1823.) 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
ACCOUNT of the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD; 
by M, TAILLARDIER, 
‘ { From. the Revue Encyclopedique.J 
T seems alittle extzaordinary, that, 
. among the, number. of foreign vi- 
sitors. .to this country, none should 
have been hitherto found to do honour 
to the university ef Oxford, though all 
must, have been strongly impressed 
withthe knowledge of its possessing 
impertant advantages, with respect to 
its ;cemponent materials, and to the 
many most curious articles and parti- 
eulars, tobe found in. iis interesting 
and entertaining. collections. From 
the following short account, by M. 
Taillardier,.a French advocate, it will 
appear that he has examined his sub- 
ject, with, original. views; that he is an 
intelligent, observer. and. impartial 
writer ;and, as such, L.am justified 
in recommending to. notice the facts 
and -cireumstances he has collected, 
and. the solid, observations he makes 
upon them. The author's object and 
intentions were, no doubt, to give a 
just, and faithfal description, and a 
portionof his information may be ase- 
ful to travellers. Should any errors, 
necessary to point out, be found in it, 
seme of your Oxford correspondents 
may, beneficially employ their talents 
in discovering and correcting them. 
The system of education, and the 
whole interior management, in English 
universities, is so different from what 
is practised in France, that any satis- 
factory information obtained respecting 
it must be mew to. us, and proportion- 
ably important or interesting. That 
of Oxford is the largest, and exhibits 
the finest: collection and specimen of 
colleges extant, not only in Exgland, 
byt, L believe, i in any other country. 
The. university of Oxford is very 
ancient ; it consists of colleges succes- 
sively founded by’ kings, or by rich 
and snunificent individuals. In the 
adininistvation of its government, its 
potcal economy, and legislation, it is 
sreat measure independent of any 
nee nsic javisdiction. The ‘principal 
dignitary; who bes the title of Chan- 
coflor, has iy all ages been one of high 
coasters ior. if the country, He’ is 
clecteth Hy" the ‘Doctors’ of Divini 
Saw, and Medicine, and by the Mas- 
ters‘of Arts, Who'are Regents, or whio 
have borne the office of Regents. His 
election is for oné; two, or three ,years; 
but after that term the nomination is 
Montity Mae, No, 389, 
Account of the University of Oxford. 
393 
in perpetnity.- The choice always 
falls on-one of the ancient students of 
the university ; that office isat present 
occupied by Lord Grenville.» As- to 
the functions of the Chancellor; they 
are mostly of an honorary description; 
he rarely or ever assists at the exer- 
cises of the university, unless at his 
installation, or in case of a royal visit. 
The Chancellor delegates his powers 
to a’ Vice-Chancellor, selected by him 
from among the heads of colleges ; but 
this choice must be confirmed by the 
dignitaries from whom the Chanevllor 
derived his powers. The appointment 
of Vice-Chancellor is only for a year, 
aithough he generally holdsit for four 
years tozether, when a fresh election 
takes place. He is assisted by four 
Pro-Vice-chancellors, that are always 
heads of colleges. 
The Vice-Chancellor is the principal 
oficer resident in the university. ‘He 
is superintendant-general ; and the 
right of convening conyocations, orthe 
university, as a corporate body, is 
vested in hitu. His presence,*or that 
of a Pro-Vice-chancellor, is essentially 
necessary for holding an assembly of 
the two Chambers of Congregation 
and Convocation, wherein utiversity- 
affairs are treated of. He is moreover 
the principal magistrate of the nei 
and county of Oxford. 
The office of High Steward’ de- 
pends on the nomination of the Chan- 
ceiler; but the person promoted to this 
office must have the sanction of the 
university, when it becomes an ap- 
pointment for life. He ‘assists the 
Chancellor, | Vice-Chancellor, © ‘and 
Procters, in the performance of their 
respective duties; and is bound ‘to de- 
fend the rights, customs, and’ ‘privi- 
leges, of the university. 
"The Proctors ave ‘vested with high 
authority, being authorised +6 watch 
over the conduct of ‘the members, and 
to punish all faults committed owt’ of 
the precincts of ‘the colleges; ‘after 
taking previous’ ‘cognizanée “of © the 
same. ‘The Proctors are two Masters 
of Arts, who have held that degree 
not less than four ‘years, and not more 
than ten; they are'selected every year, 
alternately, out of each of the colleges, 
in rotation. ~~ * 
“The university Sends two! repre- 
sentatives to Parliament, closet from 
“among its mémbers, in an assemblige 
of its. Doctors and Regents. “At this 
time; Mr: Pecl, secretary of state, and 
Mr. Heber, are the deputies or mem- 
3H bers 
