80 Oxford Bigotry and Oxford Studies. 



at Eton, and not superior- to those of any boy of respectable ability 

 in the higher classes of any well-conducted seminary in the country ; 

 while the Examination of honour-men (which, strange to say, is quite 

 distinct from that of the rest both at Oxford and Cambridge) requires 

 a quantity of reading, which, if properly performed, would occupy 

 not three but thirteen years, and would fairly entitle the patient 

 student to a rank scarcely inferior to that of a Person or an Elmsley. 

 It is certain that none, but a man of talent can pass such an examina- 

 tion ; and it is truly an honour to be in the first class. But there is 

 good reason to doubt whether the habits of reading acquired during 

 the period of probation are such as are likely to form sound and 

 critical scholars. In fact, as a proof of this assertion, Oxford does 

 not possess at present more than one member, whose scholarship has 

 gained for him a national reputation. There are indeed, many 

 highly accomplished and gentlemanly scholars; but severe scholar- 

 ship is almost unknown. The classical studies of Cambridge are 

 much better conducted and are a truer test of ability and genius. 



The University, we have seen, insists on a certain amount of 

 Icnowledge as necessary for the junior degree ; and the colleges pro- 

 fess to give instruction by means of their tutors in the subjects of ex- 

 amination, but fail to perform their duty. The professors furnish no 

 means of instruction whatever; and thus the willing student is com- 

 pelled to pursue his studies alone or to procure the assistance of a 

 private teacher at a heavy additional expense. A considerable num- 

 ber of talented young men gain a handsome competence by furnish- 

 ing such instruction, which would be quite unnecessary, if the tutor's 

 duties were efficiently performed. A stranger can form a very faint 

 notion of the abuses arising out of the tutorial system : only those 

 who have resided for a considerable time both as undergraduates and 

 graduates, can adequately conceive their amount. Whether the 

 want of zealous activity among the tutors is attributable to the vicious 

 mode of their appointment or to other causes, we have neither the 

 space nor wish to discuss. The system altogether is bad, and must 

 be reformed. It may not be able, as Mr. Baden Powell one of its 

 Professors remarks, to reform itself; and foreign interference may 

 be necessary to reform its bad government and to correct its many 

 acknowledged abuses. A Royal Commission under William IV. 

 may be less popular than one under Charles I. : but it is not less ne- 

 cessary ; and, if judiciously performed, it will at least be more 

 effective. 



