Mr. URBAN, nious mechanicks," he mentions" our You Jan. 4. YOU will much oblige a conftant reader and admirer of your ufeful and valuable Repofitory, by inferting the following idea on the fyftem of Comets, which lately cccurred to me. As I have not heard of any perfon who has viewed the fubje&t in this light, it may poffibly afford a hint to thofe who make this particular branch of fcience their Budy, for farther investigation; and I should be much obliged to thofe who will favour me with their ideas upon the fubject. That the theory of Comets is not underfood, may be deduced from their periods proving fo irregular; nor does it feem fufficiently clear that they particularly belong to the folar fyftem. By analogy of circumftances that lie under our infpe&tion, we may, without prefumption, fuppofe that Comets are the links that join our fyftem to other fyftems; and, as it feems evident to reafon that there is an infinite number of fyftems in the univerfe, and the Mr. URBAN, JOHN GREIG. Jan. 5. CAN any of your numerous readers inform me where the charters, MSS. &c. colleaed by Dr. Thomas, relative to Warwickshire, and not printed, are depofited, and whether accefs may be had to them? . In Evelyn's Difcourfe of Medals, p. 284, enumerating "the moft inge British Topography, vol. II. p. 300. of Mr. URBAN, Jan. 8. what terms fhall your anxious Correfpondent utter the fentiments refpe&ful forrow? We have too long checked our animadverfion upon manifold wrongs. They ftaik abroad in open day, and fcorn concealment. Yet, Sir, this public addrefs is made with very fincere regret. I approach the objects of intended reproof with a veneration bordering upon religious awe; but I approach them without difmav. Their imputed fan&tity shall not now deter me. The flagrant contempt of fober difcipline, connived at and encouraged, I had almoft faid inculcated, by two great national inftitutions, gave rife to the obfervations before you. The deplorable degeneracy of Oxford and Cambridge provokes the utmost feverity of cenfure; whit their antiquity and recorded fervices require that even Truth herself fhould breathe the accents of elegiac gratitude. Let not indignation overleap the modefty of acknowledged duty; rather, let the remembrance of former benefits excite compaffion for actual imbecillity. If the mischievous dotage of a difordered parent threaten detriment to the family, we are no doubt authorized to feck redrefs: but our reluctant applications to the Legislature fhould be preferred with all the moderation and tenderness of Glial love. When I recollect the eftimation in which our Universities were once defervedly held, and mark their prefent debafement; more especially when I anticipate the dreadful ftate of licentious infanity to which they are fo vifibly accelerating, my blood curdles in my veins, and my whole foul fhudders with apprehenfion. There was a time, Sir, when the inhabitants of this favoured Inland looked up to its Universities with undiffembled confidence. In them they fondly beheld the hallowed depofitaries of elected wifdom, the fum uncorrupted guardians of fcience, of virtue, and religion; and patriotifm felt a genial glow of honeft rapture, whenever the comparative infignificance of foreign feminaries was confidered. Whence, then, then, this aftonishing reverfe of fortune? -It shall never be forgotten that, when Prince William of Gloucefter had taken his M. A. degree at Cambridge, he was fent to a German University to perfect his education.-Surely, Sir, the proud confcioufnefs of fupremacy fhould at least have enfured unremitted dilligence, if it could not ftimulate to increafed exertion. Cambridge was built in the year 624; Oxford in $87, or thereabout. They were originally monaftic establishments. (Of this, their matin and vefper offices, their annual prayers for benefactors, their compulfory repetitions of the facrament, the celibacy of their fellows, their ornamental cowls or boods, &c. &c. furnish abundant proofs.) The monks grew renowned for learning and piety; and the rifing generation of nobles was entrusted to their care. En. dowments foon followed, as rewards of fidelity; and, in a very little while, Colleges rofe from the earth like exha lations, decorated with all the magnificence of Eastern palaces. to The face of things was changed. Princely revenues paved the way dignity; and thofe, who of late were maintained by frugal ftipends and eleemotinary contributions, now generou fly looked around them for proper perfons on whom they might confer obligation Thus fervitors were admitted at one univerfity, fizars at the other; a humble, ufeful band of obfequious dependants, between whom and the feilows reciprocal engagements exifted. These paupers readily undertook menial employments, and were remunerated by fcanty fubfiftence and gratuitous inftruction. At first, therefore, there were but two orders of undergraduates: 1. pen. fioners, or commoners, who paid a regular falary for attentions received, and indifcriminately partook every liberal indulgence. 2. Servitors, or fizars, who performed all humiliating offices, and thought themfelves amply rewarded with [fizes] ftated allowances of food, and a learned education. Then academical difcipline was at its height. The heads of houses were unanimously revered; the patrician fcholars ftudied with enthusiastic ardour; the young plebeians were fubmiffive, induftrious, contented.-Happy, thrice happy condition 1-They had fome of the finest libraries in the world; not only public libraries for the general ufe of members of the univerfity, but libraries in each college, fcarcely lefs convenient than if they were in the ftudent's own apartment. In the Univerfity at large, they had profeffors eftablished with noble incomes; in Colleges, tutors and lectu rers. Sinecures were unknown. Their buildings were convenient, elegant, fpacious, and airy. Their apartments were, for the most part, handfome and commodious, filent and retired; in every way fitted for a life of fudy. They had fweet gardens and groves, delightful walks, and ru The irrefiftible influx of commercial wealth, continually augmented by a thousand ftreams, has fucceeded in fapping the deep foundations of na tional integrity. A fpirit of expenfive rival hip has long been kept up by purfe proud nabobs, merchants, and citizens, against the nobility and gentry of the kingdom. Univerfities may rue the contagion. They were foon irrecoverably inferied. In them. extraordinary largeff's began to purchafe immunities; the indolence of the opulent was fure of ablolution; and the emulation of literature was gradually fuperfeded by the emulation of profligate extravagance; till a third order of pupils appeared; a pert and pampered race, too froward for controul, too headstrong for perfuafion, too independent for chafifement; privileged prodigals. These are the gentlemen-commoners of Oxford, and the fellow-commoners of Cambridge, They are perfectly their own mafiers, and they take the lead. in every difgraceful frolic of juvenile debauchery. They are curiously tricked out in cloth of gold, of filver, and of purple, and fealt most fumptuously throughout the 1 fay, examine the excellent ftatute- "The academic gown's a masquerade ; tunes are enormous, and whose profufion is proverbial? I will venture deliberately to affirm, that the cost of one gay excurfion to Newmarket, of one day's rioting at Woodstock, far exceeds the accumulated academical forfeiture of a whole Term. This letter is intended as introductory to more weighty confiderations, if your politenefs induces you to favour my correspondence. I will not trefpals farther upon your patience at prefent; but fhall conclude in the language of a celebrated Writer: dwell fo long on fo incorrigible a clafs of Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, and TERRE FILIUS. Nov. 6. THE following fragments, from the MSS. of Mr. Jones of Welwyn, will doubtless be acceptable to your biographical readers. EUGENIO. By fuch as are in any wife perfonally acquainted with the fubject, thefe general ftri&tures will be owned ubanIwerable: indeed, the dangerous tendency of an innovation that permits a numerous clafs of youths, in fata fumoft pillari, to flight every precept and injunction of their fuper ors with impunity, must be obvious to the meane ft capacity. Permit me here, Sir, to anticipate an objection that cavillers may adduce against my affertion. They may tell you, that no offences are unpunished; for, that every mildemeanour fubjects the delinquent to proportionate fines. I fhall fift the mighty argument, and you will then afcertain its validity. I challenge the utmoft ingenuity of pre. varication to difprove the correctnefs of my statement. A gentleman (or fellow) commoner pays, for neglecting matins or vefpers, 2d each time; the hours of clofing gates, 3d; lectures, 4d; meals in hall, Is; St. Mary's on Sunday, if detected, is. Now, Mr. Urban, is it not an infult to difcipline to fuppofe fuch paltry mulets as these can curb the licentiouf nefs of impetuous youths; whofe for worthy patron and highly-honoured "Sir JOHN THOROLD, baronet; my friend; of whofe fincere piety and innate goodness of mind I know a great deal, but fcarce know where to begin, or where to end. His extenfive benevolence and beneficence to his fellow-creatures are abundantly known to many; because he cannot exert, and at the fame time conceai them. Elfe I believe none of them would be known to any except to those who feel the happy effects of them, and in thofe effects alone, without their knowing from whence thofe generous benefactions flowed. I will attempt, however, to draw out a few sketches of his piety towards God, and then of his beneficence towards men; adding alfo fome imperfect delineations of his ftrict regard to diftribute juftice, his perfonal integrity, and his attachment to true patriotifm; which, taken all together, compleat the character of a good Chriftian, and an accomplished gen tleman." "Effays on Subjects connected with Civilization. By Benjamin Heath Malkin, Trinity-college, Cambridge.". |