CHAPTER VIII.

[1792.]

ON the 9th of March, the Senate voted a petition to the House of Commons, for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

On the 12th of March, the election of a Jacksonian Professor, on the resignation of Isaac Milner, B.D., President of Queens' College, took place. The candidates were Francis Hyde Wollaston, M.A. Fellow of Trinity Hall, and William Farish, M.A. Fellow of Magdalene College. The electors, according to Jackson's will, are, the Regent Masters of Arts only, who have been resident in the University the greater part of the year previous to the day of election (excepting only such Masters of Arts as are under one year's standing, who may vote, though they have not been resident for that term). The number of electors was consequently very small ; and I had an opportunity, by my own vote and by my influence with several other electors, of showing my gratitude to Wollaston for many acts of kindness received from him since our acquaintance, which

commenced when he examined me for my degree. At this time we were on the most intimate terms. Sorry I am to say that our friendship did not continue much longer; for when Frend's trial commenced, not suspecting that he was amongst his prosecutors, I had on several occasions expressed to him very freely my opinion on the conduct of those gentlemen who met at the Vice-Chancellor's Lodge, and were known by the name of "The Twenty-seven."

This mistake was not cleared up till the names were published, which was some days after the trial commenced.

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The votes were-for Wollaston, 35; for Farish, 30. At this time the prices of provisions began to rise considerably, and the absurd laws against Forestallers and Regrators were attempted to be put in force. Orders were accordingly issued that no person whatever should buy butter, eggs, geese, ducks, poultry or pigeons, to sell again in the same market before the hour of twelve o'clock.

On the 22d of June, the following address, from the University, was presented to his Majesty by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Postlethwaite, and the usual deputation :

"MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,

"We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of your University of Cam

bridge, in Senate assembled, humbly beg leave to express our extreme satisfaction at the salutary measure now adopted by your Majesty, which we are persuaded is wisely calculated to discourage and disappoint the wicked attempts of the enemies of our happy constitution. We have long, with grief, observed the promoters of anarchy labouring with incessant industry to establish and spread principles incompatible with all civil government. But we trust that your Majesty's exertions, seconded by your two houses of Parliament, whose approbation of your Majesty's Proclamation breathes the true spirit of constitutional liberty, will give confidence and firmness to your faithful and loyal subjects, and secure the obedience of those who might be in danger of being misled by the fallacious reasonings of designing men, or tempted to risk new revolutions, under the vain and delusive hope of improving upon the most perfect of all known political constitutions.

"Sensible of the happiness we derive from your Majesty's just and mild government, and convinced that the peace and prosperity of these kingdoms depend, under Divine Providence, upon obedience to the laws and due subordination amongst the various orders of the community, we will not fail to instil into the minds of those committed to our care the true principles of religion and loyalty, and to offer up to Almighty God our earnest prayers that He will long continue your Majesty a blessing to an united, loyal, and free people.

"Given under our common seal, this 18th day of June, 1792."

The King's "most gracious answer" was in these

terms:

"I receive with great satisfaction this dutiful and loyal address.

"The principles which the University of Cambridge have always manifested, and their attachment to my person and government, leave me no doubt that they will continue diligently to inculcate that love of order and of well-regulated

liberty, which must naturally prevail in every enlightened society, and which lead to a just sense of the many distinguished blessings enjoyed by my subjects under our free and happy constitution."

I will proceed by giving some details of Dr. Milner, who was Senior Wrangler in 1774. The University, perhaps, never produced a man of more eminent abilities. It is to be regretted he did not prosecute his mathematical studies with greater energy and perseverence after he had taken his degree. He was much sought as private tutor, and was Moderator in 1780, 1783, and 1785.

In 1785, he accompanied Mr. Wilberforce on a tour to the Continent. Mr. Coulthurst, who was the other Moderator, complained grievously in his speech on entering into office, of being left in the lurch by his brother Moderator, who had set out on his tour without consulting him. The audience were much amused with several passages in that very ingenious speech, in which he applied the well-known words of Cicero -"abiit evasit erupit" to the abrupt departure of his colleague.

Complaints had for some time been made, that the Examiners who arranged the higher degrees were most of them private tutors, and charges of partiality were frequently brought against them. There was too much reason to think that these charges were not

without some foundation; and I have been informed by a Wrangler of the year 1781, who was perfectly satisfied with his own situation, that no doubt was entertained in the University, that Catton of St. John's, who was fourth Wrangler, ought to have been the Senior Wrangler. This opinion was confirmed by the first Smith's Prize being adjudged to him. The feeling entertained by the University is very evident, the following Grace being passed on the 25th of January, immediately after the examination:

"Cum mos nuper in Academiâ invaluerit ut unusquisque fere Sophistarum aliquem sibi auxilii causâ inter studia quæ ad Gradum Baccalaureatûs in Artibus spectant sub Privati Tutoris nomine asciscat, non sine Academiæ Infamiâ et gravissimis eorum expensis qui summo labore suo et curâ studiosos alunt:

"Placeat vobis, Ut si quis in posterum Scholaris intra biennium gradum suscepturus, inter studia quæ Gradum Baccalaureatûs in Artibus spectant prosequenda, cujuslibet usus fuerit auxilio intra Academiam directè vel indirectè, stipendio aut mercede conducti, sive Privati Tutoris, seu alio quocunque sub nomine hujusmodi, omnem sibi aditum ad senioritatem baccalaureis reservatum præclusum intelligat."

Milner gave lectures, as Jacksonian Professor, which I was nominated by my college to attend.