UNIVERSITy. 
house, it is put to the vote there, and a ma- 
jority decides the question. 
Tlie senatus consultum decree, or grace, 
of this learned assembly has the same force 
and effect as an act of the legislature of 
Great Britain, which fact is supported by 
the opinion of the best counsel, and, “ in 
cases where nothing is enacted in opposi- 
tion to the laws of the land, neither the sta- 
tutes of Elizabeth, nor the mandatory let- 
ters of succeeding kings, although their au- 
thority be apparently strengthened by un- 
interrupted submission, can stand against 
the determination of this respectable as- 
sembly.” 
A degree cannot be conferred without 
passing of a grace for the purpose, which is 
done with the same formality as if a new law 
was to be made. This is, however, dis- 
pensed with in the single case of a bachelor 
of arts, as this requires reading in one con- 
gregation only, when it is termed a suppli- 
cat, and must be signed by the praelector, 
who thus becomes responsible for the truth 
I of its contents, besides the penalty of being 
deprived of his privilege of voting in the 
Senate for two years, or bearing any office 
in the university, upon discovery of any 
false assertions in it. Degrees are never 
conferred, unless the persons receiving them 
previously sign a declaration, that they are 
hona fide members of the Church of Eng- 
land, as by law established. All the'officers 
of the university, forming the executive part 
of it, are chosen by the Senate, the princi- 
pal of whom is the chancellor, who presides 
in all cases, and to whom is confided the 
sole power of governing, excepting in cases 
of mayhem and felony ; he is, besides, ex- 
pected to protect and preserve all the rights 
and privileges of the institution, and to see 
that strict and impartial justice is admini- 
stered in every case to the members ; and 
that all this may be insured, the office has 
lately been entrusted to noblemen of the 
highest rank. Other parts of his official 
duty are, the convoking of assemblies, the 
sealing of diplomas, letters of degrees, pro- 
visions, &c. given by the university. 
The high steward is the next officer in 
consequence to the chancellor, and to him 
is granted the power to superintend the 
trial of students accused of felony, within 
the limits of the jurisdiction, which is one 
mile in every direction from the suburbs of 
the university ; he is also empowered to 
hold a leet, according to the established 
charter and custom, and is permitted to 
have a deputy. 
The vice chancellor’s office is explained 
by his title ; but he acts as a magistrate for 
the university and county, and must he the 
head of some college. The regents elect 
two proctors, who are officers of the peace, 
and superintend the behaviour and disci- 
pline of all the pupils, and may search for 
and commit to prison those abandoned fe- 
males who contribute to corrupt the morals 
of the students at the university. Exclu- 
sive of these purposes, the proctors are ap- 
pointed to attend the congregations of the 
Senate, when they stand in scrutiny with 
the chancellor or vice chancellor, to take 
the open suffrages, verbally and written, 
which they read, and finally pronounce the 
assent or dissent : the graces are read by 
them in the regent house, where they take 
the assents and dissents secretly, but after- 
wards openly declare them. Although there 
are some particular parts of the duties of 
these officers which may be considered very 
unpleasant, yet they must be masters of 
arts, and are regents by virtue of then- 
office, and are enabled to determine the 
seniority of all masters of arts at the time of 
their taking that degree; besides which, 
they may nominate two moderators, who 
are then appointed by a grace of the Senate. 
Those persons act as the substitutes of the 
proctors in the philosophical schools, and 
alternately superintend disputations and 
exercises there, and the examinations for 
the degree of bachelor of arts. 
Other officers are termed taxors, scruta- 
tors, a public orator, a commissary, a regis- 
trar, esquire bedells, and librarians. The 
taxors, simitar to the moderators, are mas- 
ters of arts and regents by virtue of their 
office, which is to regulate the markets, 
the assize of bread, the exactness of weights 
and measures, by the different standards, 
and to summon all offenders into the com- 
missary’s court: the scrutators are non- 
regents, and their functions are to attend at 
every congregation, to read the graces in 
the lower house, where they collect the 
votes secretly or openly, in scrutiny, when 
they publicly pronounce the assent or dis- 
sent of that house. 
The public orator holds an office which 
is considered as one of the most honourable 
in the university j he is, in fact, the medium 
of the Senate upon all solemn occasions, 
reading and recording all communications 
to and from the Senate, and presenting all 
honorary degrees, accompanied by a suit- 
able speech. The commissary holds his 
office under the chancellor, and officiates as 
