Recapitulation. 437 



ferred degrees on those who had made great pro- 

 ficiency in this science. m 



From this period till the beginning of the eigh- 

 teenth century, the conferring of literary honours 

 was generally conducted by the respectable Univer- 

 sities of Europe, in a cautious, discriminating, and 

 judicious manner. And even in the former half 

 of the century under review, these honours were 

 bestowed with much comparative reserve and de- 

 liberation." But in the latter half of this period, 

 the practice of literary institutions, in this respect, 

 was materially different. As the students in these 

 institutions became more numerous, and literary 

 characters in general more common, Universities 

 began to bestow their laurels with a more free and 

 incautious hand. Genuine erudition and talents 

 began to be less considered as qualifications, than 

 station, popularity, or wealth. By these means, 

 collegiate honours have become by far more cheap 

 and common, during the period under review, 

 than in any former age ; but, as the natural con- 

 sequence of this, they have also become less va- 

 luable and less esteemed. 



The same remarks, in substance, apply to mem- 

 bership in literary and scientific Societies. Before 

 the eighteenth century, honours of this kind were 

 conferred on few or none but those who were 

 eminent for learning or talents. Bat the popular 

 diffusion of knowledge, and the artificial state of 

 society which distinguish the last age, led to a 



m This practice of conferring degrees in Divinity was first adopted 

 in the universities of Bononia, Paris and Oxford. — See Mather's Mag- 

 nalia Christi Americana, b. iv. p. 134. 



n It is remarkable that the celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson, when 

 he had made great proficiency in literature, could not obtain the degree 

 of Master of Arts from Trinity College, Dublin, though powerful interest 

 was made in his behalf for this purpose. Instances of the failure of ap- 

 plications of a similar kind, made in favour of characters still more dis- 

 tinguished than Johnson was at that period, are also on record. 



