EXCESSES 161 



interest, tailors have been known to provide suit after suit 

 — jewellers, watches and trinkets — -wine- merchants, wine 

 and spirits. These have passed untouched into the hands 

 of ready recipients, who have promoted this Avasteful 

 expenditure — or, what is Avorse, they have been given in 

 lieu of money when all other resources failed, to degraded 

 beings, who by the basest means pander to dissolute 

 passions. Others of the class have vied in tempting their 

 victims to excess, while participating in the plunder, 

 thereby stamping a division of the town with ruffianism, 

 immorality, and vice, which the fame of learning and 

 religion cannot qualify. 



It is not in the power, perhaps, of the Legislature or 

 the University to obviate this blot upon the reputation of 

 the latter ; but the evil must strike every observer, and 

 presents a lamentable instance of the weakness and 

 wickedness of our nature, and the inefficacy of oui* 

 institutions to remedy a state of things so deplorable. 



It is a curious fact, but no less curious than true, that 

 if you ask a particular class of tradesmen — that is, those 

 that have most to do with the University — under- 

 graduates in particular — who are among the best men — 

 he will name those of the most dissolute habits, as they 

 spend the most money ; while every worthy member of 

 their own body would select only those who most strictly 

 adhered to the discipline of their respective colleges. 



To enter into a dissertation on the long-contested 

 subjects of dispute between Town and Gown, or to 

 advocate the claims of one or defend the privileges and 

 immunities of the other, does not come within the pro- 

 vince of this work. I here need only add to my observa- 



VOL. II. M 



