LORD KENYON. 327 



shall readily be pardoned, since I stand now 

 before your Lordship in the situation of one 

 accused, and hence acquire a right of pro- 

 ducing whatever testimony I can collect in my 

 favour. 



By the charter of the college, the qualifica- 

 tions required for its members, are learning and 

 good character. In addition to these, a by-law 

 demands from licentiates that they be of seven 

 years standing, and thirty-six years of age, be- 

 fore they can be proposed for admission by 

 means of an examination. Since, therefore, I 

 possessed, without dispute, the latter requisites, 

 all the avowable objections, which, in ordinary 

 times, could possibly be brought against me by 

 the college, are reducible to two kinds ; one 

 containing those which have any relation to my 

 learning; the other, such as are connected with 

 my moral reputation. 



When I was proposed at the college by Dr. 

 Pitcairn, all that was asked was, that they would 

 examine whether I possessed the proper degree 

 of knowledge for a fellow. Nothing more, 

 therefore, on this head, could reasonably be re- 

 quired by them, before the trial, than a strong 

 presumption of my being able to undergo it. 

 Now this presumption was manifested to them 

 in various ways. Their own advocates had as- 

 serted, in the case of Dr. Stanger, that the 



