for others more suitable to the inpressive occasion. Instead of the First Lesson appointed in the Calendar, was read a portion of 1 Kings viii. 34-61. and instead of the Second Lesson, Mat. xviii. 1-6. The Bishop of London was in the vestry when these portions were proposed, and they were read by the Rev. Robert Hodgson, the Rector. I conceive, therefore, that the practice pleaded for has both ecclesiastical authority and precedent.

the very term altar is emphatic since they hold (as their Bishop Challoner asserts, in his popular tract called "The Grounds of the Catholic Doctrine, &c.') that." in the Mass, Christ himself is really present, and by virtue of the consecration, is there exhibited and presented to the eternal Father, under the sacramental veils which, by their separate consecration, represent his death. Now what," the Bishop ar gues, can more move Gol to mercy, than the oblation of his only Son, there really present, and, under this figure of death, representing to his Father that death which he suf

fered for us?"-St. Paul, indeed, employs the word altar in reference to the Christian Sacrament: "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle," Heb. xiii. 10.; but if we interpret this in the literal sense, as the Catholics do the Hoc est corpus meum, we are bound to eat, not what is placed on the altar, but part of the altar itself.

IN RECTO DECUS.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer.

THE letter, signed "A LAYMAN," in your Number for May, p. 288, " On the lawfulness of changing the Lessons of the Church," appears to me perfectly conclusive in favour of the practice. I am, however, no friend to a frequent and unnecessary adoption of the practice; but conceiving it, as I do, to be allowable and even recommended, I am of opinion, that the occasional use of it tends to edification.

On the grand Anniversary of the Charity Schools, at the Metropolitan Church of St. Paul's, London, it has been customary to substitute for the Second Lesson, a few verses from Mark x. 13-16. Likewise at the Confirmation at the Parish Church of St. George's, Hanover Square, by the Right Rev. the Bishop of London, on the 21st of May last, the first and second Lessons were changed

I am, &c.

B. W.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. THE instances your correspondents, RUSTICUS, PHILO-PATRIA, and URBANus, have brought forward of the extravagancies of some young men at the university, and the melancholy consequences therefrom resulting,are such as may well prompt endeavours to devise some plans for the prevention of like occurrences. Although no positive blame is imputed by them to the heads and tutors of colleges, yet I think it is in some measure implied from their statements and proposals. I am by no means disposed to deny, that there is room for improvement in our university discipline, yet I am persuaded that there are many evils beyond the power of redress. And in justice to many conscientious tutors and university officers, I trust you will not refuse admission to the following remarks, designed, if not as their defence, yet to lay open some sources of the evils complained of, which have not yet been fully considered in your Observer.

Perhaps there are no persons in the university from whom the excesses of the under-graduates are more carefully concealed, than from the tutors. There will always be considerable difficulties in the way of their obtaining correct and full information respecting the conduct of their pupils; so that with the utmost attention they must be ignorant of many circumstances they

would wish to be informed of. This remark is applicable, not only to the vices, but to the debts of the young men. 'The tradesmen are as anxious as the under-graduates themselves, to conceal from the tutors the debts contracted; nor do I see how any means could be devised to obtain accurate information on this point.

The usual mode with tradesmen is, to allow the young men to run in debt, and never to mention payment, till the very eve of commencing A. B. and then to present a bill filled with exorbitant charges. To object to any of the items is in vain: a threat is made, that the bill will be carried in to the tutor, and the degree stopt, unless payment be made, or a promissory note given for the full amount, with legal interest. The latter al ternative is adopted-the tutor is kept in ignorance-the degree is obtained--and the young man, on his quitting college, is for years embarrassed in difficulties, which are often still further increased by concealing them from his father.

With respect to the adoption of any decree of the University, similar to that of Oxford in 1701; this, I conceive, would be ineffective in its operation. It is well known that most men graduate at about the age of twenty-one; consequently, the greater part of their debts are incurred whilst they are minors in law, and the law would protect them from the payment of many debts with which they are charged: but, as their sense of honour will not permit them to avail themselves of this expedient, so, I conceive, neither would they hold themselves bound by any university-order similar to that in 1701.

When I cast my eye on the " contents," on the cover of the Observer, and saw an article-" On the growing Expensiveness of a College Education," I thought this must have been the production of some one who knew but little of the subject. On reading the article, however, I found that it referred not to the expenses of college, but to the exCHRIST. OBSERV. No. 151.

travagance of some collegians.-I think, Mr. Editor, you will do well to correct a mistake which is likely to arise from this inaccuracy of expression, lest some worthy young man, alarmed at "the growing Expensiveness of a College Education," should abandon all hopes of supporting himself at the University, and thus the University itself suffer the loss of some who might otherwise be hereafter her ornaments. On this head, allow me to observe, that the necessary expenses of a college education are very small. The actual annual amount of the college bills of a prudent young man will be found seldom to exceed 157. per term for the three resident terms, and 57. for the nonresident term, (i. e. about 50l. per annum), and this without the advantage of scholarships and exhibitions. Indeed, there are some colleges (I speak of Cambridge) where a diligent and parsimonious person may (on account of his obtaining scholarships, &c.) actually have to rcceive instead of to pay money. I speak from a perfect knowledge of these things, and do not include the case where a person gains one of the university scholarships. And here allow me to remark, that parents themselves are often laying a foundation for future extravagancies, when they enter their sons in that condition which is incompatible with their own incomes. If a parent will enter his son a FellowCommoner when he ought to be a Pensioner, or a Pensioner when he ought to be a Sizar, he introduces him to company above his rank, and paves the way for future mischief. The parent, willing to gratify his son's pride, attempts to persuade himself of the propriety of this step, by imposing on himself with the ideas of the connexions his son will form, and which will benefit him through life. The parent should know, that the most effectual way (whether in a prudent or religious view) for a youth to secure real advantages, is by walking in

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his own proper station, and by a strict attention to the studies of the University. After long experience, I have seldom known ought but evil result from a violation of this rule. In other respects, also, parents have to reproach themselves for their sons' extravagance and ill conduct. As I bave not the least knowledge of the persons alluded to in your former Numbers, I shall not be supposed to allude to them in this particular. I will bring you an instance or two, in support of my assertion, I had known Mr. C. from a child. At the time he was to be sent to college, his parents consulted me, and followed my advice in sending him to college; and when he came to reside, they earnestly begged me to have an eye over him. The youth soon began to go astray-I warned him-he persevered in neglecting his studies and increasing his debts. I again admonished him, reminded him of the grief he would bring on his father and mother, and told him, that unless he reformed, my duty would compel me to lay open to them his conduct. The next summer I called on his parents, and was proceeding to break the business to them, when I was anticipated by their informing me their son had told them how unkindly I had behaved to him, and what unjust suspicions I had entertained of him. About a year after this, the young man was rusticated. He returned, however, to college, and managed to get his A. B. degree: he was afterwards ordained, and went to reside on a living of about 100l. per annum. The last I heard of him was, that he was in gaol.

Mr. P. was esteemed an evangelical clergyman, and was anxious to enter his son at a college where he might meet with pious undergraduates such a college was found, and the youth admitted. At first he was steady, and maintained the appearance of piety. In the second he became gay, year and irregrew gular; the tutor remonstrated-his irregularities increased-and when

a severe censure was passed on him by the tutor, the father interceded, and vindicated the son. The young man, thus protected, continued his extravagancies, and when he left college, his bills (not college, but tradesmen's bills) amounted to nearly 1000l. The father was astonished, and blamed the tutor for those evils he had himself in a great measure occasioned!

These instances (and I wish they were unusual) are sufficient to shew, that there exists one cause of what is termed "the growing Expensiveness of a College Education," on which your correspondents have not laid sufficient stress. Before I close these remarks, I must notice another cause of the evils complained of, and which is not fully insisted on by your former correspondents; and this is, that the morals of many young men have been injured, and their dispositions for extravagance contracted, before they come to the University. It is well known to all long residents, that many, I may say most, of those who come from large schools, such as Eton, Westminster, Harrow, &c. are not taught the first. rudiments nor practice of extravagance at the University.

If these remarks do not tend to the complete exculpation of the Tutors of Colleges, and University Officers, they may, perhaps, be of some service to those parents who either have sons at college at present, or are preparing them for the University.

I am, &c.

AN OLD FELLOW.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. I was one of the multitude who, on the 16th of June last, filled up St. Paul's at the exhibition of those tender objects of compassion, the children of the parish schools. With all the other spectators, I was at first engrossed by the fear of suffocation, or dislocation, from the

unfeeling endeavours of great numbers to push on, regardless of the injuries they were inflicting, and which were chiefly sustained by that class, supposed (erroneously) to be under the peculiar protection of gentlemen; I mean, the ladies. However, we at last entered the cathedral; and, to my surprize, I found that all the danger we had encountered was without any motive of advantage. There was full space for all-and we were even earlier than was needful; the children had not arrived.

was

My next feeling was joy at finding my daughters and myself seated safely in the very place we had so hazardously sought to reach, our clothes alone having suffered.As the children came in, and took their places. my attention was strongly excited; and, for a time, devotional feelings raised. The spectacle, when they were all seated, most interesting. The mind was gratified by the picture of seven thousand helpless creatures, rescued from want and vice, now presented before the Almighty, to join with us in prayer and praise; however, it proved to be too much of a mere spectacle. I found that these poor children were placed there with too little attention to their comfort. Many had travelled, under a hot sun, five miles; some four; some three. They were now weary, hungry, exhausted. A few fainted, and were carried out. Others were ill-tempered and quarrelsome. But at length they had to join in the responses; and they strained their little throats to sing, as it is called, but, more properly, to bawl, some hymns very suitable to the occasion. Perhaps they might hear the prayers: perhaps they could distinguish the sermon: perhaps it was a good discourse I cannot tell; for, along with thousands of spectators, I could not even hear the sound of the preacher's voice. Some, therefore, amused themselves with chatting apon common subjects; and all, I

believe, refreshed themselves with such provisions as they contrived to bring with them. The object was to see as much as we could of the Emperor. Devotion was quite out of the question now; and we only wished to have a sermon concluded from which (however excellent) we could not possibly derive any benefit. It was concluded, and all again was. bustle and danger. I stayed until the multitude had, by departing, given me an opportunity to escape, with my family, unhurt. But the poor children who, unrefreshed, were to tread back their weary steps, what became of them I know not; but we all know that, soon after we left the cathedral, there fell a most violent rain, which lasted nearly an hour; and thus closed the spectacle.

Now, sir, what I wish to infer is, that the price paid by those infants, in order to give us this annual show is far too dear, whatever gratification we may derive from the part we contribute to their support. If our pleasure in the show arises from pride, we may wave that pleasure for the sake of humanity: if from religious feelings, we shall rejoice to give up the imposing spectacle of so immense a mass, and divide the exhibition, by forming congregations of three or four parishes in one central and contiguous church, where, instead of mere spectators, all the people present may be auditors, and join with heart and voice to give thanks to Him who liveth for ever,

P. C. F.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer.

Ross, 14th of 6th month (June), 1814. On the 8th of the present month, a large and respectable meeting was held at the county hall in Gloucester, appointed to commemorate the second anniversary of an Auxiliary Bible Society, established in 1812, for that county.