an assemblage of several bodies or societies, or of several persons into one society.

College, among the Romans, served indifferently for those employed in the offices of religion, of government, the liberal and even mechanical arts and trades; so that, with them, the word signified what we call a corporation or company.

In the Roman empire, there were not only the college of *augurs*, and the college of *capitolini*, i.e., of those who had the superintendence of the capitoline games; but also colleges of artificers, *collegia artificum*; college of carpenters, *fabriciorum*, or *fabrorum lignariorum*; of potters, *figulorum*; of founders, *arariorum*; the college of locksmiths, *fabrorum servariorum*; of engineers of the army, *tignariorum*; of butchers, *laniorum*; of dendrophori, *dendrophorarum*; of centonaries, *centonariorum*; of makers of military calques, *sagittariorum*; of tent-makers, *tabernaculariorum*; of bakers, *pistorum*; of musicians, *tibicinum*, &c. Plutarch observes, that it was Numa who first divided the people into colleges; which he did to the end that each consulting the interests of their college, whereby they were divided from the citizens of the other colleges, they might not enter into any general conspiracy against the public repose.

Each of these colleges had distinct meeting-places or halls; and likewise, in imitation of the place, a treasury and common chest, a register, and one to represent them upon public occasions, and acts of government. These colleges had the privilege of manumitting slaves, of being legates, and making by-laws for their own body, provided they did not clash with those of the government.

There are various colleges on foot among the moderns, founded on the model of those of the ancients. Such are the three colleges of the empire, viz.

College of Electors, or their Deputies, assembled in the diet of Ratishon.

College of Princes; the body of princes, or their deputies, at the diet of Ratishon.

College of Cities, is, in like manner, the body of deputies which the imperial cities send to the diet.

College of Cardinals, or the Sacred College; a body College body composed of the three orders of cardinals. See CARDINALS.

College is also used for a public place endowed with certain revenues, where the several parts of learning are taught.

An assemblage of several of these colleges constitute an university. The erection of colleges is part of the royal prerogative, and not to be done without the king's licence.

The establishment of colleges or universities is a remarkable period in literary history. The schools in cathedrals and monasteries confined themselves chiefly to the teaching of grammar. There were only one or two matters employed in that office. But, in colleges, professors are appointed to teach all the different parts of science. The first obscure mention of academical degrees in the university of Paris (from which the other universities in Europe have borrowed most of their customs and institutions), occurs A.D. 1215.