537 



have the testimony of one of his schoolfellows, afterwards himself 

 a distinguished ornament of the same University and College, that 

 during his whole time at Richmond, " though a severe student, he 

 was a joyous, sociable, and genial spirit, always ready for good com- 

 panionship, for any pleasurable excursion, for manly exercise, and 

 for all innocent mirth and playfulness." How well calculated, as a 

 teacher, Dr. Tate must have been to bring forward the powers and 

 to win the affectionate regard of his pupil, may be gathered from 

 the terms in which their connexion is spoken of in the dedication 

 of his first considerable mathematical work, terms which indicate 

 more than an ordinary community of feeling and facility of inter- 

 course between the pedagogue and the pupil. 



During the first year of his residence as an undergraduate at col- 

 lege, he does not appear to have applied himself with any extraordi- 

 nary diligence to the studies of the place ; but this temporary relaxa- 

 tion of energy was amply compensated during the remainder of his 

 pupillage by a very extensive and conscientiously accurate course 

 of mathematical reading, which issued in his taking the degree of 

 Second Wrangler in January 1813. Shortly after the examination 

 for the degrees, he also gained one of the Smith's prizes. 



In 1812, being the earliest period at which, as a sizar of his col- 

 lege, he was allowed to compete, he obtained a Scholarship, and on 

 his first offering himself as a candidate for a fellowship (in 1814), 

 was elected to one of the only two then vacant, his extensive classical 

 knowledge no doubt standing him in stead on that occasion. In the 

 subsequent year he was appointed Assistant Tutor and College Lec- 

 turer; in 1823, Full Tutor, conjointly with Mr. Evans; and finally, 

 in 1835, Sole Tutor of the " side " which bore his name in that great 

 and venerable establishment, an office which he held till called away 

 from the performance of its duties by his appointment to the Deanery 

 of Ely in 1839, when he also took the degree of Doctor of Divinity, 

 having been admitted into Holy Orders in or about the year 1817. 

 In one of the summer vacations in this interval (1816) he visited 

 Italy. 



Of his conduct in the important and responsible office of tutor, 

 there has never been but one opinion in the University. While his 

 extensive knowledge and perspicuity as a lecturer maintained the 

 high reputation of his college, and commanded the attention and 



