the Primate; and we may entertain no un¬ 
 reasonable hope that the edition of the Bible, now publishing 
 with notes by Mr. D’Oyley and Mr. Mant, will powerfully 
 counteract the effects of the former, and will prevent the 
 rational part of the community from becoming the dupes of 
 ignorance and fanaticism. 
 
69 
 
 there certainly are, against the proposal of set¬ 
 ting aside the present translation, and of intro¬ 
 ducing another for the general use of the people 
 at large, no one will hesitate to acknowledge 
 that persons of higher education, and particu¬ 
 larly those who are destined for the sacerdotal 
 profession, ought not only to be aware of the 
 errors which escaped the vigilance of the trans¬ 
 lators appointed by James I.; but to be perfect¬ 
 ly acquainted with the text of the sacred vo¬ 
 lume, as established by the most eminent critics. 
 This purpose can only be effected by enabling 
 the students to peruse these writings in the 
 original languages, and by rendering them con¬ 
 versant with the critical apparatus made use of 
 
 / ■ t 
 
 in preparing the most correct editions of the 
 Bible. The private application of the individual 
 is unquestionably the grand source to which 
 we are to look for the accomplishment of this 
 design; but I may assert, without fear of con¬ 
 tradiction, that the public theological lectures , 
 now established in the University, will afford 
 assistance of the highest value to all who are 
 disposed to profit by the learning they commu¬ 
 nicate. 
 
 * e 3 
 
 \ 
 
70 
 
 A most useful series of lectures is annually 
 delivered by the Norrisian Professor of Divinity, 
 at which the attendance of every candidate for 
 orders is made indispensable. Commencing 
 with the evidences of revealed religion, he 
 proceeds to the history, explanation, and proof 
 of the leading doctrines of Christianity, parti¬ 
 cularly as they are embodied in the articles of 
 our own Establishment. An exemplification of 
 this course is afforded in the lectures published 
 by the late Dr. Iiey, which, though they per¬ 
 haps betray too great a want of attention to the 
 style, contain a copious fund of instructive in¬ 
 formation, and are composed with a degree of 
 candour and impartiality highly creditable to 
 the amiable author. It was the regulation of 
 the founder, that no candidate for this office 
 should be elected under the asre of thirty, nor be- 
 yond that of sixty; so that, in the present case, 
 the subject of theology, besides the requisite 
 learning and assiduity of the professor, must 
 possess every advantage to be derived from that 
 vigorous state of the faculties which usually 
 accompanies the prime of life. I need scarcely 
 observe that every rational friend to Chris-. 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
71 
 
 tianity must rejoice at the recent establishment 
 of another course of lectures by Dr. Herbert 
 Marsh, who now fills the chair of the Margaret 
 Professor of Divinity in this University. Not 
 only have we ample reason, in the specimens of 
 these lectures which have already appeared, to 
 admire the acuteness and the acquirements of 
 this distinguished biblical scholar; but we have 
 the gratifying assurance that our students can¬ 
 not avoid profiting by the experience of so 
 learned a guide, to regulate their pursuits in this 
 extensive science, and that they are no longer in 
 danger of being misled by the intricacies of 
 human speculation and controversy on the one 
 hand, nor, on the other, of being encouraged 
 to hope for the attainment of their object by 
 self-instruction and divine inspiration*. 
 
 * The title of Dr. Marsh's present publication is, “ A 
 Course of Lectures, containing a Description and systematic 
 Arrangement of the several Branches of Divinity; accom¬ 
 panied with an Account, both of the principal Authors, and 
 of the Progress which has been made, at different Periods, 
 in theological Learning.” One of the prominent excellen¬ 
 cies observable in the writings of this learned divine, is an 
 undeviating adherence to the genuine principles of .the 
 
 JE 4 
 
72 
 
 Under the present head may be mentioned 
 the office of Christian Advocate , which was in- 
 
 -9 
 
 stituted a few years ago, in compliance with 
 
 Church of England . While the safety of our Establishment 
 is exposed to the undisguised folly and intemperance of he¬ 
 terodoxy from without, it is not totally free from symptoms 
 of treachery, even within its own battlements. We have 
 not to learn the existence of a certain class of persons call¬ 
 ing themselves evangelical Christians, who loudly assert their 
 exclusive claim to the character of true churchmen . These 
 men, we must recollect, are avowedly Calvinists, and it 
 therefore becomes the University, as one of the powerful 
 guardians of the national church, to oppose the progress of 
 doctrines disclaimed by every rational interpreter of our 
 Articles and Liturgy, and to watch the activity of those of 
 its members who are known to be decided advocates for the 
 gloomy tenets of the reformer of Geneva. It has been said, 
 with what truth I will not undertake to determine, that one 
 of our colleges has been considered as the nursery of these 
 evangelical preachers. The character and talents, indeed, of 
 our professors and leading men do not leave us much to ap¬ 
 prehend on this point; but still every degree of vigilance 
 should be exercised to counteract the influence of these 
 principles on the minds of the younger students, that it may 
 not hereafter be said, that as the Arminian Methodists ori* 
 ginated at Oxford, the doctrines of the Calvinistic Metho¬ 
 dists were zealously supported and patronized at Cambridge, 
 
 1 
 
73 
 
 the will of a considerable benefactor of the 
 University, for the purposes of resisting the 
 
 9 
 
 attacks of infidels of the day against the funda- 
 mental truths of natural or revealed religion, 
 
 and of exposing the fallacy of any new doc- 
 
 * - 
 
 trines of heterodox tendency, which might 
 happen to arise, and which might appear to be 
 of sufficient importance to merit particular no¬ 
 tice. For effecting these views, whoever holds 
 this situation, which is tenable only for six 
 years, is required to publish annually a disser¬ 
 tation in the English language, as long as he 
 continues in office.—In addition to the measures 
 thus pursued for promoting the advancement of 
 theological learning, we must not forget the 
 public prizes for encouraging the same design, 
 which I have described in a former page *. 
 
 * Besides these excitements of a public nature, there 
 are a few scholarships and prizes, instituted in different col¬ 
 leges, solely for the encouragement of Divinity . Thus, at 
 Christ College, there are four Divinity studentships (com¬ 
 monly called the Tancred scholarships, from the founder’s 
 name), each exceeding in value 100/. a year, and tenable 
 for the period of eight years. It ought not to be omitted, 
 that the same individual founded four other scholarships, on 
 
7 4 
 
 With these provisions, unremittingly supported, 
 it will not be denied that the student in divi¬ 
 nity is in possession of ample means * * for est a- 
 
 a similar plan, at Caius College, for the encouragement of 
 medicine. In the former College there are also two prizes, 
 consisting of medals of the value of fifteen guineas each; 
 one for the best Latin prose dissertation on the evidences 
 of Christianity, and the other for the best English essay on 
 some moral precept in the New Testament. At Queens 
 College there is likewise an annual prize of 10/. for the best 
 composition on some theological subject. 
 
 * I confess myself among the number of those who are 
 very doubtful as to the expedience of omitting any part of 
 the present academical plan, for the purpose of allotting 
 more time to the pursuit of theology; because I am per¬ 
 suaded that any improvements, thought necessary in this re¬ 
 spect, might be easily introduced without that sacrifice. 
 With this view of the subject, it might be wished that more 
 attention were paid to the study of the Hebrew language; 
 for though it is considered as a requisite qualification for a 
 fellowship in some colleges, it does not constitute a regular 
 and an essential part of collegiate literature. Whether it 
 should be learned with or without the Masoretic points is a 
 question, which must in great measure depend upon the 
 period of life when it is commenced. To those who take up 
 this pursuit early, there can be little doubt that an acquaint¬ 
 ance with the vowel points will render their acquisition more 
 complete, and in some respects more useful; but, on the 
 
75 
 
 Wishing that proficiency in the several branches 
 of this comprehensive science, which will after- 
 
 contrary supposition, there appears to be no substantial rea¬ 
 son why their labour should not be facilitated by the methods 
 recommended by Masclef, Grey, and Parkhurst, especially 
 when we consider the little importance that can be attached 
 to the correct pronunciation of a language, in which no 
 attempt is ever made to compose, and of which no dialect 
 is orally used by any class of people, except those who ad¬ 
 here to the Jewish persuasion. Linguas hasce addisci- 
 mus,” observes an oriental scholar of the seventeenth cen¬ 
 tury, “ non tarn colloquendi causa, quam intelligendi scripta 
 monumenta Orientalium populorum.” To the general student 
 it can be but of little consequence whether, for example, the 
 words a’nbs nirv be pronounced Jehovah Elohim, as 
 they are, with the points, or Yeheveh Alehim J without the 
 points, since both are probably equally remote from the pri¬ 
 mitive pronunciation, which has been for many ages irreco* 
 verably lost. And with regard to proper names, such as 
 spy' Jacob, Joseph, Canaan, HlDD Moses, 
 
 &c. which would certainly be liable to inconvenient varia¬ 
 tion, if not restricted to one mode, no learner can fall into 
 any material error, unless we can suppose him to be ignorant 
 of the popular way of pronouncing these Scriptural appella¬ 
 tions. Nothing can be better calculated for promoting the 
 easy attainment of Hebrew, than the tracts which have been 
 published by that learned linguist, the present Bishop of St. 
 David’s; and it would be no small advantage, if the plan 
 
 / 
 
76 
 
 wards enable him to sustain the ecclesiastical 
 
 I 
 
 character with credit to the sacred profession, 
 with advantage to those who may come within 
 the sphere of his influence, and with ability to 
 encounter the numerous machinations of the 
 enemies of religion. Much, after all, must de¬ 
 pend upon tlie heads of the Church; for, in 
 proportion to their strictness in requiring the 
 qualifications and attainments necessary for the 
 clerical office, in that proportion will they ex¬ 
 perience the gratifying expectation of seeing its 
 duties properly discharged, and its utility per¬ 
 manently extended. 
 
 he has devised of studying the sacred language, were uni* 
 versally adopted. 
 
 It is sometimes asked, what useful purpose is promoted 
 by the professorships of Hebrew and Arabic, established in 
 both Universities, when no lectures are delivered on the 
 subject ? To this we reply, that though lectures are in fact 
 occasionally read on these topics (as is at present the case 
 with the Arabic professor at Cambridge), yet the design of 
 these institutions is not regularly to teach the elements of 
 the languages in question, which is best effected by private 
 tuition, but to afford encouragement to the pursuit of an ob¬ 
 ject which presents but few attractions, and to the critical 
 examination of those oriental dialects which would other¬ 
 wise, perhaps, be speedily neglected, if not utterly lost. 
 
77 
 
 Such, then, is the general outline of the 
 literary course pursued at Cambridge by those 
 whose object it is to take their degree in Arts in 
 the regular manner, and who, in truth, consti¬ 
 tute the great majority of students in the Uni¬ 
 versity. It is required by the statutes that every 
 candidate for the first degree in Arts should 
 have resided in the University the greater part 
 of nine terms, which, unless interrupted by ca¬ 
 sual circumstances, occupies the space of three 
 years. In the month of January of every suc¬ 
 cessive year, all who have completed this re¬ 
 quired residence, and have kept the appointed 
 exercises in the philosophical schools, are call¬ 
 ed upon to undergo a general and public examin¬ 
 ation before they can offer themselves for ad¬ 
 mission to the degree of Bachelor of Arts*. 
 
 * They who graduate in civil law and physic are not in¬ 
 cluded in this examination, as their qualifications are scru¬ 
 tinized by their particular professors \ and by a singular and 
 absurd provision in the statutes, an exemption is claimed 
 for the undergraduates of King’s College. The sons of no¬ 
 blemen, and those who are considered tanquam nobiles , have 
 the privilege of taking an honorary degree of Master of 
 
78 
 
 This examination takes place in the Senate 
 House, and commencing on the first Monday in 
 Lent term, continues, with scarcely any inter¬ 
 mission, for five days. The candidates, it should 
 be observed, are previously divided into classes, 
 each class consisting of those whose proficiency 
 appears to be nearly upon an equality, as far as 
 cau be ascertained from their former disputa¬ 
 tions in the schools. There are three orders of 
 distinction, termed honours % held out to the 
 
 Arts, without submitting to any previous trial of their ta* * 
 lents ; but, leaving others to defend the wisdom of this re¬ 
 gulation, it must be observed that they possess abundant op¬ 
 portunities of distinguishing themselves in their college exa¬ 
 minations, and by becoming competitors for the public and 
 private prizes. And numerous are the instances which might 
 be alleged, of men of elevated rank, since renowned, either 
 by their display of parliamentary eloquence, or by filling 
 with reputation the highest offices of the state, who exhibited 
 jio equivocal presage of their future celebrity in their vigor¬ 
 ous contention for academical praise, and by acquiring the 
 rewards of early merit. 
 
 * The appellations given to these three orders of ho¬ 
 nours can only be familiar to those who have been educated 
 at Cambridge— Wranglers, Senior Optimes, and Junior Op- 
 times. The envied student who passes the best examination 
 in the Senate House is called the Senior Wrangler , a title 
 
79 
 
 ambition of these literary competitors, and in 
 each of these divisions or orders are contained 
 from fourteen to eighteen individuals, though 
 they are not restricted to any precise number; 
 nor can any thing be better regulated for the 
 excitement of emulation, and the complete de- 
 velopement of the mental powers. The exa- 
 
 which, however singular it may appear to strangers, confer# 
 a reputation never forgotten in after-life. They who follow 
 next in the same division, are respectively termed second , 
 third , fourth , &c. Wrangler. In a similar manner, they who 
 compose the second rank of honours are designated by the 
 
 4 
 
 titles of first, second , third , &c. Senior Optime , as are the indi¬ 
 viduals of the last order, by those of first y second , third, See. 
 Junior Optime. All who from idleness or inability are not found 
 to merit a place among the honorati , and who cherish as their 
 favourite maxim the sentiment in the Ajax of Sophocles, 
 
 *Ev r« (p^oysiv ytx,o i/3/oj, 
 
 are merely arranged in classes; but even the ot <no\\oi } as 
 they are emphatically termed, take precedence according to 
 their proficiency. It is also customary to print the names of 
 those who have acquired honours in two separate lists, which 
 are afterwards publicly recited and distributed in the schools, 
 in the presence of the Vice-chancellor, the Proctors, and 
 other officers of the University. One of these lists contains 
 the names of the Wranglers and Senior Optimes, and the 
 other those of the Junior Optimes; and they are respectively 
 distinguished by the titles of the first and second Tripos. 
 
80 
 
 miners principally consist of those Masters of 
 Arts who have presided at the disputations in 
 the schools, and who, at the same time, are 
 most distinguished by their experience as pre¬ 
 ceptors, by their attainments in science, and 
 by their acknowledged impartiality of con¬ 
 duct; and so scrupulously attentive are they 
 to the duties of their arduous and, in many re¬ 
 spects, ungrateful office, that it rarely or never 
 happens that any real objection can be discover¬ 
 ed to their decisions, in estimating the compa¬ 
 rative merits of the numerous rivals for pre¬ 
 eminence. Four days are appropriated to ques¬ 
 tions and problems in Natural Philosophy, and 
 the various branches of mathematical science, 
 commencing so low as with examples in vulgar 
 and decimal fractions and the Elements of Eu¬ 
 clid, and at length extending to the most diffi¬ 
 cult parts of Newton’s Principia, Cotes’s Har- 
 monia Mensurarum, the analytical works of 
 Dr. Waring, and to the more intricate propo¬ 
 sitions of the Fluxionary Calculus The re- 
 
 * In the much-admired critique upon La Place’s Me- 
 dianique Celeste , contained in the XXIInd Number of the 
 Edinburgh Review, one of the conjectural causes assigned 
 
81 
 
 maining day out of the five, which, in point of 
 order, is now always the fourth, is occupied by 
 
 for the limited progress which has, for several years past* 
 been made in this Country, in the highest departments of 
 mathematical science, is the mode of studying this subject, 
 pursued in the University of Cambridge. When the re¬ 
 viewer asserts that certain portions of Newton and other 
 Writers who treat of pure and mixt mathematics in the syn¬ 
 thetic method, are required to be so completely learned, 
 and so thoroughly impressed on the student’s mind, as to 
 ehable him to answer, with the utmost readiness, the interro¬ 
 gations which may be offered to him, he certainly does not 
 widely differ from the truth; but when it appears, by the 
 succeeding remarks, that he considers this to be the 'whole 
 which is required at the general examination for degrees , his 
 statement becomes liable to the imputation of incorrectness. 
 It is well known to those who are familiar with our mode 
 of proceeding, that no inconsiderable part of the exer¬ 
 cises in the Senate House, consists in the solution of pro¬ 
 blems which are framed by the examiners, with the express 
 design of directing the student's exertion to questions which 
 have not occurred in his former pursuits, or which, at least, 
 have not appeared in that precise shape. But, in addition 
 to this, those amongst the questionists who aim at being in¬ 
 cluded in the two first lists of honours , Wranglers and Se¬ 
 nior Uptimes, when the Senate House examination for the 
 day is terminated, are afforded another trial of shill at the 
 
 
82 
 
 examinations in Moral and Political Philosophy, 
 Natural Theology, Logic, and Metaphysics*. 
 
 Moderators’ private apartments, on two successive evenings. 
 On these occasions a number of problems are placed before 
 them of a more difficult nature, and which presuppose a 
 more intimate acquaintance with fluxions and the higher, 
 parts of algebra. These questions necessarily vary every 
 year, because they are generally framed by those who fill 
 the office of Moderator for the time being, and they are cer¬ 
 tainly calculated to call forth all the ingenuity and invention 
 of which the student is possessed. I have ventured to say 
 thus much, because the observations of the reviewer, how¬ 
 ever just in other respects, appear, in this particular, to be 
 founded on partial information. 
 
 * The different allotments of time assigned to these 
 two branches of examination, may probably appear to many 
 to be altogether disproportionate. But it should be recol¬ 
 lected that the first class of subjects must, from their very 
 nature, require a longer period for completing the solution of 
 the questions proposed; and it also deserves to be mentioned 
 in favour of these subjects, that they unquestionably impose 
 the necessity of more laborious application, and excite a 
 higher degree of mental exertion and acuteness, than any 
 others which can possibly be named. With regard to the se¬ 
 cond class of subjects appointed for examination, one day, if 
 actively employed, is sufficient to ascertain what proficiency 
 has been made, and to enable the examiners to form a very 
 
83 
 
 One very excellent regulation takes place in 
 these examinations, to which I have already 
 adverted, and which I cannot but consider as 
 in many respects superior to the mode adopted 
 by the sister University; and that is, that every 
 answer is required to be given in plain unper¬ 
 plexed writing , even in those cases which ad¬ 
 mit of oral explanation. This method, while it 
 removes the perpetual obstacle arising from em¬ 
 barrassment, is certainly conducive to a greater 
 degree of accuracy, and at the same time creates 
 
 satisfactory estimate of relative merit. The objection, that 
 classical literature constitutes no part of this trial of the intel¬ 
 lectual powers, though it is certainly entitled to farther consi¬ 
 deration , is in great measure obviated by what has been de¬ 
 tailed in a former page. In addition to the particulars 
 there advanced, we might with justice adduce the “ Musce 
 Cantahrigicnses ,” and the specimens of Greek and Latin 
 composition in prose which have, at various times, appeared 
 from the Cambridge press, as no insignificant proofs of the 
 proficiency of our younger members in this department of 
 learning. And if it be asked, whence have proceeded the 
 
 brightest scholars of recent times, whence have sallied forth, 
 
 . 
 
 in “ panoply divine,” the Porsons, the Parrs, the Burneys, 
 and the Wakefields of the age; with exultation we answer 
 
 t 
 
 •—from Cambridge. 
 
 F 2 
 
no impediment to that readiness of reply which, 
 though it is in many cases an indication of 
 quickness of mind, is frequently nothing more 
 than the result of undeviating application. To 
 whichever plan the preference be given, it is 
 obvious that he who answers with precision the 
 greatest number of questions in the same por¬ 
 tion of time, must be entitled to the honourable 
 distinction of precedence. These written re¬ 
 plies are respectively subscribed with the wri¬ 
 ter’s name, and, at the close of each day, they 
 are submitted to the careful perusal of the exa¬ 
 miners, who keep an accurate register of the 
 labours of the several candidates, accompanied 
 with their appropriate marks of merit. At the 
 conclusion of the fifth day *, after a laborious 
 
 * I should also mention, that, at the commencement of 
 this last day of examination, another classification, or brac¬ 
 keting , as it is here termed, is made of the different candi¬ 
 dates, as it has now become more easy to fix upon those who 
 are possessed of nearly equal merit. This new arrangement, 
 of course, brings the matter within a narrower compass, 
 and adds fresh vigour to the contest, which is now to decide 
 the final situation of each individual. The point of differ- 
 
85 
 
 investigation of the accumulated papers, the ar¬ 
 biters complete their final adjudication; on the 
 day following a list of the honorati is publicly 
 affixed in the Senate House, and the scene ter¬ 
 minates with the ceremony of admission to the 
 first degree of Bachelor of Arts. 
 
 It is scarcely possible that any thing can 
 be conducted upon a more liberal and a more 
 impartial plan than the whole of this examina¬ 
 tion ; and want of success among the competi¬ 
 tors for distinction, can be imputed to no other 
 cause than palpable deficiency in the requisite 
 qualifications. A more gratifying spectacle can¬ 
 not well be imagined, than a numerous assem¬ 
 blage of academics, glowing with the flush of 
 youth, and animated by the fervour of hope, call¬ 
 ed upon to make their last exertion, before they 
 enter into the tumults and struggles of human 
 life. Many of them are possessed of brilliant and 
 prophetic talents; most of them feel a more than 
 
 ence is sometimes so imperceptible, that two antagonists are 
 opposed to each other in a separate bracket , and it is not till 
 after repeated trials, that any superiority can be discovered in 
 either party, 
 
 I 3 
 
t 
 
 86 
 
 ordinary incitement to emulate those who have 
 long been their associates in the journey of lite¬ 
 rature; and all are compelled to make that stre¬ 
 nuous, though, perhaps, short-lived effort which 
 they trust will enable them to escape the impu¬ 
 tation of disgraceful ignorance or mental infe¬ 
 riority*. 
 
 When we consider the defective points 
 which are always to be discovered in the wisest 
 systems of human invention, and recollect how 
 rarely it happens that the most elaborate execu¬ 
 tion approaches the perfection of the original 
 design, it appears impossible to avoid acknow- 
 
 * When we witness the indefatigable application of 
 those who then aspire to the highest situations of honour, 
 when we hear of the laborious days, and the almost sleepless 
 nights which they voluntarily pass in preparing for the ap¬ 
 proaching contest, we cannot help feeling the peculiar force 
 of the exclamation of the most accomplished character of 
 ancient Rome: Quid vero ? qui ingenuis studiis atque artibus 
 delectantur, nonne videmus eos nec valetudinis, nec rei fa- 
 miliaris habere rationem ? omniaque perpeti, ipsa cognitione 
 et scientia captos ? et cum maximis curis et laboribus com- 
 pensare earn, quam ex discendo capiant, voluptatem ?—Cic« 
 de Fin. lib. 5, 
 
87 
 
 ledging that the plan of education pursued at 
 Cambridge, though not, perhaps, entitled to our 
 unqualified approbation, is certainly, in many 
 essential particulars, more judiciously adapted 
 to excite the ardour of youthful talent, and to 
 call forth the dawning energies of the mind, 
 than any similar institution in the British em¬ 
 pire. Notwithstanding the recent improvements 
 at Oxford, we may still ask with confidence, 
 where can we meet with any place for complet¬ 
 ing the education of the higher and the profes¬ 
 sional orders of society, in which the refine¬ 
 ments of literature and the depths of philoso¬ 
 phy # have been explored with greater zeal, and 
 
 * It has sometimes been urged, as an objection against 
 the Universities, that they have never been found to be fore¬ 
 most in any of the discoveries and improvements which have 
 enlightened the world. In the first place, this observation is 
 not true, particularly when applied to Cambridge; and, in 
 the next place, it must be recollected that the Universities 
 were not founded with the design of producing discoveries 
 in science, nor even for the reformation of a corrupt taste, 
 like the Arcadian Academy, instituted by Crescimbeni, but 
 for the purposes of preserving and communicating sound 
 
 F 4 
 
88 
 
 more brilliant success ? The pulpit, the bar, 
 and the senate, proclaim, in language too loud 
 to be disregarded, that the academic groves of 
 Cam have more than amply contributed towards 
 the cultivation and progress of manly eloquence, 
 
 learning, and of qualifying the young for discharging some of 
 the most important functions in civil society. There is one 
 peculiarity which, if I am not egregiously mistaken, marks 
 the character of both Universities—that merit invariably 
 succeeds in attaining the rewards to which it is strictly en¬ 
 titled, and that exertion in the cause of learning never re? 
 mains unnoticed or neglected. Amidst the innumerable 
 occupations, and the clashing interests of common life, the 
 prizes, which form the object of popular ambition, frequently 
 fall to the lot of those who have no better claim to them, 
 than their freedom from the restraints of modesty, or their 
 casual connexion with the rich and powerful. But., in these 
 classic territories, the competitors for honour derive no be¬ 
 nefit from the countenance of rank and opulence, and feel 
 no difference in their chance of success, but what arises 
 from inequality of native talent or voluntary effort. Stripped 
 of every accidental appendage, and precluded from every 
 undue assistance proferred by partiality, here, and, per? 
 
 . . X 
 
 haps, here alone, merit secures the applause of the sur¬ 
 rounding judges, and bears away in triumph the chaplet of 
 victory. 
 
89 
 
 of practical knowledge, and profound erudi¬ 
 tion And where, let me ask, has liberality 
 
 * Before I conclude these remarks, I am desirous of 
 rectifying an erroneous conception relative to Cambridge, 
 which it has never been my fortune to hear expressed till 
 lately. It has been urged, as a matter of complaint, that 
 amongst our undergraduates at Cambridge there is a 
 more marked and decided difference between reading and 
 
 O 
 
 non-reading men , than there is at Oxford, and that, at the 
 former, unless a student is conscious of possessing talents 
 and industry sufficient to command pre-eminent distinction, 
 he is compelled to resign himself, with little resistance, to 
 the seductive charms of indolence and dissipation. The ad¬ 
 missibility of this objection I may safely venture to deny, 
 without incurring the charge of undue partiality. It appears, 
 indeed, to have arisen from the reluctance which almost 
 every student feels to call himself a reading man } unless he 
 avowedly aims at the highest honours; and this reluctance is 
 undoubtedly created by the apprehension of not fulfilling the 
 expectations of his vigilant contemporaries. But, whatever 
 may be the origin of the complaint thus alleged by those 
 who are but imperfectly acquainted with our proceedings, 
 there can be little to authorize its indulgence in an institu¬ 
 tion where there is a regular gradation of honours, and 
 where the excitements to literary effort are at once numerous 
 and studiously varied. Of those who succeed in obtaining a 
 place among the honorati , widely different must be the exer- 
 
90 
 
 of sentiment met with better supporters, Chris* 
 tianity with more illustrious champions, and 
 
 tions and attainments displayed by the numerous rivals for 
 priority, from the Senior Wrangler to the lowest Junior Op- 
 time : and of those who have no desire for distinction in the 
 Senate House, many acquit themselves with the highest 
 credit in their college examinations, and others afford a suf¬ 
 ficient indication of literary talent in their contention for the 
 public or private prizes. The objection, indeed, when taken 
 in its full latitude, would insinuate that no encouragement is 
 held out by the University, except to extraordinary talents 
 and unremitting application, and that no opportunity re¬ 
 mains for the improvement of that respectable mediocrity 
 which falls to the lot of the greater portion of mankind, and 
 which, not unfrequently, occupies with dignity the highest 
 stations in society. Fortunately, however, this supposition 
 is completely contradicted by the real fact. When we call 
 to view the comprehensive nature of the excitements esta¬ 
 blished by our Cambridge system ; when we recollect that 
 l the Senate House honours are made to correspond to various 
 degrees of merit; that an extensive range is opened for the 
 j exertion of different abilities by numerous prizes and scho¬ 
 larships, both public and private, in Greek, Latin, and Eng- 
 ! lish, in mathematics, natural philosophy, and theology ; and, 
 lastly, that the attainment of Fellowships is -always the result 
 of meritorious conduct, and frequently of a laborious trial 
 of intellect, it must of necessity be acknowledged that an 
 
91 
 
 infidelity, in all its varied forms, with more 
 commanding and successful opponents * ? 
 
 ample provision has been made to rouse the indolence of 
 some by placing before them situations of profit, and to 
 kindle the ambition of others by the prospect of collegiate 
 fame. Such, in truth, is the general efficacy of the system 
 as to create no inconsiderable portion of mental activity 
 among many of those who openly disclaim all pretensions to 
 the title, in its Cambridge acceptation, of reading men. 
 
 * In the enumeration of advantages possessed by the 
 undergraduates of this University, I ought to have mention¬ 
 ed one, which appears to have little or no existence at Ox¬ 
 ford—the liberal use of the noble libraries , which add so 
 much to the dignity and reputation of the place. Besides 
 the privilege of access to the library attached to his own 
 college, every student has the power of borrowing ten 
 volumes at one time, from the public or University library , 
 by procuring a note from some resident Master of Arts. 
 This fine collection, consisting of nearly one hundred thou¬ 
 sand volumes, comprehends not only the accumulated remains 
 of ancient learning, but almost every modern work of any 
 value or celebrity. The Bodleian, on the contrary, is com¬ 
 pletely inaccessible to the undergraduates at Oxford; and 
 even to those members of the University who possess the 
 liberty of resorting to this splendid library, the value of the 
 
 privilege is much diminished by the singular regulation 
 
 ♦ 
 
 which prohibits the removal of every book, without distinc¬ 
 tion, beyond the walls of the building. 
 
92 
 
 Whatever illiberal reflections may have 
 been advanced against the two Universities of 
 the realm, by men either avowedly disaffected, 
 or obviously indifferent to the welfare of our 
 civil and ecclesiastical establishments, I may cer¬ 
 tainly venture to deny that at Cambridge, or¬ 
 thodoxy is maintained with any uncharitable dis¬ 
 regard to the opinions of dissentients, or that a 
 zealous attachment to the government of the 
 country is inculcated upon any other ground, 
 than because this preference is sanctioned by 
 an impartial estimate of anterior times, and by 
 the contemplation of the convulsive struggles, 
 which have so long distracted the repose of 
 continental Europe. Here, in the bosom of 
 his Alma Mater, the student is taught, and 
 taught with justice, to consider our Church 
 ■Establishment as founded upon principles at 
 once rational and sound, pure and practical; 
 
 {equally remote from papal superstition and the 
 
 | 
 
 extravagances of sectarian fanaticism, Here 
 |ie learns, and learns without delusion, to vene- 
 rate the genius of our civil Constitution, and to 
 perceive that its unrivalled excellence is as in¬ 
 compatible with regal despotism as with repub- 
 
93 
 
 lican futy, and that while it reprobates the ab-* 
 surdity of an equality of condition, it respects 
 and upholds an equality of rights. In these 
 tranquil retirements of genius and taste, in these 
 classic groves of learning and science, we trust 
 that religion and liberty have formed an insepa¬ 
 rable alliance:—not, indeed, that distorted re¬ 
 ligion, which engages the veneration of the en¬ 
 thusiast and the devotee, not that meretricious 
 liberty which captivates the Utopian speculatist, 
 or inflames the frantic demagogue; but religion, 
 which rectifies the obliquities of human con¬ 
 duct, and liberty, which harmonizes the discor¬ 
 dant interests of human society. In the one 
 we shall find that meliorating influence, which 
 subdues the impetuosity of the passions, with¬ 
 out clouding the understanding, and from the 
 other we shall derive all that can increase the 
 enjoyments of social intercourse, without en¬ 
 dangering the security of social order. The one 
 is professedly friendly to a rational, an en¬ 
 larged, and an enlightened faith ; the other is 
 as resolutely hostile to indiscriminate innovation 
 and tumultuous reform. 
 
 “ That man/’ observes the author of the 
 
94 
 
 Rambler # , H is little to be envied, whose pa¬ 
 triotism would not gain force on the plain of 
 Marathon, or whose piety would not grow 
 warmer among the ruins of Iona.” And he 
 who in tracing the academic haunts of the wise 
 and the learned of elder times, does not feel in¬ 
 spired by the recollection of departed excel¬ 
 lence, and whose bosom does not, for one mo¬ 
 ment, glow with the fire of enthusiasm, must 
 surely be regarded with sentiments not far re¬ 
 moved from astonishment and commiseration. 
 In vain shall we look for the love of literature 
 in that cold and heartless being, who experi¬ 
 ences nothing beyond ordinary sensations, when 
 he contemplates the venerable pile rendered 
 sacred by the residence of Newton f, when he 
 enters the chamber where Erasmus studied, 
 when he is shaded by the tree planted by the 
 hand of Milton, or when he treads the same 
 
 * Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. 
 
 » 
 
 *]* The rooms assigned by tradition to Newton and Eras¬ 
 mus are still pointed out at Trinity and Queen’s, and the 
 mulberry-tree is still standing in the garden of Christ College, 
 which is said to have been placed there by Milton. 
 
path which was worn by the footsteps of Cow¬ 
 ley, Dryden, or Gray. From minds of this 
 complexion we can hope for no sympathy, we 
 can expect no cordial approbation. It is only 
 to men of an opposite character that we should 
 ever venture to appeal, or to whose decision 
 we can attach any value or respect. Calling 
 then to mind the multifarious branches of hu¬ 
 man knowledge which are pursued with ardour, 
 and cultivated with success, within the walls 
 of our northern Athens; recounting* from the 
 pages of its register, the luminous assemblage 
 of names # , dear to every lover of intellect, and 
 
 * I cannot resist the opportunity, which here presents 
 itself, of following a great example, and of mentioning the 
 names of a few of those distinguished men, whose celebrity, 
 it is true, no additional praise can increase, but of whom it 
 is not always remembered that they were educated at Cam¬ 
 bridge. They are inserted without any particular regard to 
 chronological accuracy. Archbishop Cranmer ; Bishops 
 Ridley, Latimer, and Andrews; Archbishops Whitgift and 
 Parker; Jeremy Taylor, the celebrated bishop of Down; 
 Bishop Walton, the famed editor of the London Polyglott; 
 Castel, who published the Lexicon Heptaglotton; Ockley, 
 the Orientalist; Dr. Isaac Barrow; Cudworth ; Spencer, the 
 
96 
 
 immortalized in the memories of the wise and 
 good; recollecting, that to this source we are 
 
 writer de Legibus Hebrceorum ; Joseph Mede, Dr. Seth Ward, 
 bishop of Salisbury; Bishop Wilkins; Dr. Henry More, of 
 Christ College; Lightfoot, the great Hebrew scholar; Pool, 
 the author of the Synopsis; Bishops Beveridge and Kidder; 
 Dr.Burnet, the master of the Charter House; Archbishop Til- 
 lotson ; Bishops Cumberland, Patrick, Stillingfleet; Dr. Con¬ 
 yers Middleton ; Bishops Hare, Sherlock, and Hoadly; Dr. 
 Samuel Clarke; Dr. Sykes; Bishop Chandler; Dr. Water- 
 land ; Wollaston, the author of the “ Religion of Nature 
 Hartley; Dr. Rutherforth; Dr. Joftin; Bishops Newton, 
 Hurd, and Law; Dr. Powell and Dr. Ogden, with nume¬ 
 rous other great divines. — Bacon; Newton; Whiston; 
 Oughtred; Roger Cotes, whose early death was so justly 
 lamented by Newton; Colson; Dr. Robert Smith, the 
 master of Trinity; Saunderson; Wallis; Henry Briggs, the 
 improver of logarithms; Horrox, who made the first 
 observations on the transit of Venus; Ray; Derham; 
 Harvey, who discovered the circulation of the blood; 
 Dr. Long, the master of Pembroke; Dr. Stephen Hales, 
 the author of “ Vegetable Statics;” Brook Taylor; Dr. 
 Waring; Dr. Maskelyne, &c.—Chaucer (according to Mr. 
 Tyrwhit, of Oxford); Spenser; Ben Jonson; Fletcher; Beau¬ 
 mont; Sir John Harrington, the translator of the Orlando 
 Furioso; Bishop Hall, one of our earliest writers of satires; 
 Donne; Waller; Cowley; Milton; Dryden; Otway; Andrew 
 Marvel; Sackville, Earl of Dorset; Duke of Buckingham* 
 
 4 
 
97 
 
 indebted for the sublime discoveries of Bacon, 
 and Newton, for the unrivalled productions of 
 
 author of “The Rehearsal;” Garth ; Fenton; Broome; Prior; 
 Lee, the dramatic poet; Ambrose Philips; Granville, Lord 
 Lansdowne; Vincent Bourn; Gray; Mason.—Crooke and 
 Sir John Cheke, both Greek Professors; Roger Ascham; 
 Bentley; Davies, the learned president of Queen’s; Joshua 
 Barnes ; Dawes, the author of Miscellanea Critica ; Ashton ; 
 Markland; Wasse; Thirlby; Stanley, the editor of fEschy* 
 lus; Taylor, the editor of Lysias and Demosthenes; Bishop 
 Pearce; Foster, the defender of Greek accents.—Cowell, 
 the eminent civilian; Dr. Stukely, Dr. Cave, and Peck, the 
 antiquaries; Bentham, the historian of Ely; Sir Robert 
 Cotton; Sir James Burroughs, the master of Caius, of 
 architectural fame; Roger Gale, the antiquary; Laurence 
 Sterne.—Sir Thomas Smith, secretary of state to Edw. VI.; 
 Cecil Lord Burleigh; Sir Francis Walsingham; the great 
 lawyer Sir Edward Coke; Lord Falkland, so justly panegy¬ 
 rized in Clarendon’s History; Sir William Temple; Robert 
 Nelson; Sir Thomas Gresham; Sir Robert Walpole; Horace 
 Walpole, Lord Orford; Lord Chesterfield; and Soame Je- 
 fiyns.-—For names of more recent date, I refer the reader to 
 the ample catalogue contained in the notes to the celebrated 
 Spital Sermon of Dr. Parr.—In those who have arrived at 
 years of maturity, and who fortunately find in the acquisition 
 
 of knowledge its own reward, a recital, like the present, 
 
 \ 
 
 may serve no other purpose than to generate pleasing re* 
 
 G 
 
9 S 
 
 Spenser and Milton, for the critical researches of 
 Bentley and Porson, and for the intellectual 
 and moral disquisitions of Hartley and Paley, 
 we are not only led to venerate and admire this 
 hallowed spot, which has produced the boasts 
 and ornaments of human nature; we are not 
 only impelled to deprecate every daring assault 
 upon this citadel of our fairest hopes, but we 
 are urged alike by the claims of interest and 
 affection, to listen to every friendly admonition 
 which may be offered, and to adopt every ra¬ 
 tional plan which can be devised, to advance 
 Jts glory and ensure its duration. 
 
 flections. But to those who are in the spring of life, to whom 
 Philosophy is unfolding its earliest blossoms, the retrospect 
 of those great and enviable characters who have adorned 
 their country in past ages, must surely be productive of the 
 happiest effects. It is of little consequence that the ardent 
 expectations of the young are frequently disappointed. The 
 animating influence of emulation is not, on that account, 
 the less beneficial; and many who may never actually attain 
 the object of their ambition, are yet successfully urged by 
 the contemplation of the shining examples thus held fprth to 
 their view, to reject the solicitations of indolence apd plea¬ 
 sure, apd steadily to pursue the path which leads to honour¬ 
 able independence, to eminence of station, or to immortality 
 of fame. 
 
99 
 
 Amidst the magnificence and tumult of 
 warlike achievements which have so recently 
 filled the world with astonishment, ours have 
 been the peaceful triumphs of truth over igno¬ 
 rance and infidelity; and while the spoils of 
 vanquished nations have attracted the applause 
 of the multitude, it has been the lot of our less 
 conspicuous champions to display to the privi¬ 
 leged few, the banners of knowledge and the 
 trophies of science. The times, indeed, in 
 which we live have been critical and perilous 
 beyond example; and if this envied country has 
 escaped the tempest of desolation and horror 
 which overwhelmed the nations around us, we 
 must not forget the causes which have produced 
 this happy result. While the wisdom of our pub¬ 
 lic councils, and the valour of our arms, have 
 claimed the gratitude and admiration of Europe, 
 in this arduous conflict, let us not be unmindful 
 that our Institutions of Education, and particu¬ 
 larly the two Universities, have been silently 
 contributing towards the same effect. Nor 
 need I apprehend the imputation of partiality, 
 in asserting that, in that of Cambridge, we 
 have witnessed the successful cultivation not 
 merely of profound learning and refined taste,, 
 
 * «• 
 
100 
 
 But of that manliness of sentiment, those high 
 principles of honour, and those comprehensive 
 views of liberty, which, we trust, will even¬ 
 tually effect the preservation of our dearest 
 rights and our noblest privileges. Let us then 
 indulge the fond expectation, that this favoured 
 abode of the Muses will hold out the torch of 
 truth to generations yet unborn, and will send, 
 from its portals a long succession of illustrious 
 characters, who, while they enlighten and adorn 
 the state, will invigorate and defend it. 
 
 Thus may the literary ambition of the 
 young, in after-ages of the world, conduct them 
 through the discipline of academic laws, and 
 under the influence of academic praise, to the 
 honourable pursuits of active life. Thus may 
 the human intellect, expanding its native ener^ 
 gies, and scattering the mists of prejudice and 
 error, be making a continual advancement from 
 one gradation of knowledge and improvement 
 to another, till the hemisphere of science shall 
 be illumined with all the irradiations of future 
 genius, and decorated with all the splendour of 
 future discoveries. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Printed by S, Gosnell, Little Queen Street, London* 
 
[ 
 
 
 
 *■ 
 
 , ; s 
 
 m 
 
 
 U: 
 
 • * 
 
 
 . 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 ' • I 
 
 
 
 
 -'•A. » 
 
 
 
 /' ' 
 
 
 ** 
 
 
 
 ;fi 
 
 f 
 
 
 i'f- 
 
 
 
 • . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 W ■ 
 
 
 , 
 
 y