158 Tlie London University. [Feb. 



the very persons who are ringing these alarms in our ears. Prayers 

 are reaa twice a day, at which attendance, on one class of students, is 

 enforced to the number of eight or ten times a week ; the absence of 

 another class generally is connived at, or, at least, overlooked ; but of 

 that we do not complain : for so hurried and unseemly is the whole 

 performance, so manifestly irksome to both readers and kneelers, that 

 absence is better than attendance. Once a week, also, a small portion 

 of the gospels in Greek is construed, and lectured upon philologically — 

 not theologically, and that is no great evil ; but not even morally, or 

 with any view to practical and personal amendment, that the writer, 

 at least, ever witnessed or heard of. Besides all this, those who are 

 destined for the church, are required by some bishops to produce cer- 

 tificates of five-and-twenty, or even fifty attendances on the Norrisian 

 professor of divinity — we are speaking of Cambridge ; but how these 

 lectures are attended to, let those, who read newspapers and novels 

 under the screen of their caps — no small proportion — let these persons 

 tell us. But, finally, all students are supposed to be present at St. Mary's 

 once at least on the Sunday, where the empty benches, except on extraor- 

 dinary occasions, will tell the result. This, then, is the way in which religion 

 is inculcated in our pubhc universities : religion, we know, is said to be 

 taught, but we see it is not. In the London University it will neither 

 be taught, nor will it be said to be taught ; and, for our part, we prefer 

 the entire absence to the simulation of it. PVko are deceived ? Oxford 

 and Cambridge are religious establishments : the London University is 

 not a religious establishment. Of course there are sound religion and 

 sobriety ; and here must be stark atheism and vicious morals. When 

 will names give place to things ? 



Though wearying our readers, we must find space for a line or two 

 on the charge of radicalism. The council of twenty-four presents us 

 with a list of names, many of whom are eminent for talent in various 

 ways, but no politicians; and others, it is true, political leaders, but 

 chiefly, with one or two exceptions, Whig leaders, and those more dis- 

 tinguished for love of letters than for borough influence. Now, those 

 who believe Wliigs would ever prove Reformers, in the wild sense of 

 the term, we mean, and not executive Tories, must hood-wink their 

 political vision most deplorably. We are neither Tories nor Wliigs, 

 no, nor even Radicals ; but we can respect virtue and talent, meet 

 them where we will. We believe neither Whigs nor Tories to be all 

 stoics ; nor Radicals all rogues : but we are sure that the conflicts of 

 contending parties are eliciting the sparks of truth and wisdom daily ; 

 and we are willing to share their illumination, strike them out who will. 

 Politics, at all events, will not be taught, nor rebellion be organized. 

 The publicity of the institution will guarantee the country from harm. 



ON A FADED VIOLET. 



The bloom and freshness which the morning dew 

 Oft' spangled o'er thy leaves of deepest blue, 

 Is pass'd for ever, ever fled awa)-, 

 But until thou dost finally decay. 

 Thy sweet perfume will not remove — 



I'd liken thee to love. 



