The anonymity of the blank space in front of the man’s college is not sufficient to conceal the fact that this character sketch, a bitter and pointed attack, was most probably meant for the Mr White who distinguished himself in the Meadowcourt case. As, however, from many instances, he appears to have been no better and no worse than the generality of proctors during the century, there is no reason why Amhurst’s denunciations should not be credited as descriptive of most of the others of his kind. Modern Oxford has reason to congratulate herself that the reins of government are no longer in such hands. There exist to-day none of the abuses and vices which were so striking a feature of the eighteenth century. They have all been swept away. Oxford has purged herself of them, and in their place are to be found honesty, uprightness, and all the cardinal virtues. The modern Don has nothing in common with his Georgian predecessor. He relegates self to a discreet background, and devotes his entire energies to the interests of those over whom he has authority; and his pupils, on going down, harbour no feelings of contempt and ill-feeling, but look on him instead as a man whose friendship is an honour which must be treasured to the end. CHAPTER XVIII CELEBRITIES AS OXFORD MEN Charles James Fox--Earl of Malmesbury--William Eden--Cards and claret--Midnight oil--Oxford friendships remembered afterwards--Edward Gibbon--Delicate bookworm--Antagonism towards Oxford--Becomes a Roman Catholic--Subsequent apostasy--John Wesley--Resists taking orders--Germs of ambition--America the golden opportunity--Oxford responsible for Methodism.