The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-26 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.

The Council of University College, London,
after hearing last Saturday the opinion of the law officers
of the crown that they were bound to comply with the
requisition for a special meeting, and that any resolution
pared at it would be legally binding, decided to summon
a special court of proprietors for this day week, Saturday,
February 2, at half-past 8 o'clock, to discuss the matter
named in the requisition. The .Secrtator believes
it is the intention of one of the Fellows to raise
the principle in dispute in the broadest form by
moving—" That in the opinion of this meeting any candi-
date who is otherwise the most eligible for any chair or
other office in this college or the school, ought not to be
regarded as in any manner disqualified for such office be-
cause he is also eminent as • minister or preacher of any
religious church or sect." There is a rumour which our
contemporary can scarcely believe, that a counter-propo-
sition will be submitted to the meeting, declaring all per-
sons engaged in the clerical or ministerial profession un-
suitable for chairs in the college.
" There was a universal belief," says the ithener urn,
" orated by every kind of declaration on the part of the
promoters, and fostered by unflinching adherence, that no
disqualification on religious grounds was to be tolerated,
whether es to teacher or pupil. The best professors were
to be chosen, independently of their faith, and of their
notoriety as followers of their faith. To the surprise of
the old friends of the college, it turns up that eminence
as • teacher of an unpopular sect is to be hence-
forward a disqualification; and some declare that
it always has been so, and that the real principle
of the college is untouched by the recant decision in the
matter of Mr. Martineau. Univeisity College belongs to
its proprietors. It is for them to declare what it is to be ;
and for us to accept their decision. It is for them also to
declare what it has been ; and for us to believe them or not,
as we may. Our object in writing is to press for a large
attendance at the meeting, is order that a definite result
may be arrived at. Pray let the world know how the
matter stands, lest in forty years more there should be
need of a new correction of opinion."

At Rome, a few nights ago, • Russian prince in
the Cafe African, Prince Nicolas Troubetakoy, happening
to enter into that establishment to light his cigarette,
just as the Pontifical soirri were effecting a perquiaition
on the persons of everyone of the visitors and hahitais of
the rofr, , was himself captured with the of polloi and
searched to the skin, either for revolutionary manifestoes
or prohibited weapons, none of which the obirri discovered.
The prince was indignant at this treatment, and made •
formal complaint of it the nest day to the Governor of
Rome, Monsignor° Randi, who made most ample excuses
and promised that the police agents should be punished
for making such a gross mistake al overhauling • Huainan
prince instead of • republican conspirator.

The Moniteur de la Aieurthe states that a magni-
ficent stallion called Souverain, purchased by the French
government for the imperial breeding stud at the prioe of
10,000 fr., was killed at the Rosieres station of the Eastern
Railway by a goods t• 11411 running into the horse-box in
which it was being conveyed.

KING'S COLLEGE, Loxriox.—There are among the
list of wranglers the following students of the college and
school :—Clifford, 2nd wrangler; Humphreys, sth wrangler
of the college; Gathers, 12th wrangler; Humphreys,
*hlat
wrangler of the school.
LITERARY ASO SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE
ENIWING WCZK.—Monday—Entomological, at 7, anniver-
sary; Actuaries, at 7, "Rate of Mortality from 1781 to
1861 ;" Architects, at 8 ; Society of Arts, at 8, "Pottery
and Porcelain, Majolica," Mr. Chaffers (Cantor Lectures) ;
Geographical, at Bj, " Best Site for a Capital of India,"
Hon. G. Campbell; "Inland Navigation of Travancore,"
Mr. Markham. Tuesday—ltoyal Institution, at 3, " Vibra-
tory Motions and Sound," Professor Tyndall ; Engineers, at
8, "Ships of War." Wednesday—Society of Arts, at 8,
" Judge's Report on Art Workmanship Competition."
Thursday—Royal Institution, at 3, " Vibratory Motion
and Sound," l'rofesaor Tyndall ; Royal, at ttj ; Antiqua-
ries, at Bj. Friday—Royal Institution at S. "Crystal
Palace Fire," Mr. Scott Russell. Saturday—Royal Insti-
tution, at " Harmony," Mr. Macfarren.—A Memnon.
VERY SMALL TALK. —He ia ina dreary waste of
bald meteorological statements,a morassof neighbours'
affairs, a labyrinth of censorious and ungenerous comments
on the doings of other people ; pitfalls of scandal— doubt-
less, however, not intended for any real damage—surround
him. Let us drop metaphor ; go into any society ; not
necessarily into that of the suburban " Row" of semi-
detached villas, or that of the small county town, or the
colonial garrison, but into the homes and among the
families of English gentlemen. It is painful to listen to
the general conversation ; a name of a mutual friend is
meationed, and something which he or she, his or her
belongings have said or done, is commented upon with a
freeilo.n which, to be in soy way justifiable, presupposes a
thorough knowledge of all aides of the case ; and the
minor worries of life, servants, babies, and the like are
sure to have their full share of the conversation. Of
course conversation about our own past, present, and
future is strictly legitimate ; in fact it is almost too true
that it is to be wished that egotism were a more prevailing
vice in such intercourse. If there be conversation which
should be the exception and not the rule, it is the farrago
which, in too many homes is dished up for daily con-
sumption. If anyone thinks we exaggerate, and that
small talk such as we have been describing is quite un-
necessary, let him endeavour to abstain for four-and-
twenty hours only from discussing other people's affairs,
and he will find in the difficulty he encounters a ffoof
of the truth of what we have alleged. And this pernicious
habit, if indulged in, obtains the mastery. The mind
becomes enervated, the mental viaion is contracted, the
reflective faculties are paralysed by disuse. At first too
lazy to look up, the victim's back is soon stiffened so that
ere long he cannot. When in health, he refused to gaze
on God's world and to seek for lessons from it by the light
of the glorious sun ; he preferred by the aid of his miser-
able artificial light to gaze fixedly into the minutia of the
little plot of ground immediately around him ; and now,
even if he can raise his head, be is dazzled by the extent
and afflenflenr of the prospect offered to his gaze, and
without a sigh or a struggle shrinks back to his own narrow
apliere of observation.—The Argosy for January.
The passengers who canto home in the West
Iwlla Mail packet La Plata, and who have been detained
in quarantine at the Motherbank for upwards of a week,
received pratique yesterday.