by no means sided with that party in all their low church doctrines,*) and a mutual respect which each of these two great men bore for the other's talents and attainments, kept them from that personal collision, which so frequently took place between some individuals and the great Aristarchus, to the disgrace of learning and scandal of the University. As might have been expected, when personalities did occur, they arose on the part of Bentley; and the nickname of Cardinal Alberoni, which he fixed on his antagonist, from a fancied resemblance of his active exertions and extensive influence to the intriguing politics of the Spanish minister, adhered to Sherlock long after the circumstances which gave birth to it had been forgotten. It becomes necessary here to advert briefly to the state of parties at Cambridge, as an introduction to one of the most splendid bequests that regal bounty ever made to a seat of learning. Political animosity was perhaps now at its height; and the enmity between Whigs and Tories was scarcely any where more violent: great discretion, therefore, was necessary for a person holding so high and responsible an office as that of vice-chancellor, to escape obloquy, whilst he carried himself firmly, but temperately, through the waves of contending factions. In his endeavors to this effect, Sherlock seems to have been eminently successful; but it must be added that his difficulties were considerably lessened by the different charac of his adversaries in the University, married Sherlock's sister; and the closest intimacy always subsisted between these two brothersin-law. *It is to this cause that Dean Monk, with great probability of truth, assigns Bentley's forbearance to take up the cudgels in the Bangorian Controversy. ter of Tory politics in Cambridge, from that which they assumed in the sister university. At Oxford they were mixed up with the strong leaven of Jacobite principles; whence arose disturbances which sometimes required military aid to quell them. But at Cambridge the Tories, though numerically preponderant, were for the most part distinguished by a firm adherence to the Hanoverian succession. Of this number was our vicechancellor but when, on the night of the Pretender's birth-day this year (1715), certain disturbances arose from some young men, which Sherlock and his coadjutors prudently passed over as the freaks of youth or inebriety, and thereby incurred the charge of conniving at such excesses, and of encouraging sentiments hostile to the reigning family, a loyal and energetic address to his Majesty was carried through the Senate, which avowed, in the strongest terms, a determination of upholding the Hanoverian succession on the principles of the Church of England. On this occasion, when a troop of horse,' according to the witty epigram of the day, was sent to curb the Tory spirit of Oxford, a magnificent donation of books, purchased by the King from the executors of the deceased Bishop Moore for 60007., rewarded the Whig principles of Cambridge. Notice of this valuable present, which had been suggested and advised by Lord Townshend, one of the schoolfellows and early friends of Sherlock, was communicated to him as vice-chancellor, for the information of the University, in a letter from his Lordship, dated September 20th, 1715.* The gratitude of that learned body for this signal generosity, was expressed by an address to the King, and another to the minister; 'in both * University Register. of which,' says the Dean of Peterborough, we find specimens of that glowing eloquence frequently conspicuous in the writings of Dr. Sherlock.' The insertion of these documents, which, through the kindness of my valued friend the present registrary,† I have procured from the grace-book of the University, must prove acceptable to the reader, while they fully justify that opinion which the learned Dean has advanced concerning the intellectual powers of their author: with respect to their orthography, which has been carefully observed, that must, I think, be referred, at least in one instance, which is marked by italics, to the worthy registrarý of the day, rather than to our vice-chancellor. The address to King George was carried up by Dr. Sherlock in person, attended by many heads of houses and other members of the Senate, who were introduced to His Majesty by Lord Townshend, in the absence of the Duke of Newcastle, then Chancellor of the University. To the King's Most Excellent Majesty,-The humble address of thanks from the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge. Most Gracious Sovereign, We beg leave to approach your Majesty with our most humble thanks for the gracious mark of royal favor which your Majesty has bestowed on your ancient University of Cambridge. There never was an occasion when we were either more desirous to express our sentiments of gratitude, or less able to do it to our own satisfaction. The genius of learning, which has for many ages so happily presided in this place, cannot furnish us with language to utter what we feel. There is nothing to which even the wishes of your * Life of Bentley, p. 296. + W. Hustler, Esq., Fellow of Jesus College. University extend, that is not fully contained in the happiness she now enjoys of calling your Majesty her King and her Patron: one is the common blessing of every Britain, the other the peculiar privilege of the sons of learning. The noble collection of books and manuscripts gathered in many years by the great industry and accurate judgment of the late Bishop of Ely, though in itself exceeding valuable, is upon no account so welcome to your University, as it is a testimony of your royal favour: the memory of which will be constantly preserved by this ample benefaction, worthy to bear the title of the donor, and to be for ever styled the royal library. Liberty and learning are so united in their fortunes, that your Majesty's known character of being the great protectour of the liberty of Europe, led us to expect what our experience has now confirmed, that you would soon appear the patron and encourager of learning. Such royal qualitys must necessarily produce the proper returns of duty and affection. Your University will endeavour, as she is bound to do by the strongest ties of interest and gratitude, to promote the happiness of your government. And tis with the greatest pleasure she observes, that some there are whose youth was formed under her care, of whose abilitys and fidelity your Majesty has had the fullest experience. Your royal progenitors, the kings and queens of England, moved by their regard to virtue and learning, have conferred many large privileges and donations on this place; those who shine with the greatest lustre in story, appear the foremost in the list of our patrons and benefactours; and as your Majesty's name will be an ornament to the annals of Britain, so shall it stand through ages to come a perpetual honour to the records of this University. It shall be our incessant prayer to God for your Majesty, that he would long preserve you to reign over us in peace and tranquillity, that he would extend your empire over the hearts of your subjects, a dominion for which he then designed you, when he adorned you with so much goodness and clemency. To which his Majesty was pleased to make the following most gracious answer :— It is great satisfaction to me that this first mark of my favour has been so welcome and agreeable to you. The dutiful and grateful manner in which you have expressed your thanks upon this occasion, will oblige me to take all opportunities of giving farther proofs of my affection to my University of Cambridge, being very sensible how much the encouragement of learning will always tend to the security and honour of our Constitution both in Church and State. To the Right Honorable the Ld Viscount Townshend, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretarys of State. May it please yr Lordship, We have paid our duty to the King in an address of thanks for the mark of Royal Favour wch he has bestowed on this University, by giving us the Library of the late Bp. of Ely. But we cannot think ourselves discharged of the obligations we are under upon this account, till we have made our acknowledgemts to yr Ldship for the signal favour we have received from you. Had not y Ldship remembered the place of yr education with a kindness almost peculiar to yrself, we had wanted that great encouragem1 of Learning wh now, by yr Ldship's powerfull interposition on our behalf, we enjoy from the King's bounty. We are sensible that yr Ldship acted in this matter wth the noble view of promoting the King's honour and the publick good; and tis a blessing both to Prince and country, when those, who enjoy the greatest share in their Prince's favour, have so much virtue and honour as to use it to such excellent Purposes. And this is so far from lessening our obligation to yr Ldship, that it receives a great addition from this consideration, that y' Ldship thought us not unworthy to be distinguish'd by the King's favour in order to such ends. Yr Ldship is so nearly related to us, as once a member, now an honored Patron of this University, that we shall always esteem yr Ldship's Prosperity as our own, and reckon ourselves the safer and securer the more yr Ldship advances in Honour and Power. Yr Ldship's Most obedient humble Servts, The Vice-chancell and the Senate of the Given in full Senate, 7br 24th, 1715. |