The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-03 00:00:00

THE CHANCELLORSHIP OF

OXFORD (1659).
Richard Cromwell was chosen Chancellor of the
University of Oxford on the death of his father, but no
sooner was there a prospect of the Restoration, thanhe
intimated his willingness to resign that distinguished
post, in a letter to the Convocation, and soon after
actually res•gned it by a second letter addressed to the
same body. We believe these epistles seldom to have.
been printed ; and as they are highly characteristic of
the writer, shall now present them to our readers.
Richard Cromwell vas a well-intentioned, respectable
person, ill-calculated for the reins of government, and
perfectly unambitious for their possession. It would
appear, however, that he was favourable to literature,
and would, probably, had things taken a different turn,
have appeared to greater advantage as the Chancellor
of Oxford than as the Protector of Great Britain—a
dignity for which he had neither abilities nor strength
of character.
FOR THE VICE.CHANCELLOITR AND THE CONVOCATION OF
THE VNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, THESE
Gentlemen,—The signall changes of the hand of
God towards mee have not seq
uestred my thoughts from
the discharge of that office wherein I stand ingaged vnto
you. And whereas the revolution of time requireth
that either your present Vice-Chancellour bee reinstated
in his. office, or another chosen to succeede him ; consi-
dering what abundant testimony your present Vice-
Chancellour, Dr. Conant, bath given of his intire quali-
fication for soe great a trust, I do hereby nominate and
recommend him to you, to beare the same office for this
next years also°, promising to myselfe the chearfull
concurrence of your unanimous votes in the reiterated
conferring of this dignity upon a person, who by his
labours and exemplary conversation amongst you, is a
great ornament to your Vniversity. Gentlemen, your
ready complyance to this proposall-will demonstrate the
continuance of your respect towards mee, whose
'high esteeme of learning and learned men you
might have more fully experimented, had not
the most wise disposition of the Almighty hindred
the more real! and fruitfull manifestations of the same
vnto you. And I assure you, that lam soe affected to
the flourishing of your estate, that as I accepted of the
honour of your Chancellorshippe with earnest desires to
become instrumentall towards your prosperity, soe I
snafl readily divest my selfe of that honour, when by
soe doing I may, at least, occasionally, contribute any
•hing to the attaining of that great end.
I rest, Gentlemen,
Your affectionate friend and Chancellour,
R. CROM WELL.

Horsley, October 6, —59.
For the Vice Chancellour and Convocation of ye
University of Oxford, These

Gentlemen—l doe and allways shall retaine a hearty
sence of my former obligations to you in your free
election of me to the office of your Chancellour, and
'cis noe small trouble to my thoughts when I consider
how little serviceable I have been to you in that relation.
But since the all wise Providence of God (which I desire
all wayes to adore and bow downe unto) bath been
pleased soe to change my condition, that I am not in a
capacity to answer the ends of that office, I thought I
should not be faithfull to you If I did not resign it up
into your hands, that you might have opportunity to
chuse some other person, whoe in the present state of
things may be more fit and able to serve you. Ido
hereupon most freely give up and resigne all my right
and interest in that office. But shall allwayes retaine
my affection and esteem for you, with my prayers for
your continuall prosperity, that amidst the many ex-
amples of the instability and revolutions of humaiue
affaires you may still abide flourishing and fruitfull.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your affectionate friend and servant,
R. CROMWELL
Ifursley, May ye Bth, 1660.

Westmoreland-street, March 29, 1847_ C. P. J.

STREET CLEANSING-PAUPER