The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

I). 11 §ATITVAYI

'r. mi. s ; •ut: ' •r 4', ese in. ivi. ua reser-
'vations there remains i basis of hope for the
adherents of both of them. Either party may
benefit by the present bill,' • and the statutes
which are to follow lt, and the probability is
that' thwill profit, by a moatfure the legisla-
tive' 'k of whiolVps as Lyet Only half appa-
4tt4
-rent thei,public:- 'OF"".' I Pi.
. ,1,4 .' i IT ';,t, I 1 i : AP "11l
1 N•if4l4 tilif trtie ,Menda, pf the 'University
y.uow.tuny what was contonplated—were they
mformed not, only of
,thp names of the Com-
missioners to be, appointed under the bill,' but
ef the nature of the statutes they will be em-
PWeXed to epact, especially could they learn
kl,
1 iswiltle4pro44vifsiforroilf:94irprotifestrsteips9-,-1. ththee
e ection of professook—what will W.' considered
" a reasonable share" of the colleges therein—
whether any•or what share is to be vested in
the Crown.whgther any or what test of creed,
country, or 'condition is to be required of the
I ' f ' ' there ' be .. • '
pro eftsors, would then an opportu•
hitt of raising a fair diScussion and obtaining
• adequate protection ; but our first complaint
of:the bill, is, that its practical tendeatty is
only half disclosed, and that, while the enemies
oftlie University may have everything to hope,
AS sincerest friends are uncertain what to
fear.
It may, indeed, be conceded that such an
alteration as that proposed in the governing
body oCthe Mnifversity, may render it more
sensitive,! !.o the ohanging requiremente of
the age.. If further securities against undue
persittenee in obsolete plans be absolutely
necessary, this may ensure then; but we are
yet in the dark as to the ultimate bearings
. of the change proposed until we know clearly
the status of the functionaries who are to
play such an important part in the new
order of things. Here again; the objection
recurs that the bill is but a bridge to Ulterior
arrangements, which one of its promoters
can't and the other doesn't explain. "The
concurrence of the University itself has not
been obtained for the measure. Had this
been sought for, discussion would have fol-
lowed, and discussion must have involved the
disclosure of that which is now all so dark
and unsatisfactory. If the change has been
rendered compulsory in order to conceal its
object, or, vice versa, if its object is kept back
to ensure its conipulsory infliction on the
University, there must be occasion, not only
for suspicion, but resistance; at • all events,
there must be reason for alarm on one side,
if there is any valid reason for concealment
on the other.
On the face of the bill there is the further
ground of objection, that it deals in a r .un-
navy fashion with property left from the
purest motives, for public purposes . of a
specific nature, and substantially confined to
those purposes hitherto by consistent usage
and solemn obligations. We are not profes-
sing to raise this question here. on account of
the space its discussion would occupy. But
even this question is .materially affected
by the provisions as yet undisclosed, of which
this bill may be prolific,. The. Times puts as
" the extreme case supposable, that funds for
" maintaining otiose fellows may be directed to
support active professors." This is not the
extreme case, nor an approximation to the
extreme. Wistran WAYNFLETS declared that
his object in founding Magdalene College was
" the exaltation of the Christian faith, the ad-
" vancement of the Church, the increase of
II divine worship, and the liberal arts, sciences,
!'f.and faculties;" it was also his object that
", knowledge of the Holy Sciiptures, which
" were the mother and mistress of all the
" sciences, should be more widely spread." It
would be a strange application of the revenues
of his foundation if they were diverted to the
maintenance of an infidel or Mahometan pro-
fessor. In this event a more extreme case
than that suggested by the Timer would occur
for the consideration of its accomplished
editor, and it would entitle him to the joint
assistance of the casuistry of Mr. PALMER and
the indignant common sense of the shade of
WiLi.fam itiTirsnErx ; and such a case may
not only occur under this bill, but will in all
probability occur if where it is silent we may
interpolate the known proposals of the Uni-
versity Commissioners.