74 Oxford Bigotry and Oxford Studies. 



are the jury that pronounce the verdict and pass the sentence? They 

 are the same party, nay, the same individuals and their followers ; 

 and they all breathe the same rancorous haired to every feeling of 

 liberality and Christian love. FIVE came forward as the professor's 

 individual accusers, and seventy-Jive sanctioned the accusation by their 

 votes : how many more than eighty were concerned in this precious 

 work of trial and condemnation, the associates of the FIVE will be best 

 bale to tell. 



Dr. Hampden's Inaugural Discourse was' all that his best friends 

 could have wished, all that could have been required to disarm the 

 hostility of noble foes, all that was necessary to show the falsehood 

 of the accusations made against him. It proved his orthodoxy 

 beyond a doubt; but it proved more, namely, that he possessed the 

 wisdom of the serpent united with the simplicity and gentleness of 

 the dove. He would not concede to the angry threats of enemies 

 his belief in the original uncorrupted Christian faith; but he was 

 willing to acknowledge himself as a very humble servant not of the 

 University, but of a Master in Heaven. Those who were present on 

 this solemn occasion, (and who then in Oxford was not, whom the 

 doors would admit?) will, we think, never forget the calm but impas- 

 sioned eloquence of the professor, in making his triumphant defence 

 against the charges of his accusers. The junior members of the 

 University from that day forward became friends instead of foes ; all 

 impartial men were convinced of the defendant's innocence ; the 

 credit of the accusers was shaken; and the affair might have been 

 consigned as matter of past history to the care of Dr. Phillimore or 

 Dr. Bliss for their next edition of the Annals of the University. But 

 no : the business was not ended. His enemies were only baffled, 

 not beaten ; and they only retired from the attack to renew it at a 

 more favourable season. 



We do not purpose to tire our readers with a detail of all the vari- 

 ous phases that this persecution has assumed during ten months. The 

 last proctors refused to be made the tools of faction, and hence their 

 victim was allowed a short reprieve. The new proctors came into 

 office, and hostilities recommenced. Every insult that'the University 

 can offer to its professor has been heaped on him. The last and per- 

 haps the most daring is that by the vice-chancellor, in refusing testi- 

 monials to the Brasenose men who attend the Regius-professor's 

 lectures. This act of Dr. Gilbert and the seniority will do much 

 more mischief to the college than benefit to the church : it will 

 simply deter men from entering, and cause its present members to 

 withdraw to other societies. Leaving the legality of the transaction 

 quite out of the question, we think that the principal, as the originator 

 of this notable scheme, has placed himself in a very awkward position, 

 as respects the bishops of the Church of England. He will not give 

 testimonials to such as attend the Regius-professor; they will not, 

 cannot, nay, dare not ordain without the professor's certificate : 

 what will be the result? Simply this, that the bishops will alto- 

 gether pass over Dr. Gilbert and his subordinates and receive in lieu 

 of the College testimony that of two beneficed clergymen in favour 

 of the candidate's learning, piety and orthodoxy. What the influence 



