The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-26 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1858.

There is a masterly exposure of the gross and
monstrous mismanagement of affairs at Trinity
College in the distinguished monthly organ of
that establishment, i.e. in the May number of the
Dublin University Magazine. The argument is
brief enough, but it is very comprehensive. It is
terse but explicit. It indulges in more than mere
generalities. It speaks throughout by the book
—and that bode the statue-book. Its writer has
another handy volume ever conveniently at his
elbow for apposite reference, a tome the formid-
able facts and figures stored up in which he ob-
viously has at his fingers' ends—the famous blue
book of 1851, the memorable report as to the
State, Discipline, Studies and Revenues of the
University of Dublin drawn tip by the collective
Eagacity and wisdom of the Royal Commissioners.
Although the writer of the argument we are
hero referring to, really and truly says nothing
more than ditto to the Royal Commissioner?, he
so says it that his words " come home to men's
businesse and bosomes," according to the famous
phrase in Lord BACON'S dedication of his Essays
to the Duke of BUCKINGHAM. There is no deny-
ing his facts-7-there is no gainsaying the perfect
accuracy of his figures. His premises are incon-
trovertible, and his deductions conclusive. And
it is ample time that there should be this ex-
posure. Now—when the two great English
trniversities have been fairly setting their houses
in order_-in compliance, each of them, with the
recommendations of their Royal Commissioners.
It is but reasonable to expect that the Irish Aline
Mater, should "go and do likewise..” She has had
seven years for consideration, and as yet nothing
has come of it. Recognizing
all tbie, the
Lublin uniaersity Magazine has spoken out at
length manfully. It is true, m its very ablewriter remark, that "A parade, indeed, .
made
of carrying out the educational improvements re.
commended by the R ,yal Commissioners ; but,"
headda, thereupon, sententiously and forcefully.
" t'ue financial changcs wh:cb cAn alone give then
any efacienoy ar.o etudinuAy nqk dad. In

illustration of which circumstance, it is only ne-
cessary to remember that while ingenious and
elaborate projects are set on foot for the enlarging
and improving the fellowship examination—nothing
whatever is done towards the enhancement of the
value of a fellowship, so as to render it a prize
worthy of being struggled for by an undergraduate!
Meanwhile there still sits the weekly Board of the
Dublin University. There still survive not the
Seven wise men of Greece, but the Seven Wealthy
Senior Fellows of Trinity. There they remain
and flourish, as their pungent censor now writes
of them,—" witnessing with apathy the decline
of every other college interest but their
own "—" governing in their own interest,
auditing their own accounts, evading the most
just and reasonable demands for reform." The
few syllables we have here italicised in this pithy
but emphatic charge comprise within their narrow
compass the gravamen of the whole accusation.
The Seven Senior fellows, the actual administra-
tors of the University—" audit their ewn ac-
counts." How do they audit them ? Well, le.t
us see. To sum everything up in a few words,
we may tell upon the instant by comparing for a
moment the distribution of the fees paid by every
recipient of a degree at the Dublin Univer-
sity. Premising that the enigmatical cheirotheoa
(from Xf/Pov and Onizn) meaning, literally, "gloves,"
signified the head-porter, we would here excerpt
from the pages of the " Dublin Magazine" the
following rather remarkable tables of distribution,
as it (the distribution) was "ordered " in 1801,
and as it was "ordered" in 1851. Introducing
these tables only with a—

"Look on this picture—and on this !
Distribution in
f-- ---
DEGREE of A.M. 1801 1851
Trinity College, er " common chest" £2 10 0 £1 2

050 0 5
100 1 0
1 7 6 Nil.
050 0 4
2 6 0 2 10
G5O 0 5
Nil. 4 10

Vice-Chanceflo.r..
Library
Cheirotheca
Bedell and Janitor
Proctor
Registrar
Provost and Senior Fellows

£7 18 6 £9 16 6

DEGREES of LL D., M.D., or Mus. -
D., including LL. B. and Mus. B.
Trinity College, or" common chest" £l2 0 0 £2 15 0
Vice-Chancellor 1 3 0 1 10 0
Library
Professor 3 0 0 3 0 0
Cheirotheca
Bedell and Janitor
Proctor
Registrar
Provost and Senior Fellows •.. Nil. 16 0 0