the Honours' (or Maximes) were admitted complete Bachelors simpliciter,' i. e. without going through the subsequent and tedious ceremony of 'determining,' as it was called.

The Commemoration of 1803 exhibited a slight sign of more life in the University, in the fact that there was one Hon. D.C.L. and one Hon. M.A. degree. But the distinguishing feature of this Commemoration was the excitement (quite a furore1) produced by Reginald Heber's prize poem 'Palestine,' in English verse; Shuttleworth's Latin verse too (on Byzantium) was highly estimated; while the third future bishop, Daniel Wilson of St. Edmund Hall, carried off the prize for the English Essay on 'Common Sense.' There was as yet no prize for a Latin Essay; the University was indebted for that to Lord Grenville, on his becoming Chancellor in 1810.

In July the war with France broke out afresh, and, of course, with more embittered feelings on both sides; indeed, there had been only an armistice or suspension of hostilities. And so we once more 'cried havoc and let slip the dogs of war;' we literally buckled on our armour before it had had time to become rusty. Now at last, moved by the more serious aspect of affairs, and influenced by exasperated feelings, Englishmen prepared in earnest to meet the threatened invasion. The first thing was to provide 'the

1 It was thought so superior to the usual run of such productions (and there was also such a peculiar charm in his recitation), that even on the rehearsal-evenings (for in those days there were two public rehearsals) the Theatre was numerously attended.

2 Moved by a sense of a common interest and a common danger, we at once re-forged our reaping-hooks into swords and bayonets; 'Fall into ranks' was once more the universal cry, not loud, but deep,' and nowhere was it better responded to than in Oxford.

1804

THE SINEWS OF WAR.

49

sinews of war,' and in a very short time the sum of £6,5001 was raised in Oxford (the University and City Chests each heading the subscription with £500), to be applied partly in aid of the Government, and partly to the arming, not of two distinct Volunteer Corps (as in the last war), but of one, and that chiefly composed of citizens, but with a good sprinkling of academics. An efficient Corps of more than 700 men was soon raised and diligently trained. The dress being nearly the same as that of the regular regiments, we were rather flattered to be told we looked like ' common soldiers.' I say 'we,' for during 4 years I took my place in the Light Company, and shared in the skirmishes on Shotover and the field-days in Port Meadow. In proof of the serious aspect of affairs it may be added (in proof also of the zeal of the University in the cause), that'a Term' was granted to those who might be prevented from keeping it by military duties in other parts of the kingdom.

A.D. 1804.

In the course of this year there were 138 B.A.; M.A. only 75. In February Dr. Holmes, being made Dean of Winchester, was succeeded in his Ch. Ch. Canonry by Dr. Howley, the future Archbishop of Canterbury, whose University sermons, though preached in an unimpressive way, were highly thought of. Both Dr. Holmes and Dr. Howley were originally Fellows of New College; the former had been for some time preparing for publication an

1 Mr. Gunning, in his 'Cambridge Reminiscences,' allows that on this occasion Cambridge fell very short of Oxford, raising only £2,000 for military purposes.

2 Especially in the Flank Companies (as they were then called, i. e. the Grenadier and the Light Companies) and among the officers of those Companies.

E

elaborate and splendid edition of the Septuagint for the Clarendon (or University) Press1. Of the latter (Dr. Howley) but little was previously known, except the fact of his having been tutor in a noble and influential family. But whosoever was his first patron, the University for several years, and the Church for many more, had ample proof of his meek piety, his sound learning, and good judgment. It was said to have been by Cyril Jackson's recommendation that he was afterwards made Bishop of London; his subsequent advancement to the Archbishopric was fairly gained by himself and his own high character.

At the Spring Assizes of this year half Oxford, both Gown and Town, struggled to get admission into the County Court, to witness the trial of the two Gordons (one of them a clergyman) for carrying off the notorious Mrs. Leigh3. Luckily for them, her own unblushing evidence soon acquitted them of a forcible carrying-off; and so-to the great disappointment of itching ears-the matter ended.

In March, 1804, a long-standing reproach was removed from the University; viz., the monopoly of half the University sermons by three or four individuals, commonly called 'Hack-Preachers.' The remedy, which had long been called

1 He left, however, the work unfinished in the hands of the Rev. Joseph Parsons, by whom, after many more years delay, it was at length completed and published.

2 A mode of getting the foot upon the path which leads on to honour,' not uncommon in those days.

3 This Mrs. Leigh's dangerous character, as a professed unbeliever in Christianity, is well exhibited in one of the early volumes of De Quincey, who was thrown into her company in his very early days, and who afterwards (when residing in Oxford at the time of this trial) helped her to escape, in disguise, to a carriage which took her from Oxford. No wonder that one who had no firm standing-ground should come to a fall.

1805

SELECT PREACHERS APPOINTED.

51

for, was at length found in the simple plan of appointing ten 'Select Preachers,'-men, of course, of high character and qualifications (nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, Proctors, the Regius and Margaret Professors of Divinity, and approved by Convocation),-who should take in succession the un-accepted preaching turns. By arranging that five of the ten should go out of office every year, a constant supply of fresh talent was wisely secured. No scheme ever worked better from first to last: besides the relief (and oh! how great a relief!) to those who were officially obliged to attend at St. Mary's, it gave the authorities the opportunity of bringing forward promising preachers, or (what was still better) of bringing back to Oxford preachers who had left it and had gained a clerical reputation elsewhere.

A.D. 1805.

My 'Recollections' of this year suggest but little that can interest others. I do not even find a single note1 or memorandum of any academical event or movement. Reginald Heber, a regular 'prize-fighter,' added another leaf to his academic crown, by gaining the prize for The English

1 Valuable helps as I have occasionally found in a few unconnected notes, I do not go so far as the writer of the following paragraph :'A single note (as Gray says) is worth a cart-load of recollections.' What I here add, as a specimen or spice of those Oxford days, is an actual recollection of a real fact. The two adjacent Colleges, All Souls and New College, though not at that time remarkable as places of study, engaged in a rivalry of a peculiar kind. In the interchange of dinners between senior members of the two Societies, a long sitting had one day been wound up by the introduction of silver jugs of hot negus, or more properly bishop.' The appearance of the well-spiced vessels suggested the idea of a challenge, i. e. a competition of bishop-making between the Common-room men of the two Colleges. A night was fixed, when the same party, aided by a few select friends, of acknow

Essay; and Tinney of Magdalen (afterwards Fellow of Oriel) alone and single-handed faced (and successfully) the formidable company of six Public Examiners for the Honours.'

The lack of serious matter for this year leaves room for something amusing (though not so to the parties concerned). The Oxford tradesmen's system of 'giving credit' and their notorious anxiety to get a young man's name 'on their books' had then, as now, their usual effect on thoughtless youths, who were thus entrapped and, for want of funds, could not extricate themselves. Then came the second act of the drama,-the dramatis personæ being, 1st, a young man shut in his room, with door bolted, wanting to go out but afraid even to move; 2ndly, a rather shabby-looking person (the tradesman's collector) at the outside of the door, knocking every now and then with an unmistakable, decisive, single stroke; in a word, with a 'dun's-rap.' An Undergraduate of that day being thus (what he called) persecuted (for a well-trained dun would sometimes watch a ledged taste, met at All Souls. Jug after jug was introduced, tasted, and emptied with discriminating gusto and assumed gravity. Now New College has it—' so good! so strong!! so heart-warming'!!! And now All Souls calls forth rival ejaculations—' how fine! how genial !! how elegant'!!! But it would not do; votes were called for; each College supported its own production, naturally influenced by previous associations and impressions. The question was referred to the special visiters (i. e. the invited guests, not the Visitors), who, after an unsupported proposal to call in the aid of the Queen's College and Brasenose Common-room men, unanimously decided in favour of New College; and Chichele (as was quite proper as to priority in re bishop) knocked under to Wykeham! N.B. Andrew Dicks, the successful competitor and compounder of the mixture, was soon after successful as a candidate for the office of Yeoman Bedel (post, si non propter). 'Sir,' said he, 'why do you call it mixture? 'Twas no such thing. I got the day by not introducing a drop of water: that was my secret !'