( 213 ) Restoration of the University, which has been absorbed in the Colleges.* The absorption of the University by the Colleges has been often brought before us in the Evidence, and has been already noticed in previous parts of our Report. Great as are the advantages which the Colleges have conferred on the University, we cannot doubt that both the one and the other have suffered from the extent to which their amalgamation has been carried; and that the restoration of the University to its proper superiority would, independently of all other considerations, be a great benefit. The monopoly of teaching by the Colleges has gone far to extinguish the Professorial system in Oxford, and, consequently, to impair, if not to destroy, the character of the University as a seat of learning. The absence of competition has encouraged the apathy which has rendered some of the most powerful and wealthy of the Colleges the least useful. The strong College feeling engendered by the present system has superinduced a neglect, we might almost say an unconsciousness, of the claims of the University on the affections and exertions of its Members, such as could hardly have existed had there been a body of men attached to the University, but unconnected with the Colleges. For these and other reasons we feel it to be a matter of great importance to raise up by the side of the Colleges an independent body, which will bear witness to the distinct existence of the University, and excite the Colleges to greater exertion. And for the sake of this we should think it worth while to recommend (even if we despaired of effecting a greater change), that Graduates should retain their University franchise, though they did not retain their connexion with a College; and that those who enter the University late in life * Report, p. 45. should not be obliged to become Members of a College or Hall. Such a relaxation would not be liable to the objections offered to the admission of young "University Students," as we may call the class of which we are now speaking. But the proposed plan has also the great advantage of virtually embracing the most feasible and useful parts of the various schemes already suggested. We have shown the grave difficulty, arising from the necessity of expending at once a large sum of money, which stands in the way of the establishment of regular Halls, whether affiliated or independent; but these objections do not apply to the occupation of private houses, by Colleges or individuals, for the purpose of receiving Students. In such cases no outlay of capital would be required, or, if houses must be built, they would be built by speculators on commercial principles; and with them the whole risk would lie. This plan would admit of indefinite extension without loss of time, and of as rapid contraction. Its permanency would depend not on the benevolence or zeal of individuals or societies, which might be transient, but on the interest both of parents and of students. It would enable the latter to obtain instruction from the eminent men who may be induced by the measures we shall hereafter suggest to become Professors resident in Oxford. They would not, as is now often the case, be restricted to such assistance as the College Tutors give, whether great or little; nor would they be obliged to incur the heavy expense of a Private Tutor, in cases where more able and careful instruction may be required. Opportunities afforded for Domestic Superintendence. Permission is now freely granted to Students (though only to those who are members of a College or Hall) to reside with their parents in Oxford. There can be no valid objection to the extension of this permission to those whose friends, being unable to fix their abode in Oxford, might desire to place them under the care of a Private Tutor, 66 66 66 DOMESTIC SUPERINTENDENCE. : 215 because they consider such an education as preferable to that obtained in the mixed society and the independence of a College. "This domestic superintendence," as Mr. Wilkinson observes,* "would not be cheaper than residence in College; but the discipline would be more effective, because more kindly there would also be the resources of "amiable society in vacant hours (a great safeguard against dissipation), and all the moral influences of a home." The case of boys at a public school residing with Private Tutors is analogous; and, as Mr. Jowett remarks,† "Such a permission would be of especial advantage to noblemen "and to gentlemen of large fortune, who form, or ought to form, the class of Gentleman-Commoners, and would "obviate many of the evils which now beset their University course. Some of the most distinguished Professors would, probably, be willing to receive Pupils of wealth and station "into their houses, and would offer the same opportunities "as those of which in the last generation several eminent 66 66 66 persons availed themselves at Edinburgh." It is in this manner that in foreign Universities Students of the highest rank are usually educated. But the strongest reason, by far, for allowing Students to become Members of the University, without becoming members of a College or Hall, is, that by this means alone could a University education be made accessible to a class much poorer than that which at present resorts to Oxford. We must, however, before discussing this question in detail, reiterate that, even irrespectively of the benefits to be conferred on these classes themselves, there is a preliminary argument in favour of their admission into the University - which must not be left unnoticed. We are well aware that objections have been brought against an indiscriminate admission of other classes than those which now frequent the University, on the ground that the influx of these new comers might perhaps tend to impair the high tone of feeling + Ibid., p. 33. * Evidence, p. 74. which is supposed at present to characterize Oxford. It might perhaps be urged in answer, that the entrance of poorer Students by the means we propose would not produce any effect on the general character of the University. But we may hope that, if their presence made itself felt, it would tend to introduce among the Students generally quieter and more frugal habits, and to discourage those extravagant ways of thinking and living, which now deter many parents from sending their sons to Oxford at all.* The statement of Sir Charles Lyell, though made with reference to the admission of a higher class than that of which we are now speaking, applies almost equally to any large admixture of new elements in the social life of the University. "I speak," he says,† "from personal experience of what "has happened within the circle of my own friends and "acquaintances, when I affirm, that parents possessing ample "pecuniary means are often deterred from sending their "sons to Oxford by a well-grounded apprehension, that "after a residence of a few years, they will contract from "the social atmosphere of the place notions incompatible "with the line of life to which they are destined, although "that professional line may be one peculiarly demanding a "liberal education. They wish, for example, to bring them up as attorneys, publishers, engineers, surgeons, or as "merchants in some established house, and naturally turn "their thoughts to Oxford as a safe and good training place, till they are warned by those who know the working "of the system, that the youth, however well satisfied with "the honourable calling proposed for him (which, perhaps, "he has chosen himself), will discover at the end of a few. Terms, that such occupations are vulgar and beneath his dignity. How much vulgarity of feeling and want of true independence of mind may lie at the bottom of such fine 66 66 66 66 66 "notions, it is superfluous to inquire here. The remedy is, I "think, as obvious as the cause; a large accession to Oxford " of the representatives of the professions alluded to would "make such class-prejudices disappear at once, without the "accompaniment of an evil so much dreaded by many advo"cates of the state of things as they are, namely, a diminished "attendance of men of rank and fortune." 66 6 66 66 The whole question is well argued by Mr. Clough :*— "Will it be said that in a country like ours the term upper classes' has an ampler significance; and the expression 'liberal,' or higher professions' should be "construed to include, not only barristers, physicians, and clergymen, but solicitors, general practitioners, merchants, "manufacturers; and that it is very desirable that the "benefits of a liberal education should be extended at least "to include these? Perhaps so. But, first of all, is it "certain that such an indiscriminate admission would not "destroy the subtle superiority which it is the object to "communicate? Do we not run the risk of debasing and "vulgarising the very means we wish to use for elevating "and purifying? Secondly, even supposing people of this "kind can afford to come, or supposing you reduce expenses "to let them come, is it yet quite certain that, even so, they "will come, or can come? that they want to come, wish to 66 come, or have time to come? "At University College, London, the usual period of 66 stay is from 16 to 19 years of age; the number of Stu"dents in Arts a little less than 200. Many of them "become barristers, many solicitors; some go into mer"cantile business; some, after one or two, or perhaps three, "years' study of Arts, pass over to Medicine; a very few go to Cambridge. Does not this mark the maximum of College education which parents of the classes in question 66 inclined to allow their children? Would it be well “to have Oxford and Cambridge crowded with boys of 16? 66 66 are * Evidence, p. 212. |