The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-05-25 00:00:00

MR. LOWE on the HIGHER EDUCATION.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking as mem-
ber of Parliament for the University of London, last
week, at the annuul meeting for the conferring of de-
grees, remarked on the difficulty of the examinations
for degrees in the University of London, and drew
from it reasons why unsuccessful candidates should
not be unduly discouraged, and why the public
appreciation of the value of these degrees was
steadily increasing. Its reviewing the relations of the
university to "foreign" bodies, Mr. Lowe gave a
sketch of the proposals recently made for establishing
a legal university and a conjoint medical examining
board, and of the proceedings of the Senate in refer-
ence thereto.
As to the legal university, every one admitted that the
right to become legal practitioners should not be conferred
as now by the inns of court, simply in return for so much
money and the eating of so many dinners. Oil the other
hand, the multiplication of bodies examining for degiens,
especially in close proximity to each other, almost neces-
sarily, owing to competition between the examining bodies,
lest to a deterioration in the quality of the examina-
tion. Multiply teaching boilie• it you will, and promote any
amount of competition between them ; hut let the exa-
mining body be one which shall secure that the teaching Is al-
ways anti everywhere of the best possible quality. From
an amusing derivation of the word university (as if from
roersta unuta, and therefore denoting a body not bent upon
one thing) Mr. Lowe "naturally concluded " that •
University devoted to law alone, or to medicine, or
any other subject alone, was no University at
all. But the views of the Senate and of Convo-
cation hail been carefully escolaiued to Sir Roundel'
Palmer, and probably the term University, ae applied to the
proposed School of Law. would he stropped. The exaniina-
Lions of the numerous bodies wide'i have the right to confer
a degree or licence to practise in montane were a good Mug-
tration of the way In which competition among such bodies
operated. Hence arose the movement for a conjoint ex-
amining board for each of the three kingdoms. In tins
movement the Senate had heartily Fined; but at the last
moment it was found that the University was precluded by
Its charter from surrendering its right to conifer a licence to
practise in conjunction with its medical decree,. The Home
Secretary had, however, undertaken to introduce an Act of
Parliament empowering the university to hold that right in
abeyance. Me Lowe then reterred to the recent opening of
a" colte.y "of the university, viz the Brown Anillni Sanatory
Institution at Wandsworth, and stated that, until he became
one of the Cattle Plague Commissioners, he had no idea of the
extent to which human pathology might be illustrated by the
study of the diseases of animals. Among the signs of
advancement of the age, not the least was the improvement
In the condition and treatment of animals. This was in
part due to the writings of Mr. Darwin, who, though he was I
considered by some to have dragged down man, might
equally well, perhaps better, be considered rather to have
elevated the animal creatism. Looking now at "home," the
principal question at present under discussion was the re-
tention or rejection of Greek at the matriculation, or, rather,
the making examination in that lauguage compulsory or
optional upon all candidates. Considering the time and
trouble consumed in acquiring a modicum of Greek, to he
forthwith, in ninny cages, forgotten, Mr. Lowe, though an
ardent admirer high of the language and its literature, was
quite of opinion that for candidates who intended to proceed
In science and medicine a good knowledge of German and
Physics was far more advantageous, and that candidates
should he allowed tp take up miss such modern subject in-
stead of Greek.

public papers shall announce the event, and then my family
will seek you and court you as my wife. You, my dear
girl, being endowed with a large amount of judgment,
will appreciate all this. This is a aubject upon whigh
you cannot consult anyone. You may, if you please, mention
it to your respectable aunt, but no one must guide you. . .
I beg you, dear one, to give me your positive answer—yes or
no. Idolipc it will be the former. illou rehise my offer
—which Heaven forbid—retnrn all my letters in a blank
, envelope, and forget the offer was ever made. Direct to
•• Z.," for nip niece makes no scruple of opening my letters.