The Oxford Commemoration this year has been unusually brilliant, thanks
chiefly to Lord Salisbury, the new Chancellor, and Professor Bryce, who, as Professor of Law, introduced the candidates for honorary degrees, and exerted himself to describe them with some point, as well as in good Latin. Whether Pro- lessor Bryce touched off their characters beat in presenting them for their degrees, or Lord Salisbury in receiving them, is still an open question. It was a sort of contest in politeness. The great competition between them was in describing Mr. Lowe. Professor Bryce gave him a most elaborate encomium as " Senatas nostri decus, pecuniarumque vectigaliumque sustodem vigilem,"-4Chancellor of the Exchequer,' by the way, appears in Latin as " eacci regni cancellarius,"—whereupon the Chancellor of the University welcomed him in Latin quite Tacitean as, "Ingenii prodigus, mris publici frugalissimus, in Academiam redux, nbi olim juvenis existimatio senioris gloriam prenunciavit." That is true in more senses than one. The opinion of Mr. Lowe, as a young man, was respectful, but vin- dictive. As an examiner in the schools he was a renowned plucker, and a good deal of the political glory of his maturity is grounded on the same power to excite in Members of the House of Commons respectful vindictiveness.
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