The elder Universities have been conferring their honorary degrees this
week, Cambridge on Tuesday and Oxford on Wednesday. At Cambridge, the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava was the most distinguished recipient of an honorary degree, Sir Alfred Lyall the most curiously observed by those who think most of a great esoteric reputation, and Mr. Lecky the man who had fairly earned the highest literary fame. Lord Dufferin had quite a long Latin eloge to himself, the Public Orator (Dr. Sandys) closing an eloquent description of what he had achieved in administration as well as in oratory, by saying :—" Neque vero verbis dicendis magis quam rebus gerendis studuit, Bed ubiquc terrarum trans late maria gloria3 Britannicse velut imaginem ante oculos habuit, nihil antiquius arbitratus quam Britannia) famam veterern factis extendere, nihil pukinius quam patrice prodesse." That does not exaggerate Lord Dufferin's merits, which, as is not unusual with great Irishmen, are always in evidence. This is the best of Irish brilliance, that it is always visible as well as great, that it flashes on the world, and does not hide itself under a bushel. This is one material respect ,in which England is greatly indebted to Ireland. Irishmen have done at least as much to make English history attractive, as Englishmen have done to make Irish history dismal. They have generally been the ornaments of our history; while even our most distinguished statesmen have somehow managed to be the blots upon theirs.
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