The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-17 00:00:00

To the MEMBERS of the UNIVERSITY el
LONDON.

GEN7LE7tIN.-81nce we last itliKessed yon on behalf of Sir
John Lubbock's Committee. changes have occurred with regard
to the representation of the University In Parliament

By the retirement of Dr Wood,thsnumberofoandidatesbreesht
before the University is reduced to four, all of them avowedly
liberals; and on every ground It is desirable that the expression
of liberal opinion with regard to these four ehosild now become
more decided. Judging tram a recent announcement in the
Times" of the number of signatures to the requisition pre-
sented by Mr. Lowe, it would appear that no one candidate has
at present the assured support of any considerable section of the
grailnaten

- That Dr. Wood's views with regard to the representatten of the
University are not shared In by all his late supporters is evident
from the appended letter, which one of us has r.ceived from kir.
Bompas, previously a secretary to his committee, and which we
have the permission of Mr. Romps, to circulate.
We have ventured to ask your support forSiz John Lubbock on
the grounds of his close connection with the University, of his
distinguished literary and scientific attainments, of his ability as
a public speaker and man of business, and, above all, on account
of- his thorough kientificatloa with the educational views and
general politics of the groat majority of our graduates.
We need scarcely say that, as a scientific man himself, and a
leader to the scientific thought of the day, Sir John LuAiock's
opinions upon the value of science in education differ widely
from some which have been recently expressed, and are, we
think, more In accordance with those which a candidate for the
representatimi of a learnoil body might be expected to maintain.
Str John's advocacy of scientific study es an essential part of •
liberal education is 'need open his recognition of its value as ri
means of intellectual culture, rather than upon a mere consi-
deration of the immediate utility of scientific knowledge.
Should you see the force of these consbierailons, and not
already have added your name to the list of Ai/ John Lubbock's
supporters, we beg you will communicate with sine of us at your
earliest convenience.

--IGire:OUle;haiiof the Committee, yours respectfully,
F. W. FAREAD, 8.A., I, It.s., ll,rrow
(I. C. IN/Oita, D.A., Unit mity College,
W.C.
W. °DUNG, MD., F.H.8., St. Barthobo- Hen. Seca.
If mew's Ilespital„ XC.
'`f E I'YF-AMt TB, 8.A., ILD., Guy's Hoe-
pftal, & X
5, Zing's Bench Walk, Temple, EC., Febreary 4, UMS,
My dear l'ye.Sncith,—Tou are no duel& aware that Dr. Wood
has signified Ma intention go longer to continue a candidate
fee the a-prom:dation of the University at London. As ems of
his supporters, I have been obliged, therefore, t, consider**
chalets which the other candidates have upon the suffrages of the
graduates. I have always felt that, If possible, It was desirable
that wo should be represented by one of our own graduates, and
I had first to consider whether I could conseleutiloualy clop .rt
Mr. Ilagehot. The first member fora new university, if a gre.
duets, will neeessarlly be subject to much obvert alien and cri-
ticism, and it is essential therefore tl.at he should not only be a
man of ability, Out one who would afford no handle for hostile
remarks. Moreover, I think one member should be chosen
from those who already have liken some thee and trouble to
the Interests of the University in leas prominent positions; but
Hr Begehot has rendered himself compleuma by his failure
to work for the University, either as a member of the Graduates'
Committee or miler the new charter.

Dr. Wood, in his letter to Mr. Mane, expressing his intentieu
to retire, bas called the special attention of his supporters to
the candidature of Mr. Lowe, but the very points in his opiniess
there referred to sem to zee to afford outasiens for nights
election. His views on education may be from his
=trspeeches, and eigetlally the speech that he delivered
ttnaont at Edinburgh, and, both with relation to the hover
end middle classos, they appear to me wholly erroneous. With
respect to the lower cleanable forelament al proicsition appears
to be that it h the duty of the government to educate the
people, as it is te administer justice and to protect property.
This assumes in the strangest ferns the old tory theory of a p
tical government, which has gradually been giving place for
centuries to the theory of individual liberty, and which, rather
than the mere external form of the government, constitutes the
essential difference between despotism and freedom. With the
conclusion he draws from his theory, that the government ought
to supply by compulsory rating education to those who have
now no means of °Unhinge it, I folly agree; but I understand
that air John Lubbock supports the same views on the sounder
principle that government Is bused to see that children are sup-
plied, either by their parents or, if that is impossible. by govern-
ment itself, with the essentisla of life. With regard to
ruiddiesiass education, Mr. Lowe has ventured to put
as the tint requisite the mutdrement of useful in-
' formation, and to treat as only tecouilary the proper
training et the mind. It will be unfortunate if the advocate of
such principles receive the support of our University, which has
been accused (though untruly) of favouring cramming, end whose
real object lus been to direct the studies of young men in such
a way as should best Irian their mental powers. lem far tram
denying that it is desirahle that sclestine studies should form a
far Wier feature than they do in modem education ; but on this
point also Sir John Lubbock will advocate the same opinions,
with far higher scientific attainments and with sound views on
the true principle, of education. Mr. Lowe's views on the lab-
, ject of the Irish Church are the seine as those of an the other
candidates, and indeed are now so neral that they can hardly
be considered as affordieg any s ground for our support
Yuen, however, tf t had with Mr. Lows In his views on
the subjects referred to by Wood, there are other grounds
on which I should have felt it. Impossible to vote for him. As •
liberal, I could never vote for ogle who has shown by his acts se
well as weeds that he has a profound distrust of the majority of
his fellow-srountrymen. I know it is thought by many of his
supporters that the question of reform being passed, his opinions
on that subject ere of little importance; but so tar is this from
being the case, that in the speech I have referred to, he bases
his views on the question of education on the result of reform,
and says that he should have thought the changes which he now
advocates undesirable, but for the passing of the Reform !
Another question, second only to these mentioned by Dr.
Wood, is our relation with oar colonial empire. Mr. Lowe has
done his best. especially by his speech on the defences of Canada,
to weaken the ties between the colonies and the mother oonntry,
and to create mutual distrust Those who, like myself. have
some connexion with Canada, kllollwhat indignation his olons
excite (and, as it seems tome, justly), not only 1110011 g the leading
t anadians themselves, bat au among those hi Eugiand who are
most interested in the welfare of that colony.
I have heard it said that Mr. Lowe's speech on the prspoeed
annexation of the University of Durham to oar constituency
glue hint a claim to our support. I certainly felt that years of
conscientious and unrewarded work for the University, such as
those of Dr. Wood, deserved every recognition; but the tact
that eta time when it was already known that Mr. Lowe was
likely to be asked to stud for our University, be spoke
motion which would have deprived lam of all prospect Orrineirie!
gentles the constituency, seems to me but • poor ground for re-
turning Mtn as our number.

I hive written thus ac length to you to show you that it
Is not without consideration that I have de,ided to
ask you to allow me to unite with you and your fellow-
workers in endeavouring to secure Sir John Lubbock for oar
future member. Sir John In closely connected with our Univer-
sity, his father wu our first Yice-Cluncellor, and he himself is
a member of the Senate As, too, he in not a member of either
of the older Universities, and his parlismentary reputation is
yet to be made, he will become, if elected, so closet' identified
with our Maturing that it will be of small moment that he
never actually graduated ammo us. The known shinty wNch
has placed him, at so early an age, in the first rank of scientific
man, and which he has employed not only on theoretical pur-
suits but on the study of practical politics, entitles him to the
position of our member while upon the leading question of the
day he is consistently liberal in principle as well as opinions. I
shall be
hishappy, Marston, to give you any aid I mm able in
securing retsina.
I remain, yours fsithfuant
Y Y. BO)EPAS.