At that time a scholarship, in Jesus College, Cambridge, became vacant. It was founded

which has lately been excited there towards the revival of science and literature. Several very worthy members of that university, feeling for its credit, and observing with what ardour the young men of Cambridge pursued the course of study so judiciously laid down for them before they were admitted to their first degree, determined, if possible, to excite a similar spirit among themselves; and for this purpose attempted to introduce public examinations. The measure met with some resistance, and of course is not entirely calculated to produce all the benefits desired by the first proposers. As the law however stands, which passed on the first of May 1800, public Examiners are appointed, and no one can be admitted to his first degree, without their examination and approbation. Besides these, to which every young man who is candidate for a degree must submit, there are extraordinary examinations in the third week of the Easter term, to which may be admitted all those who have entered upon their twelfth term, but have not completed their sixteenth term. Of the persons who submit to this voluntary examination a list is made according to the degree of merit they appear to possess; and the names of the twelve first are read in the house of convocation, and afterwards printed and sent to every head of a college, to each college-hall, and to the libraries. The examinations for the degree of Bachelor of Arts are in Rhetoric, Logic, moral Philosophy, the elements of Mathematics and natural Philosophy, the rudiments of Religion, and the Thirtynine Articles. The chief defect in the Oxonian plan is, the option which is left to the young men of becoming candidates, or not, for public honours, and the small number which can be placed in the public catalogue. The examination is also too public. At Cambridge, all the young men who are of the

not many years before by Mr. Marsden, archdeacon of Nottingham, for the son of a living clergyman born in that town: both which conditions were united in me. Dr. Caryl too, the master of the college, had long been an intimate acquaintance of my father, and was a Nottinghamshire man, his father being rector of Cotgrave. These inducements contributed to establish me in that college; where I was admitted in April 1772; and my transport and enthusiasm, at going thither, are still alive.

proper standing enter the Senate-house, but no other young men are admitted, nor any under the degree of Master of Arts. A list is then made according to the proficiency of the candidates. A certain number are ranged in the list of honours; a considerable number follows neither honoured nor disgraced; and a small list is sometimes made, but not always, which contains the incorrigibly stupid or idle, and covers them with merited disgrace. Thus honour and shame have their full effect; and it is remarkable that though the examinations for these honours are confined to mathematics and natural philosophy, moral philosophy and metaphysics, yet the experience of fifty years has ascertained that the best mathematicians are also generally the best classics. During that period there have been given away every year two medals to the two best classical scholars. Of these medals, sixty-three have been obtained by persons in the first list of honours, and thirty-seven only by those in the second list of honours, though the second lists are not unfrequently more numerous than the first.

CHAP. III.

Dr. Caryl, Master of Jesus College-Tutors of Jesus College→→→ Founder-Eminent Members of that Society, &c.

1772.

DR. LYNFORD CARYL, master of Jesus College at the time of my admission, in 1772, was a gentleman distinguished for the affability of his manners, and the regularity of his life. His most conspicuous singularity was a balanced precision and a sententious brevity of expression. He was esteemed without an equal for the dexterous and prudent management of university elections. On occasion of one of these, which was contested with uncommon ardour and animosity, on both sides, after the committee, of which he was a member, had been deliberating with great seriousness on the posture of affairs, upon their separation for adjournment, he observed with inimitable solemnity, interposing, as his custom was, half a dozen seconds between every word—“ Gen-tlemen! we shall- ei-ther- lose this- election, or- we shall- win- this- election."-Here a considerable pause took place, and he seemed to labour with the pregnancy of the sentiment.

The committee lookt at each other with a mixture of merriment and wonder; unable to fathom the profundity of this sage remark. They were reminded, I presume, of that fine ridicule of the Oracle-mongers of antiquity:

"O! Laertiade! quicquid dicam, aut erit aut non."
"O! son of great Laertes, every thing

Shall come to pass, or shall not, as I sing."e

Their impatience and propensity to laughter interrupted the speaker before the conclusion of his assertion. He began afresh:"Gentlemen! we- shall either- lose thiselection- or- we- shall- win- this- electionby-a SINGLE VOTE"-A prediction exactly correspondent to the event.

He acted for some years as bursar to the college, and was remarkably methodical and accurate in his accounts. To the church of Canterbury he was essentially serviceable in this respect, by arranging and settling books and papers, before his time, become almost useless by inextricable disorder. This service he performed during his occasional residence in that city, as a prebendary of the cathedral, to which he was instituted by the Duke of Newcastle, in the evening of that minister's reign.

d Hor. Sat. II. 5, 59.

e Francis.

He was twice Vice-chancellor of the University; and acquitted himself on both occasions in this office with distinguished applause. In the college parlour is a painting of him, habited academically, as a Doctor of Divinity. It was presented by his niece, Mrs. Roberts.

The College Tutors, at my admission, were Messrs. Milner and Darby; both respectable for their abilities, but, in my opinion, deficient. in that activity and zeal absolutely requisite for such a momentous office.

They were preferred afterwards to collegelivings. Mr. Milner to Tewin, in Hertfordshire, where he died, after a short residence in that place. He had the character of a very skilful botanist, and his Hortus Siccus was spoken of as uncommonly excellent. Mr. Darby settled at Whatfield, near Hadleigh in Suffolk; and married a daughter of the memorable Dr. Jortin. He was a man of good learning, and most placid and amiable manners. He died in April 1794.

The founder of Jesus College was John Alcock, Bishop of Ely, in the time of Henry the seventh. There is in the college library an original painting of him, from which I have an engraving. He is represented with elevated hands; in a kneeling attitude, in the act of prayer.