The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JUNE 5, 1858.

newspaper controversy showed great want of judgment in the gentleman
who commenced it, and something very like a preference of his own per-
sonal feelings to the interests of the University. These were sure to suffer
in the process. It was impossible but that an unfavourable impression
towards the University should be created by such statements; while, on
the other hand, it could not be expected that the Board should yield to a
letter in a newspaper what they had refused when regularly and respect-
fully requested of them. The letter has effected the minimum of good with
the maximum of evil. It has aroused uneasy feelings in the public such as
may possibly be detrimental to the College; and at the same time it has,
by its result, strengthened the hands of " the Dons," and may perhaps
have steeled them against certain reformatory measures which they
might otherwise have been inclined to grant. For these reasons we
fully concur in the dismissal of Dr. SHAW'S appeal. We should add
that the sentence on Dr. CARMICHAEL, whose offence appears
to have been of a minor character, has been cancelled. The ques-
tion of the censure having been thus dealt with, the Vice-Chancellor next
proceeded to decide on the justice of the original accusation. This
point likewise was given in favour of the authorities, on the ground
that a image of sixty years was quite sufficient to establish the legality of
the distribution of tees. Any other judgment would, as Mr. BilmwsrEtt
observed, have involved the startling proposition that all the Senior Fellows
for nearly a century had been rogues. We entirely concur with the deci-
sion of the Visitors in each case. But, now that the abstract right is
established, the Seniors have an excellent opportunity for acceding to any
really necessary reforms. And if such there be— a point which we are far
from positively asserting—we trust the Hebdomadal Board will show itself
equal to the occasion, and put its accusers to the blush by doing sponta-
neously what it refused to do by compulsion.

The Bombay journals of the beginning of May could know nothing
of the disputes then springing up in England concerning Lord CANNING'S
Proclamation and Lord ELLENDOROUGH'S Despatch. We may, therefore,
accept their testimony as untinged by English party spirit ; and that testi-
mony runs thus :
"We regret to say that the policy which the Governor-General is
pursuing in Oude threatens to be unsuccessful. The country is not be-
coming tranquilized, and we shall require another 40,000 troops from
England within the next two years."

The " Special Services Bill" has been withdrawn, and the whole
matter is now in sea& quo. This Bill, it will be remembered, is the
Bishops' Bill, in deference to which Lord SuArrEsnunv's was withdraws.

But both bills, when criticized, were found to be open to objettions. The
first having been laid aside, the second was passed through the Upper
House, and handed to Mr. DEEDES, who undertook the charge of it in the
Commons. But petitions began to flow in against it, and, on surveying
the ground, Mr. DEIWES judged it to be the most prudent course to
retreat. The question, therefore, is now withdrawn from Parliament ;
and the original promoters of the Exeter-hall services are taking into their
consideration the propriety and expediency of recommencing their labouta.
It is the opinion of some persons that the inhibition of the Incumbent of
St. Michael's will be found to have no legal force.
Meanwhile, the special services at Westminster Abbey continue to be
largely attended.

The decision of the House of Lords admitting the claim of Earl
TALBOT to the Earldom of Shrewsbury is one of no slight importance.
Bearing in mind that inevitably the question had latterly become one in
which the party sympathies of Protestant and Papist were deeply excited,
it is gratifying to find that the highest legal authorities of all political
parties were thoroughly unanimous in their opinion. Lord Caw/mow/it
moved the judgment., and he was supported by Lord WENSLEYDALE, Lord
CAmrnELL, and Lord BROUGHAM.

The representatives of the late Lord's intended heir, Lord EDWARD
HOWARD, announce that it is their intention still to contend for the
estates, which, they maintain, do not necessarily go with the title. On
this point, however, legal opinions are tolerably unanimous in the other
direction, and the verdict will doubtless be an unimpeachable one.

We gave our readers co large a dose of verse last week that it seems
but right to pause for one number at least ; and we do so the more
willingly, inasmuch as the weather is too hot to be favourable to verse-
making. The week, also, has been a dull oue in public matters, and them
is little gaiety in any quarter.