PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION. 283 Effect of the Present System on Theological Studies. Oxford still educates a large proportion of the Clergy; but learned Theologians are very rare in the University, and, in consequence, they are still rarer elsewhere. No efficient means at present exist in the University for training Candidates for Holy Orders in those studies which belong peculiarly to their profession. A University training cannot indeed be expected to make men accomplished Divines before they become Clergymen ; but the University must be to blame if Theological studies languish. Few of the Clergy apply themselves in earnest to the study of Hebrew. Ecclesiastical History, some detached portions excepted, is unknown to the great majority. The history of Doctrines has scarcely been treated in this country. It may be safely stated that the Epistles of St Paul have not been studied critically by the great bulk of those in Orders. It is true that the English Church has produced great Divines, and may boast at this moment of a body of Clergymen perhaps more intelligent and accomplished than it ever before possessed. But they might well acquire more learning. We hope that the Theological School of Oxford may yet be frequented by earnest Students, as of old; so that many among her sons may gain a profound acquaintance with the history and criticism of the Sacred Books, and with the external and internal history of the Church. On Medical Studies. Oxford has ceased altogether to be a School of Medicine. Those few persons who take Medical Degrees there with a view to the social consideration which these Degrees give, or the preferments in the University for which they are necessary, study their profession elsewhere. This may result from causes for which the University is in no way to blame. But the University is blameable for the little encouragement which, even considering all it has done by its recent improvements, it has as yet given to those Physical Sciences which Medical Students ought to learn before they begin their strictly Professional course. On Legal Studies. The connexion of Oxford with the Profession of the Law is also unsatisfactory. The number of barristers not educated at either University is increasing; and of those who have graduated, the majority are of Cambridge. Many other causes may have contributed to this result. It may indeed be said that Oxford was never actually connected with any branch of the legal profession, except that which practised in Ecclesiastical Courts, and that no one can wish to revive the study of the Canon Law. This is true, but the study of the Civil Law, which occupies so large a place in the Statutes both of the University and of the Colleges, ought not to have been allowed to fall into complete desuetude. Under an improved system young men might be efficiently assisted in Oxford in the attainment of much knowledge directly serviceable in training a young lawyer for his profession. Necessity of restoring a Connexion between the Universities and the Learned Professions. In our printed papers we proposed for consideration the question, whether "the Studies of the University might be "so regulated, as to render them at some period of the "course subservient to the future pursuits of the Students." We have received a great number of answers concurring in the affirmative. It is not recommended that the University should be made a place of Professional Education, at least not for Law and Medicine. But it is suggested that if its Students cannot be made Lawyers and Physicians in Oxford itself, they may there be taught much that would prepare them for the strictly Professional Studies to be pursued GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 285 in the great towns, where these professions are practised. These views are clearly and forcibly stated by Professor Vaughan :-* 66 66 66 "As to making the academical course more directly sub"servient to the future career of Students, I conceive that "a real comprehension of all the different branches of know"ledge, such as will not only permit, but encourage them, "will effect this purpose, so far as it is wise to do so. "There is much in medical and legal studies, which cannot “be effectually taught at the University; so also of Engineering, Agriculture, Politics, &c. But there is not one "of these professions for which the University will not very effectually educate in the most essential and fundamental particulars, if she do but heartily and faithfully carry out "the system which she has recently established. As society "is constituted for the present, I see no necessity for more "than this. It is one peculiarity of our social condition, "that we have too much rather than too little time to learn "the specialities of the higher branches of professions ; and "it has hitherto been the evil of our system of education, "that a good foundation in general knowledge has not been "laid, through which those specialities can be approached effectively, and in a liberal spirit. A physician, might "well learn Chemistry, Physiology, Mechanics, Botany and "Natural History, and Anatomy, at the University, and "the rest of his profession could be imparted to him in the "London Hospitals and Medical Schools. Hitherto the 66 study of Therapeutics, Pathology, &c., has been learned "in London, along with sciences which should have been "known before the commencement of a purely professional "life. I confess that in my opinion the present University Evidence, p. 85. Compare that of Mr. Lowe, p. 12; Archbishop Whately, p. 25; Mr. Grove, p. 20; Mr. Bart. Price, p. 63; Mr. Wilkinson, p. 78; Mr. W. H. Cox, p. 95; Sir Charles Lyell, p. 120; Prof. Wall, p. 149; Sir Edm. Head, p. 160; Mr. Litton, p. 178; Mr. Bon. Price, p. 195; Mr. Merivale, p. 201; Mr. Henney, p. 210; Dr. Macbride, p. 221. 66 66 "scheme (liberal as it is comparatively) is still deficient, in "not having emancipated the Final Examination more completely from Classical and Theological studies as compulsory upon all. Nor do I think, until this is done, much "will have been practically effected in Physical, Historical, "and Mathematical instruction. I advocate these studies, "not merely, nor indeed by any means chiefly, as subservient "to a future practical career, but also as most wholesome "and valuable gymnastics of the mind, infinitely valuable as "a part of education." We have already stated that the recent Statute made some advance towards this end. The changes introduced by it were in some measure a return towards the ancient distinction between the Faculty of Arts and the higher Faculties of Theology, Law, and Medicine. But the principle recognised is as yet imperfectly carried out. As we have before shown, every Student must at his Final Examination pass through two Schools, one of which may be that of Law and History, or that of Mathematics, or that of Natural Science, the other must be that of " Literæ Hu"maniores." Recommendation to Restore the Classification of the Higher Branches of Study under different Schools. The obvious mode of amending this scheme would be to enact that all Students, after giving satisfactory evidence of classical knowtedge at the Intermediate Examination, should be relieved from the necessity of continuing the studies of the Grammar School, and should be at liberty, for the latter period of their career, to devote themselves to pursuits preparatory to their future Professions. Such an amount of knowledge of the rudiments of Religion, as may be fairly expected from any person who has received an academical education, would be transferred from the Final to the Intermediate Examination. To this end it seems to us that the University might with the best results institute a division of DIVISION OF STUDIES. 287 Studies, with corresponding Examination Schools, such as would better accord with the freedom of choice which should, as we think, be left to the Student, after the Intermediate Examination to be passed by all alike. We are anxious to repeat what we have already stated, that any suggestions in a matter so entirely within the control of the University as the arrangement of its Studies, must be understood merely as indications of the general course which in our opinion it ought to pursue. Without wishing, therefore, minutely or peremptorily to lay down a system, we have drawn out such a scheme as would show the division of subjects which we think desirable. I. THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, Ccomprising the study of the Scriptures in their original languages-Ecclesiastical History and Antiquities-Dogmatic Theology-Pastoral Theology. II. THE SCHOOL OF MENTAL PHILOSOPHY AND PHILOLOGY, to be divided into two Departments: (1) That of Mental Philosophy, comprising the analysis of the Moral and Intellectual powers, the principles of Taste and Art, and the History of Philosophy. (2) That of Philology, in which the Student may be examined in Greek and Latin, or the Oriental and Modern European Languages, or in Comparative Philology. III. THE SCHOOL OF JURISPRUDENCE AND HISTORY, including Political Economy. IV. THE SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL (1) That of Pure and Applied Mathematics. |