300 
Mr. Watson on Canal Levels. 
bridge is here alluded to : of the Uni¬ 
versity of Oxford, more than what has 
been said, he knows not, and he pro¬ 
fesses to know not any thing. Perhaps 
it is not wonderful that some of the 
representations of the N. A. Review, 
are incorrect: for they preface their 
offensive (if they may be termed so) 
remarks, by saying, 14 if with a limited 
acquaintance we have a right to judge of 
the subjects Without questioning their 
attainments it will be allowed that in 
the present instance they have been 
mistaken : and doubtless they would be 
the first when opportunity might offer 
to correct their mistakes. Now first, 
with respect to King’s College, Cam¬ 
bridge ; it is said if boys can be put on 
the foundation at one of the great 
schools at Eton, &c. he becomes a scho¬ 
lar and fellow of certain colleges. Now 
at Eton, it is the head boy, as he is 
called, of the first form, who is elected : 
and let it be asked, is there no difficulty 
to attain that proud distinction amongst 
such an assemblage as the scholars of 
Eton? The youth who thus cli lin- 
guislies himself gives a positive proof of 
the strength of his mind and the stabi¬ 
lity of his habits: his attainments at 
the present are of the superior order, 
and there can be no doubt but the buds 
of promise will expand and ripen into 
maturity. It may, therefore, be asserted, 
in direct opposition to the ingenious 
author of Espriella’s letters, that in every 
step of his progress he enjoys patronage 
because be deserves or because he has 
deserved it. In America, from una¬ 
voidable causes, classical literature lias 
not been much attended to : the speci¬ 
mens transmitted to the mother country 
evince that vigour of intellect (unac¬ 
companied however, by ease or elegance) 
the certain forerunner of future "excel¬ 
lence. The difficulties which successful 
candidates have experienced, may not 
therefore be appreciated: it is still to 
be hoped that these considerations, con¬ 
nected with the expenses which every 
student necessarily incurs, will shew 
that the advantages derived are only an 
equitable recompense. lu most of the 
colleges of Cambridge, the fellowships 
are restricted to certain counties : bnt 
it is to be recollected that no man can 
be chosen unless his attainments be at 
least of respectable standard: and 
should a clever man be unavoidably 
shut out, he meets w ith no disappoint¬ 
ment, his very education will procure 
for him a respectable subsistence, both 
[Nov. 1, 
in the University and out of it. There 
are many at the present moment who 
move in the higher circles of life, and 
who possess a powerful claim upon the 
public from their having received a 
regular scholastic education. The 
university statutes permit none except 
professional men to derive benefit from 
fellowships : they are therefore actively 
engaged in the sublimest and most use¬ 
ful duties of life: the fact of their 
possessing fellowships, generally (as 
it ought to do) gives a fresh stimulus 
to their exertions. The last particular 
which will be noticed is the eomplaint 
made, that <4 as soon as a few* years ex¬ 
perience have well qualified an indi¬ 
vidual as an instructor, he is likely 
to be called aw r ay to a living.” This 
observation has certainly been made 
through ignorance of the scope and in¬ 
tention of university instruction. Nei¬ 
ther of our universities is a school in 
which the experience (which is here 
meant) of the lecturer is wanted. He 
has not to contend with the different 
dispositions and abilities of his pupils, 
and laboriously to instil into their 
minds the elementary branches of sci¬ 
ence. The patient and laborious oc¬ 
cupation of the unfortunate pedagogue, 
who breathes dry rules into heedless 
ears, is never expected in a college 
tutor. College lectures are, generally 
speaking, examinations : examinations 
too, of the most rigorous kind: the 
tutor proposes to his pupils wdiat is to 
be read : at a subsequent period he pro¬ 
nounces tile enunciation ; the steps of 
the profession, and the demonstration are 
then written or repeated from memory. 
The minds of his pupils have been al¬ 
ready formed; it is true that very 
seldom some of the more difficult steps 
may have baffled their skill: the lecturer 
of course, after the others have retired, 
is happy to explain it, 
I cannot conclude these observations 
without expressing the gratification I 
have felt in the perusal of the paper in 
question; it is the production of a li¬ 
beral and manly mind ; and although 
some of its notions are untenable, it 
breathes that candour of disposition 
ever accompanying genuine talent. 
C A NT A B R X G 1 E NS I S. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N the valuable table on canal levels 
in your Number for August, I see 
that the height of the Avon at Bristol, 
is 
