son, after only a few weeks' preparation. Both obtained a First Class, and Francis Wilkinson's Greek received exceptional commendation from the examiners. A few years later a further testimony to the efficiency of the Classical teaching at Ushaw was given by the celebrated classical scholar, F. A. Paley, in a letter to S. N. Stokes, in 1849.

In speaking of his visit to Ushaw, he says: "I .. took part in the public examinations, and found an amount of both Latin and Greek scholarship which I little expected to meet with. Altogether the College is on a noble scale and is conducted on the most liberal and gentlemanly principles; not the least trace of the commercial second-rate, half-plebeian spirit, but fully equal to either Cambridge or Oxford in style and management. The chapel is much superior to any at either University, King's Chapel alone excepted. In fact it is the most perfect thing conceivable, nor are the services better conducted anywhere in England." 10

After the first introduction to the London Examinations mentioned above, students were presented for them intermittently, and it was not until 1863 that the preparation for the London University Examinations was made part of the regular course. Dr. Tate became President in that year, and being an accomplished scholar himself, he naturally gave a great impetus to the studies. The following details give some idea of the results of this connection with the London University during the 34 years Ushaw was regularly presenting students for its examinations:

In the Intermediate Examination in Arts, the Exhibition in Latin of £40 per annum for two years has been gained four times. Of the 8 who obtained Honours at the B. A. Examination, 6 gained them in Classics and 2 in Animal Physiology.

10 Ushaw Magazine, XVI, 27.

Of the six who obtained Honours in Classics, three held the first place and three the second. Of the former, one was awarded the University Scholarship of £50 per annum for three years, and another, though deserving the scholarship, was disqualified by being three days too old. Of those who held the second place, two obtained marks qualifying for the Scholarship.

In addition to the above, seven students have taken the degree of M. A., two in Mental and Moral Science, and five in Classics. Three of the latter secured the first place, two of them winning the Gold Medal, which has been awarded in Classics only seventeen times since the foundation of the University.

In 1896 there was a decided movement amongst the Catholic Colleges against the London University examinations. The general feeling was well expressed by Fr. Purbrick, S. J. at the first Annual meeting of Catholic Colleges, held at Archbishop's House, Westminster, in May, 1896. Speaking at the end of a discussion, in which strong things had been said against the London University, he said that "he thought that it would be a pity to part with the idea that our predecessors had made a mistake. In their time they were doing the very thing we are wanting to promote; escape from isolation. At this time nothing better was open to them. But in the beginning the London Matriculation Examination was better suited to Catholic Colleges. Men at the head of the University then represented the older scholarship. In recent times they had changed and become more vexatious. There were, however, other very good systems of examinations, e. g., the Oxford and Cambridge Higher Certificates, which carry greater weight than the London University Examination." 11 After this year the London Examinations, which had gradually obliged candidates to spend an increasing amount of time on 'uncongenial subjects,' were no longer used to furnish an outside standard of efficiency for the Catholic Colleges. Henceforth the Higher Certificate Examination became for Catholic Colleges, what it

11"Report of First Annual Conference of Catholic Colleges,” p. 18.

had been for many years previously, amongst the Public Schools of England, a common Examination, which supplied a standard of comparison at the close of the Humanities. It is worthy of note that, since 1896 the London University has completely remodelled its examinations, so as to make it possible to omit 'uncongenial subjects' and to concentrate upon a more thoroughly classical course. Most of the Catholic Colleges, a little later, began to send students to Oxford or Cambridge, availing themselves of the privilege newly granted by the Holy See. About the same time Ushaw began to utilise Durham University, which is almost at her doors. As residence at Ushaw counts as residence at the University, since her affiliation with it the students who frequent the University, live at the College and go into Durham for the lectures which occupy the mornings only; they are enabled in this way to combine the advantage of University teaching with the guarding influence of College life.

The connection with Durham University began in 1900 and since then four students have taken the M. A. degree, and of those who have passed the B. A. Honours Examination, three have obtained a First Class at the final Examination. Science, Philosophy, Theology-both Dogmatic and Moral-are in the hands of Professors, who have been specially trained at foreign universities. The Doctor of Science took his degree at Louvain University, which is also responsible for the special training of the Professor of Moral Theology. The Professors of Philosophy and of Dogma took their doctors' degrees in Rome, the Professor of Scripture obtained his in Germany-after studying at Bonn and at Freiburg in Breisgau. In all these cases students, who had already gone through their course at Ushaw, were selected for a special training; long experience has taught that, as a general rule with one or two striking exceptions, the best work is to be got from a professor who understands the spirit of the College in which he is going to teach, and is in thorough sympathy with it.

During the 114 years of her existence in the North of England, Ushaw has had under her charge over 4000 students; and of these more than 900 became priests. Among them are

three Cardinals: Card. Wiseman, Card. de la Puente, Archbishop of Burgos, and Card. Merry del Val, the present Secretary of State to Pius X; four Archbishops-including the present Archbishop of Westminster, who was in part educated at Ushaw-and 26 bishops, six of whom are at present members of the Catholic Hierarchy in this country and one a Bishop Auxiliary. The President of Ushaw, who is also Bishop of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, Right Rev. Thomas William Wilkinson, had no part of his education at Ushaw. On his conversion to the Catholic Church in 1846, he followed the example of so many of the converts and went to Oscott under Bishop Wiseman, who was then President. He was ordained at Ushaw in 1848. After establishing a number of missions and filling most positions of importance in the Diocese, he was consecrated in 1888 and became Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle in the following year, and President of Ushaw in 1890, where his work has been productive of great prosperity to the College.

USHAW, ENGLAND.

JOSEPH CORBISHLY.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. "Ushaw College, a Centenary Memorial " (Crook Hall Centenary, 1794-1894).

2. "Records and Recollections of Ushaw," by an Old Alumnus.

3. "Bibliographical Dictionary of English Catholics," by Joseph Gillow, also an Old Alumnus.

4. Ushaw Magazine, Articles in vols. IV, V, VI, XIII, and XVI.

5. Catholic Magazine, vols. I and II. On Seizure of Douai College.

6. Dublin Review, vol. XLV, 1858, "Ushaw College," by Henry Wilberforce.

7. Tierney's "Memoir of Lingard," see Lingard's "History," vol. 1, 6th edit. Introd.

8. “Life and Times of Card. Wiseman," by Wilfred Ward.

9. Haydock Papers, by Joseph Gillow.

10. "Chapels at Ushaw," by Canon Gillow.

11. "Hidden Gem," Introduction.

12. Catholic Miscellany, vol. III. Account of Ushaw College.

The following are in MSS.

13. "Minutes of Correspondence (1788-1803)," by Rev. Thos. Eyre, Pres. of Crook and Ushaw.

14. "Crook Hall and Occupation of Ushaw," by Rev. J. Gillow, D. D., V. P.

15. "Fall of Douai College," by Rev. John Penswick.

DR. RUSSELL OF MAYNOOTH.

The best remembered and most distinguished of all the Maynooth Presidents was Dr. C. W. Russell. Other eminent men occupied the Presidency of the great Irish College before him and after him, from the first President, Dr. Hussey, distinguished alike in the domain of diplomacy and sacred science, down to his immediate predecessor, Dr. Renehan, and his successor, the present Archbishop of Dublin; but none fills so large a space in its annals, none was so exclusively and completely identified with it, none so impressed his personality, his mind, and his spirit upon it, none contributed so much to its development, its growth and its influence as Dr. Russell. He gave it of his best; he gave his whole life to it. He might, like other Presidents, have taken a prominent place in the ranks of the Church's Hierarchy, but he elected, and wisely elected, to remain where he was and what he was; motived thereto partly by that self-abnegation which was one of his chief characteristics, and partly by the deep and unalterable conviction that his special mission was the formation of priests, one of the sublimest missions with which a human being could be charged, as the able biographer of one of the most perfect types of the Christian priesthood calls it; one of the very noblest works which can possibly occupy the intellect or engage the affections, as Dr. Ward designates it in a letter to Cardinal Wiseman. As a bishop, his solicitude and sphere of action would have been confined, more or less, to the particular diocese assigned to him; but, as President of Maynooth, his influence was extended to the whole Irish Church. All the priests trained under him carried his spirit and teaching with them into every parish in Ireland. What the Episcopacy lost, Ireland gained.

1

He was one of the makers of Maynooth. History vaunts

'Life of Jean Jacques Olier, Founder of the Seminary of St. Sulpice, by Edward Healy Thompson, M. A., p. 413.