The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-23 00:00:00

OF OXFORD.

TO WIZ QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJZSTT IN COUNCIL.
The humble petition of the Chancellor, Masters,
and Scholars of die University of Oxford, showeth—
That the University of Oxford has front time immemorial
been en university or body corporate, which, since the pass-
ing of the statute made in the parliament holden in the 13th
year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth for the incorporation
of both the universities, has been and Li known by the said
name or style of the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of
the University of Oxford, and your petitioners have had
and enjoyed, and still have and are justly entitled to, divers
rights, franchises, and privileges, as well by prescription as
by various charters and letters patent granted by divers of
your Majesty's royal predecessors, and also by the aforesaid
statute, by virtue of which your petitioners and their pre-
decessors have been and still are a civil corporation, justly
entitled to the sole care, supervision, government, and cor-
rection of the same university, and of all members thereof,
and to the sole regulation and direction of the state, disci-
pline' and studies of the same university and its members,
and also to the sole care, management, and disposal of the
property and revenues of or belonging to the same uni-
versity.
That your'petitioners have used and exercised, and arc
still using and exercising, their several rights and privileges
in accordance with the principles of their constitution ter
the maintenance of true religion, the advancement of litera-
ture and science, and the virtuous education of youth within
their university.
That your petitioners humbly believe that in such use and
exercise of their said rights and privileges they and their
predecessors have greatly contributed towards the improve-
, ment, welfare, and happiness of your Majesty's subjects.
to the supply of persons qualified to servo in church and
state, and to the honour of this kingdom.
That a commission under your Majesty's royal sign manual,
and countersigned by one of your Majesty's principal Secre-
taries of State has been issued, bearing slate the 31st day of
August, 1830, a printed copy of which was, on or about the
21st day of October, 1840, transmitted by the persons
therein named as commissioners to the vice-chancellor of
the said university, and was in the words and figures fol-
lowing—that is to say :
VH:roni.t R.

" Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the
Faith, to the Right Rev. Father in God, Samuel, Bishop
of Norwich; our trusty and well-beloved Archibald Camp-
bell Tait, D.C.L., Dean of Carlisle ; Francis Jenne,
Clerk, D.C.L., Master of Pembroke College, in our
University of Oxford; Henry George Liddell, Clerk, M.A.,
Head Master of St. Peter's College, Westminster ; J.
Lucius Dampier, Esq., M.A„ Vice-Warden of the Stanna-
ries of Cornwall ; Haden Powell, Clerk, M.A., Savilian
Professor of Geometry in our University of Oxford; and
Geo. If. Sacheverell Johnson, Clerk, M.A., of Queen's
College in our University of Oxford, greeting: Whereas,
wo have deemed it evpiAlient, for divers good causes and
considerations, that a commission should fortha-ith issue fur
the purpose of inquiring into the state, discipline, studies,
and revenues of our University of Oxford, and of all and
singular the colleges in our University; now know ye, that
we, reposing great trust and confidence in your
knowledge, ability, and discretion, have authorised
and appointed, and do by these presents authorise and ap-
point you, the mid Samuel Bishop of Norwich, Archibald
Campbell Tait, Francis Jeune, Henry George Liddell, J ha
Lucius Dampier, Baden Powell, and George Henry Sache-
verell Johnson, to be our commissioners for inquiring into

the state, discipline, studies, and revenues of our university
of Oxford, and of all and singular the colleges in our said
university. And for the better enabling you to carry these
our royal intentions into effect, we do by these presents
authorise and empower you, or any tour or more of you, to
call before you, or any four or more of you, such persons as
you may judge necessary, by whom you may be better in-
formed on the matters herein submitted for your considera-
tion; also to call for and examine all such books, documents,
papers, and records, as you shall judge likely to afford you
the fullest information on the subject of this our commis-
sion, and to inquire of and concerning the premises,
by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever. And
it is our further will and pleasure, that you, or any
four or more of you, do report to us in writing under your
hands and seals, within the space of two years from the
date of these presents, or sooner if the same can reasonably
be, your several proceedings by virtue of this our commis-
sion, together with your opinions touching the several
matters hereby referred for your consideration. And we
will and command, and by these presents ordain, that our
commission shall continue in full Piece and virtue, and that
you our said commissioners, or any four or more of you,
may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof,
and of every matter and thing therein contained, although
the same be not continued from time to time by adjourn.
ment. And for your assistance in the due execution of
these presents we have made choice of our trusty and well-
beloved Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Clerk, M.A., to be secre-
tary to this our commission, nr.d to attend you; whose
services and assistance we require you to avail yourselves
of from time to time, as occasion may require.
" Given at our court at St. James's, the 31st day of Au-
gust, MO, in the 14th year of our reign.
" By her Majesty's command.
"G. Gutty."
That the said commission is not sealed by any seal or
signet, and your petitioners believe there is no former in-
stance of such a commission having issued with respect to
the said university.
That your petitioners beg most humbly to represent to
your Majesty that the said commission, and the powers
therein expressed to be granted, are inconsistent wills the
legal rights and privileges of your petitioners, and that in
consequence thereof your petitioners are placed in the pain-
ful situation of being compelled either to give up their
just legal rights and liberties, or to decline obedience to the
commands of your Majesty.
That your petitioners are advised, and humbly beg leave
to submit to your Majesty that if there existed any cause of
complaint against your petitioners, the same should have
been openly preferred and decided in some one of your Ma-
jesty's established courts of justice, and according to the
known laws of the land, but that the said connni,,sion has
been issued by the advisers of your Majesty without your
petitioners having had any opportunity of being heard
respecting it, and without their having received any pre-
vious intimation of complaint ; and that .he so doing does
in an undefined manner, and without assigning any charge,
impute blame to your petitioners, and invite secret accusa-
tions against them, which your petitioners humbly submit
is not only contrary to your Majesty's love of justice, but
also is calculated to create general distrust, to impede the
course of improvement, and to destroy that confidence and
stability which are essential for the well-being of an
university.
That your petitioners, fcelingthe most loyal affection for
your Majesty, and earnestly desiring to manifest their duty
and obedience to your authority, did not venture to approach
your Majesty with the language of complaint until they had
ascertained by. careful investigation the true nature and
extent of the rights, pris lieges, and franchises which have
been granted to your petitioners by your Majesty's royal
predecessors, and confirmed to them by statute ; nod also
Lad been advised that the said commission was not in eon-
formity with the law, and must be taken to have been im-
providently issued.
That your petitioners being thus advised, and believing
that the said commission is unconstitutional and illegal,
forthwith communicated the same to the commissioners
acting under the said commission for their consideration.

the said commissioners; arc notwithstanding con-
tinuing to act under the said commission.
Your petitioners therefore humbly beg leave to approach
your Majesty with this their petition, and humbly pray
that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to direct that
the said commission be forthwith revolted and cancelled, or
that, if necessary, your Majesty will be graciously pleased
to direct this petition to be taken into consideration before
your Majesty in Council, and that your petitioners may
have your Majesty's permission to attend such Council, and
full liberty to be heard before the same by their counsel
learned in the law, and that on full investigation and dis-
cussion of the matters aforesaid, your Majesty will be
pleased to direct the said commission to be annulled, or to
make such other order respecting the same as to your Ma-
jesty in your grace and wisdom shall seem fit. And your
petitioners will ever pray, &c.
We approve of this draft petition.
RICH•RD BCTITILL.
J. It. KIINTUN.
Lincoln's inn, May 7, 1E451.