Terrae-filius, Or, The Secret History of the University of Oxford, 1721-1726Edited with an Introduction and Notes by William E. Rivers In his Terrae-Filius essays of 1721, Nicholas Amhurst describes and satirizes Oxford life as he saw it during the 1710s and early 1720s. Although academic and intellectual issues receive abundant attention, Amhurst devoted even more space to the political, religious, social, and moral issues that often worked to undercut the university's academic goals. Written in an energetic, personal prose style characteristic of the best eighteenth-century essay periodicals, the Terrae-Filius essays provide accessible, entertaining reading for anyone interested in the history of Oxford University, early eighteenth-century British culture, or the close but often tense relationship between the nation and the university during the tumultuous decade following the Whig ascendancy of 1714. This modern critical edition of the Terrae-Filius reprints all the essays (including those omitted in the 1726 collected editions) and provides an introduction and extensive explanatory notes that set the essays in their historical and cultural context. William E. Rivers is Professor of English at the University of South Carolina. |
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Page 26
... believe every thing he says , nor to swallow his truths and his falsehoods together ; I would therefore humbly propose a reformation of learning from the philosophical popery , which prevails at present in our universities ; I would ...
... believe every thing he says , nor to swallow his truths and his falsehoods together ; I would therefore humbly propose a reformation of learning from the philosophical popery , which prevails at present in our universities ; I would ...
Page 62
... believe it would have been condemn'd in the parable , as a very hard and unjustifiable proceeding . This , I say , therefore is straining the sacred text , and is destructive of all morality as well as religion ; for it tends to the ...
... believe it would have been condemn'd in the parable , as a very hard and unjustifiable proceeding . This , I say , therefore is straining the sacred text , and is destructive of all morality as well as religion ; for it tends to the ...
Page 73
... believe , that the great encouragement , which the town has given my book , proceeds from its own intrinsick merit ; it is , you may think , no small mortification to hear him constantly drinking you health , and strongly intimating ...
... believe , that the great encouragement , which the town has given my book , proceeds from its own intrinsick merit ; it is , you may think , no small mortification to hear him constantly drinking you health , and strongly intimating ...
Page 75
... believe they will agree with me , that , whatever I may be , there are several points in my Appendix , which it behoves an honest writer to clear up ; for I do still maintain that his book advances the same doctrines with mine , and ...
... believe they will agree with me , that , whatever I may be , there are several points in my Appendix , which it behoves an honest writer to clear up ; for I do still maintain that his book advances the same doctrines with mine , and ...
Page 76
... believe that a person of your great judgement , integrity and candour , would rashly præjudge any book , and condemn it without reading , even upon the strongest sollicitations and most pressing importunities of any man whatsoever ; for ...
... believe that a person of your great judgement , integrity and candour , would rashly præjudge any book , and condemn it without reading , even upon the strongest sollicitations and most pressing importunities of any man whatsoever ; for ...
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Common terms and phrases
academical Amhurst Amhurst's note amongst Bangorian Controversy Benjamin Hoadley bishop of Bangor Black Book C1 Number call'd called chancellor Charles Clarendon Press collected edition common constitution club degree Delaune's disputations doctor Drybones eighteenth century F Number famous fellow folio friends gentlemen give governor Hart-Hall heads of colleges Hearne High Church History honour Jacobite James John John's College King George late learning lectures letter Library London Lord manner matriculated Meadowcourt mention Merchant Taylors Merton Merton College Nathaniel Mist never Nicholas Amhurst oath obliged occasion omit opinion Oriel original Number paper persons poem political preached present proctors publick reader reason religion Remarks and Collections Restoration reverend satire Saturday scholars sculls sermon society statute Terræ-Filius thing Thomas Thomas Warton thought Tories truth University of Oxford vice-chancellor Warton Wednesday Weekly Journal Whig William Delaune young
Popular passages
Page 62 - there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.
Page 69 - Exegi monumentum aere perennius Regalique situ pyramidum altius, Quod non imber edax, non Aquilo impotens Possit diruere aut innumerabilis Annorum series et fuga temporum.
Page 24 - I am in hopes that we may order our affairs so as to meet this summer at the Bath; for Mr Pope and myself have thoughts of taking a trip thither. You shall preach, and we will write lampoons ; for it is esteemed as 'great an honour to leave the Bath for fear of a broken head, as for a Terrae Filius of Oxford to be expelled.