The first thing that the American reader has to impress on his mind is, that the several Colleges are distinct and independent corporations. They are on different foundations, that is to say, the funds which support them are derived from different sources; their officers are distinct, their lecture-room subjects different, though with a general resemblance; their very gowns vary. The confederation of these independent corporations constitutes the University, which may, in its relation to the colleges composing it, be compared to our Federal Government in its relation to the separate States—with this important historical difference, however, that the Colleges sprang into existence subsequent to the founding of the University. Indeed, the only practical connexion that the Under-graduate usually has with the University in its corporate capacity (unless he should be of a riotous turn, so as to bring himself under the Proctor's notice) consists in his previous examination, alias the “Little Go,” and his final examination for a degree, with or without honors. Robinson, of Trinity, may be three years in the University with Brown, of Corpus, and never come in contact with him, or be aware of his existence, till in the last Long Vacation, when he is putting on all steam and “coaching” violently for the Classical Tripos, he hears suddenly one day at a wine party that “Bennedy has a Corpus man reading with him, who is likely to be among the first five.”