486 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. 



the seconds. New comers are 

 beset, on their matriculation, with 

 incitements to quarrel, till they 

 put their valour beyond dispute, 

 in one of these combats. Some- 

 times bodies of disputants, (often 

 of different countiies) settle their 

 differences by a combat en masse. 

 These fights generally terminate 

 in slight wounds — but more fatal 

 consequences are by no means 

 unfiequent. In spite, however, 

 of constant disturbances, and now 

 and then a death occasioned by 

 them, they are still freely per- 

 mitted, like all other excesses, 

 from the fear of checking the 

 exuberant fervour of youth. 



All titles and distinctions of 

 rank are dropped among the 

 students for the common appel- 

 lation of Biirsch (Fellow); and 

 when on giving some particulars 

 of our universities to a student, I 

 mentioned the distinction of cos- 

 tume, &c. given to noblemen, this 

 spark of liberty exclaimed— " that 

 would not be suffered among us — 

 Ave are all equal — we have no 

 distinctions." I could not help 

 smihng when I reflected that after 

 his two years swing of lawlessness 

 and equality, this young man was 

 destined for a pastor's cure or 

 some petty office under a despotic 

 government, where he would find 

 himself pinned down in the third 

 rate circles, and encompassed by 

 the barriers of rank on all sides. 



Theatres are wisely prohibited 

 at Heidelberg, and I believe 

 generally in the German univer. 

 sities; they would merely be 

 rallying-places for the riotous 

 dispositions of the students, which 

 they often indulge freely when 

 they meet at the theatres of other 

 towns. Troops are now removed 



to avoid broils between then* and 

 the students, which were some- 

 times attended with serious con- 

 sequences. 



The spirit of patriotism and 

 political follies of the students are 

 the natural consequence of the 

 same unbounded licence which 

 often corrupts their morals. Most 

 of them have been inoculated 

 with this spirit by the patriotic 

 games and songs of the gymna- 

 sium, where they already ape the 

 dress and manners of the univer- 

 sity. Or if they come fresh from 

 their father's abode in the resi- 

 dence, the transfer from a scene 

 of cringing servility to power, to 

 one of boundless independence, is 

 equally likely to intoxicate young 

 heads. Finding themselves here 

 distinguished by large privileges 

 from their fellow-citizens in a 

 despotic state, they become inso- 

 lent, and set about reforming their 

 country with well meant but 

 childish extravagance. The pro- 

 fessors seldom check, and often 

 partake, the spirit though not all 

 the follies of the students. In 

 spite of their academical privi- 

 leges the professors have a sense 

 of belonging to the excluded 

 classes : they are not received at 

 court or in the circles of the 

 noblesse — where the few who can 

 appreciate talents would deem 

 their presence a decided acquisi- 

 tion. It is a mistake to suppose 

 that learned men despise these 

 little distinctions— they often feel 

 them more cuttingly thai others; 

 and the professors of Germany 

 have the character of being at 

 once discontented and haughty. 

 Two of those of Heidelberg were 

 sometime since arrested by the 

 Grand Duke of Baden, for their 



bold 



