ends, yet they were already connected with a mass of foreign elements and tendencies. However the nucleus of these bodies may have been composed or employed, it was surrounded by a wider halo or rather followed by a long train,—a nebula of unpractising Lawyers, whose spirit and doings gave to life in the Capital some of its boldest features, its gayest colors, its most vigorous intellectual movements; and also without doubt, many of its most serious moral misdemeanors.

Between the Universities, and this unbridled, though in a certain sense highly educated, youth; there was a constant commerce, an in-and-out-flux, generating an intimate reciprocal influence. The result however was the more likely to be unfavorable to earnest studies, as the preponderating influence certainly lay with the circles of the Capital; and their spirit naturally took the lead in University-society, and produced models for it.* The scientific and classical knowledge, which thus accrued to the Capital, was small in comparison to the stream of popular literature which flowed in upon the Universities. And whatever may be the opinion otherwise entertained of this literature ; however severe or mild a judgment may be bestowed upon its indisputable immorality; it will be

*This lay in the very nature of things. Further proofs or rather characteristic traits and material for a more detailed account may be found in Wood's

"Athenæ Oxon:" and also in the dramatic and satirical writings of the time. The passage in Wood here alluded to is really of importance.

admitted that it could be no means of promoting profound study.

With regard to the Classics, much was done to popularize the knowledge long since acquired; little or nothing to extend or enrich it which would have been the truer calling of the Universities. The numerous translations, very different in worth, by which, down to the beginning of the seventeenth century, so many of the Classic Authors became the common property of the people; are the best fruits of this intercourse between the World and the Universities. This is certainly to testify an important and gratifying influence of the latter upon the former.*

§ 177. Evil influence of the Gentry upon the

Universities.

It has been seen how little good was to be derived to the Universities from the literature of the Metropolis: connexion with other circles of society was not at all more improving. We speak here more especially of the very important class of Gentry; whose sons at that period, and ever since, composed the greater part of the academic population.

*To describe the influence of the Universities on the general cultivation, the poetry and especially the drama of the times; or again, the influence produced on the London Theatres by the plays most admired

at the Universities; and vice versa; would be one of the numberless and yet unperformed tasks of a History of Literature. Hints and materials are given by Wood, Collier, &c.

Few of them visited the University for intellectual improvement, taking even the lowest standard. With all the praiseworthy qualities of this class, it was nevertheless upon the whole without taste either for science or for general literature. Its thorough country-life formed a direct contrast with that of towns: and when custom or hopes of emolument drew its youth to the Universities, the more lively or clever were for the most part swept into the vortex of metropolitan life. A majority returned to the paternal hearth, not always with the same rough innocence which they brought away, and at all events with no particular intellectual benefit. After this, they had but to add new branches to their respectable family-tree; or, if younger sons, receive a Church-living in the gift of their own or of some friendly family.

The intellectual demands of these circles had however in another respect an important influence upon the academic studies. The wealthier and most respectable country-families were already used to place their sons under private Tutors; whose duty it was either to prepare them for the Universities, or to give them (what was considered) a finished education. A large proportion of the poorer academicians has at all times followed this thorny path which, at the very best, after many years may lead to some paltry place of rest in the Church. If the heads of such families had demanded in the tutors really high qualifications, it

might certainly have given an impulse to learning at the Universities: but their demands were in fact so low, the prevalent standard of accomplishments so miserable, that the influence was rather of a contrary tendency. It brought to the Universities a very numerous class, whose poverty and roughness of manners were perhaps their best qualities; and in whom the vulgarest tone of mind prevailed, through their dependence upon their former scholars and future bread-givers: (Brodherrn). With this spirit* prevailing, it cannot be supposed that the University Tutors and other Authorities were free from similar sentiments, and we may well imagine what influence all this must have exercised upon the discipline and studies.

178. Evidence concerning the Domestic Education of the Gentry.

The state of domestic education among the landed gentry of that day, appears to me to have been the principal source of the evils alluded to. We learn from an unexceptionable contemporaneous witness, † what the spirit of that education was. "Such is the most base and ridiculous parsimony of many of our gentlemen," says he, "that if they

can procure some poure Batchelor of Arts from the Universities to teach their childern to say grace, and serve the cure of an impropriation; who, wanting meanes and friends, will be content upon the promise of £10 a yeere; at his first coming to be pleased with £5; the rest to be set off in hope of the next advowson, which perhaps was already sold before the young man was born, &c.... Is it not commonly seene that most Gentlemen will give better wages and deale more bountifully with a fellow who can but a dogg or reclaime a hawke, than upon an honest, learned and well qualified man to bring up their childern. It may be hence it is, that their dogges are able to make syllogismes in the fielde, when their young masters can conclude nothing at home, if occasion of argument or discourse be offered at the table."

The expressions of Ascham in his "School-master" are more pointed still. Equally characteristic is the description given of such a relationship, by that excellent Satirist, Bishop Hall; a poet too little known and appreciated, not only among us in Germany, but also among his own countrymen : (Satires ii. 6).

"

A gentle squier would gladly entertaine,
Into his house some trencher chapelaine :
Some willing man that instruct his sons,

may

And that would stand to good conditions.

First, that he lie upon the truckle bed,

While his young maister lieth o'er his head :