The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-18 00:00:00

254 history, modern literature, science, and other branches of professional teaching, for which no, or very insuf ficient, provision was now made ; to remove the restrictions and throw open the monopolies which now hampered the usefulness of the collegiate sys tem; and to appropriate the vast revenues now b e l o nging to the separate colleges for educational purposes in the university generally. ''his, he urged, if sometimes resulting in an infringement of the letter of the founders' wills, would often carry out more completely the spirit of their bequests, and co nstituted a change perfectly justified by its great public utility. Briefly dwelling upon each of these topics, Lord John Russell proceeded to describe the successive modifications proposed by his measure. For the government of the university he intended to supersede the present Hebdomadal Board, and sub stititute an Hebdomadal Council, consisting of twenty-four or twenty-five persons, in which the Vice-Chancellor for the current and previous years, with the two proctors, were to be ex-officio mem bers ; some of the remainder were to be nominated by the Chancellor of the University, but the majority would be elected, for a period of six years, by the university congregration. In the oaths to be taken on entering the university he proposed to make some change and omissions, which he described ; and without adopting the recommendation of the commissioners as to allowing the undergraduates to live in lodgings out of college, he intended to give powers to the professors to open halls, under licence of the Vice-Chancellor, in which the students could be maintained, subject to a modified degree of disci pline, and with greater economy than they found possible at present. At this point the noble lord intimated his opinion that any direct interference with the expenditure of the undergraduates would be inexpedient reform in that direction, must be left to moral and parental restraints, but he thought that the authorities might remonstrate more fre quently and sternly with the parents, and call upon them to withdraw their sons if they proved irreclaim ably extravagant. He intended to throw open close fellowships to a considerable extent, by abrogating the restrictions existing in favour of certain localities, founders' kindred, &c., with a few exceptions, but maintaining the foundatious now appertaining to certain schools, among whose members, he thought, they occasioned a wholesome emulation. When obtained, the fellowships were to be enjoyed only for a single year, except by persons engaged in educational duties, holding certain university offices, or being incumbents or curates residing within a certain distance of Oxford. For the purpose of appropriating college revenues to university uses, be proposed to appoint a commission of five members, who were to receive and adopt any suggestions they approved of which might emanate from the colleges on one hand, or the university on the other, before the commencement of Michaelmas term next year. If then the scheme remained incomplete the commissioners would be empowered to draw up statutes of their own for the purpose, which, after passing a certain official and parliamentary ordeal, would obtain the authority of law. After stating the limits within which the colle giate revenues were to be diverted to university pur • poses, Lord John passed on to the subject of tests. With them he did not purpose to interfere in the present bill ; but he looked upon their abolition as a collateral result much to be desired, and which might hereafter follow. It was, however, a matter for sepa rate consideration, though now, as well as twenty years ago, any proposal for admitting dissenters to the universities would command his vote. In sub mitting his project to the house lie claimed fur it the credit of being a large and comprehensive reform, calculated to extend the utility of the university sys tem, and render it more more worthy of the nation, while preserving intact its ancient spirit and cha racter. The motion having been seconded, Mr. BLACKETT regretted that no provision was made in the billl for the admission of dissenters. This regret was shared in by Mr. ML.&LL, who dilated on the injustice inflicted upon the noncon formist body in the country. Mr. WALPOLE followed the proposition through its various details, on which he offered many criticisms, and suggested several considerations requiring cau tion. lie thought that an enabling, and not a com pulsory, bill would be sufficient for the country, and much more respectful towards the university. Sir W. HEATHCOTE pointed out that nothing short of a compulsory act would avail, the collegiate autho rities being bound by their own statutes against any serious charges. Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER believed that the plan now proposed embodied a judicious selection from all the various schemes previously suggested for university reform. The disoussion,which involved allusions to various details of the bill, Was pursued by Mr. Wigrana, Mr. Heywood, and Mr. Walpole. Mr. GLADSTONE rejoiced to find that the subject would be treated in no party spirit. Respecting the THE PRESS. matters of detail on which remarks had been made, he called on the house to suspend its judgment until the bill was fairly before them. The introduction of a clause for admitting dissenters, which Mr. Hey wood had suggested, lie intended to meet with a negative when the time came, and then proceeded to defend the measure as regarded two essential points, namely, the change in the government of the uni versity, and the interference with collegiate pro perties. Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE condemned the proposal to tamper with the provisions of founders' wills. Mr. NEWDEOATII denounced the attempt to inter. fere with the self-governing and self reforming action of the university. Leave was then given, and the bill brought in and read a first time. NEUTRALS. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr. MILNER Gassos called attention to the trade carried on in neutral vessels, and, after remarking upon the imperfect information that hail alread y transpired, demanded from the Government an ex plicit statement of their intentions with regard to the matter. Enlarging upon the magnitude and impor tance of our commerce, he submitted that it might be found possible to conduct hostilities without em• baiTassing trade ordestroying private property to the same extent as in previous eras of warfare. The hon. member had placed a motion on the paper for the transmission of instructions to our cruisers to abstain from interfering with neutral vessels, what ever might be their cargoes, and contended that this prohibition would give no advantage to Russia, and would save English subjects from much loss and vexation. _ _ Mr. HORSFALL, in seconding the motion, urged the Government to adopt a law for the purpose of putting down privateering altogether. Lord JOHN RUSSELL could only say that it was the intention of the Government to advise the issuing of a document declaratory of the policy to be pursued. Such a document involved questions of great impor tance, and should only be issued with especial care, as a mere uncertainty in the wording might produce serious consequences. It would be issued before the declaration of hostilities, and he therefore trusted the house would not press the Government too closely. Mr. T. BARING hoped the Government would pro nounce their decision as speedily as possible. Lord J. RUSSELL said that it was necessary first to communicate with France ; but the declaration would not be delayed longer than was absolutely necessary. After a few words from Mr. BRIGHT, the subject dropped. Mr. Moons called the attention of the house to the appointment of Mr. Stonor, who, he said, obtained it on account of—instead of, in spite of—his corrupt practices. Mr. HUME hoped that subject woto d not be per sisted in. _ _ ➢lr. FRENCH demanded explanation. Mr. F. PEEL explained that the extreme respecta bility of the signatures of the Nutley testimonial caused the appointment to be made with a certain carelessness which he regretted. Mr.WHITUBIDE said that incapacity and ignorance had been inflicted upon Ireland and the colonies, and now corruption was added. Mr. Bow aER defended Mr. Stoner, who had been, he said, appointed by the Government in full cogni sance of the facts, and was ruined because official men made a mistake and were sorry for it after wards. Mr. MAUNA said that the question was not of Mr. Stoner, but of the Government. The proceed ings of Mr. Stonor were matters of public debate before his appointment, the cancelling of his ap pointment would ruin him for ever, and the care lessness of the Government was the entire cause. Mr. STANLEY thought Mr. Stonor already suffi ciently punished. Mr. BUTT referred to the notoriety of the discus sions respecting Mr. Stonor last year, in which the Government took part, and yet alleged that they knew nothing of his misdeeds. Mr. SADLEIR with great warmth repelled the charge of Mr. Moore respecting his election for Sligo, de claring his assertion a slander and a libel. Called to order three or four times by the Chair, he re tracted his assertions, and then made them in another form. Mr. Moons replied with equal vehe mence amid cries of " Order!" and the SPEAKER, say ing it was the best thing he could do, quitted the chair in the midst. of the debate. In committee, Mr. Hats moved as an amend ment that the income tax be extended to incomes of 00/. a year, saying that the war affected all classes, and was chiefly urged on by persons now exempt from taxation. Mr. GLADSTONE would not give any opinion, or pledge, on such a subject in the actual uncertainties. The subjecting of incomes of 100/. per annum to the income tax had already brought within its scope SATURDAY, persons living upon weekly wages, a class of persons very difficult to reach. A further extension of taxa tion on such a class demanded more experience than we now had. Mr. DIMAELI objected to proceeding with such a motion at midnight. After some remonstrance from the CHANCELLOU of the EXCHEQUER, the chairman reported progress. The house then resumed, and adjourned almost immediately. The French fleet, being occupied in the Mediter ranean in transporting troops to the East, will for the present be only represented in the Baltic by the Austerlitz. At a later period the squadron of Admiral Parseval Deschenes will entar that 11ea to join the fleet of Admiral Napier. A review is to take place in Paris on the 21st inst., at which it is expected the Duke of Cambridge and Lord Raglan will be present. Apartments have been prepared in the Tuileries for some days past for the reception of the Royal Duke and the noble lord. The Mon iteur publishes an extract from the Ga zette du Senat of St. Petersburg, stating that five im perial ukases had declared en etat de siege the govern ment of I._:katherinoslaw, the arrondissement of Taganrog, the government of St. Petersburg, the governments of Esthonia, Livonia, and Archangel, the kingdom of Poland, and the governments of Courland, Kowno, Grodno, Volhynia, and Podolia. The government of St. Petersburg is placed under the special military command of the Hereditary Grand Duke. As a proof of the run made for the new loan, the Siècle mentions that it saw a receipt issued by the Treasury at two o'clock on Thursday which bore the number 20,059. The Gazette de Flandres, a Legitimist journal, has received a first warning for publishing an article con trary to the national honour, and conceived in a spirit eminently hostile to the grand and patriotic mani festations of public opinion. A telegraphic despatch from Copenhagen, dated March 14, states that several sail of the English fleet had been signalled. A frigate had come to anchor before the city. According to the latest accounts from Constanti nople the combined fleets were detained at lieycos by the tempestuous weather. The Fury and the Vauban returned on the 2nd inst., the authorities at Sebastopol having refused to receive the despatches of which they were the la. arers. THE CIVIL SERVICE REPORT. TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS." Sir,—Will you allow rise to offer a few remarks on the proposed reform of the civil service ? In the first place, the evidence upon which the report was founded was not fairly taken. The case of the great mass of clerks was not considered. "No CLERK was examined by the commissioners;" consequently, the clerks' case was stated by those whose interest it is to run them down, as unfit for higher appointments. In the second place, the civil service is looked upon as an asylum for the sickly. If this were true, the charges on the Superannuation Fund, which has been accumulating since 1829, a period of twenty-five years, would, as a matter of logical necessity, be numerous and heavy ; whilst, out of a capital of 500,0001., only 8,0001. are paid as pensions. These are two very strong points, amongst many others. I could unfold a tale about Whig jobbery in my own office, and shall be happy at a future time to address you again on the subject. Yours, obediently, JUNIOR CLERK. Whitehall, March 17, 1854. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. Tuesday, March 14. DANKRUPTS.-JOSEPIL &ODLE, Shoreham, Sussex, miller —MAXIMILIAN GUOENHEIMER, Ahiermanbury, and Fore-street, City, importer of foreign goods—ALFRED FORD, Lowndes street, lielgrave-square, surgeon—HENßY MEADOWS, Welling borough, Northamptonshire, druggist—Wm. HENRY COOPER, Great James-street, Bedford-row, upholsterer—Wm. Houowrom, Kennington-oval, Lambeth. licensed victualler—Tmomss London-road, Southwark, horse dealer--JosErm HEAD, Exeter, silversmith. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.—JonN 31`DoNELL,111e ston, Lanarkshire, draper—Gronor: BUCHANAN, Glasgow, dealer in shares—ROßEßT COCHRAN, Port Glasgow, manufacturer— GEORGE GORDON DI:STAN and JANES STEVEN, Glasgow, man chants. Fri<lay, March 17. BANKRUPTS.—THOMAS COINER, lligh[Hulborn, licensed victualler—WlLLlAM DUNCAN, Kingston-upon-Hull, grocer— Jamas Realms, Birkenhead, coal merchant—Manx PARKES, Golden-square, printer—JAMES SHANNON, Liverpool, linen. draper—TAMES MArrittAs, Swansea, IitHOWIESper—CHARLES FERGUSON, Hitchin, draper—JOHN Museum., Cardiff, potato merchant—JonN SxmmuNs, Bristol, cut nail and shoe heel m anufacturer—WlLLlAM JONES, Liverpool, slater and plasterer— WILLIAM FORBES, Birmingham, stationer and bookbinder—. JOHN FRATKR, Manchester, brewer—Tmomas Boom/was Moss, Little Tower-street, City, tea and colonial dealer—JOHN HUNTER, Fazeley, Sta ff ord, tare and lace manufacturer. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS—RoDaier WILSON, Glasgow, calenderer--JonN STEWART, jun., Glasgow, writer—Yr:Talk DI`LAREN and COMPANY, Glasgow, ship carpenters