The sun., 1894-02-14

Among the living graduates Of the unre-
formed Oxford Of the forties. none Is more
distinguished than Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH
The mark which he has made in life was
prefigured in his college days. for he carried
of almost all the honors OF his university
He not only took first-cass in classics
but gained the Hertford and Ireland schoiar-
ships. together with the Chancellor's rr:.os
for Latin verse and for Latin and English
essays. He was chosen n fellow OF Univer-
sity College and appointed to the Regius
professorship Of modern history. the chair
subsequently filled by STUBBs. FREEMAN.
and FRoUDE He and ARTHUR PENRHYN
STANLEY were the secretaries OF the Royal
Commission appointed in 1850 to investigate
the studies. discipline. and revenues OF the
University Of Oxford; and he is one OF
the chief authors OF the resultant reforms
which threw open to competition hundreds
OF fellowships and scholarships that had
previously been confined to students born
In certain localities. or descended from par
ticular families. lie has lately revisited
Oxford after an absence Of many years, and
he records in the Fortnighily Rerie,c his i'm
pressions OF the outcome of the extensive
changes to which he powerfully helped to
Bi'c tho ollSlHdl illlpulSc.
Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH recalls that when.
coming mp from Eton, he was nominated for
a demyship at Magdalen. he made up the
number Of eight undergraduate demys to
whose education were confined the efforts
OF college possessing an income of $50 900
year. There were then no commoners;
there were only one or two gentlemen com
moners. supposed to be under the exclusive
care OF President RoUTH. then approaching
his hundredth year. There were but two
tutors. one OF whom was lecturer at other
colleges. taking clerical duty besides; the
other was JAMES MoZLEY. man Of first
rate ability. but SO disdainful OF tutorial
work that attendance at his lectures was
waste Of time. or the few fellows in
residence. some used the college as
q shooting box. New College. which is now
disputing the palm OF academical efficiency
with Balliol. was in those days little better
than Magdalen. 1t Is needless to say what
contrast 10 this state OF things Is now
presented. The university. apart from tho
colleges. could. in those days, hardly be
said to exist. considered as q teaching in
stitution. The pruiessoriate was in utter
decay. and completely oustei by the tuto.
rial system. which was carried on by clerl-
cal fellows not devoted to education, but
filling up their time with tuition while they
waited for succession To college llvings.
From almost half the nation. Oxford was
cut of by religious tests.
1t Is pointed out how radical and indis-
pensabe a change has been wrought by the
abolition Of the clerical restrictions In the |
middle ages every scholar was clerk: but,
after the Reformation. cleTicism became |
professional, aud thereby fatal TO the uni |
Verslty. Ihenceforth. no lay studies. ex- |
cept those of Greek and Latin. could flour |
lsh, and, instead Of being a place OF learn !
ing and education. Oxford. 80 far as she had |
any life at all. was simply tho battlefield OF |
ecclesiastical parties. Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH |
considers that the evil reached its height at |
the time OF the Tractarian controversy. In |
which the legitimate interests and duties OF
the place were for the time almost absorbed. |
The gate of the clerical fortress having been
at last forced open, il was natural that lib
eralism should come in with rush. II the |
old aphorism was true that "the maIustay
OF the State in England is the Church. and
the ma!nstay Of the Church IS Oxford"
Church and State must now be tottering. |
MT, GoLDWIN SAITH was told that there Is
now current in Oxford certain amount OF
OF the chair. but he predicts that
It's yotaries will in time become aware how
.mperfectly their philosophy coiucides with
the simple and practical desire Of the So
rialist not Of the chair 10 vote the property
of the wealthier classes to himself
Another innovation, the effects OF which
are very striking, is the marriage Of fell
ows. This. in the opinion Of Mr.. GOLD
WIN SMITH, had TO come. il the instruction
vas to be improved. because men do not
ievote themselves TO a calling on which
hey cannot marry. Under the old regime
he tutors were always looking forward to
retiring on college lvings. Nevertheless.
'he marriage Of fellows and their eonss-