TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, AND ITS REFORM.—I. [To THE EDITOR OF
THE "SPECTATOR."] Stu,—The University of Dublin partakes of the mystery which surrounds every Irish institution. Whether it is a university at all, or only Trinity College ? a clerical seminary like St. Bees or an examining body like London University ? whether or no Roman Catholics and Dissenters are admitted, are all questions respecting which strange mistakes are made whenever the subject is brought under discussion, as during the late debates in the House of Commons and the Social Science Congress. Nor is such ignorance to be wondered at. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge occupy public attention in England, and that of Dublin is forgotten as too remote. Like most matters in Ireland, it has also, unfortunately, become a topic of political and religious con- troversy, and while one party looks upon it as a sort of blasphemy to criticize such a bulwark of Gospel truth and Protestant ascen- dancy, the other cannot speak without indignation of such a nursery of proselytism. As all this confusion respecting so important a seat of learning is very injurious to the interests of educational progress, I propose shortly to describe the real state of affairs, for the benefit of moderate men in England, after which I would like to suggest some improvements which would, I think, increase the benefits of the University, but which, as they have no relation to politics, are not very likely to be advocated by politicians on either side.
The University of Dublin is modelled on that of Cambridge, to which it bears a general resemblance, in the preference shown to mathematics, the permission to lodge in town allowed to students, and in the practical and secular tone of thought by which both places are distinguished from the more speculative and ecclesiasti- cal genius of Oxford. There is, however, a strongly marked differ- ence in the fact that while Cambridge has, I believe, eighteen colleges, Dublin has never possessed more than one. Trinity Col- lege was founded by Queen Elizabeth in 1591, as " the mother of a University," with the hope that other colleges would spring up around her ; but whether the age for such foundations was past, or the poverty and distractions of the country precluded it, or the large endowments of Trinity College seemed sufficient, from what- ever cause, the original scheme has never been carried out. Hence Trinity College and the University are not only confounded in popular phrase, but in points of far greater consequence. Indeed, this is the source of most of the peculiarities and, as I think, defects of the University system of Ireland.
For instance, the " Board " of Trinity College, consisting of the Provost and seven Senior Fellows, monopolize the entire govern- ment and patronage not only of their College, but of the Uni- versity. It may sound strange to English graduates, familiar with the popular constitution of their own Senate or Convocation, to learn that this oligarchy, narrow as the dean and chapter of a cathe- dral, virtually nominates to all offices, from the chancellorship downwards (by a late statute the Board appoint three candidates for the chancellorship, out of whom the Senate selects one), except the provostship and the two seats in Parliament. Being thus supreme and irresponsible, they are not content with their fellowships, though richer than most headships of houses in Oxford and Cambridge. I have known the Professorships of Greek, Civil Law, Oratory, Modern History, and Hebrew, not to
speak of bursarships, registrarships, &c., all held as sinecures by Senior Fellows. I do not include in this list other professorships held by Fellows, because they do something for their salaries, whereas the duties of the above-mentioned chairs were purely nominal. The Divinity Professors are also, very needlessly, always chosen from among the Fellows ; but as they must vacate their fellow- ships, they are allowed to hold rich college livings with their pro- fessorships, to the injury of both. Another result of there being but one college is the non-residence of students, a non-residence not confined, as in Cambridge, to lodging in the University town. A large proportion of Dublin students never come to Dublin but for a few examinations. They are in the position of those students of London University who are unconnected with any other place of education than the examining University. Never mixing with other students, for work or amusement, under no discipline, with no one to direct their studies, they live away in the provinces till they go up to take their degrees. The examinations must, therefore, be made tolerably easy for them, though strict enough for the eau-
didates for honours, who naturally live at college. Hence a prominent feature of the Dublin system is a broad line of demar- cation between pass men and honour men. The violent bigots and ultra-Calvinists, it need hardly be said, commonly belong to the former class. The English clergy, judging, perhaps, from such specimens of the Dublin graduate, are apt to imagine Trinity College a small seminary like St. Aidan's, or at best like Durham. It is, in reality, the largest and best endowed college in the United Kingdom, probably in the world.
Its four extensive quadrangles, though wanting in the vener- able beauty of some English colleges, are not without a certain seventeenth-century stateliness, such as we see in the great abbeys of the Continent. The buildings do not merely consist of lecture- rooms, as the Times lately asserted. They include a chapel, library, theatre, dining-hall, and museum, besides chambers for residence on the same plan as in English colleges, all standing in a handsome park or garden. The library is the finest building, the chapel is poor in architecture and paltry in its internal fittings. No doubt it will be replaced by a place of worship more worthy of so great a college, should the High-Church movement ever extend to Ireland. Large as is this College, it is too small for the students who wish to reside ; unhappily, a large part of it is appropriated by the Fellows, who, having houses of their own in town, scarcely furnish their spacious but dreary apartments. The revenue of the College, derived from its estates, besides the rent of chambers and students' payments, cannot fall short of 70,0001. per annum. It is divided in very unequal proportions among the members of the society. A separate estate, with a fine house, is attached to the office of Provost, worth, it is believed, about 4,0001. a year, and with social position not inferior to a bishopric. The income of a Senior Fellow used to be expressed mathematically as = x, for, it is said, they divide the residuary funds of the College among them. It varies, probably, from 2,0001. to 3,0001. a year, exclusive of offices held in commend:on. The Junior Fellows, about twenty in number, and mostly clergy- men, must have also large incomes, since they constantly refuse rich livings, such as would be accounted the great prizes of an English college. 8001. per annum is spoken of as the value of a fellowship, with the social status of a canon residentiary in an English cathedral town. They also hold many valuable pro- fessorships and other offices, and may not unfrequently look forward to becoming Bishops. The seventy scholars, who form the remainder of the corporation, having no vote in the disposal of its revenue, are, notwithstanding the increased wealth of the foundation, confined to their ancient pittance of 201. per annum, subject to various deductions.
A scholarship is, notwithstanding its poverty, regarded as a high distinction, and there are many candidates for the yearly vacancies. It is tenable till the degree of M.A., or for about five years. The professorships are not important except in the School of Medicine ; all worth having are now taken by the Fellows, though the most distinguished Professor of this century, Mr. Butler, was only a scholar. The Board, as we have seen, is only a governing body ; the work of the College is carried on by the Junior Fellows, who are all tutors, and conduct all the examinations. As they are all employed about the College, there are no absentees, as in England. The fellowship is gained by fair competition, in a very severe examination, and held for life with permission to marry. Vacancies, therefore, are very rare, as few Fellows will accept livings in the country. Mathematics and physics, with some moral philosophy, are the chief subjects examined in, though the newly elected Fellow is often absurdly required to examine and lecture in classics and divinity. Some classical fellowships are, therefore, urgently needed, that the College may have fit teachers and examiners in that branch of learning. Most of the scholarships are, on the con- trary, given for classical proficiency. Students must pass an examination on entering College, and two or three in each of the four years of the course. The principal ones are at the close of the second and fourth years. Honours and prizes are given at most of them ; the highest in rank is the " Moderatorship," at the examina- tion for the degree of A.B. Candidates for this distinction are examined in a much wider range of reading than for an ordinary degree, and rewarded, if successful, with medals of gold or silver according to merit. The Fellows conduct the business of tuition on the principles of a trade union ; all are paid alike, whether their pupils are many or few. The result is not satisfactory ; some married Fellows see scarcely anything of their pupils, and some tutors are bad classical scholars. A student who wishes to succeed will generally avoid the regular lectures as much as he can, and have recourse to one of the meritorious but unrecog- nized order of " Grinders," i.e., resident graduates who, having passed with distinction, prepare private pupils for the examina- tions at a moderate charge. In this way, in spite of all abuses, a very good education can be obtained by a resident student who is industrious. The College, though not doing much in the way of teaching, provides a judicious course of reading, good libraries, and fair examinations, with numerous small prizes and honours to encourage emulation, exclusive of the great prize of a fellowship now and then, for the mathematically gifted.
About 300 or 400 young men annually enter College. They are mostly younger than students in England, and of various ranks, from the peer's son, to the sizar, who is supposed to be poor. The bulk are sons of professional men and middle-class landowners. Some are designed for the Church, chiefly that of Ireland, and must remain five years, as two must be spent in studying divinity. Others are intended for the Bar, and can attend the Inn of Court at the same time as College. Others, again, are preparing to be solicitors, or civil engineers, or, without any particular object, only desire a liberal education. The situation of the College, in a large city, though unfavourable to discipline, affords facilities for hospital practice, and there is a flourishing school of medicine also belong- ing to it. One of the most agreeable features of the education given to resident students in Dublin is the mingling together of young men, with such different plans in life, who here study and live in common for some years before entering on the special pursuits to which they are to be devoted. The religious difficulty makes more noise without than within the walls of Trinity.
Though Roman Catholics are a great majority of the Irish nation, yet as small farmers, labourers, and artizans do not send their sons to college, Protestants would furnish the majority of students in any possible University. The clergy of the Church of Rome find at Maynooth the secluded and ascetic training they require ; and they are, moreover, supported by their College, instead of having to pay for their maintenance, as in Dublin. The Ulster Presbyterians have also several colleges pretty much to themselves. They are in general of the farmer class, and their ministers farmers' sons. If, however, an ambitious Nonconformist sends his son to Dublin, he will find little to offend his prejudice in the Low-Church Protestantism which prevails there. Dissenters of all kinds are admitted to all the benefits of the College, and as they are excused chapel and religious instruction, they have some advantages over their fellow students in competing for honours. The prudent oligarchy at the head of affairs makes everything as smooth for them as possible, and has even established scholarships for those who scruple to receive the communion in chapel, like the scholars on the founda- tion. Proselytism is altogether a dream of heated imaginations. The Roman Catholic student is subject to no annoyance either from his teachers or companions. Indeed, I have known one elected auditor of the Historical Society by the free votes of Protestants. A Roman Catholic cannot, indeed, be a Fellow, but united education is really attained to a considerable extent under the present rather latitudinarian system, and perhaps the reason- able wishes of the Roman Catholics may be indulged without any revolutionary change. But the consideration of this point, as well as of the reforms which it is pretty clear that the College requires, must be postponed to another paper.—I am, Sir, &c.,
MODERATOR.
Previous page
