ed to the Act of Uniformity, is made a part of it, and printed with it: thus stood the subject with respect to Cambridge. By what means the expressions, that the University of Cambridge had power to print within the same omnes et omnimodos libros, which the University of Oxford had not, dropped from the accurate pen of Lord Coke, (4 Inst. 228) does not appear, nor is it material to enquire. It is certain that Lord Coke lived many years after the date of the last of the charters, which granted to Oxford a like power, 8 Car. I. Nov. 12. Ibid, March 13. 11 Car. I. March 3. And these Letters patent are ordered to be construed in the most beneficial manner for that university. A. H.

(To be continued.)

CATHEDRAL AND COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS.

OXFORD.

Mr. URBAN, Crosby-square, Feb. 6. HAVE been favoured with the fol

lowing information from Oxford, which I lay before your Readers with very great satisfaction.

CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST CHURCH. There are eight Choristers, partly maintained by the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church; that is, they have dinner in the Hall of the College daily. They receive also a salary arising from corn rents, and consequently varying in amount; it however is always sufficient to pay for the rest of their board and lodging, for clothes, and to cover the expenses of a journey to a moderate distance.

The Choristers are in the sole nomination of the Dean, exclusive of the Chapter, and he appoints at any age he thinks proper; the time of their dismissal is also at his discretion. They wear caps and gowns in their ordinary dress, and surplices in the Choir. A preference is usually given to the sons of clergymen and professional gentlemen.

Since the foundation of the College there has always been a Master provided for the boys, who instructs them in Latin and Greek. They are also taught writing and arithmetic.

The Choristers attend morning service in the Cathedral at 10 o'clock, and afternoon service at half-past 3. They are in the Grammar school from seven in the morning till nine, from eleven till one, and from two

till half-past three. They are taught singing by the Organist.

They are permitted to be members of any other Choir in Oxford, provided their attendance does not interfere with their duty at Christ Church. They have not any engagements for the profit of the Singing master. There is no provision for superannuated Choristers: frequently, however, as they have had a good education, they enter as Servitors at Christ Church. They are usually instructed in singing four times in the week.

MAGDALEN COLLEGE. The Choristers are sixteen in number, at the sole appointment of the President, who is not limited to any particular age. They receive about 221. jer annum for their commons, which have been augmented from time to time; and eight of them have each an exhibition besides of between 51, and 67. a year. They wear the proper collegiate dress, attend Chapel daily at 10 and 4, and three or four of the

Choristers are permitted to sing at St John's, where the service is perform ed at other hours.

The Choristers of Magdalen are educated free of expense in the Grammar School belonging to the foundation. The President requires them to be removed at 14 years of age, unless the head master of the school approves of the progress they have made in classical learning. They have Music Lessons three times a week in the College Chapel.

Dr. Sheppard has lately left by his will 601. a year to be given to those choristers who are sons of clergymen, and either become members of the University, or are bound apprentices to trades or professions.

NEW COLLEGE. There are sixteen Choristers appointed by the Warden solely. No particular rule is laid down with regard to the age of the boys, when admitted, but generally speaking we may say from seven till ten years of age. They wear the usual academical habit, and have a liberal education at a school within the College: they are instructed in grammar, in the Latin and Greek classics, in writing, arithmetic, and music. The hours of study are from 7 till 8 o'clock before breakfast; from 10 till 12 afterwards, and from 2 titl 4 in the afternoon. Their musical school-room is furnished with a small

orgar

organ, where the organist attends them personally three times a week, from twelve till one o'clock. Choral service is performed twice a day; at eight o'clock in the morning, and at six in the evening, except in the long vacation, when the Chapel is shut from the beginning of July, till the 10th of October.

Before the year 1807, those boys whose friends lived in Oxford, boarded and lodged at home, and those who came from the country, where their friends thought proper to place them. At that time they received from the College 71. per annum each, besides their education, and a dinner in the College buttery every day; but in the year 1807, the Warden and Fellows thought it would be better for the boys all to board and lodge together, for which purpose a large and healthy house was taken, and an extra master appointed to have the charge of them; and instead of their receiving 71. from the College, they pay 71. per annum to the person with whom they board, and the College pays him 167. for each boy.

Such of the Choristers as can obtain the appointment, are permitted to sing at St. Mary's, the University Church, on Sundays and holidays, but never perform on any occasion for the profit of a master.

The Choristers brought up in these Choirs have usually entered into Holy Orders, and have deservedly obtained the patronage of their several Colleges.

CAMBRIDGE.

the Chapels of other Colleges, and at St. Mary's Church. They are instructed in singing by the organist, and in reading, writing, and arith metic by a master appointed by the College.

The Statutes prescribe that they should be under 12 years of age at their admission. They are generally admitted about eight years of age, and leave the Choir when the voice breaks.

By the private regulations of the College, and a small legacy bequeathed for that purpose by a late fellow, each boy receives a sum of money when he quits the Choir.

There is no record kept of any chorister after he has left the school.

From TRINITY and ST. JOHN's Colleges I have not been favoured with any answer to my inquiries.

ETON COLLEGE. By the Statutes of the founder, King Henry VI. the Choristers are to be 16 in number, who are to assist in the daily celebration of Divine offices in the Choir. They must be under 12 years of age; and at their admission, must be competently skilled in reading and chanting. The same qualifications are required for all the boys on the foundation, who are to supply the place of absent Choristers in the Chapel, that the number may be always complete.

The Choristers have the right of free education under the Grammar Masters; they are to dine at the same table with the Foundation Scholars, without distinction of place; they are to reside altogether within the College, and are to be provided with all necessaries that are good and sufficient for them.

No person whatsoever may send them out of College, nor take them abroad with them; nor may they ever go out of College but with leave of the Provost, Vice Provost, or their Master; it being required of them at all proper times to be intent upon their learning.

At elections for vacant Scholarships at Eton, the Choristers of Eton, and those of King's College, Cambridge, are always to have preference.

1

I am sorry to add, that nothing can be more remote from the actual state of the Eton Choristers than these statutes of the Founder.

M. H.

Mr.

Mr. URBAN,

THE

Hampton Court,

Jan. 20.

HE Hon. Horatio Walpole, in his Letter to the Rev. Mr. Cole, dated "Strawbery Hill, Oct. 11, 1771," expresses himself as follows:

"Lord Ossory is charmed with Mr. Essex's Cross, and wishes much to consult him on the proportions. Lord Ossory has taken a small house near mine, is now, and will be here again after Newmarket. He is determined to erect it at AMPTHILL, and I have written the following lines to record the reason.' "In days of old here AMPTHILL's towers

were seen

Mr. URBAN,

PERMIT

Hunmanby, Feb. 8. ERMIT me to offer a few remarks on the subject of Collins's "Idiot Evangelists," as noticed in your last Magazine. I have two editions in my possession, dated M.DCC.XIII. both expressing the insinuation alluded to in Latin. Of these, one from the coincidence of paging appears to have been the edition refuted by Bentley. And in it the whole passage in the text stands thus: "In the Consulship of Messalla, at the command of the Emperor Anastasius, the Holy Gospels, as written Idiotis Evangelistis, are corrected and amended," p. 90. As he gives the original Latin from Victor's Chronicon in the margin, and from the general character of his work can hardly be suspected of ignorance, why does he leave the particular phrase Idiotis Evangelistis untranslated? Obviously, as Bentley's acuteness could not fail to perceive, with the disingenuous purpose of betraying less enlightened readers, from the approximation of sound,

MR. URBAN,

Feb. 18. YOU were, if I mistake not, among

Y the first to apprize the public of

the unfitness of Mr. Bellamy for undertaking a new translation of the Bible. He has verified your judg ment, by the portion of his translation which he has published, and by his Reply to the Quarterly Review. Of the defects of his translation, and of his reply, the Quarterly Review has given ample specimens.

The following extraordinary relicks shew his ignorance of the New Testament, as well as of the Old. He says, that God did not direct Abraham to offer up his son Isaac; that the pas sage has been misunderstood, and wrong translated; and that Abraham, like our Translators, mistook the meaning of God's directions; though St. Paul informs us, that " by faith Abraham offered up Isaac."

He says, that Abraham supposed his son Isaac to be the Messiah; though our Saviour said that Abraham "saw his day (that is, foresaw the future coming of the Messiah), and was glad."

He asserts, that the Jews were ignorant of the Greek language, though the Holy Spirit dictated the Gospel in Greek to them, as well as to the rest of the world.

S. T. P.