No. II. THE first notes of our literary bell have now been sounding for a month, and sounding far and wide. In other words, no small success has attended the first number of "GREAT TOM." This is the best and only guarantee that such a Magazine was wanted, and we cannot be wrong in expecting that it will speedily become a constituted organ of the Universities. We may take this opportunity of explaining a little more in detail the plan of this Magazine. Although it is hoped that many of its articles are of sufficient interest to attract the general reader, yet it was established primarily and principally for our Universities. We wish to afford to the literary talent of the Universities, a fitting vehicle for the promulgation of their opinions on matters which they could scarcely discuss in Magazines aiming at a more general character. Under these circumstances it has been deemed advisable to publish "GREAT TOM" during Term-time only, that is, six times a year instead of twelve. No. III. will accordingly appear on the 1st November, 1861. Till then we must bid our readers adieu-thanking them ere we do so, for the liberal support which they have afforded to our undertaking. All contributions intended for No. 3 should be sent to the Editors, under cover to W. Mansell, Printer, 36, Holywell, Oxford, by the 15th September. G. T., II. I "Great Tom." JUNE, 1861. UP THE OXFORD UNION. P a narrow alley which divides it from the bustle of the "Corn," stands the Oxford Union. It is not, as its name and position would at first lead you to suppose, one of those places in which the union of soul and body is maintained with the smallest possible expenditure of public money, though this belief is not altogether exploded amongst country cousins who profess to be well-informed in Oxford matters. Its functions are far different. It professes to unite no small number of advantages. These advantages, and the government of this institution, we wish now to discuss. As far back as the year 1826, we find that this Society possessed that highly-important-nay necessary part of constitutional government, a President. Indeed, so impressed were the members with the value of this officer, that they appear to have never been tired of electing him, and we find that this year was blest with no less than five Presidents. How long each of these held sway, or whether the presidential chair was then large enough to contain more than one president at the same time-which, considering the official greatness of these personages, is hard to believe we cannot say. At any rate it is comforting to think that in those remote times there was no deficiency of officers-indeed it seems probable that those functionaries comprised |