maintained that this was a question, not so
much of the admission of Dissenters to
the University as of the exclusion of the
Church of England-a question of disqua-
lifying the University for the education of
members of the Church. That which was
asked for was more than toleration; and if
it were an act of generosity upon the part
of Parliament towards one class, it was an
act of generosity done at the expense of
another. If it were summum jus it was
also summa injuria; and if the effort
should be crowned with success, he thought
that the results were less likely to be peace
and harmony than disorder and disunion.
He could not forget that the Church of
England was bound up with the Univer-
sity in all its associations; that it had fol-
lowed that Church through evil report and
good report, and was its organ and expo-
nent in the great matter of education;
and it seemed to him inevitable that if
this policy were to be pursued further, its
tendency must be to force the members of
the Church of England to seek repose in
other quarters, and to drive them into
other institutions, as free as possible from
Government control.

- institutions must be greater
ere in the colleges, and that,
ry lowest estimate, they could
han 217. per term in the for-
s against 151. in the latter.
but consider that there lurked
at measure a desire to impair
nnection between the Univer-
o established religion of the
which it had been hitherto so
listinguished, and which had
be considered, not only in Eng-
roughout the civilised world,
Dulwark of our Constitution in
State. Feeling so strongly as
this subject, he deeply re-
those right rev. Prelates who
e thrown their shields around
y had paired with those who
its rights and privileges.
OF CARNARVON said, that
sented from those provisions
ct which provided for the ad-
issenters, and had consented
dment, not because it involved
s, but because it amounted to
of the evil. He objected to
ons because they had formed
he original measure, and had LORD MONTEAGLE said, he was anx-
onnection with it, and because ious to explain the vote he had given on a
1 it at variance with the per- former occasion. He trusted that no one
acter of the Bill. But, beyond could imagine that he had voted against
early clauses of the Bill, the the establishment of private halls from ap-
had proceeded to frame a con- prehending any dangerous influence result-
h he admitted to be wise, and ing from the admission of Dissenters; on
rational- - which, upon their the contrary, there was no portion of the
sis, was likely to work well, Bill to which he attached so much im-
the elements of reformation-portance as that which provided for the
ore that constitution had been admission of Dissenters, because he be-
they virtually asserted that lieved that their admission would con-
epose no confidence in the go- duce to the interests of the University,
they had created, and acted to the interests of the Church, and to the
new constitution were in ex- interests of the great Dissenting bodies
as though the old Hebdomadal themselves. He believed, however, that
still in force. But although to admit them at all with any hope of
nitted Dissenters to the Uni- a beneficial result, they must admit them
had relieved them of tests and generously, and without any feelings of
they had not advanced them mistrust, upon the very terms of which
er to that which they sought, his noble Friend was most apprehensive-
not a separate existence in upon terms of perfect equality. They
but the equality of collegiate would neither do justice to their own
is they could not give them, intentions nor make their legislation ope-
gained the co-operation of the rative for good, if they intended to admit
e looked upon the admission Dissenters upon terms which were un-
nters, as effected by the pre- becoming and unjust. He could not think
e, as a mitigation of an evil that their unreserved admission would do
have been incomparably worse any mischief to the Church or to the Uni-
n admitted to the government versity. He felt that he might speak with
rsity. He would be the first authority much higher than his own upon
any penal restrictions, but he this point, because, as long back as the
elawarr

were to be ad , formed into s the agency ad cut off from c ship with the unde he Church who erration at the le Friend behind on seemed to t of Dissenters was

1

principle-which located as strong

of preserving the
colleges to the C

Bat was it impossible
without abandoning th
imposible to obtain i
eto assume that
England and the
much less modera
zach more
likely to b

ee of religious fact
ties and the people
In the year 1793 Ro
at Dissenters had bee

year 1834, he had presented to the other ted to the University of Dublin, an House of Parliament a petition in favour what had been the effect? Had it de of the admission of Dissenters to the Uni- ranged in any degree the governmen versity, which was signed by four of the of that University? Had it made th most distinguished members of the epis- University less attached to the Church, o copacy of this country, and by some of the less effective as a school for the educatio most distinguished members of the Uni- of its members and ministers, than i versity, by the Archbishop of York, Bishop would have been if the Roman Catholic Thirlwall, the late exalted Bishop Bou- and Dissenters had never been admitted stead, the Dean of Ely, the Astronomer He had heard many charges against the Royal (Professor Airey), and many others University of Dublin, but he had neve equally known to Europe. Earl Grey had yet heard it alleged against her that sh presented at the same time a similar pe- was not sufficiently orthodox to satisfy the tition to this House. He was entitled, desires even of the most orthodox among therefore, to say, on the authority of those their Lordships. Well, then, if that wer great men, that the admission of Dis- so, why could they not boldly effect at Ox senters would do no mischief whatever to ford what had been already done at Dublin the University. This petition simply en- and at once admit Dissenters frankly and treated Parliament to allow the admission freely-not into places which had beer of Dissenters to the University. There called "retreats," in which it is to be pre was no question at that time of admitting sumed they were to lurk and conceal themDissenters into a position which might be selves-but admit them in the open day considered by themselves-or which might to the full benefit of the education of the ultimately be understood by others, al- place, and allow them to take degrees in though not intended by those by whom the common with all other persons who represent Bill was proposed-to be degrading, ceived their education at that University? unfavourable, or unequal; he thought that, What was the object of these halls, and unless they admitted the Dissenters upon to what would their establishment lead? terms which, as being just, ought to saWere there not dangers to be apprehended tisfy them, they had better not admit intra muros et extra? Were there not them at all. But if there were danger to persons now members of Convocation, who, the Church-which he denied if they dealt under the provisions of this Bill, might set with this matter rightly-he thought that up schools or establishments of their own, that danger would be created and carried under the name of private halls, in which to its greatest height if the Dissenters in something worse might be taught than the University were to be admitted on any Dissenter would be likely to introduce? terms of inferiority, formed into small con- Might not undergraduates be taught to defederacies through the agency of these sert the doctrines, and yet adhere to the private halls, and cut off from communion ordinances, of our Church under a false and companionship with the undergraduate allegiance. It was said that there was members of the Church who might be power to refuse a licence for the estapursuing their education at the Universi-blishment of a hall to any member of Conties. His noble Friend behind him (the vocation who might apply for it. But, Earl of Carnarvon) seemed to think that as he read the Bill, it was obligatory ou the admission of Dissenters was inconsis- the authorities of the University to grant tent with the principle-which he (Lord such a licence. He would take one case Monteagle) advocated as strongly as his as an example. Mr. Newman, he believed, noble Friend-of preserving the govern was at this moment a member of Convocament of the colleges to the Church of tion, and if he should apply for a licence England. But was it impossible to obtain for the establishment of a hall at Oxford, this object without abandoning the other? could he be refused, or had he a right It was not impossible to obtain it, unless, to claim his admission? As he read the indeed, we were to assume that the Uni- clause he must be admitted, because the versities of England and the people of only qualification prescribed was, that the England were much less moderate, much applicant should be a member of Convoless calm, much more likely to be excited cation. His great objection, however, to by the violence of religious faction, than these private halls did not rest upon the the Universities and the people of Ire- possibility of a case of this kind occurland. From the year 1793 Roman Caring, but upon the fact that, by establishtholics and Dissenters had been admit-ing these halls contemporaneously with the

Dissenters, they were practi- | Oxford, and all that it would enable the University to effect for itself. That could not certainly be said to be an illiberal measure which took the government of an institution like the University out of the hands of a few men, elected for the government of their own particular societies

ming to Dissenters that they these halls, but that these ly places of education at Oxich they would be allowed to thought this would be objecDissenters, and dangerous to and to the University, because w a distinction between two belonging to the ancient colthe other to these new halls, ch a distinction, founded, as it religious grounds, they never t to see cordiality and good stablished. On the other hand, ted the system of the Univerin, frankly admitting all to debut admitting Dissenters to the of the colleges, or of the - he did not ask for that

rings? The noble Earl
pt with regard to
Fences with c
1e bad stated that th
vaid tave no power
claimed by a pers
tions. He V

20 me so opinion upon
remind their Lo
2 was not only au
escribe what
9
red, and what
which alone
He did not d
that the
Te than libe
n; but she
of her own po
stions or cond
er to lay down co
ed by any other
had been referred
been made a
ened if Dr. Ne

elected without any regard to their qualifications in reference to the University at large-holding their offices for life, and being irremovable-whose interests were frequently separate, and in many instances directly at variance from those of the persons whom they were called upon to govern. A government of that kind could not be called liberal, and could hardly be expected to produce good fruits. It was because they were deeply impressed with this consideration, that Her Majesty's Government had determined to lay the axe to the root be taking a course which, he of the evil, and to establish a principle of say, would be safe to the Uni- government which could not be characterelcome concession to the Dis-ised as illiberal-namely, a government I beneficial in every way to all based upon representation. His noble e State. Friend complained that power had been RL OF CARNARVON said, he taken out of the hands of the great mass sent to the parallel which the of the University body in Convocation, had drawn between the Uni- and placed in the hands of Congregation, Oxford and Dublin. Dublin which was a smaller body, to the exclusion an examining University than of the larger. But his noble Friend had education; for, if he remem- fallen into some misapprehension with rey, a student might reside any-spect to the precise character of the body the Giant's Causeway if he which he called a legislative body, created I only need come up to Dublin by a constituency of small numbers. He r in order to pass his examina- did not admit that the Hebdomadal Council was by any means correctly designated : CANNING said, that al- a legislative body. The legislation of the was not prepared for such a University was by no means concentrated s the present-for he thought in its hands. It would originate measures ns raised went to the principle no doubt; but those measures would be , and would have been made subject to revision and rejection by Conrly upon the second reading--gregation, and Convocation would have o means disposed to complain the same power as it had had hitherto, of beeches which they had heard placing a veto upon any measure which it elayed until that night, because, might think would not be advantageous to Friends opposite had made on the University. The most important point night the observations which on which the noble Earl had touched was made to-night, they would that which related to private halls, and he ve had any possibility of escape objected to the proposed change as incong against the second reading. sistent with the constitution of the Unionfine himself to making a few versity, which had endured for 800 or 900 s upon some of the points years, and had deprecated interfering with been touched upon by the noble institutions so venerable. Now, he (Vishad spoken. He thought that count Canning) could conceive no stronger Earl opposite (the Earl of reason, à priori, for reconsidering those y), who had charged against institutions. Could his noble Friend put hat it was an illiberal rather his finger on any one of our institutionseral measure, could scarcely political, social, or religious-which had ciated all that this Bill would existed for anything like that time, and he benefit of the University of had not undergone great and important Monteagle

ence as master o
posed his noble
time when Dr. Ne
of the Church of

more or less, a
oble Friend

d be the pleasu
are any discret
who was to is
in anticipation of

Friend had b
ake it necessar
make a declaratio
e Church of H
hich the Univers
lay down-such
Patious spirit, mig
of Dr. Newman, e
his noble Friend
ot see how the c
te balls, in conne
Dissenters,
considered as div
* ban its connection
Pa likely to import i
. In the first
between the Church

far as it existed
altogether unt
ad there was no int
the framers of the
governing bodies of
departure from the
best adapted to se
en the Church and

C

e and teaching

It

changes? The noble Earl had not stated versity in its full integrity. It was con the point with regard to the power of ceded on all sides that the number of Dis withholding licences with complete accu- senters who would be admitted would, proracy. He had stated that the Vice Chan- bably, be comparatively small, and he did cellor would have no power to refuse a not think their admission at all likely to licence, if claimed by a person possessing increase that warfare of opinion on matters certain qualifications. He (Viscount Can- of faith which had existed whilst the Unining) gave no opinion upon that point, but versity was wholly closed against Dissenhe wished to remind their Lordships that ters. He doubted very much whether openthe University was not only authorised, but ing the door to a certain number of such obliged, to prescribe what qualifications members, who would pursue their studies should be required, and what should be and mix in habits of intimacy and friendthe conditions upon which alone the licence ship with members of different religious should be given. He did not desire to be opinions, would have any tendency to inunderstood as wishing that the University crease at all the asperity or animosity with should act otherwise than liberally in ful- which questions of faith were now disfilling this obligation; but she would be cussed; he was, on the contrary, much perfectly mistress of her own position, and inclined to think that a larger difference whatever qualifications or conditions she of opinion, differences more openly avowed thought proper to lay down could not be than those which existed between membarred or checked by any other authority. bers of the same Church, would have a Dr. Newman had been referred to, and a tendency to soften those feelings of varisuggestion had been made as to what ance, rather than to exasperate them. He might have happened if Dr. Newman had cordially concurred in the wish expressed applied for a licence as master of a private by the noble Earl (the Earl of Carnarvon) hall. He supposed his noble Friend re- with regard to the manner in which this ferred to the time when Dr. Newman was change should have been effected. still a member of the Church of England, would have given him much more satisfacand resident, more or less, at Oxford. tion if it had been brought about by the But surely his noble Friend would see free agency of the University itself, rather that if it should be the pleasure of the than by the intervention of an Act of ParUniversity to leave any discretion to the liament; but he had explained at some Vice Chancellor who was to issue these length on a former occasion how it was licences—or if, in anticipation of such dan- these clauses now stood in the Bill. He gers as his noble Friend had had in his explained how it had been the wish of Her eye, it should make it necessary that the Majesty's Government, to which they had master should make a declaration of con- openly and steadfastly adhered, that the formity with the Church of England- proposal should have come from the Uniin any terms which the University might versity, and it was not until the other House think proper to lay down-such conditions, had declared the contrary that they could framed in a cautious spirit, might surely bring themselves to deal with the question meet the case of Dr. Newman, even at the of Dissenters in this Bill at all. These time to which his noble Friend referred. clauses were, however, inserted, and he He really did not see how the clauses re- hoped he should not be considered as using lating to private halls, in connection with any argument unworthy for their Lordships those relating to Dissenters, could with to hear or for himself to express, though he any justice, be considered as divorcing the knew it was liable to some misrepresentaUniversity from its connection with the tion, when he said that, as the other House Church, or as likely to import into it po- had asserted by a large majority so decided lemical disputes. In the first place, the an opinion, he earnestly trusted their Lordconnection between the Church and the ships would not endeavour to expunge these University, so far as it existed through clauses, though fully entitled to do so. He the colleges, was altogether untouched by did not urge that so much on account of this Bill, and there was no intention on the feeling of the other House of Parlia the part of the framers of the Bill to re- ment as for the sake of the University, for quire the governing bodies of colleges to he conceived nothing could be more dismake any departure from the strictest astrous to the University than to leave it rules of discipline and teaching which they uncertain as to the opinion of Parliament might think best adapted to secure con--assured that in one House the opinion nection between the Church and the Uni- in favour of the admission of Dissenters

"I must also,,' says Mr. Lowe, "as a sincere
well-wisher to the University, express my hope
that the physical sciences will be brought much
versity education.
more prominently forward in the scheme of Uni-
I have seen in Australia Ox-

ford men placed in positions in which they had
reason bitterly to regret that their costly educa-
tion, while making them intimately acquainted
with remote events and distant nations, had left
them in utter ignorance of the laws of nature,
and placed them under immense disadvantages in
that struggle with her which they had to main-
tain."

decided, and unmistakable, and accomplish by the adoption of the Amend-
in the other that opinion or a ment was the encouragement of the study
he was entertained. To place of physical science at the University.
sity in such a position would be When he was at Oxford this branch of
all exercise of freedom on the study was at a low ebb, and he believed
d, in fact, to transfer the scene it had not made much progress since,
on from within the walls of Par- Nevertheless, it was a study of the great-
the University itself. Feeling est importance at the present day. In
that if the hands of the Univer-proof of this he would quote a passage
en untied she would have taken from the evidence of Mr. Lowe, the Mem-
on her own part, he earnestly ber for Kidderminster :
any attempt to go back to the
n which they were when this
troduced, because he thought
cal intentions of the University
then be carried out in conse-
the course which had already
in Parliament.
YNFORD said, he would anti-
great difficulty, which he did
at the Bill would obviate. One
st important parts of examina-
ford was the divinity examina- The residents of Oxford lead a life of too
hether an undergraduate went much seclusion, and, therefore, he availed
highest honours, or only an or- himself of the opportunity which this
ree, the same extent of religious clause afforded of infusing what he might
was exacted. Every person call a metropolitan element into the Con-
ed to possess, besides a know-gregation. The proposal which the noble
e Greek Testament, an accurate Earl (the Earl of Derby) made on a former
of the Thirty-nine Articles, evening to substitute Convocation for Con-
able to support that knowledge gregation was not, in his opinion, judicious,
om Scripture, and by his own because the great body of Convocation
Such an examination, he con- consisted of country clergymen, who knew
volved to a certain extent a pro- much less about these matters than the
belief; and he did not see how Oxford residents; but the composition of
ty could be reconciled unless the Congregation would be much improved
ted Dissenters from that part by persons of the class pointed to in the
Amendment. The phrase "high honours"
employed in the Amendment was well un-
derstood in the University; but if any
doubt prevailed on the subject, different
words might be adopted to make the mean-
ing clear. In framing the ruling body of
the greatest educational institution in the
country, Parliament ought to recognise the
claims of education. The names of such
men as Mr. Hallam and Sir Charles Lyell
would confer honour on the body to which
they might be attached. It was not, of
course, to be supposed that these eminent
men would be able to attend the meetings
of the Congregation generally; but it was
probable that they would be able to attend
meetings for determining questions con-
nected with studies and the appointment
of professors; and their presence on such
occasions would be of the greatest possible
advantage, in consequence of their living
in the world and being cognisant of the
state of public opinion and of education

mination.

stion, agreed to; Amendments cordingly; Amendments made. se 17 (Regulating the composigregation).

ROTTESLEY rose to propose
nent to that part of the clause
ted that Congregation should
addition to the persons specifi-
1. of
all such persons as shall
d to be added by election or
o the said Congregation by any
the University approved by the
ers, or, after the expiry of the
, passed by licence of the
The Amendment was to insert
vord "Crown" the following
Provided that at least two-
e persons so to be added shall
have attained high honours in
iversity, or such as are distin-
literature, science, or art."
al object which he hoped to
nt Canning

CHICHESTE eliminary examina the University Bet on the school

riddle and upper and tend to rem Orford, the ine training of the