Trinity, that a Fellowship there will undoubtedly continue, under any contemplated change, the most cherished object of ambition at Cambridge, the blue ribbon, a Cambridge man may say, of Academic distinction in England.

It may be, after all, that the real gravamen of the charge against the Commissioners is not the principle of open Fellowships, but the proposal to enforce it compulsorily. I can easily understand and sympathize with the feelings of irritation which any appearance of violence and harshness must produce upon bodies so justly sensitive as our colleges. But let men fairly ask themselves, whether any compromise in the means employed would avail to effect the object which the Commissioners, rightly in my judgment, consider to be so paramountly important? Is there yet time for parley? I can hardly suppose that I could make any suggestion which the Commissioners have not already weighed among themselves; but I will not shrink from throwing out for general consideration the scheme of a middle course, which might, I think, gradually bring about the end they desire, while it saved the pride, perhaps the not unpardonable pride, of the colleges. The college statutes, I believe, generally give express permission to elect strangers to fellowships, but saving a preference to actual members. I would simply re-enact such statutes, extending them to every college alike, and requiring notice to be publicly given of every pending appointment or election, with an invitation to any members of the University to offer themselves, reciting at the same time the permissive and saving clauses of the statute in question. I should expect that the permissive clause would in many cases remain at first a dead letter; but the authorities would sometimes be glad of such a sanction for postponing inferior claims within their own college; and I should confi

dently trust to the soundness of the principle, and to the effect of publicity, gradually to soften prejudices, and relax opposition, just as the claims of classical learning have slowly worked their way to general recognition throughout the colleges, in the teeth of an hostility which seemed at first insurmountable. I do not think it necessary, perhaps not even desirable, to insist upon special examinations for fellowships at every college. In a very small governing body such examinations would naturally often fall into the hands of a single examiner, and might become narrow and one-sided. Appointment, by testimonials or otherwise, might be fairly trusted, to secure good and even the best selections. And the principle of appointment, rather than examination, would give more scope to different colleges to lay themselves out for eminence in particular departments of science and learning. One, I should hope and expect, would be disposed to attract theological, another legal, another medical students; others again, under the auspices of a head or tutor versed in a particular branch of science, would become schools of Geology, Botany, or Chemistry. It would be a pity to require every candidate for a fellowship at such colleges to pass again through the usual conventional ideal of a university examination.

When the ship is sinking, any passenger may take the helm; but I hope the propositions of the Commissioners have not come to this pass, and I make this suggestion rather to unburden my own feelings, than with any presumptuous hope of leading them into port. To the "Governing Body" I will only say, in conclusion, that any measure which tends to raise the character of the University generally, to distribute its advantages more widely, more liberally, more justly, must eventually attract a greater number of students, and redound

to the interest of the colleges of which it mainly consists. It is impossible for those who love the University, for those who even waiving all personal feeling and regard, admire the spirit she has nurtured in her children, and with which she has leavened through them the educated classes of the country, to be satisfied with seeing her stand still, as she has so long done, in numbers and popularity. Her students have not increased, perhaps they have actually diminished in number, in the last thirty years, while the numbers, the wealth, and even the general intelligence of the country have so remarkably multiplied. This is not the result of any growing distaste for learning; for the education of all classes has been sensibly extended and enhanced. It arises from no disgust at the chief subjects of Academic training,-not even at its devotion to the old-world classics,-for the grammarschools throughout the country flourish as they never did before. I will not hazard an opinion as to the cause; I will only add that the duty of the University is clear and imperative, to cast off all prejudices, to renounce all vain traditions, which can interfere with the most liberal application of its means demanded by justice and expediency.

I remain, my dear FRERE,

Yours very faithfully,

LAWFORD, Nov. 1, 1858.

C. MERIVALE.