parallel forms in two series, with the prefect and subprefects of studies seated on elevated rostra, overlooking the whole room, and maintaining the strictest order and silence.

Small libraries of reference exist for each class, even down to the youngest children of eight years of age.

At the back of the principal building two wings project about sixty feet, forming a quadrangular court, with the playground beyond it, which is upwards of six acres in extent, and will be soon sheltered from the north and north-east winds by a very extensive and growing plantation.

In the upper floor of these wings are the dormitories, which are far superior to those of Stonyhurst, admirably as I, at the time of my visit, thought the latter calculated for their intended purpose. As at Stonyhurst, these handsome and well-aired apartments are arranged with a number of single beds and curtains, but of better, more showy, as well as uniform materials, so as to constitute a succession of separate sleeping-places, one for each student. When occupied by the students, they are watched by appropriate superintendants, who visit every apartment frequently during the night, to enforce order and perfect silence.

Into these apartments the boys retire at about nine o'clock, P.M., in regular procession, accompanied by sub-prefects, some of whom are also stationed on the different landing-places of the great staircases leading to the dormitories.

The personal surveillance practised over the actions of the students extends to the play-grounds, both to the one out of doors and to those in doors-of the latter of which there are several, for such of the boys as cannot or choose not to play in the open air. Among the amusements, gymnastic and tennis-ball are much and properly en

exercises

couraged.

This system of vigilance is a system of prevention; and works marvellous results. Hence, although the general discipline of the establishment is a firm one, and the inculcation of good manners as well as of moral principles is a leading principle of it, penal inflictions are never necessary, and the object of education is attained by moral checks only. For similar reasons, no " fagging," bullyism, or supercherie of any sort, is allowed among the boys, and any overbearing on the part of some towards others is instantly checked.

Nor is it to be supposed from this, that the mode of life led by the students must be that of a recluse; for in no establishment of the same intention have sources of gaiety and means of amusement been more liberally provided, in the shape of music, fencing, and dancing rooms, besides all other diversions of out-of-door exercises.

To carry this system into effect no mean Staff of officers is required. Accordingly I found, upon inquiry, that independent of the rector and vice-rector, the prefect of studies, and the prefect of bounds or discipline, there are twentyfour superintendants, exclusive of the professors and teachers, and thirteen priests.

As the establishment professes to prepare young men for matriculation at the Universities of London and Dublin, at which Papists are admitted for degrees, for which reason the form of studies has been altered so as to suit it to the London curriculum,-and as an application has been made (so I understand) to government, to permit the students of Oscott, when once they have matriculated, to return to their college to complete the higher studies previously to taking their degrees, it is manifest that the course of studies to be pursued at Oscott will be of the most comprehensive kind. It is, in fact, already so, although students are not admitted, at present, older than fourteen years of age.

But if the application just alluded to should be granted, young men will continue at this college until the usual

period of life at which under-graduates generally quit their colleges at the English universities.

Ample provision exist in the present Staff of the college for such an extension of education; inasmuch as there are already two professors of Greek, and two of Latin, a professor of history and geography, one of philosophy, another for mathematics and mathematical physics, one for experimental philosophy and chemistry, one for natural history; lastly, a professor of theology, for those who intend to embrace the ecclesiastical state.

The professors of classics and mathematics are assisted by numerous masters, and there are also resident in the house native teachers of the French, German, and Italian languages, with all of whom I had the pleasure of conversing at the plain but abundant mid-day repast in the combination room, at which I was hospitably invited by Dr. Weedhall, after some hours spent in examining the establishment.

Looking at one of the half-yearly examination papers, which extends to every branch of knowledge taught in the college, from the highest class (philosophy) to the lowest, including the rudiments, it is impossible not to admit the superiority of the arrangement of the studies and selection of authors over those of some other national colleges in England. If, indeed, all that is there set down has been taught and learned, and has afterwards been displayed by pupils, under fifteen years of age, at a public examination of several days, the sooner some other collegiate establishments in this country look to themselves, and strive to come up to what is here done, that they may not lag behind in the great work of public education, the better will it be for those confided to their instructions.

This is said without any reference to the question of the religious creed which certainly imparts its peculiar colouring to some of the studies at Oscott, though it does not take

away from the general character of the instruction given its comprehensiveness and perfect adaptation to many institutions of protestant foundation, guided by more enlightened principles of religion.

One great, and I would almost call it, national advantage to England, arising from such institutions as Stonyhurst and St. Mary's is, that they render unnecessary the temporary emigration to a foreign country of the children of its wealthier Roman catholic subjects, and of the young men who desire to enter into the priesthood. Very few, if any of them, are ever sent away now to France or to Italy for their education, as was incessantly the case half a century ago; a circumstance which tends to keep them steadfast in their allegiance as true Englishmen, despite of any feeling to the contrary which a diversity of opinion regarding the religion of the state might be supposed to engender. After a residence of many years. at Rome or in a Roman catholic college on the continent, apparently for the purposes of education, how many were there not, in former times, who returned to England perfect foreigners in their hearts, imbued with the strongest prejudices against this country and its dominant religion?

189

CHAPTER IX.

ST. MARY AT OSCOTT CONCLuded.

A Dialogue extra-professional-Church of ROME, and Church of ENGLAND-Interior of St. Mary's Chapel—SOLEMN MASS-Effect of Pomp, Incense, and Music-Low MASS, or the Romish Liturgy-Secret Prayers and Unintelligible Language-CHURCH SERVICE of the Romanists in England and on the Continent-Saint Roque and Saint Filippo Neri-English Parochial Church-LITURGY-Its Beauty and Inspiring Character — Objections stated and answered -Improvements desirable-Frequent Repetition of the same Prayer-Manners and Style of Preaching-EXTEMPORE Orisons-IRVIN's AbsurditiesEasy Mode of doubling the present Church Accommodation-PEWS and greedy Pew Openers-Simony-Points of Difference in the two Creeds-QUERIES-Will the Romanists answer?-Written EVIDENCE and TRADITION-Both against them-Romanists the real Seceders from the Christian Church-The Apostles and the Holy Fathers proclaim it-CHURCH OF ROME of the two first Centuries truly Catholic-CHURCH OF ROME of the last sixteen Centuries effectually Schismatic-PRAYER for its Conversion.

Or the truth of the surmise contained in the concluding period of the last chapter, I soon had a convincing proof in the person of a most respectable-looking Roman catholic gentleman, the father of a young priest, just returned from Rome, who had, in company with his son (originally a pupil in the Old College at Oscott) been to visit a younger son now pursuing his education in the New College.

We recognized each other in the evening in the public