The Recommendations of the Oxford University Commissioners, with Selections from Their Report

"Would they not be better at good schools? and can it be hoped that these ciphers, 16 to 19, will be altered? For "the young solicitor must, I am informed, be articled for "five years; five years is the common apprenticeship in the "merchant's office. And, furthermore, parents who design "their boys for these walks of life have, I believe (fathers "at any rate), a strong persuasion that it is in itself unde"sirable for them to wait beyond 19 before they set to "work. Merchants think 15 not at all too early. And "with this is conjoined an equally strong feeling that at the "old Universities they will learn little that will do them "any good in their after-occupations, and are pretty sure "to pick up very unbusiness-like habits, tastes, and views "of life.

"All the several points that I have supposed to be urged appear to me reasonable in their degree.

"Only, first of all, it is quite clear that the two last"stated exclude each other. If the number of probable

new comers is small, the danger of vulgarising the old "Universities cannot be great: if the danger is real, the "extension will not be imaginary. Perhaps we may find

reason to hope that between these two ways there is a "third. The increase in numbers may be large enough to justify some change, while it will not be so large or im"mediate as to make that change excessive.

"Though there certainly is a good deal of reluctance to "allow much time for education before business, yet it "seems to be true that the opposite feeling gains ground. "If fathers are on one side, mothers are on the other. It " is not uncommon for a merchant to send his son abroad "after leaving school, for a year's experience of the world. "The apprenticeship both for solicitors and merchants, it is "said, might be abridged with advantage. Indefinite fears "of extravagant and dissipated courses, the notion of unfit "habits and ideas and useless studies and tastes, would undoubtedly operate long enough to make the change "extremely gradual. But if those fears are, as I believe

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"them to be, exaggerated, and that notion only half true, "experience would surely, however gradually, lessen the “former and modify the latter. The sphere which already "includes the London banker would presently be extended "over other commercial classes. More and more young

men, sons of the more affluent parents, destined for business, would be brought under the influences of the "ancient national education. There would, perhaps, be a 66 pressure for earlier admission than is now usual. Yet the "data of University or King's College, London, must not “be overstrained. They prove, perhaps, that classical and "mathematical instruction, even when modified for modern 66 views, is not a sufficient attraction. But Oxford and Cambridge have others.

"On the whole, I venture to conclude that there are a great many young men who ought to come to the old Universities, and who would come. What keeps them away is, I believe, rather the want of confidence than the "actual amount of expense. Single Colleges, I am told, "in which confidence is felt, are applied to by numbers "who, if refused admission there, do not come to the University at all. I would suggest to Her Majesty's Com"missioners the analogy of the public schools. Twenty years ago somewhat of a similar feeling prevailed respect"ing them. May not the next twenty years as greatly "extend the University system as the last have the public "schools? I do not at all say that these, as they now are, are perfect, but they are extensively useful; and any change, which experience shall prove to be needed, will "not knock at those doors altogether hopelessly. The "vessel is in motion, and its course may be guided. And certainly, if I may judge by personal recollections of the "conduct of that change, during what may be called its eight first years, under the most vigorous and effective "of the reconstructing hands, a good deal of unfearing experimentation may and should in such cases be "hazarded."

Economy of this Plan.

We proceed to state the peculiar advantages of the plan now before us, by which it is proposed that Students shall be allowed to live in lodgings without connexion with any College or Hall. The chief of these advantages is the obvious saving of expense.

Many persons in their evidence have denied that there are any expenses "incident to connexion with a College 66 or Hall." In answer to this we need only state that for such "University Students" there would be no College fees at entrance, none in the course of the Student's residence, none on taking the degree. No caution money would be deposited by them; no furniture be bought; no payments be made to officers or servants; no contributions to the support of the College fabric, to the libraries, or other common expenses. Lodging, board, and attendance would be sought where they were cheapest; and they could be procured by those who chose to be frugal at a lower rate than they can now be procured even in the best conducted Colleges.

Moreover, the most economical Student in the most economical College cannot live below a certain standard. He is there exposed to observation, however retiring he may be; and few young men can bear even the silent contempt with which the thoughtless amongst the rich often look down upon the poor. And in all probability no skill or vigilance on the part of the Governors of a College could reduce the cost of living so low as it could be reduced by the ingenuity and the interest of a Student resolved to overcome difficulties. This view of the subject is forcibly supported by Professors Wall and Vaughan.

"It is to the admission of Students into the University "without connexion with a College or Hall of any kind "that I look for the greatest good to the University itself, "to the Church, and to the country.*

* Evidence of Prof. Wall, p. 147.

"Such a measure would considerably increase the num"ber of Students (now comparatively small in consequence "of the limited accommodation of the Colleges); but above "all, by allowing them to live as humbly as they pleased, "and that in private, it would enable a much poorer class "of Students to come here. The poor man who now, even "if he does aspire to a University education for any of his "sons, stints himself to give that advantage to one son only, "and that of course the eldest, whether he be the fittest for "it or not, would then be able, for the same money, to give "the same advantage to all. And whereas it often now happens that the one favoured son wastes his father's money and disappoints his hopes, the chances then would "be increased that some one son at least would repay him "for his expense."

Something, of course, might be lost to such Students by want of that close and continual intercourse of a man "with the habits and opinions of his fellow-students which College life favours.* But this benefit is not, I think, "sufficiently great or sufficiently certain to create a strong objection to a system in which it might be impaired. On "the other hand, the advantages of such an arrangement might be considerable, and they would very properly accompany the recent expansion of our instructional course. "Some direct and some indirect expenses of College life might thus be avoided. Amongst direct expenses may "be numbered tuition fees, library fees, where such exist, "and other charges, perhaps, which, however reasonable "and desirable in many cases, yet might not in all be felt "as needful. Indirectly, too, the College system occasions "outlay of money which a more private method of living "could avoid. The frugality and prudence of individuals might adopt a lower scale of expense and living than it might be desirable to carry out in a College system cal"culated on the average wants of gentlemen. And besides,

Evidence of Prof. Vaughan, p. 83.

" even were it practicable for Students possessed of narrower means than their neighbours in College to adapt their "dinners, breakfasts, furniture, gratuities, hospitalities, &c., "to their circumstances, yet such a style of living would be "exceptional, and might give occasion for remark, or for "the suspicion that remarks would be made, and so far an "obstacle would generally be found to exist against the application of a rigid economy. A more private system "of living, on the other hand, might give opportunity to escape from observation, or the fear of it.

"Something analogous to this supposed state of things "takes place, I conceive, in the case of legal and medical "students in London. Some even for the sake of economy "connect themselves with a club, where they can dine, read newspapers, &c., upon very reasonable terms. In doing "so they practise economy, but such economy as can apply "only to their means and habits. Others, for the sake of economy, dine in their rooms, or in cheaper taverns. "Their life is more private, and, being so, escapes both "observation and the consciousness that their appearance "differs from that of their neighbours in proportion to the "difference of pecuniary circumstances. Thus I conceive "that lodging-houses connected with the University, although "not with the Colleges, would extend the usefulness of the "University system, and I think that such a change at this "moment would be opportune as well as advantageous."

We learn from the Report of Your Majesty's Commissioners for the Scottish Universities what such Students can do there.*

"What do you conceive might be the annual expense of "living to Students who attended King's College (Aber"deen) about 10 years ago, when you were a Professor ?— "I should think it would vary. I have known Students pass the five months at King's College as low as 11l. or "12., exclusive of fees; but that was an extreme case.

* Evidence on the University of Glasgow, p. 211.

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The Recommendations of the Oxford University Commissioners, with Selections ...