ing at the same time the highest
character for manliness and gentlemanly conduct. This had lasted
long enough to establish the fame of the college, and great lords
and statesmen had sent their sons there; head-masters had
struggled to get the names of their best pupils on the books; in
short, everyone who had a son, ward, or pupil, whom he wanted to
push forward in the world--who was meant to cut a figure, and
take the lead among men, left no stone unturned to get him into
St. Ambrose's; and thought the first, and a very long step gained
when he had succeeded.

But the governing bodies of colleges are always on the change,
and, in the course of things men of other ideas came to rule at
St. Ambrose--shrewd men of the world; men of business, some of
them, with good ideas of making the most of their advantages; who
said, "Go to; why should we not make the public pay for the great
benefits we confer on them? Have we not the very best article in
the educational market to supply--almost a monopoly of it--and
shall we not get the highest price for it?" So by degrees they
altered many things in the college. In the first place, under
their auspices, gentlemen-commoners increased and multiplied; in
fact, the eldest sons of baronets, even squires, were scarcely
admitted on any other footing. As these young gentlemen paid
double fees to the college, and had great expectations of all
sorts, it could not be expected that they should be subject to
quite the same discipline as the common run of men, who would
have to make their own way in the world. So the rules as to
attendance at chapel and lectures, though nominally the same for
them as for commoners, were in practice relaxed in their favour;
and, that they might find all things suitable to persons in their
position, the kitchen and buttery were worked up to a high state
of perfection, and St. Ambrose, from having been one of the most
reasonable, had come to be about the most expensive college in
the university. These changes worked as their promoters probably
desired that they should work, and the college was full of rich
men, and commanded in the university the sort of respect which
riches bring with them. But the old reputation, though still
strong out of doors, was beginning sadly to wane within the
university precincts. Fewer and fewer of the St. Ambrose men
appeared in the class lists, or amongst the prize-men. They no
longer led the debates at the Union; the boat lost plac