AN ENGLISH UNIVERSITY. 



19 



is tlie senate, and it is composed of all masters of arts, doctors, and 

 bachelors of divinity whose names still remain on the university 

 books — that is, who continue to pay certain fees into the university 

 treasury. In addition to the legislative body there is an executive 

 head or council of nineteen, including the chancellor — at present 

 the Duke of Devonshire — and the vice-chaiicclldi-. Both these 

 bodies must govern accord- 

 ing to the statutes, no al- 

 teration in which can be ef- 

 fected without recourse be- 

 ing had to Parliament. The 

 senate is a peculiar body, 

 and on occasions becomes 

 somewhat unwieldy. It con- 

 sists at present of some 

 6,800 members, of whom 

 only 452 are in residence at 

 Cambridge. Upon ordinary 

 occasions only these 452 

 vote upon questions pro- 

 posed by the council; but on 

 occasions of great moment, 

 as when the question of 

 granting university degrees 

 to women came up, some 

 thousands or more of the 

 nonresident members, who 

 in many ' cases have lost 

 touch with the modern uni- 

 versity and modern systems of education, swarm to their alma 

 mater, annihilate the champions of reform, and are hailed by their 

 brethren as the saviors of their university. 



The university's exchequer is supplied partly by its endowment, 

 but chiefly by an assessment on the college incomes, a capitation 

 tax on all undergraduates, and the fees attending matriculation, 

 examinations, and the granting of degrees. The examinations are 

 numerous. Every student on entering is required to pass, or to 

 claim exemption from, an entrance examination. In either case 

 he pays £3 to the university, and upon admission to any lionor 

 course or "tripos" to qualify for the degree. of Bachelor of Arts 

 £3 more is exacted. The income of the university from these ex- 

 amination fees alone amounts to £9,400 per annum, £4,600 of 

 which goes to pay the examiners. In America this is supposed 

 to be a part of the professor's or instructor's duty, no additional 



K. C. Jebb, Litt. U., M. P., Trinity. 

 Kesrius Professor of Greek. 



