240
NOTES AND Q LJERIES. [ii s. iv. SEPT. ie, 1911,
The period is one in which " the importance of
the two Universities .... in relation to the country
iit large, was not only unprecedented, but un-
surpassed even in much later times." Threatened
with degradation and expulsion, many scholars
held firmly to the cause of liberal education and
spiritual freedom. Exiles in Virginia and Hol-
land gratefully regarded Cambridge as the
fountain-head of true doctrine, and John Harvard
left a perpetual memorial of his name in the new
country. Nor was the period one mainly of
barren theological discussion. Several Professor-
ships were founded. Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke,
a poet as well as a courtier, had an enlightened
conception of the study of history. A Professor-
ship of Arabic was established in 1632, and a
Lectureship in Anglo-Saxon in 1638.
Among the accounts of the Cambridge Pla- tonists, the career and fine character of Henry More are particularly attractive. His con- ception of the philosophic life was more severe, one fancies, than that of most dons before or since ; and putting aside, with Mr. Mullinger, the absurdities and extravagances of his studies in the Cabbala, prophecies, &c., a modern inclined to mysticism would find much that is admirable in his teaching.
On the social life of the times and the Uni- versities there are frequent references to Oxford the volume is a mine of information. Here is a passage concerning Tobias Conyers, a poor lad inducted by his Tutor Hotham into the place of Chapel Clerk at Peterhouse in the absence of the Master. Conyers, exhilarated by his promo- -tion, took to drinking :
" In those days, when a collegian wanted to tipple, he either dropped in at the bar of one of the town inns or into his college butteries. But a ' Bible Clerk ' would probably be chary of being seen enter at the White Bull or the White Horse, and it was when he had one day been drinking at the Peterhouse tap, that Conyers was there joined by a ' rakel ' from Pembroke Hall, when the latter, under the influence, it may be conjectured, of the strong ale, raising the pewter to his lips, astounded the bystanders by drinking to the health of ' the King ' ! Reports were already current that Conyers had been seen keeping company with certain ' malig- nants ' ; and it appears to have been undeniable that on this occasion he had ' pledged the toast' although ' not upon his knees.' There was, however, no help for it. Hotham sum- moned his pupil to his chamber, and there flogged him ' before two or three of the scholars,' and then Bent him home to his father. ..."
The result was a long and virulent controversy.
WE are not surprised to find that a third edition has been issued of Mr. Frederick Harrison's Notes on Sussex Churches (Hove, Combridge). The little volume is handy in form, and within its modest limits offers a great deal of concise information on the many noteworthy churches of the county. The present edition has been revised and enlarged, and is well illustrated. It should find its way into the pocket of the many wayfarers who enjoy the air of the downs or the greater excitements of the seaside. The prefatory ' Notes on Architecture ' are very useful, for they indicate the various styles and the books to which the real student will go for .ampler understanding.
The National Review for this month is as out-
spoken as usual concerning politics, and puts
forward as its " delenda est Carthago "
" B. M. G.," which constant readers will easily
interpret as indicating the disappearance of Mr.
Balfour from leadership. " .Die-hard " has some
verses ' To the Noble Abstainer and the Noble
Renegade.' Further comment in prose brings
in the royal prerogative in a way of which we
cannot approve. Capt. Humphries has an
interesting article on ' The Homing Power of
Animals,' and Mr. A. Maurice Low writes well, as
usual, on ' American Affairs.' Under the title
of ' A Shooting Star ' Capt. H arry Graham con-
siders the career of Charles Townshend, who
was a skilful trimmer in politics, and in 1759,
according to Hujne, " passed for the cleverest
fellow in England." He had no great know-
ledge, but a positive genius for debate. Some
amusing anecdotes appear in this article. ' The
Creed of an Agnostic Spiritualist,' by Mr. J.
Arthur Hill, is also worth attention. He is a
" psychical researcher," and inclined to accept,
rather against his will, the position that things
happen which orthodox science does not account
for.
FRIENDS will be glad to hear that Mr. John Collins Francis is making good recovery from the sudden illness which was the sequel of a chill four weeks back.
to
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COCYTUS (" T. K. Hervey "). A list of Hervey's works is^ appended to the account of him in the ' p.N.B.' His poems were collected by his widow, and published in 1866 at Boston, Mass.
E. M. F. (" Construction of an ^Eolian Harp"). See the replies at 9 S. x. 514 ; xi. 33.
F. H. S. Forwarded.
