The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-14 00:00:00

THE UNIVERSITIES OF OXFORD

AND CAMBRIDGE.

Two questiors were involved in Mr. Christie's motion
respecting the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge on
Thursday evening; one was their system as to those
whom they admit within their pale, the other their
system as to those whom they exclude. Both have been
negatived for a time ; but a warning has been repeated.
It now amounts to an historical fact that the Reform
Bill was hastened by the high-handed refusal of those
in power to rectify some few proved abuses - in the
same way the Universities may be assured that if they do
not exert themselves to correct what is amiss within
their walls, they will by-and-by be reformed with a
vengeance from without. _ _ _

The wider question of the admission to Oxford and
Cambridge degrees of Catholics and Dissenters
we do not enter upon at present ; we propose only to
notice some points of discipline and rules of practice,
which, as real well-wishers of the two sister Universities,
we should desire to see amended. We are not here
speaking of such matters as caps and hats, or stuff and
silk gowns ; indeed, we do not object to a reasonable
deference to rank at college, since rank is a thing that
will be, and ought to be, deferred to in after-life. We
are alluding to essentials—to such vital matters as the
course of study and the pecuniary outlay of students.
And first, with respect to the course of study; we find
from the returns of the various Professors, and more
particularly from the statement of Dr. Daubeuy,
that of late years the attendance upon public lec-
tures has so fallen off and declined that it is now
almost entirely discontinued. Twenty or thirty is
the maximum of an audience, while some of the
professors are without so much as the humorous Dean's
" dearly beloved Jonathan," and are reduced to empty
walls, silence, and sinecure. All the instruction now
supplied is furnished by the private or the College
tutor. The effect of this is to alter the
nature of the Universities, and to degrade it—to
make them mere clusters of contiguous schools, instead
of being what they were designed to be—comprehensive
and harmonious machines on a grand scale, for giving to
the minds, sent up to them in states of greater or less
preparation, the last polish and perfection. Under the
tutorial, as distinguished from the professional, regime—
under the College as distinguished from the University
education—what does a student gain more than he did
at a public school ? Does he, except so far as he himself
brings maturer faculties, gain so much instruction ? At
school, after learning his lesson, be rehearsed it to his
tutor, and was examined in it daily in public by the
master. At the University he has two examinations in
four years 1 We are well aware that eminent men issue
from our Universities ; but they take much of their
learning with them to those seats of the Muses, and they
would bring yet more away if the system were improved
and enlarged.
With respect to the expense, we are well aware of
the difficulty of sumptuary laws, and of the ease with
which restrictions on the purse, or rather on credit, are
evaded ; but sure we are that with the large authority
of proctors, tutors, and heads of houses, much more
might be done to prevent the years of a university career,
which ought to be happy and useful, from being the
source of ruin and misery for life. Thoughtless as
young men too often are, there yet are ways of deal
ing with them that might be tried with much success ;
to reasonable restraint might be added friendly remon-
strance, an appeal to parents, an appeal to their own
feelings and better judgment. The hundreds which
are wasted in riot, have often been raised for the young
academic by the denial of comforts at home ; to re-
mind him of this, to point out to him how valuable to
himself at some not distant day, how productive of much
more real enjoyment, what he is throwing away would
be, might be tried oftener than it is, and with much
success. Our pages have frequently recorded trials where
young men have been sued, by those who smiled and
trusted, for articles which nu jury could construe into
necessaries—for items lavished by an extravagance that
would be ludicrous if it were not melancholy. This
evil might be easily redressed : it might be provided
that no tradesman residing in or within a certain dis-
tance of Oxford or Cambridge should be entitled to sue
for, and recover from, any undergraduate any debt of
above one year's standing, or of above 51. or 101. in
amount, except there were a previous written order
from the tutor of the undergraduate's college, without
any inquiry in Court whether the goods were necessaries
or not. At present a very large majority of the students
of our two leading Universities are sent to them to be
prepared for admission into the Cnurch ; and of these a
majority again are persons in such circumstances that
300/. or 400/. a year for four years are sums which they
cannot very well afford. Still less can they afford to
acquire habits of extravagance—habits which they must
unlearn afterwards by a painful process.
The legitimate expenses of a college career need and
aught not to be heavy, even if the colleges had not been
amply endowed. In a German University a mod erate
yearly payment to the, tutor, the fees to the various
professors, and the cost of board, are covered by a com-
paratively small sum. In the English Universities the
tutors have their college endowments, the professors
enjoy the ample liberality of the founders, the colleges
have space for students: why should there be a ruinous
expense? Surely, with their ample means, their enor-
mous revenues, our Universities might afford to supply
all educational wants at the lowest charge. Why should
an institution by far the wealthiest not produce the most
liberal programme of instruction? We do not under-
value classical learning; but we contend that for modern
times it is not sufficient for a man to know Latin and
Greek alone. Of modern languages at the present day
a gentleman is expected not to be utterly ignorant; but
these are things which Oxford and 'Cambridge do not
profess to teach, which, in limiting their honours and
degrees to other acqairements, they virtually exclude.—
Times.

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, APRIL 11.—There has
not been much animation in our sugar market this week, and
prices are with difficulty supported, excepting for good and
fine descriptions, which are still very scarce ; the sales since
our last reach about 550 hhds. and trcs., chiefly to the re-
finers, who continue at full, and to them very profitable,
work : the raw material declining, and the manufactured
article being in good demand, in short supply, and, conse-
quently, enhanced in value. Very little business doing in
Mauritius or Bengal. Rum. is rather mcce inquired
Jlr4to( gereary,