HEBDOMADAL BOARD.

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"academical proficiency, repute, or common weal and use "of the University, they are empowered to discuss it," in order that it may, after such deliberation, be laid before the two assemblies of Masters of Arts, of which we shall speak presently. And in another Statute it is decreed, that this Hebdomadal Board shall draw up all new measures before they are submitted to Convocation.

These two Statutes give to the Hebdomadal Board the sole initiative power in the legislation of the University, and the chief share in its administration.

The effects of this change, by which the Constitution of the University of Oxford is essentially distinguished, not only from its own ancient form, and from the Constitution of all Scottish and Foreign Universities, but also from that of the sister University of Cambridge, will best be considered when we have gone through the other branches of the executive and legislative power, which were affected, more or less, by the same revolution.

The Vice-Chancellor since the Laudian Code.

The office of Vice-Chancellor was unknown, by name at least, to the most ancient constitution. The Commissaries of the Chancellor are mentioned as early as the year 1230. These Commissaries first rose into importance when the Chancellor ceased to be resident, and his functions were accordingly for the most part entrusted to a deputy. The title of Vice-Chancellor is given for the first time in Wood's Catalogue to Dr. Humphry, appointed during pleasure by Lord Leicester in 1574; but it also occurs in the Statutes of King Edward VI. Those Statutes direct that this officer shall be annually elected, as is still the case at Cambridge, by the Masters of Arts. It was not till the year 1569 that the Earl of Leicester, as Chancellor (to use the words of Woodf), "took upon himself the right of naming the Com

Tit. x. sec. 2, § 2.

+ Wood's Annals, anno 1569, vol. ii. p. 167.

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missary or Vice-Chancellor, sometimes without the consent "of the Convocation, rarely or never done in former times.” The Laudian Code legalised the power thus assumed. It enacts that the Vice-Chancellor shall be nominated from the Heads of Colleges by the Chancellor, with the assent of Convocation, and shall hold his office for one year. Into his hands have passed the powers of the Chancellor, with a few insignificant exceptions. This is sufficient to make him the most important officer of the University. To these powers must be added the influence which he has acquired from being Chairman of the Hebdomadal Board, as well as of all its Committees, and from the prolongation.of his tenure of office (by re-appointment) from one year to four. The Vice-Chancellor is empowered by Statute to appoint four deputies, called Pro-Vice-Chancellors, ordinarily the two Heads who have held the office before him, and the two next in seniority to himself. Of these last the senior commonly succeeds as Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor possesses a discretionary power of appointing his deputies, which affords the means of preventing an objectionable or obnoxious individual from obtaining, the Vice-Chancellorship. Every Head is considered to be bound to accept the office if tendered to him; but it is not pressed on those who intimate their inability or their unwillingness to discharge its duties. The statutable stipend of this high functionary is ten pounds a-year; the real salary is derived from certain bequests, from fees, and from the profits which he may be able to make by using the balances of the University revenues placed in his hands during his term of office. We are unable, in the absence of evidence from the authorities of the University, to state the average amount of income derived from each or all of these sources.

The Proctors since the Laudian Code.

The Proctors are no longer the two great officers who + lbid., sec. 3, § 3.

Tit. xvii. sec. 3.

bore that naine in the ancient Constitution. Their importance was diminished by the change which exalted the Heads of Houses. The ancient popular elections had continued, though not without interruptions, till 1628, when King Charles I. issued a special Ordinance, which was afterwards, in 1636, incorporated into the Laudian Statutes, and by which it was enacted that, in consequence of the tumultuous proceedings which often took place at the elections of the Proctors they should hereafter be chosen from the several Colleges by turns. This new mode of election, although a sufficient remedy for the disorders which it professed to correct, has tended considerably to reduce the importance of the Procuratorial office. The Proctors do not now represent the University, but at most the particular Colleges which elect for the year. The Cycle, by which the election is regulated, is so unequally arranged, that some of the Colleges which take the least part in the education of the University, elect more frequently than others which stand in the foremost rank. The choice, rendered thus narrow by Statute, has been rendered still more narrow by the almost invariable custom of nominating the Proctors, not from all the members of the College, but only from its Fellows, and not from the Fellows with any regard to their qualifications, but simply according to seniority. This system has sometimes led to the appointment of persons of little fitness for the office, and has proportionably affected its dignity and influence. The Proctors, however, have still sufficient importance, from their right of nominating Examiners, their share in the choice of Select Preachers and of Delegates, and their administration of the Discipline of the University, to render unfit appointments to the post a source of considerable mischief.

The Chancellor since the Laudian Code.

The Chancellor is elected by Convocation, usually from political considerations; he rarely appears in Oxford, and seldom takes any part in academical government. Still his

office is one of much dignity and influence; and his advice always has weight with the ruling body of the University. As he is usually a Peer, he is virtually the representative of the University in the Upper House of Parliament; he is also the organ by which the Government usually communicates with the University. He is Visitor of Pembroke College; he appoints the Provost of Worcester College from the list of those who are or have been Fellows; and he has the absolute nomination of four out of the five Principals of Halls. No emolument is attached to the office; on the contrary, the Chancellors have, for many years, given prizes to the amount of 60l. per annum.

The High Steward.

The office of High Steward, though always conferred like that of Chancellor on persons of high rank, is now merely honorary.

The Collectors.

The office of Collector, once so important as to have given occasion to one of the three Statutes in the Laudian Code, which are often regarded as peculiarly binding, is now never filled up.

We proceed to speak of the remains of the ancient Constitution which are still to be traced in the two Houses of Congregation and Convocation.

House of Congregation since the Laudian Code.

The House of Congregation has been greatly changed, and that principally by the enactments of Leicester and of Laud. Many of its functions have been transferred to the Hebdomadal Board, and those which it retains are purely formal. It consists of the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors, the resident Doctors, the Heads of Colleges and Halls, the Professors and Public Lecturers, the Examiners, the Deans or Censors of Colleges, and "Necessary" Regents. The

HOUSE OF CONGREGATION.

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Doctors have long since ceased to teach. The name of Regent has become a mere title. The College Tutors, who now chiefly conduct the instruction of the University, have as such no place in this body. Of the right of legislation which once belonged to it nothing remains, but that in it must be promulgated all Statutes three days at least before they are proposed to Convocation. What was once the important and exciting business of admitting to Degrees has dwindled into a form. The present House of Congregation meets only for the purpose of hearing measures proposed which it cannot discuss, of conferring Degrees to which candidates are already entitled, and of granting Dispensations which are never refused.

In what manner this body might be modified, so as to meet the wants of these times and to exercise advantageously its ancient powers, will be presently considered.

House of Convocation since the Laudian Code.

The House of Convocation, which consists as formerly of all Masters of Arts and Doctors, who have taken out their Regency, and who are members of a College or Hall, is now a much more important body than that of Congregation. It possesses the power of debating on the measures proposed by the Hebdomadal Board; and, by its acceptance, those measures become Statutes. It elects the Chancellor, the Representatives of the University in Parliament, many of the Professors, and various University officers, while on certain other appointments it exercises a veto. To it belongs the Ecclesiastical patronage of the University, and the right of conferring Degrees out of the ordinary course, whether honorary or by diploma. Some persons have supposed that the Statutes give Convocation a power of amendment on the measures proposed to it by the Hebdomadal Board ;* but no such power, we believe, has ever been exercised.

* Evidence of Mr. Foulkes, p. 223.