THE ECLECTIC REVIEW, MDCCCXXXVII. JULY -DECEMBER. NEW SERIES. VOL. II. Φιλοσοφίαν δὲ οὐ τὴν Στωικὴν λέγω, οὐδὲ τὴν Πλατωνικὴν, ἢ τὴν Ἐπι- THE ECLECTIC REVIEW, FOR JULY, 1837. Art. I. Oxford University Calendar. 1837. AN ancient University, richly endowed, thronged with candidates for the learned professions, frequented by the aristocracy of the country, and the only theological school for half the clergy of the national church; is an Institution too efficient for good or evil to be looked at with indifference by a wise man and a Christian. Those who are not its members, must not be supposed to have no interest in its condition, and no right to desire its improvement. Whether it be or be not technically a National system, it is necessarily in effect national. Its estates lie in every county, its scholars come from every county; its graduates spread over the whole kingdom, bringing with them the lessons of good or evil which they have imbibed: and signally as a main fountain whence the national clergy are supplied, the University of Oxford affects the welfare of the nation. It is idle then to pretend, that the nation may take no cognizance of so extensive and formidable an organization, because forsooth we must respect the last Wills and Testaments of certain founders and benefactors. If a man leaves his estates for purposes, which after several centuries are found to generate a public nuisance, is his Will to be respected? In truth, it is difficult to repress the thought, that only pure hypocrisy dictates such pretended reverence for the wills of founders. For it is well known, that all such statutes and clauses in the founders' enactments, as would give the college estates to Roman Catholics, have been cancelled by Act of Parliament; and the present holders enjoy their benefit only by virtue of such violation of the VOL. 11. B |