fhould continue to be patronized and applauded, even by some of our most reverend Divines; at a time when private Theatricals and Bills of Divorcement feem to follow each other like caufe and effect; and to threaten the ex. tinction of all decency and conjugal fidelity, among the higher ranks of fociety. Nor can that prejudice furely be lefs inveterate, which can contemplate without pain and grief, a number of fine manly youths of family and fortune, of high attainments, and ftill higher promife, dreffed like Opera dancers, in filk and fatin, roving over a whole neighbourhood, entering both public and private houses; ftopping Stage Coaches; and taking from all defcriptions of paffengers, half crowns, fhillings, and even fixpences, which some of them have hardly earned, and can ill afford to part with,

Oh! but (it will be faid) this is an ancient cuftom at Eton-it is fo-but furely if ever there were a custom "more honoured in the breach, than the obfervance"this is fuch, at leaft as now practifed. If at other Schools,

an election day, or a day kept in memory of a pious Founder, cannot be obferved, without a degree of excefs, utterly inconfiftent with Christian sobriety; is it not the duty of the Governors to abolish fo corrupt and corrupting a practice? If extrajudicial oaths are always objec tionable; how much more fo when tendered compulforily to boys of fifteen ?

Let us now turn to our Universities; where also, among many things excellent and admirable, I fear we fhall find fome, which call loudly for redress.

The fyftem of Public Worship, confifts of morning and evening Prayers daily in the Colleges; and on Sundays, Sermons are preached in the Univerfity Churches, and the Under-graduates at least, are supposed to attend them. But if we inquire more narrowly how the prayers are performed,

F

performed, we shall find them too often used as a roll call, and in fome Colleges, with permiffion of being abfent during the first and most folemn part of the fervice. Too often alfo they are read with fuch rapidity, as to make credible the ftories told, of men, who boaft that they excend all others, in reading with impious velocity, what fnch, never be uttered but with profound reverence.

If

ecollect to whom these prayers are addreffed; who can help fhuddering at fo indecent a recital? This evil is the more inexcufable, because the remedy is equally obvious and eafy. In fome Colleges, the prayers are decently and even devoutly read, and abfence at their commencement, fubjects the abfentee to an impofition. Why will not all follow fo fair an example? At any rate, if time cannot be allowed to read the whole fervice decently, let it be curtailed; but let it not be rendered an object of ridicule to the profane, and of scandal to the pious.

As for the Sermons-who has not heard of Hack Preachers? and how can it be expected that young men of taste and sense, will be content to liften to fuch, when tempted by all the charms of eloquence, and all the ardour of zeal, to go, where certainly it is neither right nor fit they should ever appear; but where they are permitted to go with impunity? If all the energy and ability be on the fide of error*; the confequence must be fatal. But why is this? cannot our Univerfities fupply their Pulpits with Preachers qualified at once to please and to instruct? and what price would be ill beftowed, in procuring fuch assist

ance?

It has already been obferved, that luxury (always accompanied by vice) has penetrated even these facred walls. This perhaps is not frange; but furely it is paffing ftrange, that fo little exertion fhould be used to stop its progress.

Are not its effects certain and fatal? Does it not necef farily produce habits of expenfe inconfiftent with the future welfare of the majority of the Students?

How are men thus educated, to enjoy any comfort when reduced to the narrow incomes of Curacies or finall Live ings? Should better preferment, aided by private fortune, fall to their lot (which comparatively can feldom happen), ftill how are they to fupport a Wife and Family, and to educate their Sons, as themfelves were educated?

Should we inquire whether the religious inftruction afforded at School, is continued at College, and the deficiencies of the former, fupplied by the latter; we fhall too often receive a moft painful answer. In this (as in most refpects) Colleges vary; but in fome, and those not the fmalleft or leaft noted, I fear it will be found, that from the day the Students enter, to that, on which they quit the Univerfity, they are not required, or even recommended, to read a single book, either on the doctrines, or the duties of Christianity. Its evidences are perhaps laid before them; but having proved its truth, instead of explaining its tenets, and enforcing its precepts, fhewing its nature, its importance, and its proper application as the rule of life; the Teachers fuffer it to remain unknown; while the whole time of the young men is engroffed by the unauthorized affertions of the Moralift*, the vifionary fpeculations of the Metaphyficjant, and the barren demonftrations of Mathematics. If at Cambridge a Student were to burn his Bible, and banish from his mind every idea of Religion, he would not be thereby impeded in the public examinations, or obstructed in taking his Degree: fubfcription to the articles might formerly have staggered hịm, but Dr. Paley has taken care to obviate all fuch objections. Does not this disease call aloud for a remedy, and

* See Note K.

† See Note L.

See Note M.

is it not high time that the ftudy of Chriftianity fhould have some attention paid to it, and that a certain proficiency in it fhould be required, in order to the attainment of Academical honours? With this view perhaps the Elements of Chriftian Theology were composed; and if these were put into the hands of every man on his first coming to the University, and an efficacious perufal fecured by fuitable lectures and examinations; this alone would tend greatly to remove that fad deficiency, of which the Right Reverend Author too juftly complains; and if time would permit, other Authors might be perufed in the fame manner, with the greatest advantage. I hope there is no fociety in either University, which would be likely to make an improper felection for this purpose; but to prevent the poffibility of fo dangerous and difgraceful a step; and to fecure an uniformity which is always defirable, and especially in Theological Studies; it might be advantageous, if the fame books were read in all the Colleges, and selected by the University at large. It is indeed greatly to be wished, that a similar uniformity could be established in other studies, as also in discipline, between the several Colleges of each Univerfity, and even between the Univerfities themselves.

Trivial circumstances have sometimes given rife to the greatest events; and most happy should I be, if I might indulge the smallest hope, that the hints of an individual may give rise to such a system of piety, uniformity, and harmony, as may free our Universities from all reproach, and render them in every refpect, the glory of this nation, and the admiration of the world.

I have now completed my plan-By fhewing-that Dr. Vincent has not vindicated public education, from the charge of defectivenefs in Religious Inftruction and † See Note O

See Note N.

Moral

Moral Regulation-By ftating fairly this important queftion, and the sentiments of several writers refpecting itAnd lastly, by mentioning fuch inftances of defective. } nefs, and fuch measures for their correction, as have occurred to my own mind, or been fuggefted by others. In doing this I have not been able to please myself, and therefore can scarcely hope to content my readers. But if any one shall take the trouble to correct my errors, and continue the difcuffion, I earnestly entreat him to recollect, that, however weakly or erroneously the point in debate may have been stated or maintained, truth will ftill be truth; and thofe, who fincerely wish to discover it in the prefent cafe, muft fairly meet the ques tion

WHETHER THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION AND MORAL CONDUCT OF THE RISING GENERATION, ARE SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDED FOR, AND EFFECTUALLY SECURED, IN OUR SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES?

NOTES.