Addressed: The Master of St John's College, Cambridge. Franked, Alvanley. Before the change could be effected, George the Third had died, and the business had to be begun over again with King George the Fourth. But it did not take long, and the following Royal Letter was sent to the College. It will be seen that it gives the fullest relief asked for. It has not, I believe, been printed before. George the Fourth by the Grace of God of the united Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting, Whereas the Master Fellows and Scholars of the College of Saint John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge have by their Petition humbly represented unto us that the College of Saint John the Evangelist was founded by our illustrious Ancestor the Lady Margaret Tudor Countess of Richmond and Derby who received authority from King Henry the Eighth to make laws for the regulation and government of the new College, That a code of Statutes was accordingly drawn up by the Lord Bishop of Rochester one of the Lady Margaret's Executors and put in force, till the Reformation rendered a revision of them necessary That King Henry the Eighth granted a new body of Statutes which however from various causes were found in the reign of Queen Elizabeth so imperfect as to call for very considerable corrections and additions, That Queen Elizabeth in the eighteenth year of her reign issued a Commission to the Lord Chancellor Burleigh and others to form a more complete code and accordingly that body of statutes was drawn up by which, with the addition of one Ordinance granted by King Charles the First under the Sign Manual, the College has ever since been governed That both King Henry the Eighth and Queen Elizabeth explicitly reserve to themselves and their Successors the power of altering or abrogating any of the Statutes thus giving or of granting new Statutes should circumstances render it necessary The Petitioners have further most humbly represented unto us that by the Statute De Sociorum Qualitatibus the College is restrained from electing more than two Fellows from any one County in England or more than one from any Diocese in Wales, a restriction which however adapted to the circumstances of the College and the state of Literature in the Kingdom when the Statutes were made is now found to be greatly prejudicial to the cause which the illustrious Foundress had chiefly at heart the advancement of piety and learning, that in consequence of this restriction the Petitioners in their elections of Fellows are frequently obliged to pass over the best Scholars and most deserving young men and to confer the honours and emoluments to which such candidates might otherwise with justice aspire on those whose merits are less prominent The Petitioners therefore humbly prayed that we would be graciously pleased to direct by our Royal Letters that in all future elections into the Lady Foundress's Fellowships the Candidates most distinguished in morals and learning and among those who are equally distinguished the most indigent may be preferred in whatever County of England or Diocese of Wales they may happen to have been born The Petitioners also further prayed that we would be pleased to allow such Fellows on Lady Margaret's foundation as may be entitled to Fellowships founded by private Benefactors to be elected into them and to retain their seniority in the Society notwithstanding such election or that we would make such other regulations touching the premises as in our known zeal for the advancement of piety and learning we may see expedient And Whereas our Attorney General has certified to us as it seems probable that the advancement of piety and learning as well as the interests of the said College may be promoted by our acceding to the said Petitioners request and that he is of opinion that we may, if we are graciously pleased so to do, make such alterations in the Statutes of the said College as desired by the said Petitioners, Know Ye therefore that we of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion Have granted, ordained, declared and directed and by these presents for us and our heirs and successors Do grant, ordain, declare and direct that in all future elections into the Lady Foundress's Fellowships in the said College of Saint John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge the Candidates most distinguished in morals and learning and among those who are equally distinguished the most indigent may be preferred in whatever County of England or Diocese of Wales they may happen to have been born anything in the Statutes of the said College contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And we do also for us our heirs and successors grant, ordain, declare and direct that such Fellows on Lady Margaret's foundation in the said College as may be entitled to Fellowships founded by private Benefactors may be elected into them and may retain their seniority in the Society notwithstanding such election any thing in the Statutes of the said College contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding And lastly we do hereby for us our heirs and successors grant unto the said Master Fellows and Scholars of the said College and their Successors that these our letters patent or the inrolment or exemplification thereof shall be in all things good, firm, valid, sufficient and effectual in the law according to the true intent and meaning thereof notwithstanding the not truly or fully reciting the Statutes of the said College or any other omission imperfection, defect, matter, cause or thing whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. In Witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness ourself at our Palace at Westminster this fourth day of March in the first year of our Reign. By Writ of Privy Seal : SCOTT. Endorsed: Grant to St John's College, Cambridge for altering their Statutes. We conclude this article with the following congratulatory letters to Dr Wood from the Duke of Gloucester, Chancellor of the University, the Bishop of Ely and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The total cost of obtaining the Statute was £146 10s. 8d. Dear Sir Gloucester House March 8, 1820. I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, and to express the great satisfaction I feel at the King having given his assent to the Prayer of the Petition I transmitted to his Majesty from St John's College; a Petition which reflects so much honour on its present Members, and the consequences of which cannot fail to prove of the most essential Advantage to the Society. In requesting you to be so good as to convey my acknowledgments to the Members of St John's for their very handsome Message, I hope you will assure them that it must, at all times, be gratifying to me to be able to prove my high respect and esteem for your venerable Institution, and I trust you will believe that I have the greatest pleasure in seizing every opportunity to express the personal Regard with which I am always, Dear Sir, The Rev Dr Wood Master of St John's Coll. very sincerely yours WILLIAM FREDERICK Endorsed: His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, Mar 9, 1820. Dear Sir Ely House, March 8th, 1820. It gives me very great satisfaction to find that you have received your new Statute from the Crown, which cannot fail to promote most essentially the welfare of the College. I can never cease to feel most deeply interested in the prosperity of a Society with which I have the honor to be so closely connected as its Visitor, and it is highly gratifying to me to observe that in the discharge of my duty I have on all occasions been so fortunate as to obtain the entire approbation of yourself and the College. Believe me to be dear Sir, yours ever most faithfully, B.E. ELY. Addressed: Revd Dr Wood, St John's College, Cambridge. Endorsed: The Lord Bishop of Ely, Mar 9, 1820. Rev: Sir Lambeth Palace March 9th 1820. I very heartily congratulate with you on the emancipation of your College from a restriction that could not be otherwise than injurious to it. Nevertheless it must not be forgotten that even under this restriction, St John's College, by the efforts of its Masters, and the Character of its Tutors, has always maintained with credit, its rank in the University. I have the honor to be, Rev: Sir your faithful humble Servant CANTUAR: Addressed: The Rev: Dr Wood, Lodge, St John's College, Cambridge. Franked: Cantuar, and Endorsed: Archbishop of Canterbury Mar. 10, 1820. R. F. S. [To be continued.] DARKNESS. BOON twilight, and the spiritual gray Blots out the imperfections of the day. Which reigns perpetual in the mind of man. C. E. BYLES. |