He where the noble study of Bishop Usher was placed, is quite neglected, and in no order, so that 'tis perfectly useless; the provost and fellows of that coll. having no regard for books and learning." Towards the end of last century the library was only opened "from eight to ten in the morning and from eleven to one at noon," while "no person was suffered under any pretence to take books away." On holidays it was closed. In Christ Church, Oxford, the discipline does not seem to have been remiss under Dean Aldrich, who died in 1710. Hearne tells us that "he rose to five o'clock prayers in the morning, summer and winter, visited the chambers of young gentlemen, on purpose to see that they employed their time in useful and commendable studies. was a severe student himself, yet always free, open and facetious." On the other hand Lord Chesterfield, writing to Dr. Madden in 1749, about the University of Dublin, said: "Our two universities will do it no hurt, unless by their examples; for I cannot believe that their present reputations will invite people in Ireland to send their sons there. The one (Cambridge) is sunk into the lowest obscurity; and the existence of Oxford would not be known, if it were not for the treasonable spirit publicly avowed, and often exerted there. The University of Dublin has this great advantage over ours; it is one compact body under the eye and authority of one head, who, if he be a good one, can enforce order and discipline, and establish the public exercises as he thinks proper." R. L. Edgeworth, who in 1761 entered Trinity College, Dublin, as a fellow-commoner, says that "it was not the fashion in those days to plague fellowcommoners with lectures." He mentions his "total neglect of study," and adds "my father prudently removed me from Dublin to Oxford. Having entered Corpus Christi College, I applied assiduously not only to my studies under my excellent tutor, Mr. Russell, but also to the perusal of the best English writers, both in prose and verse." Russell was father of the Master of the Charterhouse whom Thackeray has celebrated in Pendennis. XXXVII. [Indorsed, "About James Stopford, and placing my son Vall: under his care in Coledge of Dublin."] DUBLIN. Decr 19th 1724. SR, The Fault of my Eyes the Confusion of my Deafness and Giddyness of my Head have made me commit a great Blunder. I am just come from the Country where I was about 3 weeks in hopes to recover my Health; thither y' last Letter was sent me, with the two inclosed, M' Stopford's to you and yours to him. In reading them, I mistook and thought yrs to him had been onely a Copy of what you had already sent to him so I burned them both as containing Things between y'selves, but I preserved y' to me to answer it, and now reading it again since my Return, I find my unlucky Error, which I hope you will excuse on Account of my many Infirmityes in Body and Mind. I very much. approve of putting y' Son under M' Stopford's Care, and I am confident you need not apprehend his leaving the College for some years, or if he should, care may be taken to put the young Lad into good Hands, particularly under M King-I am utterly against his being a Gentleman Commoner on other Regards besides the Expence and I believe 50" a Year (which is no small sum to a Builder) will maintain him very well a creditable Pensioner. have not seen the L' [Lord-Lieutenant] yet, being not in a Condition to converse with any Body, for want of better Ears, and better Health—I suppose you do not want Correspondents who send you the Papers Current of late in Prose and Verses on Woods, the Juryes, the Drapier &c. I think there is now a sort of Calm, except a very few of the lowest Grubstreet but there have been at least a Dozen worth reading-And I hope you approve of the grand Juryes Proceedings, and hardly thought such a Spirit could ever rise over this whole Kingdom. I am &c. I NOTES ON XXXVII. Swift, in writing of a gentleman commoner, is applying to Dublin the term with which he had become familiar during his short residence in Oxford. The fellow commoner and pensioner of Dublin correspond to the gentleman commoner and commoner of the English university. The gentleman commoner, whose showy gown was often seen in Oxford in my undergraduate days, is as extinct as the dodo. So late as 1833 they still numbered one hundred and fifty. "In Dublin,” as I am informed on high authority, "any one who chooses to pay his money foolishly can be a fellow commoner. He sits at the fellows' table and is distinguished by some points of college costume. Above him in rank is the son of a peer." It was as a gentleman commoner that Gibbon, about thirty years after the date of Swift's letter, entered Magdalen College, Oxford. He dined with the fellows and was privileged to share in their "dull and deep potations," and to join in their conversation "as it stagnated in a round of college business, Tory politics, personal anecdotes, and private scandal." At Christ Church, Oxford, in 1769, "the expense of a commoner keeping the best company was near £200 a year; that of a gentleman commoner at least £250." At other In Worcester College, Oxford, the term "fellow commoner" was used. colleges a commoner could have lived in decent comfort on £100. Of the verses on Wood many were written by Swift-some of them brutal enough. The following epigram is inoffensive : 66 Carteret was welcom'd to the shore But when Wood's brass began to sound, Guns, trumpets, drums and bells were drown'd." The grand jury, having thrown out the bill against the printer of the Drapier's Letters, was discharged by the chief justice in a rage. A new one was summoned, which made a presentment drawn up by Swift against "the base metal coined, commonly called Wood's half-pence," of which they "had already felt the dismal effects." XXXVIII. [Indorsed, "With advice abt H. C. and how to arrange our separation and her Residence."] DUBLIN. Janr 18, 1724-5. S-I answer y two Letters with the first opportunity of the Post. I have already often told you my Opinion, and after much Reflection-what |