College. By his will, and codicils thereto, he gave to the University certain estates upon trust, to pay specified portions of the rents and profits thereof, annually, for the following purposes:-First, 'To such learned and ingenious person in the University, under the degree of Master of Arts, as shall compose for that year the best Dissertation, in the English language, on the Evidences in general, or on the Prophecies or Miracles in particular, or any other particular argument, whether the same be direct or collateral proofs of the Christian religion, in order to evince its truth and excellence;' such Dissertation to be printed by the author, out of the sum payable to him. Secondly, 'For the maintenance and support of one such learned and ingenious person, (for a term not exceeding five or six years,) of the degree of Master of Arts, or of Bachelor or Doctor of Divinity, of the age of thirty years, and resident in the University; who is to compose yearly, whilst in office, some proper and judicious answer or answers every year, to all such new and popular, or other cavils and objections, against the Christian or revealed religion, or against the religion of nature, as may, in the opinion of the trustees, or any two of them, seem best, or most proper to deserve or require an answer, whether the same be ancient or modern objections, but chiefly such as are most modern, and

especially such as have

language of late years

appeared in the English against Christianity, and

which may not seem to have received a full and sufficient answer, if any such there shall be, unto the

year preceding his election; as likewise to be ready to satisfy any real scruples or objections in a private way, that may be brought from time to time by any fair and candid inquirer, against the same; such writer to be called The Christian Advocate, and such his written answers to be in English, and only against notorious infidels, whether Atheists or Deists, not descending to any particular controversies or sects among Christians themselves, except some new or dangerous error, either of superstition or enthusiasm, as of Popery or Methodism, either in opinion or practice, shall prevail; in which case only it may be necessary for that time to write or to reason against the same. And such treatise or treatises to be every year printed, the expense whereof shall be deducted out of the temporary stipend or salary; and the remainder of the said stipend or salary, or rents and profits, shall be paid or given every year to the several authors successively as a reward for the same.' Thirdly, 'To such learned and ingenious clergyman in the University of the degree of Master of Arts, and under the age of forty years, as shall be annually chosen, in order to preach in Great

St. Mary's Church, twenty sermons yearly;* ten of which shall be to show the evidence for revealed religion, and to demonstrate, in the most convincing and persuasive manner, the truth and excellence of Christianity, so as to include not only the Prophecies and Miracles, general and particular, but also any other popular and useful arguments, whether the same shall be direct or collateral proofs of the Christian religion, which he may think fitted to discourse upon, either in general or particular; especially the collateral arguments, or else any particular argument or branch thereof; and chiefly against notorious infidels, whether Atheists or Deists, not descending to any particular sects or controversies (so much to be lamented) among Christians themselves, except some new or dangerous error, either of superstition or enthusiasm, as of Popery or Methodism, or the like, either in opinion or practice, should prevail; in which case only it may be necessary for that time to preach against the same.' In the other ten sermons, 'the lecturer or preacher shall take for his subject some of the more difficult texts or obscure parts of the Holy Scriptures, such as might appear to be more generally useful and necessary to be explained, and which might best admit of such a comment and

* Reduced to eight, by order of the Court of Chancery, December 21st, 1830.

explanation, without presuming to pry too far into the profound secrets or mysteries of the Almighty.' The preacher to print his sermons, and to be elected annually; but the same person not to be continued for more than six years together. Mr. Hulse constituted the Vice-Chancellor, and the Masters of Trinity and St. John's Colleges, for the time being, trustees of his benefactions to the University."

CHAPTER VII.

[1791.]

As I cannot recollect anything particular occurring in the University during the early part of this year, I will proceed with my reminiscences of University men, commencing with my dear and excellent friend Whaley Armitage, to whom I was introduced soon after his arrival at Trinity, by his cousin, Robert Thornton, a son of the witty and eccentric Bonnel Thornton, who was the friend of George Coleman, and translator of Plautus and Terence. Armitage brought with him the character of a good scholar, which he maintained during the whole of his residence. He was of a social disposition, and although very much in company, never gave way to any of those excesses which marked the conduct of many of his associates. He used to look in at Frank Smith's (the Union Coffee House), during the evening, and take his seat at the supper-table, which he was allowed to leave at an early hour, without remark, having proved by his firmness, when he first came to college, that he was not to be deterred,