of those which Aubrey had from Milton's own mouth, Milton would hardly give him an account of the punishment, without fignifying what was the fault.

Dr. Johnson fays, "Milton was the "laft ftudent in either univerfity that fuf"fered this corporal correction." Now Mr. Warton tells us, that "the whip was "an inftrument of academical correc

66

tion, not entirely laid afide in the old

age of Dr. Bathurft; but Bathurst furvived Milton thirty years, and the time of Milton's admiffion above eighty. If Milton therefore was the laft fufferer by this illiberal punishment in Cambridge, that univerfity got the start of

*Life of Bathurst, p. 202.

Oxford

Oxford in civilisation by at least fifty or fixty years; which is more honour, we believe, than Dr. Johnson defired Mr. Warton fhould confer upon it.

Mr. Warton fays, "This" (meaning the whipping-bout] "explains more "fully a paffage in one of Milton's << elegies:

"Nec

* "In the public ftatutes of Oxford, the in"junction of inflicting corporal punishment on "boys under fixteen remains unrepealed, and "in force at this day; but the execution of this "law, fo repugnant to every liberal and decent

4.6.

idea, has been long abolished. Yet this code "of statutes was compiled no longer ago than the year 1635. It was, however, no uncommon practice at a college in Oxford, where the "foundation-fcholars are elected very young, "actually to punish with the rod as far down as. "the beginning of the prefent century.”

Gent. Mag. 1779, P. 493•

"Nec duri libet ufque minas perferre

66

❝ magiftri,

"Cæteraque ingenio non fubeunda

❝meo."

Where, in Mr. Warton's ideas, cætera fignifies flogging. But Dr. Johnson having noted that it fignifies fomething else befides threats, interprets it into fomething more, i. e. more fevere, namely, punishment. But he feems to be in doubt whether that punishment was whipping or banishment; and with reason, for cætera may fignify fomething more, i.e. fomething over and besides threats, and yet fomething else befides either whipping or ruftication. The most natural interpretation of the fecond line feems to be, that thofe college-exercises D

known

known by the name of impofitions (oftentimes prescribed as punishments) did not fuit Milton's genius, being indeed even within our memory calculated rather for the drudgery of an induftrious plodder than fuited to the genius of a youth of parts and fpirit. Wonderful must be that genius which has a tafte for being flogged or banished!

"It feems plain," fays the new narrătive, from his own verfes to Diodati, "that he had incurred rufication, a ten"porary difmiffion into the country, "perhaps the lofs of a term."

with

Milton was admitted of Chrift's College, February 12, 1624 5. He took his bachelor's degree in 1628, so that

without a perhaps he loft no term.

In

every college there is or fhould be a regifter, in which are entered all orders for expulfion and ruftication of delinquents. This is neceffary for the juftification of the mafter and fellows against whom appeals and complaints are often lodged by the fufferers, either before the vifitor or in Weftminster-Hall. We have been informed, from the best authority, that there is an entry in the register of this very college, importing, that a candidate for a fellowship, being rejected by the fociety, was, upon calling in the visitor +, established in his right, not without fome fevere expreffions inferted

* The late Dr. Hutton, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bifhop Sherlock, then Vice-chancellor.