PREFACE

Summary

THE English Universities of late years have provoked much animated discussion. In some instances, both these ‘eyes of England,’ have been attacked and defended; in others, one only. But that which has been most ‘seen into,’ to commit a vulgarism, is Cambridge. The Magazines, Reviews, and all other ephemerals, have each had their day upon this ‘bone of contention;’ the ‘Edinburgh’ first raising the cry, and the ‘London’ being the last in the field. Playfair, in the former, indeed, would have been a fearful antagonist, had he first provided himself with that best of all weapons, a knowledge of the subject of his attack. But his palpable defects in this respect render his assaults pointless, and altogether innocuous, A host of subaltern levellers there have arisen, who deserve still less consideration. The writers, however, in the ‘London,’ inasmuch as two of them are themselves well qualified to judge of the merits of the question, must be treated with higher respect, being distinguished members of the Institution they have thought proper to calumniate. But, when the truth is told, even their aspersions will little avail them—when it is known and considered that these gentlemen, although Senior Wranglers, and otherwise honoured, were, by their own fault, excluded from the emoluments of the University. Instead of the degrading alternative of subsisting upon Reviews—of catering for those cormorants of scandal and calumny—at this moment, had not their common sense forsaken them after the Senate-House Examination, these sons of Alma might be enjoying, with hundreds of others, the ‘otium cum dignitate’ of a Fellowship.