rtfttro tu t41 nitur.
THE UNIVERSITIES.
Sm—The letter, in your last week's paper, of "A Cambridge First-Class Man and Country Itector" is calculated to convey not only a very startling but a very erroneous impression of the tone of mind which prevails at Cam- bridge. I am bound to accept his statement, that he "meets very many young men" belonging to the University; but I confess myself unable to retconcile it with the account he gives of the general feeling. •
Without pretending to a more extensive acquaintance than other people have with Cambridge students; TWonldratir any one who Observes them,' not. from a country rectory -hot-within -the circle of their academical life, ' whether their'prevailing Moral characteristic is "frantic earnestness," or an almost indifferent calmness. • Your correspondent says that the -young men are running wildly about to any one Who looks like "a live man," (I-never •
was fortunate enough to he:tithe •phrese;) asking 'what they ate to believe ?. This ridiculous asiertion eau he received with nothing but laughter atealn- bridge. When the Country Rector pays his next visit•to the scene-of this
discursus," he will be told that quiet respectable orthodoxy -more than anything else' dharacterizes the yonneambri ' Mind that there-is a gteater tendency to Cynicism thentcienthusiitsiii ; that thethief teal elispleyedig-in • the pursuit of 'University honours; and that be might 'almost, as -reasonably. talk about • the frenzied prog,ressist excitement Which prevails among the : Heads of Colleges as Of that-which he'imagines anietig the subjects of their- rule. Ile Affirms that "the writings of Strauss are gaining ground in Melt., Varies and in the ligartnef gOvenereen." IV-Meet assertion with assertien, I eliatild be ranch *Surprised:if he ceuld find hake ri. dozen copies of any work of Stranur distribitted amOrig the whole body of undergradeates. The truth is, that year ecerespondent's OW11 fury blinds him not only to facts : but -to logical connexion. How can-, he speak of , the -authorities, "dove/oping." the. chapel-keeping from a ghastly- and goalless 'compulsory' Meeker), to a reel living United. -leonine ? What are the laws of such a de- velopment ? The general aiginnent' of his letter is, • "There is 110 Mamba': syMpathr or living spirit among the Vnivereity tinthoritiea; fiietefore, I ehould -wish-the young men, who are' 'vociferating this aimouncenimitin stery, direction and With frantic vehemence, to be allowed to tell the Commiesion of it:" -Cid bone? If it is so patent; the CoMinission must know of it already ; and if they do not, are they Cod, that they can give hearts to those who've without them ?
Being 4'in tittitu pupillari " myself; I ant not writing in the interest of the University authorities. I recognize and deplore the absence of energetic pee- sonal influence in the 'older ineinhereorour Colleges; htit•Ide'hot thittleit can be promoted by -whatin ixi-ealcelated to disgust both elcesee as yout respondent's rant. I lenient the deadness and flatness whith appear 4,0 "nit. to Charactenzc Cambridge thought, and 1 believe that a stimulus' is Mere-. needed by it than guidance. Parents and guardians may set their minaiiet- ease and assure themselves that Cambridge is no forcing-bed of manias of,any • softi lint that the universal English' ambition the spirit of getting on in the, wor has made itself-so pOirerful-at Cambridge, that a good-degree' as lealead-.- lug to a College fellowship and to promotion in after life, is the most attrae-
tice ohject Of zeal and of 'conteiliplatIOn . •
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