The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-21 00:00:00

VICITERSITY OF LONDON.

The election of a member of the House of Com-
mons to supply the vacancy in the representation of the
University of London, arising from the acceptance of the
office of Chancellor of the Exchequer by Mr. Lowe, took
place at noon, in the new building, Berlington-gardens.
The occasion was, under the circumstances, almost purely
formal, and but little interest seemed to be felt in the
proceedings. The attendance was sinall.
The Tics-Cssatcuton (Mr. Grote), having briefly
opened the proceedings, and the liminess (Dr. Car-
penter) having read the writ,
Mr. Jrzus Golsen= proposed, and Dr. Qum se-
conded, the nomination of Mr. Lowe, who was declared
duly elected.
The Cuurciur.oa of the Excuser= said,—Gentlemen
electors of the University of London, I have so recently
acquitted myself of the heavy load of gratitude towards
you for electing me as your representative to serve in
parliament, that I really know not with what words or
with what expressions I can do justice to my feelings at
the present moment. I thank you most heartily for
giving me this renewed proof of your confidence.
On my own behalf I thank you, and also on behalf of the
government which has been recently formed, because I
think I am justified in inferring so much from my election
to-day, namely, that you are not displeased with the for-
mation of that government, and that nothing has passed
since we met here on the lest occasion, a month ago,
which has diminished your confidence in the leader of
that government and in those who support him. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, on a recent occasion I entered at much length
into my views on many political questions. I do not
think it would be becoming in me, or even respectful
to you, were I to detain you with a similar
enunciation at the present time. Of course neither
can Ibe expected to say anything of the policy of the
government, which is really not yet fully coeetituted.
My own office, for instance, awaits its consummation
this evening. I can only say so much, that lam quite
aware I have undertaken an once of very great difficulty
and responsibility, and one which I am conscious of
being very imperfectly qualified to lIIL I
shall be exposed necessarily probably to more
criticisms than almost any other member of
the government, because I come nearer to that meet
susceptible part of the British person—the pocket of his
trousers. (Laughter.) Therefore, I beg you, gentlemen,
to extend to me your favourable construction when you
hear or see harsh things said of me in parliament
and in the newspapers, and will remember that
he office I hold is one whose business it is
emphatically to make itself disagreeable to everybody all
round. (Laughter.) My business is to be perpetually
refusing what sounds like most reasonable and proper
demands, to be interfering with every department of
the government, and probably, once a year at least, it
may be, I fear, to appear in the very unwelcome character
of a person making fresh demands on the tax-payers
of this country. Such a man must expect
to have his conduct scanned very severely, and I
am prepared for it. All I beg of you, gentlemen, is that
you will extend a kind construction towards me and
remember that Ido not necessarily forfeit the qualities,
whatever they were, which induced you to choose
me as your member, Imam I bare undertaken