28j 



NA TURE 



yjan. 2 1, 1 886 



The idea is often vafjue, sometimes perverted, commonly lialf- 

 developed, at times inflated, — nevertheless it contains this prin- 

 ciple of life, that in every civilised community there must be a 

 liigh school, capping, crowning, binding, all other institutions 

 for the advancement of learning. 



Allow me to turn your attention to some historical illustrations. 



Notwithstanding the great renown of Charlemagne, preatest 

 of monarchs between Cresar and Napoleon, the fact that his 

 empire was founded upon the principle of superior education is 

 not so familiar ; but a recent writer (Mr. MuUinger) has given 

 us an instructive essay on the schools of Charles the Great, and 

 a still more recent writer (Mr. R. L. Poole) has made a study 

 of their influence. " If his reign marks the dividing line between 

 ancient and modern history," says the latter, "it is not only by 

 virtue of its political facts but also because he begins the educa- 

 tion of the Northern races — fitting them in time to rule the world 

 as the Romans had done before them." 



A monk of St. Gall has preserved for us what purports to be 

 an authentic account of the mode in which learning was intro- 

 ducetl into the Prankish empire, and although the extract is long 

 I am sure it will not weary you, as I read from the translation of 

 Mr. Poole. 



" When," says the monk, "the illustrious Charles had begun 

 to reign alone in the western parts of the world, and the study of 

 letters was everywhere well-nigh forgotten, in such sort that tlie 

 worship of the true God declined, it chanced that two Scots from 

 Ireland lighted with the British merchants on the coast of Gaul, 

 men learned « ithout compare, as well in secular as in sacreil 

 writings ; who, since they showed nothing for sale, kept crying 

 to the crowd that gathered to buy, ' If any man is desirous of 

 wisdom, let him come to us and receive it ; for we have it to sell.' 

 This therefore they declared they had for sale, since they saw the 

 people to traffic not in gifts but in salable things, so that they 

 thus might either urge them to purchase wisdom like other goods, 

 or, as the events fdlowing show, turn them by such declaration 

 to wonder and astonishment. At length their cry being long 

 continued was brought by certain that wondered at them or 

 deemed them mad, to the ears of Charles, the king, always a 

 lover and most desirous of wisdom : who, when he had called 

 them with all haste into his presence, inquired if, as he under- 

 stood by report, they had wisdom verily with them. 'Yea,' 

 said they, ' we have it and are ready to impart to any that rightly 

 seek it in the name of the Lord.' When therefore he had 

 inquired what they would have in return for it, they answered, 

 ' Only proper places and noble souls, and such things as we 

 cannot travel without, food and wherewith to clothe ourselves.' 

 Hearing this he was filled with great joy." 



Several instances in modern history may be cited, in each of 

 which the close of a great civil commotion has been marl^ed by 

 the foundation of a university. One of them is quite familiar. 

 A little more than three hundred years ago, Leyden, so lately 

 freed from the horrors of a siege, "so lately the victim of famine 

 and pestilence, had crowned itself with flowers." The university 

 was to be inaugurated. In the grand procession rode a female 

 figure, the Holy Gospel, attended by Four Evangelists ; then 

 came other allegorical figures, emblematic of Law, Medicine, 

 and the Liberal Arts, and then the magistrates and dignitaries. 

 Down the Rhine floated the semblance of Apollo and the Muses, 

 and each Professor, as he advanced, "was kissed by Apollo and 

 all the nine Muses in turn," whose salutation found further 

 expression in "an elegant Latin poem." I have taken these 

 statements, as you doubtless surmise, from the pages of Motley, 

 to show you the enthusiasm of the Low Countries in respect to 

 their university ; but a truer impression of the work then in- 

 augurated would be given by recounting the roll of the great 

 men who have taught in that university and of the great scholars 

 whom they have trained. Grotius, Descartes, Scaliger, Boer- 

 haave, Wyttenbach, Arminius, and Gomar, were among the early 

 scholars who resided in Leyden, and the list might be extended 

 until it reached our own contemporaries and our own countrymen. 



A few years earlier, when the Reformation in England was 

 nearly completed, Henry the Eighth reorganised the University 

 of Cambridge, and laid the foundations of that splendid col- 

 lege, which might be called a university in itself, if ever a 

 college could claim the more comprehensive name, Trinity 

 College, which before the century had passed, trained for the 

 world tliat great triumvirate whose statues glorify the approach 

 to the chapel, Isaac Barrow, Lord Bacon, and Sir Isaac Newton, 

 qui ^eniis humanum iiigenio superavit. 



The foundation of the University of Berlin is a noteworthy 



modern instance of the erection of a great high school, in a time 

 of national sorrow. The story has often been given, and was 

 recently made the opening passage in an inaugural address by 

 Helmholtz. Prussia had been overrun by France, the resources 

 of the state were almost exhausted, but Frederick William the 

 Third, led on by William von Humboldt, Slein, and other 

 great intellects, determined to infuse new spirit into a despondent 

 people, by conferring on them the greatest benefit which it wa^ 

 in his power to bestow, a university, founded on such a liberal 

 plan, that it rose at once to the very front rank. 



So within our recollection, that monarch's greater son, the 

 Emperor William, when Strasburg had been reclaimed by 

 Germany, determined that it should be the seat of a university, 

 and already that new foundation stands among the strongest and 

 best of Gerinan high schools. 



These examples of universities founded each of them at the 

 close of a sharp social crisis, often occurs to my mind when I 

 remember that our foundation was projected at the close of a 

 civil war, and was established in the firm belief that it would 

 bind together in the love of Literature and Science all classes 

 and all creeds. A physician who has lately died in communion 

 with the Roman Catholic Church, has often said to me, " I tell 

 everybody that there is one thing on which we can all agree, and 

 that is the university," and another, of the same religious creed, 

 has just written me, "I sincerely hope to see your prediction as 

 to all Christian forces come true. Life is too short, and there is 

 too much good to be done, to have any force or energy wasted 

 in barren controversy." 



I have made these historical allusions, most of which I am 

 well aware are familiar, in order to raise the questions : Why is 

 it that universities are so highly esteemed ? What are the 

 advantages which follow their foundation? Remembering that 

 a university is the best organisation for the liberal education of 

 individuals, and the best organisation fir the advancement of 

 science, apply the double test, — what is done for personal in- 

 struction, and what is done for the promotion of knowledge, 

 and you will be able to judge any institution which assumes 

 this name. 



Ask, first, is it a place of sound education? Are the youth 

 who are trained within its walls honest lovers of the truth, — are 

 they learned, are they ready, are they trustworthy ? Wlien they 

 leave the academic classes, do they soon find a demand for their 

 services ? Do they rise in professional life ? Are they sought 

 for as teachers? Do they show aptitude for mercantile, adminis- 

 trative, or editorial life? Do they acquit themselves with credit 

 in the public service ? Do the books they write find publishers ? 

 Do they win repute among those who have added to the sum of 

 hitman knowledge ? Have they the power of enjoying literature, 

 music, art ? Can they apply the lessons of history to the pro- 

 blems of our day? Are they always eager to enlarge their 

 knowledge? Do they become conservati\-e members of society, 

 seeking for progress by steady improvements rather than by the 

 powers- of clestruction and death? Are they useful, courteous, 

 co-operative citizens, in .all the relations of life ? Do the charities, 

 the churches, the schools, the public affairs of the community, 

 receive their constant consideration ? Are there frequent mani- 

 festations among them of unusual ability in science, in literature, 

 in oratory, in administration? As the roll of the alumni in- 

 creases and the graduates are counted by hundreds and not by 

 scores, does it appear that a large proportion are men of honour- 

 able, faithful, learned, and public-spiriied character? These are 

 the questions by which, as the years go on, a university is to be 

 tested, or to sum all questions in one, is it proved to be a place 

 for the development of manliness ? 



I beg leave to dwell a little longer upon this text, because I 

 think there is danger of its importance being overlooked. The 

 material resources of a university, the aggregate numbers who 

 attend its courses, its numerous buildings, its great collections, 

 appeal to everybody, — only those who look at results are com- 

 petent to give a conclusive opinion, and their opinion cannot be 

 formed in one decade. A generation is the briefest period for a 

 fair review. When the year of our Lord 1900 comes, this 

 foundation will be a quarter of a century old. To that remote 

 tribunal we appeal for judgment on our work of to-day. But 

 we may anticipate this final verdict, and ascertain by our own 

 inspection and inquiry what is done in any institution for the 

 education of youth, what opportunities are afforded, how those 

 advantages are regarded by the most intelligent young men, and 

 what kind of scholarship is developed at the termination of the 

 academic course. 



