'8rit—In your last paper I see a letter headed "The
Reform that the Uni- versities Need," and I have lately seen very sensible letters from Dr. Wyntou - and others,•the contents bearing entirely on the system and improvement Of education; but alto* me, as the father of sions who have -been educated at the Universityof Olferd, through your columns to remind your readers ofa baneful and demoralizing system carried on in all our Colleges at both TJni-- versifies. I allude to those classes of persons called Butterymen, Gyps, or Scouts, and washerwomen, who from time inunemorial have thoughtthenr-• selves privileged to plunder and 'defraud the unfortunate youths who may fall into their clutches. • • -
It is-not my intention to find-fault with the Heads or Tutors of Colleges, as-chargeable with gross neglect at to the appointment of persons who bare- ever been incompetent to fill these situations, or with not removing them when found to be drunkards•Or cheats, which I know to be too often the ease: for many man old University men Will know exactly what I mean, -and will agree with me in thinking that these persons- in authority are from their habits, education, and position in life, as well as from being unacquainted with the: rascality going on in the world, totally incapable of judging who may be fit persons to fill these offices; nor do they take:the trouble of ascertaining bine they-are fulfilling the defies of them; nor make themselves-acquainted with the enormous peculation by which these people increase the expenses of our University education. Now the remedy I would suggest would be, in the first placei by the ma- jority of the votes of the Heads or Masters of Colleges; to appoint a sort of supervisor for the whole University; I mean a gentleman, (a retired officer of the Army or Navy might be found most competent, say with a salary of' 5001. per annum,) to superintend these departments, inquire into complaints, appoint persons to fill situations, or remove those who are unfit. for thens.t. • It maybe said, that by these Means we shall be depriving those in-authority of the power of providing for out and (as they may think) trustworthy ser- vants :--but whether this is the first point to be considered, I shall leave your readers- to judge.
• r saw a letter yesterday from an undergraduate to his mother, in which he say?, "On my arrival, I found my Scout drunk"! Is this a fit person to fill a situation 111, which be is expected to report the irregularities of the youths whom be attends . in his staircase, to those in authority ?
+ He might also have an eye upon dishonest tradesmen.
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