Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/156

OXFORD. 144 OXFORD. appoints a high steward, whose duties, however, are now merely nominal, as they consist in trying grave criminal cases, such aa felony, treason, &c., committed hy the members of the University. The next in rank is the vice-chancellor. This functionary is chosen from among the heads of the colleges every year, and he it is who presides over the meetings, and trans- acts the actual business of the University, except on ^ome special occasions, when the chancellor himself presides. To assist him in his duties he appoints four pro-vice-chancellors, and, according to a certain rota established in 1859, two proctors are chosen annually from the colleges and halls to maintain discipline among the undergraduates. The proctors are ex-ojftcio magis- trates, and each of them appoints two pro-proctors, whose duties are similar to their own. The University marshal acts under the directions of the proctors, and has under him certain attendants, who are termed by the students "bull-dogs." The marshal and the "bull-dogs" fre- quently walk behind the proctors as they are perambu- lating the streets, which they do at certain periods of the day, and at and after 9 o'clock in the evening, for the purpose of seeing that no irregularities are taking place. These lower functionaries are employed in case of any resistance being made to the authority of the proctors to arrest the offending parties, who are punished in various ways, according to their positions and the nature of their offence ; members of the University being confined to their colleges, fined, set to do impositions, rusticated, or expelled ; and loose and disorderly persons, not being members of the University, being locked up and imprisoned for various periods. Almost all causes, whether criminal, civil, or spiritual, in which members of the University, resident in it, or its precincts, are concerned, are tried in the chancellor's court, which is hold every Friday, during term, in the apodyterium of the convocation house. The vice-chancellor sits as presiding judge, and the two proctors are assessors. As these latter named officials, however, have so many other duties to perform, and are not usually skilled in law, the. vice-chancellor appoints some bachelor or doctor of civil law to assist him as assessor, and to act as judge in his absence. Appeals may be made from this court, first to the House of Congregation, next to the House of Convocation (from which delegates are chosen annually for the express purpose of hearing appeals), and if these three bodies disagree, finally to the Queen in Chancery. Besides these officers, there is a registrar and two " proctors ad lites," who are appointed by the vice-chancellor to practise in the court. There are various other officers, such as the public orator, the registrar, the bedells, the delegates of the press, of privileges, of accounts, and of estates, &c., detailed lists of whoso duties and names are to be found in the " Oxford University Calendar," which is printed an- nually, and contains an account of all the principal matters relating to the University and its government. The whole of the actual corporate business of the university is transacted in two assemblies, called respectively the House of Congregation and the House of Convocation. The former consists of doctors of every faculty resident in the University, the heads of the colleges and halls, professors, public lecturers, and examiners, the masters of the schools, and resident regent masters of arts. The House of Congregation, however, as thus constituted, now exercises its functions almost exclusively to the granting of degrees, for in 1854 an Act of Parliament added a new House of Con- gregation, consisting of certain resident official persons, without any restrictions as to number. A register of the members is made and published by the vice- chancellor annually on or before the 25th September. The House of Convocation consists of all the same members as the House of Congregation, with the addi- tion of non-regent masters of arts, i.e., of persons who have been admitted to regency, and still keep their names on the books, and pay the fees, but are not resident at the University. The two representatives of the university, or "burgesses," as they are properly styled, aro chosen by the vice-chancellor, the doctors, the regent and non-regent masters of arts in convocation, and non-resident members are allowed to vote by means of papers forwarded to them at their residences, which when they have been duly filled up and attested by a magistrate, are returned to the committees of the respective candidates. There is another body connected with the management of the University, styled the Heb- domadal Council. This consists of some members ex officio, and some elected by the congregation. The business of this board is to deliberate on all matters connected with the University, such as its rights, privi- leges, the maintenance of the statutes, customs, and discipline ; in a word, to discuss every measure which may aflect the University, before such measure is laid before the whole academical body in convocation. Thus the hebdomadal council has the initiative in all Univer- sity legislation, as, without its sanction, no measure whatever can be submitted to convocation. The control of the market, which lies nearly at the "W. end of the High-street, close to the Mitre hotel, with Market- street separating it from Jesus College in the rear, was granted to the Chancellor by Edward III. in 1355. The supervision of weights and measures, and the general regulations of the market are now entrusted to two " clerks of the market," who are appointed annually, one by the chancellor, the other by the vice-chancellor. They must be either principals of halls, masters of arts, or bachelors of divinity, medicine, or law. These gentlemen, however, do not generally act themselves, but appoint a deputy clerk to inspect the corn returns, the provisions sent to market, and to manage the other duties of the office. There is a market every day. The University embraces 19 colleges and 5 halls. These latter are not corporate bodies, they have no endowments, and all their property is held in trust for them by the University. In early times the number of halls was very largo, as they were originally lodging houses in which the students took up their abode, elected their own principal, and removed from one to another at their pleasure. Of such houses, or halls, there are said once to have been as many as 300 ; but the colleges, by offering greater advantages, attracted most of the students to them, and gradually occupied the sites of the halls, so that by the reign of Elizabeth only eight remained open, and three of these subsequently became colleges. By a statute made in 1855 any member of convocation above the age of 28 was entitled, under certain conditions, to open a private hall for the recep- tion of students, who are admissible to all the privileges of the University. Of such halls, which are subject to all the University statutes, there is at present only one, which is called " Charsley's Hall," from the name of its licensed master. It is situated in St. Giles's. The ancient halls, which were originally called also inns, hostels, and courts, were rude buildings covered with thatch, and were known by very extraordinary names, such as " ale," " beef," " physic," pill," " pittance," and many other similar sobriquets. Some few of the disused halls still remain, as Frewen's Hall, already mention) u, and Kettle Hall, in Broad-street. But about the middle of the llth century a great improvement commenced in all the buildings designed for the reception of students, and from that time down to the middle of the 13th century the halls afforded them better accommodation, and attracted a greater number of residents. The com- mencement, however, of the collegiate system, and of the recognition of Oxford as a regularly organised university, commenced with the establishment of UNIVERSITY COL- LEGE. There is indeed a legend which asserts that this college was founded by Alfred the Great in 872, but its authenticated foundation took place in 1249, when William of Durham died and bequeathed a sum of money for its establishment. The first purchase was made in accordance with his will in 1253, when a master and three fellows were appointed and paid out of the funds left by him for the purpose. The next college in point of antiquity is BALLIOL, founded by John Balliol, of Bernard Castle, Durham and Dervorguilla his wife