394 
bers from the university to the House 
of Com:nons. 
‘The various offices and buildings of 
the university are included in nine- 
teen colleges and five halls. The 
difference between colleges and halls 
depends on the manner of their en- 
dowment. The former constitute 
independent bodies, subsisting on va- 
rious grants of lands or of money; in 
the latter, the scholars pay for their 
instruction, board, and lodging. The 
principals of the halls are appointed 
by the Chancellor, excepting St. 
Edmuna’s-hall, to which the Provost 
and Fellows of Queen’s Colirge ap- 
point; in other respects, the members 
of the hall are on the same footing as 
those of the colleges. The interior 
discipline, the mode of studying, the 
terms of residence, the examinations, 
the degrees, costume, &c. are alike in 
yoth establishments. 
Each colleve and hall has a superior 
governor, distinguished by difierent 
litles of Dean, Rector, Provost, War- 
den, President, Master, and Principal. 
The heads of halls are called Princi- 
pals; all the superiors or governors are 
allowed to marry, 
The Kellows (a word for which the 
French languaye has no corresponding 
term,) fornia sort of substantial citi- 
zens, in these little republics. They 
meet, in,a kind of council, for the 
election of a governor, and to examine 
the domestic affairs: of their colleges, 
for each has its particular property, 
in which no others can interfere. The 
Fellows are ‘often young men_ that 
have made considerable advances in 
their studies, and, ii due time, com- 
mence tutors. Many are in ecclesias- 
ticalorders, and all must remain in a 
state of celibacy. But this celibacy 
has -nothing in it frightful or diszust- 
ing; for there is no vow atiached to it, 
and the parties are at liberty to quit, 
and marry, when they please. 
In the institution of 
English universities, thereis something 
thut bears affinity to our ancient mo- 
nastic .professions,—to a> cloistered 
life ; but it is to such aone as we might 
conceive well adapted to the times we 
live in,—(o such a monastic profession 
as contains nothing in it of a repulsive 
character, oy such as reason and com- 
mon sense would be adverse to. Here 
are combinations of individuals, de- 
voted to peaceful studies, that, escaping 
from family-cares, engage in useful 
and honourable labours. But, although 
Account of the University of Oxford: 
Fellows of. 
(Dee. i, 
proficients in science and_literature, ° 
they are by no means strangers to the 
world, or unacquainted with its modes’ 
of living, practices, and customs. They 
have long vacations, wherein some 
make the tour of different European 
countries, and others the provinces 
and districts of the British islands. 
Independent of the mental resources 
to be found in the libraries of their 
colleges, and in other rich collections 
of the university, their appointments 
are so considerable, as to enable them 
to provide themselves with books the 
most uncommon and valuable. Ge- 
nerally speaking, they are enlightened 
friends of the arts, and well deserving 
of their high calling to be conservators 
of the multifarious kinds of property 
annexed to the universities. Messrs. 
Duncan, brothers, might be men- 
tioned here, Fellows of New College, 
who were employed on a-mission to 
France and Italy, for colleeting ob- 
jects of antiquity, and procuring plas- 
ters of the most famous statues in the 
museums of those countries, 
The Fellows may be designated as 
resembling our Repetitors, having un- 
der their inspection, generally, the 
different studies of the young’ men. 
The latter, besides the particular 
courses of lectures within their respec- 
tive colleges, frequent those’ of the 
university at large, wherem the 
sciences are condensed and compress- 
ed, much as in our Faculties, and the 
Collegiate Chairs of France. 
Students: are not received at Ox- 
ford till after classical preparations in 
grammar-schools, or the royal founda- 
tions of Eton and Westminster, and 
the College of Winchester. ‘Phe time 
for studies is divided into ‘terms; in 
the course of which the students must 
undergo €xaminations, at’ different 
periods, ‘to qualify them for taking 
degrees, or rising to the higher offices: 
ofthe university. | [ost 
There are four terms in a year; for. 
1823 they were fixed as follows':—The 
first to open on the 34th of January, 
and fo close on-the 22d of’ March; the 
second, called Easter Term, to open 
on the 9th of April, and to close on 
the 17th of May; the third, or Trinity 
Term, reaches from’ May 21 to June 5; 
the fourth, or Michaelmas Term, to 
open Oct. 10, and ‘close Dec, 17, a 
The first degree is that of Bache- 
lor of Arts. As previous requisites, a 
residence in the university durin 
sixteen terms, and passing four exa- 
, minations, 
