154 The London University. [Feb. 



""^The encouragement given to the residence of wealthy spendthrifts 

 degrades the universities, and brings learning into contempt. But do 

 we not, every year, hear of miracles of cleverness — wranglers and 

 medallists of incomparable attainments ? Yes, yes ; there will, of 

 course, be a succession of men of respectable acquirements. There are 

 very comfortable aj)pointments. There must be fellows, tutors, mas- 

 ters. These are prizes for which there will always be competent can- 

 didates. There will be competent candidates enough, even without 

 any particular exertions on the part of the rulers ; and the credit of 

 the establishments must, at all events, be maintained to a certain point. 

 But, beyond this point — this indispenasble supply, learning is not the 

 occupation of the place, nor is it held in its wonted respect. It is, 

 therefore, not the place where we should look for those who have ad- 

 vanced the farthest in any department of knowledge. It is not the 

 place where we shall find the latest improvements, or the highest dis- 

 coveries taught or even known. Notoriously it does not keep pace with 

 the researches of the times. The same books are read till they are 

 read no where else. Changes in the course of study are never made 

 till very shame forces them. Books which are beginning everj'where 

 else to be abandoned by intelligent people, are the very books which 

 are there beginning to be introduced. They are steadily half a cen- 

 tury in the rear of the foremost spirits of the age. 



Can any thing better shew the inertness of these ancient establish- 

 ments than, for instance, the favourite object of study at Cambridge — 

 their inflexibility — their incapability, we mean, of accommodating them- 

 selves to the changes of the times. Mathematics are the sole test of 

 acquirement — the only scale by which exertion is graduated. It was 

 so in the days when admission to a bachelor's degree was not the wel- 

 come signal for idleness, and then judiciously enough. As a prepara- 

 tory study, as strengthening the power of concentrating our intellectual 

 force, it is of incomparable utility. But mathematics still constitute the 

 criterion ; when circumstances have entirely changed — when there is 

 no reading for a master's degree — when none study mathematics at all, 

 but such as are aiming at college appointments — and when nine out of 

 ten, oftentimes, it must be from want of stimulus, from the absence of 

 all encouragement whatever, do absolutely nothing. These are indu- 

 bitable facts. A few are worked up to fill the responsible and profitable 

 offices with some propriety and acquirement ; and the great mass are 

 suffered to run their own wild career. There can be but one cause, 

 that so very small a proportion distinguish themselves. One motive only 

 operates — the hope of early employment, and of distant preferment. 

 The greater part wish for neither, whatever their friends may do, and 

 refuse the required labour. No other pursuit is marked out for them, 

 nor any adequate stimulus provided. But how can any thing effectual 

 t)e done? How — what is the destination of the greater numbers ? To 

 be country-gentlemen, landlords, magistrates, legislators. Can no useful 

 and appropriate study be found for them ? Think of economics, mo- 

 dern languages, history, laws, legislation, finance, agricultural-chemis- 

 try, &c. But no tutors can be competent to embrace such a variety of 

 objects. Then let more be employed ; and as the classics and mathe- 

 matics are already taught by separate tutors, let others be appointed for 

 other branches of study. If the universities themselves will not supply 

 them, let them look elsewhere for assistance ; to their eternal discredit, 



