Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

Trinity, King's, and Queen's are,
that maintain a librarian in regular
o We know not that the remain
enumeration. They all contain from
Pembroke Hall demands a few wo
since that we obtained a glimpse of
ceived, in a sunken apartment openi
books, linen, and other valuables ber
rotting under the combined influenc
this scandalous neglect of property h
we do hope that this public allusion
but in case the worthy fellows of the
indifferent to the books which were t
will, we trust, no longer resemble th
present them to a college capable of
Of the other foundations, as well as
upon, we shall have better opportunit
pearance of a work, which has been
"on the book-rarities in the university

In the article on this subject in the to express a wish that all the MSS. in lected into ONE GRAND REPOSITOR if, in emulation of Caliph Omar, we h flagration of them, the proposition w have been listened to with greater ten any aspirations for the crown of litera for the benefit of all who abhor the hi theory, that our suggestion must soone less pains be promptly taken to rende of national benefit, which are now ei concealed from the public, or suffered to criminal indifference. This desirable o the jurisdiction of parliament; and the po mission might be extended, provided, hold to be a sine qua non, that it had more and more able and zealous officers, so curators to prepare accurate lists of their afterwards examined by itinerant commiss the public. Incredible as it will appear to in both universities, a disposition is at le collections in colleges and other corporate cobwebs, and their utility will be no long who enjoy the power, and the still few

The celebrated Stanley presented to this library The information may be of service to the conductors tioned in page 351, ante. The book contains many Eng binding, but much worn.

[ocr errors]

defraved The Ondard books exterior

tess both ext

is Cisgusted al
Notis
probably

to constit
we are ass

ephoroe, p ably sins enga the errata of the stable than

et, endearoa
stablishment

tonate in
we cannot eas
gement mar
senderrous
we know not how the
ibly bestow sin
may give

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

willing rather

difficult to dirme at large. If has issued from our inquires to of Haves, and B the contrast is ind were first panded to of every this per m almost to W and char compared lished by suspect prince. Wi author

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

to time said to be in agitation for the improvelic buildings, it can so readily command, than ress that rank in the eyes of Europe which it be expected to occupy, and which would reit of its directors.

aesent, our remarks conclude; and we take the pressing our hope, that in the animadversions ady made, and in such as we may hereafter feel on the conduct of these venerable institutions, nsidered as indulging a feeling of deliberate tematic disrespect. That we should be comuch an expectation is far from creditable to ered so unjust and illiberal an opinion of our 28. It is to be regretted that, of those who power to correct abuses in the universities of Ige, so large a number should be removed by ons of active life from the halls of the unihaunts of men. But we are not therefore ure of the cordial assent and good wishes of full of academic honours, still devote themation of their minds in elegant and useful ed to hold lightly the hatred and bigotry of t mental progress which they would fain hold cheap those gigantic strides in intelfor which this age and country are alike we repeat that we do not write for the udiced, for they naturally detest doctrines. n into contempt. Our efforts are grounded h sooner or later must be as generally adin is the source of heat and life, namely, open to all who wish to consult them. Let inions are most obnoxious remember, that or the idea that the book of truth and freely read by all classes, their predecesv. Such then being the effect of the proat do they expect will be the opinion of not content with appropriating great part ir colleges to the support of their bodies, ne part of them, or, if this be impossible, time and talents to the advancement of

e than is accorded to newspapers in general. It is curlebrated Cuvier offered to the university a complete colhis matchless fossils, provided they would find a suitable at this splendid offer was declined!

whole be a calumny, we are glad, by this public stateitation: if the details be unfortunately true, the circummulgated.

been ushered in a beautiful and accurate shape from the Clarendon, its utility is far from being restrained solely to the noble efforts of those who flourished

"when time's youth

Wanted some riper years."

To say nothing of its republication of Raleigh, Hooker, Barrow, and nearly all the best and standard writers of the church, the student of his country's history is indebted to Oxford for the only unmutilated editions of the Life and History of Lord Clarendon, and of Bishop Burnet's Own Time.

On all sides too we hear complaints of the exorbitant prices fixed upon the Cambridge books; a tax the more unpardonable, inasmuch as every fresh publication, almost without exception, bears in its front an acknowledgment of expenses defrayed or lightened by the munificence of the syndics. The Oxford books again are not merely recommended by neatness of exterior and moderation in cost, but are executed with correctness both exact and exemplary, while the Cambridge reader is disgusted and fatigued by pages of errata, addenda, corrigenda. Nor is this only true of the mathematical works, which are probably in more general demand, as they have been imagined to constitute the peculiar care of this philosophic body; for we are assured that the second edition of Dr. Blomfield's Choephoroe, published at an advanced price, and which has probably sins enough of its own to answer for, is disfigured by all the errata of the first.

Those who may be considered better able than ourselves to speak with confidence upon the subject, endeavour to remove some of the imputations to which the establishment is confessedly liable, by stating, that it is less fortunate in endowment and revenue. If this be conceded, we cannot easily be persuaded that an improved system of management may not bring about a beneficial change. But if its endeavours be really cramped by a deficiency of funds, we know not how the senate could more wisely and more profitably bestow some little portion of those resources which, if we may give credits to the expensive

It is to the Clarendon that we are indebted for the best editions of Bishop Pearson on the Creed, and Barrow's Theological Works. Both, we think, with Strype and others who might be named, should have commanded a little reverence on the banks of Cam; but more than ten slow years elapsed before Porson's Euripides was sent forth in his own types, and even yet Bentley's immortal Phalaris, to be graced with every ornament, is commended to the dingy print and paper of some inglorious typographer. Nor is the

fate of Newton to be less admired!

A solitary exception was announced in the advertisements accompanying our last number, in professor Scholefield's Eschylus. We happen to know that more than one purchaser yielded slow credence to the assurance of his eyes.

The only fault we have to find with the Oxford delegates is, that the works printed under their sanction are not sufficiently published beyond the university. They will not be accused of taking lessons in the art of puffing.

3 Our readers may be surprised when we express a hope that these reports are to be

plans from time to time said to be in agitation for the improvement of the public buildings, it can so readily command, than in giving their press that rank in the eyes of Europe which it may so naturally be expected to occupy, and which would re

dound to the credit of its directors.

Here, for the present, our remarks conclude; and we take the opportunity of expressing our hope, that in the animadversions which we have already made, and in such as we may hereafter feel it our duty to offer on the conduct of these venerable institutions, we shall not be considered as indulging a feeling of deliberate vituperation or systematic disrespect. That we should be compelled to express such an expectation is far from creditable to those who have uttered so unjust and illiberal an opinion of our motives and feelings. It is to be regretted that, of those who have the wish and power to correct abuses in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, so large a number should be removed by the various avocations of active life from the halls of the university to the busy haunts of men. But we are not therefore to despair; and secure of the cordial assent and good wishes of the few who, though full of academic honours, still devote themselves to the cultivation of their minds in elegant and useful study, we are entitled to hold lightly the hatred and bigotry of all who neglect that mental progress which they would fain stifle, and affect to hold cheap those gigantic strides in intellectual endowments for which this age and country are alike remarkable. Again we repeat that we do not write for the ignorant or the prejudiced, for they naturally detest doctrines which must bring them into contempt. Our efforts are grounded upon a principle which sooner or later must be as generally admitted as that the sun is the source of heat and life, namely, that books should be open to all who wish to consult them. Let those to whom our opinions are most obnoxious remember, that though they now abhor the idea that the book of truth and wisdom should not be freely read by all classes, their predecessors thought differently. Such then being the effect of the progress of education, what do they expect will be the opinion of posterity, of men who, not content with appropriating great part of the revenues of their colleges to the support of their bodies, instead of applying some part of them, or, if this be impossible, some part of their own time and talents to the advancement of

received with no more deference than is accorded to newspapers in general. It is currently said, however, that the celebrated Cuvier offered to the university a complete collection of models in plaister from his matchless fossils, provided they would find a suitable place for their reception; and that this splendid offer was declined!

If, as we devoutly trust, the whole be a calumny, we are glad, by this public statement, to expect an indignant refutation: if the details be unfortunately true, the circumstance cannot be too widely promulgated.

learning, do all in their power to render the productions of wiser men as useless as possible; and in many cases, suffer their labours to be ruined by damp, cobwebs, and worms. Whilst they smile, with amusing superciliousness, at the bigotry and ignorance of "slothful monks," for God's sake let them reflect how little the productions of resident fellows and higher person-. ages in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge will bear a comparison with the labours of those "slothful monks" in this, but more especially in other countries. Nay, more, let them contrast what has been done for literature, either ancient or modern, by those who it may almost be said are pensioned to study; whose wants are provided for by the liberality of others, and often by the very monkish priesthood which they despise, in the comparison with what has been effected by men who have had to strive against the tempests of the world, and to provide for the day which is passing over them.

Whether these examples do or do not stimulate them to exertion is not so important a question as whether they will not possess at least the negative merit of rendering the MSS,, which are unfortunately distributed in such an infinity of places, available to all who are willing to use them. If they do not, we repeat that they will one day either be compelled to do so, or the treasures of which they are such bad guardians must be intrusted to other hands.

COLLARS OF

NOTICES RELATING TO THE ANCIENT
THE KING'S LIVERY," AND, IN PARTICULAR, THOSE
WHICH ARE STILL DENOMINATED "COLLARS OF

[ocr errors]

[By George Frederick beltz, Esq. LANCASTER HERALD.] THE Custom of encircling the neck with a gold or silver chain or collar, in order to distinguish the wearer for his rank, wisdom, or prowess, is of the highest antiquity, and coeval, probably, with the earliest application of the precious metals to purposes of personal decoration. Amongst the Jews, the ouch, or carcanet, formed part of the sacerdotal ornaments; in Egypt and Babylon a gold chain was bestowed as a symbol of official dignity; and a collar, stripped from the body of a vanquished Gaul by a Roman.. warrior, gave the surname of Torquatus to the Manlian family.

It cannot be doubted that this external mark of preeminence, one of the first fruits, perhaps, of inequality in the relations of social life, was in general use in ancient Europe, and that it was introduced at a very remote period into Britain: the idea, however, of erecting it into a sign of adherence to a particular dynasty, family, or party, seems to have been reserved for a more

ני

1

« PreviousContinue »