: many, that scribe the thirty-nine articles. Into the moral right of denying this privilege we shall not enter, though considering the avowed purposes for which the universities were instituted, and the fact that the great mass of their wealth is held by a far grosser departure from the terms of its original tenure than would have been involved in the required concession, would dispose us to doubt it. Of their legal right to act thus, however, there can be no doubt; they were certainly at liberty to say under what conditions they were willing to confer their degrees. On the inexpediency, the impolicy, and bigotry of such refusal there never was much doubt beyond the walls of the two universities themselves. But whether their refusal was right or wrong, politic or impolitic, it made the necessity of some further provision for those who could not repair to Oxford or Cambridge the more obvious: and for our own parts we are far better pleased that a new university has been established than we could have been by the admission of Dissenters to the privileges of the old. It was for some time a matter of regret with 'University College,' which for some years bore the name, and to the founders of which unquestionably the establishment of the new university must be ascribed, did not receive a charter of incorporation as the London University. But we cannot help thinking that the present arrangement, in whatever it originated, will be found far better. Its benefits will be more extended; it will consist of a number of colleges, from all of which students may be sent up to graduate at the university. Government has already granted this privilege to several different colleges situated in very distant parts of the empire, irrespectively of the theological opinions of those who support or conduct them; the only conditions being that the colleges applying for the privilege shall show that they are in possession of property and of appliances of learning which will justify the belief that they will be permanent institutions, and which separate them from all temporary and merely private institutions. The colleges to which these privileges have been already extended, or which have applied for them, are University College and King's College, London; Bristol College; Oscot College (Roman Catholic); St. Cuthbert's College, Ushaw (Roman Catholic); Manchester College (formerly York, Unitarian); and Homerton College, Highbury College, and Spring Hill College, Birmingham, all connected with the Congregationalists. From the last three colleges not less than nine students went up to the matriculation examination last October, and it is gratifying to add that not only were none rejected, but that, with a single exception, all passed in the first class. We mention this merely to show that there is no valid reason why other theological colleges should not apply for the same privilege, if they think proper; nor, indeed, can we doubt, from what we have heard, that several such applications will be eventually made. We are confident they would be very generally made by all our larger colleges, if those modifications respecting one part of the curriculum were effected, which, before we close this article, we shall take the liberty to suggest ;-modifications which seem essentially necessary to enable the students of our colleges to avail themselves of the advantages which the university holds out, and, therefore, necessary to enable the university to fulfil the purposes for which it was instituted. But of this hereafter. Of the above-mentioned colleges, University College, as might naturally be expected, takes the lead, nor is there any reason to doubt that it will continue to do so. At the examinations which have been hitherto held, scarcely one, if even one, of the students which this college has sent up has been rejected. A very large proportion has been ranked in the first class in the examinations both for matriculation and for degrees. A considerable number have taken honors; of the eight exhibitioners,' five are from this college; the two University Scholarships,' which have been hitherto awarded have also fallen to students of the same institution. Nor is there the least reason to doubt that from the number and ability of the professors, the thoroughness with which the various branches of learning and science are taught, the severity of the biennial examinations (often, indeed, more severe than those of the London University itself), and from the high spirit of emulation which reigns among the students, this college will still maintain its superiority. Of course there will always be a much larger number of students who will repair to the university for degrees from this college than from the generality of institutions possessing the like privilege. It is of far greater magnitude than any other, with the single exception of King's College. Although University College' is freely open to all classes of the community, it is in fact principally supported by Dissenters, as, indeed, might be naturally expected. We may be allowed, therefore, without any unseemly exultation or the slightest disposition to depreciate other institutions, to rejoice in its prosperity, and to take its past successes as a good omen of its continued and increasing eminence. It is gratifying to perceive by the published lists of the 'London University, that the number of the students who offer themselves for the successive examinations is rapidly increasing, nor can we doubt that it must shortly become an institution of the utmost importance. In 1838 (the first examination), twentytwo matriculated; in 1839, thirty; in 1840, sixty-eight; while 1 the number of candidates was, we believe, seventy-five. In We now proceed to the most important portion of the present We remark, however, in limine, that in our opinion the It will be seen thies ceive, to meet the circumstances of all classes of students. Let it be recollected, however, that we do not plead that less should be demanded of any. The only alteration we would suggest would simply be that of allowing students the choice of taking examination papers either in chemistry, physiology, and botany, or in some other departments of study which might be substituted for them. In the matriculation examination, for example, the elements of the Hebrew language* might, we think, be advantageously substituted (if the student preferred it) for the papers on chemistry, physiology, and botany, while instead of the papers in these last departments in the B.A. examination, the rhetoric of Whately might be added to his logic, together with some portions of Locke on the Understanding,' and the first book of Bacon's 'Novum Organum.' As to the Hebrew,-while the university would, of course, make it the subject of examination as a language, and would therefore no more compromise the principle on which it has proceeded that of excluding all subjects strictly theologicalthan by examining in Greek or Latin, it would, by admitting such a subject of examination, indirectly aid in a very important degree the progress of Biblical criticism, and encourage the cultivation of a branch of learning essentially necessary to the thorough prosecution of theology. It is to be remembered, also, that the paper on this subject would be taken only if the student preferred it. There would seem to be a propriety in this step on two other grounds. First, the greater part of the students who would take this paper would be theological students, and would ultimately wish, in the majority of cases, to pass that voluntary examination in the text of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, and in Scripture History, which the university holds once a year. Now, in that examination a knowledge of Hebrew is demanded; and the option of taking a paper on the elements of this language at an earlier part of his course in lieu of something else, less directly connected with his future profession, would be to such student a most desirable advantage. Secondly, we believe that in every one of the colleges recognized by the university, Hebrew is taught, and in most of them made a very important branch of * It may be as well to state here, that we have specified this subject because we happen to know that by a considerable class of the students in the colleges now recognized by the university, such a paper would be gladly taken-we mean by theological students. We know that the London University has nothing to do with theology, and of course any examination in the Hebrew would merely be in the language as such. But it is not wise to forget that a large and increasing number of its students are engaged in the study of theology. About half the candidates last October were such. а study. There are professors of that language at University College, and King's College; at Oscot, at Bristol, at Highbury, at Homerton, at Spring Hill, it is considered of great moment, and in some of them of almost co-ordinate importance the study of Greek and Latin. Yet in the curriculum of the London University there is no notice whatever taken of it; not even the option is given,--which is all we plead for,--of taking an examination in the elements of this language in preference to some other subjects. With regard to the proposed substitution in the B.A. examination, no one will pretend that the addition of Whately's Rhetoric and some portions of the writings of Bacon and Locke would not be a fair exchange. With regard to the propriety of introducing any of the writings of Bacon and Locke, some doubts might be entertained, on the ground that though the greater part of the matter they contain is so precious, they contain errors which a more recent philosophy has corrected, and that therefore as text-books such writings would be antiquated. We e answer, first, that they would be taught, and therefore interpreted and commented upon in every college recognized by the university; mental philosophy is, we believe, already taught in them all, and that to a far greater extent than is at present demanded by the university. Secondly, those portions of the writings of these illustrious men might be selected to which but little error attaches, and which have been and will be the admiration of all ages. Thirdly, that the writings of such men, even when not unmixed with error, will do more to stimulate the mind of the learner, and imbue it with the spirit of genuine philosophy than a far more accurate text-book destitute of the energy and life-giving power of exalted genius. For this very reason, we continue to read the works of the greatest philosophers long after they have become antiquated; we derive profit not only from the thoughts they have bequeathed us, but from the very manner in which their authors have expressed them. We think, therefore, that Oxford and Cambridge have done well in retaining Locke's great work amongst their text-books, and that they would have done still better if they had added to it the first book of Bacon's Novum Organum. We verily believe there is nothing whatever which would so tend to form an enlarged and philosophical spirit of speculation and investigation in all departments of philosophy as a thorough study of this portion of Bacon's writings. We do not think it should be put into the hands of a student till he has been pretty well disciplined in Greek, Latin, and mathematics; but this would be precisely the case with one who was just closing his course of preparation for the B.A. degree. We are happy to quote, in support of our views, the following sentences from Hallam’s Critique on Bacon |