Cambridge University has at length decided that under no circumstances shall women be granted Academical degrees. In such a manner has this ancient mother of learning distinguished herself in the year of the Qieen's Jubilee, and within thirty-two days of its celebration. What will be thought in the time to come when men look back and calmly review the events of our age? Will they not feel that Cambriige has missed a noble opportunity, by refusing to do simple justice to the lady students who have shared with brilliant results in her instruction The 21st of June will be long remembered as 8 momentous day in the history of this University; she could have put the crowning touch to scholastic privileges, and thereby covered herself with glory, but has been too blind to see it. We have always been taught to regard her as a liberal Institution, where generous aspirations and: the love of freedom prevailed. But we find her actuated by the meanest and narrowest of prejudices, and destitute of ordinary foresight. She gathered together all her strength. From far and near her members were summoned. Special trains ran to accommodate them. Two thousand two hundred and seventy-five votes were recorded, and of these 1,713 were against the proposal to admit women to degrees! But do.these gentlemen of the majority-suppose the matter will rest here? We trust not, Women.are-credited with pertinacity; if so, this movement is assuredly one in which they should exercise so useful a quality.
The original purpose in instituting the Colleges appears to have been lost sight of, They were erected for the advancement of learning, and in most cases for " poor scholars" only. Usually no sex was mentioned in the Deeds of Endowment or in the Royal Charters, because in early times learning was not considered necessary or meet for women. For a woman of the 15th century to be able to read and write was & proof of uncommon ability. For instance, Jane Shore, the beautiful mistress of Edward the Fourth, was the wife of a wealthy city goldsmith, and yet, because she could read and write, she was noted as a woman of remarkable accomplishments, Here and there women of rank occasionally displayed a love of letters, but such generally found their way eventually to a convent where they could study at leisure. If, however, scholastic knowledge had been considered then, as it is now a roper acquisition for our sex, can we doubt whether the charitable founders of the old Colleges would not have included women students also in their benefactions For, on looking into this matter, we observe that two of the Colleges of Cambridge University, St. John's and Christ's, were wholly founded by one woman, and she a literary prodigy for her age.' The ret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, mother of Henry the Seventh, sister-in-law to Henry the Sixth, and allied by birth or marriage to no less than thirty kings and queens within the fourth degree either of blood or affinity," was in all respects a ver; notable woman, Educated as a boy, with boys, she proved in those early days that the course of instruction suitable for the male sex was also good for the other, Not content with the three R's, which were then deemed a sufficient education for those of highest rank, she became "a proficent in French," and was tolerably well skilled in Latin." She patronised men of learning and invention, assisted Caxton, and took Wynken de Worde, his assistant, into her employment, and made him the printer and publisher of her literary works. Nor did all this diminish her domestic qualifications. She excelled in needlework and embroidery, was a thoughtful housewife and prudent woman of busi-neas, A carpet with the arms and alliances of the family, wrought by her, is still in the possession of her descendants. She was skilful in medicine and surgery, and dressed with her own hands daily the wounds of the poor, of whom twelve patients were always kept in her house and attended by herself. jis royal lady, ancestress of our Queen, between both of whom eleven generations only intervene, was a loyal wife and fond mother, a pattern for all aristocratic ladies who might come after. A.copy of her portrait, which looks down on the hall of St. John's College, lies before us. With what conscience could the members vote against the admission of women to a share in the advantages of their Alma Mater, while their great and pious bene-actress ever kneels before them with hands uplifted in prayer We do not object to the non-admission of women provided it be done with reason, or even a show of reason. The members of Cambridge University havea clear right to their convictions on this matter. "But they' have no right to' act" upon' vulgh
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.