CHAP. out a diagram, and to be converfant in III. History and Ethics; in Hebrew, Greek, and 1640. Latin; in a word, endowed with a most ample and complete knowledge of the Belles Lettres. The fellows who are thus chofen are certainly the best judges of the qualities proper for their prefident; and it muft become a ferious object to every well-wisher to his country to have this reformation effected by an act of parliament. Unfortunately for that feminary, the emoluments of the provoftship, which are faid to be above three thoufand pounds per annum, have made it a political object; and it has been bestowed as a ftate employment, and taken entirely out of the academical line. As this is the only grievance of the kind in his majesty's dominions, it must be suppofed, under a prince fo remarkable for his judicious difpofition of ecclefiaftical and academical patronage, to have been the effect of fome III. grofs minifterial reprefentation: but the CHAP. fault is at prefent in themselves. It is the flave which makes the tyrant, and acqui- 1640, escence, in some fort, juftifies violence and public injury. The university never can thrive till it is restored to its primitive inftitution. This should be the commencement of that fyftem of education which was propofed by Mr. Orde in the duke of Rutland's adminiftration. It was in confequence of fome obfervations upon this fubject, that offence was given by the author of these remarks in April one thousand seven hundred and eighty-feven; where, though no perfonal injury was intended, fuch an apology was demanded as could not be liftened to; and it being declared by the author that he would fooner perish than make any conceffion upon fuch a point, when his own and the credit of the affembly he belonged to was at stake, a fatisfaction was then given, which, VOL. II. E what CHAP. whatever the offence might be, or in whatJII. ever light it was confidered, must be ac1640 knowledged to have been a fair and ample reparation. It is not here intended to revive past animofities, nor to dwell upon the conduct of a great affembly: fuffice it to obferve, that their own interefts were deeply involved in that queftion, that the freedom of speech is a moft invaluable parliamentary privilege, and that it were to be wished that power had not interfered and ftifled their juft feel ings upon that occafion. The following representation comprehends many particulars, which may be of great moment; but the effential article is that relative to the appointment and election of the provoft by the fellows. There is fome ambiguity in the fentence relative to ftrangers, but the author did not think himself warranted to make any alteration, and fhall therefore confine his remarks and III. and his wishes to one, and only one, ob- CHAP. The State of the Cafe of the College of Dublin for fo much as it hath been reported to the Houfe for the Grievances thereof. QUEEN ELIZABETH, by a charter dated the thirty-fourth year of her reign, in these words, pro ea cura quam de juventute regni noftri Hibernia pie et liberaliter erudienda fingularem habemus, &c. on the fupplication CHAP. made by Henry Usher *, in the name of the III. 1640. citizens of Dublin, did erect and found the college near Dublin to be a college and univerfity, per nomen præpofiti, fociorum, & fcholarium collegii Sanctæ Trinitatis, regina Elizabethe juxta Dublin, And, among other things, gave them power by that charter of electing their provoft when voidances fhould happen of that place; and also power of making laws and statutes for the better government of that college, to be made by the provoft and fellows of that college. And likewise appointed them thereby vifitors, viz. the chancellor or vice chancellor of the university, the archbishop of Dublin, the bishop of Meath, the vice treasurer, the treasurer at war, the lord chief juftice of his majesty's court of Chief Place, and the mayor of Dublin. * Afterwards archbishop of Armagh. Statutes |