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AND PUBLISHED BY WHITTAKER AND CO. LONDON; AND

BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH.

MDCCCXXXI.

174.

TO THE

CHANCELLOR,

MASTERS, AND SCHOLARS

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD,

THIS POEM

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY

DEDICATED

BY THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

Intellectual greatness-the homage due to any establishment tending to promote it-OXFORD-feelings and associations awakened by its first appearance-its mental quiet-its literary Past-studies-ancient and modern. learning-classical bigots-system of study and examination-the necessity of one general standard-reason why men of genius have often contemned it—mind independent of circumstance-First origin of the University-its progress under Alfred, till the time of William of Normandy-present appearance-view from the Radcliffe— New College Chapel and service-Royal visit in 1814.Biographical associations-Illustrations of the same in Addison, Steele, Collins, Johnson, Sir Philip Sydney, Ben Jonson, and Locke-Origin of Locke's famous Essayintellectual society-a contrast-Canning-Davenant

Wesley-Hervey-Denham-Chatham-Thomas Warton -Lisle Bowles-Country clergymen—their seclusion how fondly anticipated-a scene suggesting such anticipation— Blenheim-Balliol-Ridley and Latimer-their martyrdom-Evelyn-Southey-the wisdom of literary retirement, contrasted with the rivalries of the literary world— female authorship-a characteristic sketch-return to biographical associations, which conclude with Heber-his early life-collegiate course-pastoral character, and death in India.