DEAR SIR, In accordance with your request I take up my pen, to lay before you, and through you before the public, a few observations upon the recent changes in the discipline and regulations of the university. I feel really obliged and highly complimented by your kind permission to employ the awful editorial "WE." But, upon consideration, I have thought it better that my poor opinions should come before the public without making any one answerable for them but myself. Probably you were not aware of the extent or particularity of my views when you volunteered the responsibility of my sentiments. And though, in their present shape my remarks may not possess that authority which would belong to them did they appear as an emanation from your editorial wisdom; your sanction will, at least, be sufficient to procure for them an attentive consideration, and this, perhaps, is all that in fairness I have a right to wish for or expect.

These, Sir, are the days of REFORM. The spirit of the age is one of enquiry and innovation. Old abuses are no longer respected because they are old; nay, frequently, institutions of acknowledged utility are marked out for destruction, simply because the crime of antiquity outweighs the merit of all the advantages that are derived from them. The origin of the epidemic mania for change is, perhaps, to be found in the conceit that has taken hold upon men's minds, that this generation is wiser than all that have preceded it. When men are constantly hearing and talking of this enlightened age, and that, too, in contrast with the darkness of the ignorance of our forefathers, it is but natural that they should cease to respect the contrivances of those whom they are taught to regard as less wise than themselves, and imagine that

upon the ruins of every thing that was established in ancient times, the progressing intellect of modern days, cannot fail to construct a fairer and a better edifice.

I do not mean to digress into a political discussion; but there is a show of reason about all this. We certainly have more experience than our fathers, and, therefore, ought to have more wisdom. And accordingly this very spirit of reform, while it has its evils, has also its advantages. When applied to government, which, until the state becomes a nation of philosophers, must rest its stability upon the prejudices of the governed, it is mischievous in the extreme. But in institutions, whose utility is one of mere mechanical consideration-when the question to be determined is simply which system is calculated to work best, and when there is no evil in innovation of itself, this spirit may produce much good. The constitution of a country should not lightly be tampered with, because much of its effect depends upon the habitual veneration of the people. But when this great term does not enter into the calculation, the problem becomes more easy, because change is safe, and even the most cautious and hesitating man, who would tremble at the slightest alteration of the social system, lest it might weaken any of those bonds, which unite the whole, proceeds boldly and fearlessly in the work of reform.

The reform which has been effected in college is decidely an improvement. In academic matters I am an ultraradical. I will not say that I am quite satisfied with what has been done, but this is only because it does not go far enough, and I hail with joy both the important changes that have been made, and the principles that are established, which I fondly hope contain the germ of alterations still more important. If I may borrow still further from political phra

I have not time to dwell upon the folly of a system, whose faultiness seems acknowledged by its explosion; but it is curious to remark the gradual introduction of a more enlightened policy into the academic arrangements. Its first dawning is to be found in the institution of classical premiums; but as if the innovators, who thus recognized the great principle for which I am contending, were startled at their own boldness, they at first proceeded cautiously to work; they confined the classical premiums to the Freshman years-for what reason I am sure it is difficult to divine. But the principle once established, silently worked its way, and its next developement is to be found in the alteration of the system by which medals were bestowed. These were given after an examination which previous character only influenced, so far as the requiring the candidates to have obtained a premium, and one was bestowed upon classical, another upon scien

tific attainments. This was the second triumph of reason.

But our present Provost seems in earnest in the work of reform; with a mind capable of forming plans of improvement, he unites activity and energy calculated to carry them into effect; and accordingly in the three short years that have elapsed since his accession to office, this principle has achieved two great and important victories. Classical premiums have been continued through the course; and by the recent regulations those honours at graduation, which had been hitherto monopolized by mathematical ability are shared with talent of a more useful, perhaps not inferior, order. In this last gigantic stride, some may imagine the principle to have reached the highest elevation to which it is entitled. I confess, to me it appears, as if we had yet made but little way in the progress of rational reform, and I would almost adopt as my motto in academic improvement, Nil actum reputans dum aliquid superesset agendum."

The system of electing to vacant fellowships must altogether be altered before the university will either afford proper encouragement to science or discharge aright her duties in the education of youth.

But before I state my views upon

this point, it may, perhaps, be more regular to discuss the several alterations that have been made in the undergraduate arrangements; these are the substitution of three examinations for four, the separating the science of the Freshman and Sophister years, the alteration that has been made in the mode of distributing honorary distinctions, and the different changes that have been made in the course prescribed, both classical and scientific.

The separation of the science of the Freshman and Sophister years is unquestionably an advantage; and had the principle laid down in the first of the published resolutions of the board been strictly adhered to, the system would be almost perfect; but the institution of four separate courses of study, each of which is to form a subject matter of a year's instruction, is, in a great degree, neutralized by retaining mathematics in the second year, and physics in the fourth. The mathematical sciences will still retain their undue preponderance throughout the undergraduate course; it is only at graduation that their unjust monopoly is

disturbed; and though this is an important improvement, it was at least impolitic to retain that monopoly at all, when, if I may use a metaphorical expression, the renewal of the charter offered a fair opportunity for its extinction. Nay, special pains appear to have been taken not to encroach upon it; for though I do not mean to say that any such consideration influenced the assignment of the courses, the introduction of mathematics previous to logics, and physics previous to ethics, is admirably calculated to leave the evil just where it found it, and preserve to the mathematical sciences their vested rights. Reversing the order would have obviated the defect, but under the present arrangement mathematics have even been advanced to still further pre-eminence. Formerly Murray's Logic and Locke divided between them the honours of two examinations-the sovereignty of mathematics is now extended over all. But I may be told, that under any other arrangement the science learned in the first year would be forgotten in the second, and so on. There are many means of preventing this; but even admitting it to be the case, the

mind having once gone through a course of mathematical discipline, the end to the generality of students is answered; and perhaps to the men to whom the study is a drudgery, the sooner they are expelled from the intellectual system the better; while those who had real taste for the study, would prosecute it for its own sake. Or if it was deemed expedient that still the recollection should be kept up in the minds of all, a moderate knowledge of them might be required at each examination, although they were not permitted to influence the decision of honours. The working of this would be very simple, as by the new arrangement the examination of the candidates for honours is separated from that of the great body of the class, and the mathematical examination could be confined to the first day; and as an encouragement to those who chose to dive deeper into the mysteries of the science, premiums might be offered, for which those who wished might become candidates; and these premiums might be made so valuable as not only to furnish a sufficient inducement to the student to devote a laborious attention to a science not the immediate business of his examination, but even afford a welcome supply to many a needy but gifted young man, who has to work his way by his own exertions to competence and fame.

I know not whether I will find many to agree with me, but I do not think the distribution of pecuniary rewards in our university is liberal enough. Honours and moderatorships, like civility, cost nothing. I would almost wish to see premiums under some regulations given on such a liberal scale that a meritorious young man could nearly, if not entirely support himself by his prizes.

The diminution of the number of examinations is an improvement; but as it bears no relation to those more important topics which it is my object to discuss, I shall pass it by in silence, and proceed to notice the alteration that has been in the mode of distributing honours.

The gross injustice of the former system is too well known to require comment. Men have borne away all the honours in a division of dunces, while in a division of ordinary talent VOL. II.

their superiors have passed through the course unnoticed and unknown. The confining the premiums to the October examinations is an advantage, since it admits their value and number to be increased without an increase of expense. The pecuniary amount laid out in premiums is annually the same. Formerly to each, forty in a class, 16 pounds was distributed, and the sum is still the same; as at the October examination one-fortieth of the class obtain premiums of four, and two-fortieths of two pounds each. The only difference is, that in the new system October premium-men are virtually destroyed, and I am sure there is no one to mourn over their extinction, particularly when the amount of these premiums is now virtually added to the January. There formerly were four grades of premium men: the first grade, under the name of Senior Prizemen, now receives the premiums formerly distributed among the last, and the second and third are classed very properly together as Junior.

In this arrangement too, there seems something like the application of a principle, which, if pushed further, would produce an immensity of goodthat the bestowal of a few large premiums is better than the distribution of a great many small ones.

Permit me, Sir, to remark that my anticipations of future reform do not seem utterly unfounded. There is one at the head of the university, from whom I feel I may hope great things. He appears to have accepted of his high and responsible situation not to make it a lounge for his indolence, or even a resting-place from the toils of a useful and laborious literary life. He seems to regard his Provostship, not as a reward for his services-not as

a

crown for his ambition-not as a resting place in his passage to the episcopal bench-nor even as a final provision which precludes the need of further exertion. But considering it as a solemn trust confided to him for the good of the university and his country, he labours for the improvement of those committed to his care, and seems actuated by the spirit that is said to have been the animus of the consular government at Rome, determined that his administration shall be marked not merely by the appearance of his name

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in the calendar of our college, but find a more solid, and more permanent memorial in the number and utility of his reforms.

And it is well for his own fame that his lot has fallen in an institution that gives ample scope for the exercise of a reforming spirit, and in times when the intellect of the age is ready for, nay, demanding these improvements, as it is well for the university, that at the present crisis it has found in its Provost a man capable of re-modelling its system, and suiting it to the advanced, and advancing intellect of modern times. The unwieldy structure of the middle ages can hardly have a mechanism capable of competing with the accelerated motions of mind in the nineteenth century. I only trust, that our Provost will go on as he has begun, unmoved by calumny, unawed by the puny and pointless virulence of ignorant and disappointed malice, and, further, uninfluenced by the narrowness of scholastic prejudice, and the reward is before him of being reckoned among the benefactors of his country.

With respect to the changes in the course, I must of necessity say but a few words, for I am not ashamed to acknowledge that some of the books introduced I have never read. To the Fasti of Ovid there must be annexed an Index expurgatorius.* The compositions of this writer are far more injurious than even the worst or most disgusting passages of Juvenal or Horace. The high priest of licentiousness arrays his idol in a gorgeous dress, whose drapery almost conceals her deformity. We may reverse the sentiment of Burke, and say that in his light and elegant poetry, vice acquires double evil and increased insidiousness because it is divested of almost all its grossness. But the book is one in general well deserving of attention. The Calendar of the Romans is judiciously placed at the commencement of the course, as an acquaintance with it will throw light upon many passages in the writers to whom the student will be subsequently introduced, and I believe my fastidiousness as to its

moral tendency proceeds rather from my recollections of some of the other writings of Ovid, than any great number of objectionable passages in the book itself. But I cannot help charging on the author of the Fasti the sins of the writer of the " Amores," and the "Ars Amatoria." The introduction of the Odyssey is a decided improvement; but I almost regret the omission of any portion of the Iliad. Passionately attached to the poems of the Moonian bard, I can hardly believe that our youth can study him too much. In his " Rhapsodies" they will unquestionably find the most sublime poetry as well as the purest Greek, and in their perusal their taste will be elevated at the same time that their classical knowledge is improved. The omission of the Phoenissa I decidedly regret. If either should have been sacrificed, I would rather have given up the Orestes; but I cannot see why both might not have been retained. The introduction of Thucydides and Herodotus will do more to form a correct classical taste than any other improvement that has been made. Hitherto we have known the Greek language through its poets and its orators: we shall now be taught to study it in the sober beauty of historical composition. Of the new authors whose works have been introduced into the undergraduate course, I have only spoken where I had knowledge. Your more extended acquaintance with the ancient writers will enable you to form a judgment where I cannot; and your kindness may probably induce you to supply from the riches of your own store the omissions consequent on the poverty of my knowledge. But before I pass from this part of my subject, I may remark how judicious is the plan of appointing only a portion of the business for the great mass of the students. Obliging them to know a little well is certainly a more likely method of giving them a knowledge of the language than of appointing them a great quantity, which they never read, or at best slur over in a careless and hurried manner, trusting to the