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To resume, therefore, my own thread of personal narration. On the next morning after my arrival in Oxford, I assembled a small council of friends to assist me in determining at which of the various separate societies I should enter, and whether as a “commoner,” or as a “gentleman commoner.” Under the first question was couched the following latitude of choice: I give the names of the colleges, and the numerical account of their numbers, as it stood in January, 1832; for this will express, as well as the list of that day, (which I do not accurately know), the proportions of importance amongst them.

Mem.

1. University College ................. 207

2. Balliol     " ................. 257

3. Merton     " ................. 124

4. Exeter     " ................. 299

5. Oriel      " ................. 293

6. Queen's     " ................. 351

7. New       " ................. 157

8. Lincoln     " ................. 141

9. All Souls'   " ................. 98

10. Magdalene   " ................. 165

11. Brazennose   " ................. 418

12. Corpus Christi " ................. 127

13. Christ Church " ................. 949

14. Trinity    " ................. 259

15. St. John's   " ................. 218

16. Jesus     " ................. 167

17. Wadham     " ................. 217

18. Pembroke    " ................. 189

19. Worcester   " ................. 231
 

Then, besides these colleges, five Halls, as they are technically called, (the term Hall implying chiefly that they are societies not endowed, or not endowed with fellowships as the colleges are), namely:

Mem.

1. St. Mary Hall. .............. 83

2. Magdalen  "  .............. 178

3. New Inn  "  .............. 10

4. St. Alban "  .............. 41

5. St. Edmund "  .............. 96
 

Such being the names, and general proportions on the scale of local importance, attached to the different communities, next comes the very natural question, What are the chief determining motives for guiding the selection amongst them? These I shall state. First of all, a man not otherwise interested in the several advantages of the colleges has, however, in all probability, some choice between a small society and a large one; and thus far a mere ocular inspection of the list will serve to fix his preference. For my part, supposing other things equal, I greatly preferred the most populous college, as being that in which any single member, who might have reasons for standing aloof from the general habits of expense, of intervisiting, etc., would have the best chance of escaping a jealous notice. However, amongst those “other things” which I presumed equal, one held a high place in my estimation, which a little inquiry showed to be very far from equal. All the colleges have chapels, but all have not organs; nor, amongst those which have, is the same large use made of the organ. Some preserve the full cathedral service; others do not. Christ Church, meantime, fulfilled all conditions: for the chapel here happens to be the cathedral of the diocese; the service, therefore, is full and ceremonial; the college, also, is far the most splendid, both in numbers, rank, wealth, and influence. Hither I resolved to go; and immediately I prepared to call on the head.