lged myself, is now gone by, and I must do or
die.' His really hard work did not begin until the summer of 1830, when
he returned to Cuddesdon to read mathematics with Saunders, a man who
had the reputation of being singularly able and stimulating to his
pupils, and with whom he had done some rudiments before going into
residence at Christ Church. In his description of this gentleman to his
father, we may hear for the first time the redundant roll that was for
many long years to be so familiar and so famous. Saunders' disposition,
it appears, 'is one certainly of extreme benevolence, and of a
benevolence which is by no means less strong and full when purely
gratuitous and spontaneous, than when he seems to be under the tie of
some definite and positive obligation.' Dr. Gaisford would perhaps have
put it that the tutor was no kinder where his kindness was paid for,
than where it was not.

CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION

The catholic question, that was helping many another and older thing to
divide England from Ireland, after having for a whole generation played
havoc with the fortunes of party and the careers of statesmen, was now
drawing swiftly to its close. The Christ Church student had a glimpse of
one of the opening scenes of the last act. He writes to his brother
(Feb. 6th, 1829):--

I saw yesterday a most interesting scene in the Convocation house.
The occasion was the debate on the anti-catholic petition, which it
has long been the practice of the university to send up year by
year. This time it was worded in the most gentle and moderate terms
possible. All the ordinary business there, is transacted in Latin;
I mean such things as putting the question, speaking, etc., and
this rule, I assure you, stops many a mouth, and I dare say saves
the Roman catholics many a hard word. There were rather above two
hundred doctors and masters of arts present. Three speeches were
made, two against and one in favour of sending up the petition.
Instead of aye and no they had _placet_ and _non-placet_, and in
place of a member dividing the House, the question was, "_Petitne
aliquis scrutinium?_" which was answered by "_Peto!_" "_Peto!_"
from many quarters. However, when the scrutiny took place, it was
found that the petition was carried by 156 to 48.... After the
division, however, came the most interesting part of the whole. A
le