600 The Silent Sister. [JuNE, 



acquaintance, he will shed a lustre on the university of Dublin brighter 

 than has encompassed her name since the days of Molyneux and Berkely. 



Dr. McD-" 11 is a man whose character and acquirements would do 



honour to any university ; but he labours to no purpose in the professor- 

 ship of oratory. Oratory cannot be taught by lectures, however philo- 

 sophical and eloquent. That divine art was once taught in the college of 

 Dublin ; but the board in its wisdom annihilated the school. That 

 school was the Historical Society. If it be asked why they took that step, 

 the answer is, not that they disapproved of eloquence, but that they dis- 

 liked the lessons which are sure to be imbibed wherever eloquence is 

 cultivated high sentiments in patriotism, and sound principles in poli- 

 tics. This aversion, however, originated with the castle, the feeling was 

 only adopted by the college. The " idem velle" and " idem nolle' are all 

 as essential to loyalty as to friendship.* 



The conclusion, from the observations we have made, and which have 

 been written in no spirit of hostility, but with a view to produce some 

 good result, were it only to originate discussion upon a question so 

 vitally interesting to Ireland, the conclusion we come to is, that such an 

 alteration of the collegiate system, as would exalt the fellows, or some 

 portion of the fellows, from the rank of mere tutors, to that of eminent 

 literary men ; deliver them from the stnpifying round of official duties, 

 the torture of which we have attempted to describe, and invest them 

 with the capacity of doing something more reputable than pupil-hunting, 

 and more useful than developing the depths of Murray, or scanning the 

 Horatian metres ; such an alteration, we conclude, would be a most ser- 

 viceable reform, and amply repay the pains and costs of carrying it into 

 execution. The funds of the College of Dublin would amply suffice to 

 render a number of the junior fellows independent of tuition ; and any 

 thing that might be subtracted from the fortunes of the seniors, would 

 be returned with usury in the added learning and respectability of the 

 body. Until some plan shall have been adopted with this object, vain it 

 is to look for the elevation of the character of the Irish University. Her 

 fellows will continue to be classified into drones, without motives to 

 exertion, and drudges, without credit for their labour the majority 

 affluent, easy and obscure the minority, less fortunate in pocket, and 

 little more fortunate in attracting the attention of the world. In conse- 

 quence of such a state of things, the college will continue to be nothing 

 but an indifferent academy for grown boys, and a rich retreat for some 

 old men. Her name will be heard as little in the commonwealth of let- 

 ters as it is to-day, and will be mentioned only with the ridicule which 

 attaches to the name of the Silent Sister. 



liberal spirit of a former age had adopted. Alas ! the college of Dublin has retro- 

 graded not advanced. 



