OXFORD. 
fity during the whole reign of James II., who: exhibited a 
fignal proof of his determination to'fubvert the civil and re- 
ligious liberties of the country, in his condu& towards Mag- 
dalen college. It happened that fhortly after he had afcended 
the throne, the prefident of that eftablifhment died ; and the 
king tran{mitted an order for the ele&tion of a perfon named 
Farmer as fucceffor in that office. ‘The fellows, however, 
knowing that this Farmer was a man of contemptible cha- 
ra&ter, petitioned his majefty either to leave them the free- 
dom of choice which | their flatutes entitled them to aflume, or 
to propo ofe amore 
took no notice of this application, fo that w 
election arrived, the fellows elected Dr. 
his e 
el 
rguments, however, had little weight with 
viewed their refufal to obey his acu as an 
a bordering on rebellion. e therefore repaired to Ox 
ford in perfon, and commanded the fellows to appear ae 
rch; but findin 
cept two, from the college. e 
ed the deteftation of all friends to cool reafon 
nis dominions, one of the 
branch of human {fcience. e doéirines of the {chools, 
indeed, were received and taught here for fome time after 
they had been exploded in the northern univerfities, but they 
fluence, fee UNIVERSITY. 
Prefent Siate of z Univerfity, its Officers, (Sc.—The uni- 
verfity, as a corporate body, has been governed. by ftatutes 
hofe at prefent in force 
20, and were confirmed, as 
r 1635. In 
d «The Chancellor, 
own governme 
The el officers of the univerfity are, the sneak : 
the high fteward’; the vice chancellor; two proétors; a‘pub- 
lic orator ; a keeper of the archives; a re giftrar ; une pols 
public leéturers and profeflors ; two curators of the theatre: 
the market; the Bodleian librarian, ba t e 
eu The fir men- 
h magitterial auchority, and 
have the power of appointing ve daioae 
The Chancellor is chofen by t mbers of convocation, 
and now holds his office for life, bieash formerly it was an- 
nual, or at moft triennial. It is a ftation of great dignity, 
and is ufually filled by a perfon of the firft eminence in the 
ingdom, ‘The duties of the chancellor are to fuperintend 
the interefts of the univerfity, to defend its privileges, and 
to decide, either in perfon, or by deputy, in all civil queftions 
in which a member happens to be involved. For this pur- 
pofe he is empowered to hold regular courts; he likewife 
prefides, if prefent, at all univerfity meetings, and_pofleffes 
an abfolute negative on their proceedings. The prefent ~ 
cellor is the right honourable lord Grenville, who w 
eleGted in the year 1809. 
The High-Steward is nominated by the chancellor, but 
muft be approved of by convocation. He holds his office for 
life, and is bound to affift the chancellor, vice-chancellor, 
and proétors, in the execution of their feveral duties, and to 
fit in judgment in capital caufes, where a member of the uni- 
verfity, or a privileged perfon, is the party offending. He 
likewife holds the univerfity court-leet either in perfon or 
deputy. Lord Eldon, lord high chancellor of Great ° 
Britain, the prefent high fteward, was elected in 1801. 
The Vice-Chancellor, who is always the head of fome col- 
d by the chancellor, and admitted, and 
This office is annual, but the fame 
cellors, who mutt likewife be heads of colleges, 
are to enforce the univerfity regulations, to call congrega- 
tions, convocations, and courts, licenfe taverns, expel delin- 
Way &c, The prefent vice-chancelloris John Cole, D.D. 
re€tor of Exeter college, appointed in 1810. 
roéors ave matters of arts of at leaft four years 
ftanding, and not more than ten from their regency. ‘The 
are elected by the common fuffrage o of all doGtors and mafters 
preferve the public peace. eir names in 1812, were 
ick, and Thomas i 
The Public Orator i is chofen by convocation, and muft ei- 
ther be a bachelor of civillaw oram matter of arts. Heisthe 
oration alternately wit 
wife prefents the dense degree of M. 
whom it may be c od tred. The Rev. Wm. Coe is the 
prefent public orato 
The Keeper of le Archives is ele&ted by convocation, a 
is entrufted with the care and arrangement of all records aa 
charters belonging to the univerfity, and on certain occafions 
is appointed to defend its rights and privileges. is office 
isnow vefted in Whittington Landon, D.D. provoft of Wor- 
cefter college 
The Regi ifrar attends all univerfity meetings, ae re- 
gilers all its ads; fuch as difpenfations, graces, &c. ; es 
copies of all letters fent or received, and c ey ee uni- 
This officer mutt be M.A .C.L. and 
— public. The Rev. John Gatch, MA. the conti- 
of Wood’s hiftory, &c. of Oxford, has long held 
ne "relpeftable office 
The Proféffors and nee are public officers, who have 
kee ree allowed to them, on fome foundation, and 
who arg, in confequence, equ 
nually, on fuch fubjeéts as the founders may have appointed 
in their charters, or wills. ‘The leturefhips at prefent in 
Oxford are twenty-five in number, and are as follows. Th 
e 
