16 JUNE 1888, Page 3

Some of the Cambridge Jubilee orator's (Dr. Sandys) Latin sentences

in introducing the eminent men whom he presented for degrees went far towards justifying Lord Salis- bury's happy remark at the subsequent banquet, that, in his opinion, the original purpose for which the Latin language was created was that of conferring honorary degrees. For example, in presenting Lord Salisbury himself for his degree, Dr. Sandys said :—" Adest orator denique subtilis, acutus, lepidns, sed idem si quando res poseit, vehemens, animosus, gravis ; cujus genus dicendi parum describerem, si Horati verbis, 4vincere Crceilium gravitate,' dicerem ; dixerim potius Ceeilium non gravitate tantum sed gravitate cum lepore quodarn admirabili commixte, vincere." Is it not probable that when Horace wrote " vincere Caocilium gravitate," he was, unconsciously to himself, only paving the way for the paying of a happy compliment to a Cecil a certain number of cen- turies later, in a land that might have been barbarous but for that people in whose language honorary degrees are best conferred P