The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS; THII.RSDAY : EVENING, MAY 14, 1868.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Ix the Horse of Comirows yesterday, the house
divided on the second reading of the Weights and
Measures (Metrical System) Bill, and the second
reading was carried by 217 to 66.
Mr. COLIZIDOZ moved the second reading of
the Oxford and Cambridge Universities Bill.
He said ho should have been content to have
taken a division in silence if it had not been
that the measure had been subject to much
misrepresentation out of doors. The bill was
an amalgamation of the bill he had formerly
introduced and those of Mr. Bouverie and Mr.
Dodson. The bill dealt with two separate subjects.
As far as the university was concerned, it compelled
and enacted freedom. It provided that for the
future every subject of the realm should be ad-
mitted to the full benefit of university membership
without consideration of his religious profession.
It did not interfere at all with the faculty of
divinity, but it dealt with all the others, and to
that part of the measure there was not, he believed,
any serious objection. The second part of the
measure related to the colleges. It did not enact or
compel the colleges to do anything, but it allowed
freedom of action, or rather it removed the restric-
tions upon freedom of action by the same
authority which had imposed those restric-
tions. It left the church of England to
stand on her own foundations and rely on her own
inherent force. It had been said that they were
endeavouring to take advantage of the property of
others, but it must be remembered that nine-
tenths of the founders were Roman catholics. Ho
referred to the recent address on this subject to
the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to the answer
of his grace, who said that about ten years ago he
was party to a measure which was intended as a
settlement of the question. But who was the
party on the other side to that settlement ? lied
the people of England anything to do with it The
memorial to the archbishop spoke of the bill us
having the effect of putting a stop to religious
teaching in the universities. When he was at the
university the direct religious teaching they got
was derived from the writings and the example of
two illustrious men who were discredited and disa-
vowed by the university authorities—Dr. Aniold and
Dr. Newman. Indirect religions teaching might be
got from religious services and in a hundred other
ways. This indirect religious teaching was pre-
served by the bill. It was enacted that the services
of the church of England should be unaffected by
the bill. Those magnificent endowments of the
colleges of the universities could nut much longer
remain the peculium of one religious denomination.
At the time of the Reformation they were handed
over to the wisest purposes with the best inten-
tions, and if that state of things had remained the
colleges ought not to be interfered with. But that
state of things had passed away, and w ith complete
religions, political, and social freedom it was rea-
sonable to expect complete educational freedom
too.

Mr. WALPOLE then rose to move the rejection of
the bill, lie said it was not a question of educa-
tional freedom, but whether dissenters should be
admitted to the government of the universities.
The church of England was as much entitled to
the preservation of the colleges according to the
terms of their foundation as dissenters were
to the maintenance of their colleges. He
believed the measure would be detrimental to
the convictions, the feelings, and the affections of
the people of this country, with regard to that
combination of religious and secular education
which the people of this country had hitherto re-
garded with so much approval, and which they
still desired to continue.

Mr. WINTER.BuTHAM supported the bill in a
maiden speech of considerable ability.
Sir W. HEATHeOTE said rather than agree to
this bill, he would prefer that some of the colleges
should be made denominational establishments fur
dissenters.

Mr. HUBBARD said the question was whether
England was to remain a religious land or not. The
measure would lead either to a conflict at the uni-
versities on religious subjects, or by common con-
sent they would be entirely tabooed.
Mr. PoweLt considered the object of the bill
was to secularise education and to deprive this
country of its religious character. He was pro-
ceeding to argue against the bill in the same strain
when the clock pointed to a quarter to six,
when, by the rules of the house, the debate stood
adjourned.
The Jurors' Affirmations (.-Scotind) Bill was read
a second time.

The Cotton Statistics Bill, the Customs and
Income-tax Bill, sad the Exchequer Bonds
(1,00,0404 Hill, all passed through committee.
Mr. t:LAnsroNE then moved for leave to bring in
a bill founded on the resolutions passed in reference
to the Irish church, suspending all appointments to
benefices and dignities for a limited iwriod.
Mr. !Cm DEGATE, however, objected to the intro-
duction of the bill at that hour, and
The SPEAK El: said if the hon. member objected
to it, the motion must be postponed till this day.
The motion was postponed accordingly, and the
house adjourned at six o'clock.

THE WoRKING MEN'S AS7,O,IATION AND TILE
f'l'inch.—Last night, between 3,1 a sl and 4,0® per.
sons a:ssetubleel in Trafalgar-square, in compliance with
the request of the London Working Men's Association,
"• to denounce the conduct of the government at the pre-
sent crisis, and call for their immediate removal front
office." Mr. Geo. l'otter (the chairman), accompanied by
Mr. Wales, Colonel Dickson, Mr. Keevil, of the Irish
branch of the Reform League, and others, occupied a posi-
tion on the pedestal of the Nels n monument, :and deli-
vered speeches denunciatory of the conduct of tLe minis-
try with regard to the Irish church, and laudatory of the
manly and independent course adopted by Mr. Gladstone
and the cpposition. The proceedings throughout were of
a most enthusiastic character, and notwithstanding the
attempt of an eccentric old man to create dis-
order, by denouncing Mr. Potter as a " pro-papist
fellow." and the industrious dissemination un the
part of tie Westminster Working Men's Constitutional
Association of circulars containing the stereotyped argu-
ments of the supporters of the Dish church, the utmost
harmony and unanimity prevailed. The following resolu•
tions were adopted:-1. " That this meeting of working
men of London congratulate their Irish brethren upon the
disposition at last evinced by the House of Commons to
do justice to their long mi.-governed country, by removing
one of its principal grievances—the existence of an alien
church, opposed to the religious feelings of the great
body of the Irish people -and by an imperative dis-
endowment of all religions denominations in Ireland."
'2. " That this meeting is of opinion that the conduct
of Mr. Disraeli and his colleagues ia the government
in continuing to hold office in the face of the large
majority of Gi, by which their opposition to Mr. Glad-
stone's resolutions upon the Irish church was con-
demned, and in publicly using the name of her Majesty
to sustain them in that comae, is in every way indecent and
unconstitutional, forming a precedent highly dangerous
to the liberties of the people, and degrading to themselves
as a government. This meeting, therefore, is of opinion
it is the duty of the liberal leaders in parliament to eject
the present unconstitutional ministry from office by a
direct motion declaring that they do not possess the con-
fidence of the House of Commons." 3. " That the fore-
going resolutions he forwarded to her Majesty, through
the Secretary of State for the Home Department, accom-
panied by an humble address, preying that she will with-
hold her sanction to any dissolution of parliament before
the business of the session is concluded, and accept the
resignation of her present ministers, mid appoint their
successors from the majority of the present House of
Commons."

ELECTORAL ORGANISATION. The advanced
liberals of Norwich are anticipating the new order of
things inaugurated by the Representation of the People
Act, 1867, by enrolling as many as possible of those who
will become registered electors at the next revision in
support of certain defined principles. Already about
1,800 have been enrolled, and the promoters of the move-
ment hope by this means to make their principles more
effectively felt at the ensuing election. On Tuesday
evening progress was reported at a soirée held in St.
Andrew's Hall, which was tastefully decorated for the
occasion. Mr. J. H. Tillett, an influential local solicitor,
will probably be nominated as the candidate of the
advanced liberals of Norwich at the dissolution. The
present sitting members for Norwich are Mr. K. Warner
and Sir W. Russell.
"I hare suffered very much from a pain in my
aide for twelve months. I tried a great many medicines,
but got no relief mail I used your Pain Killer, when I
wen began to recover, and RIO now quite wall.—Asx
MURPHY." "Sirs,—l desire to bear testimony to the won-
derful efficacy of your excellent medicine, which I believe
has no equal. I was afflicted with heart disease, and could
find no relief till I got the Pain Hiller, which soon cured
me.—FANNY SILVERS. Dudley, June 10, 1860. To Perry
Davis & Son, 17, Southampton-row, Holbora,W.C." None
genuine without their trade mark, "PAIR RULER," on
the govt. stamp. Sold by all respectable chemists.—[Advt.

MUSIC.
NNW PHILHARMONIC CONCEITS.
The following is the programme of last night's
seseert—the ascend of the SIBMIIO4I :

PART I.
Ovetturs, Ira Xrnatea Style, Op Hsi SPAM
Aria. "Nei veridical& awl" tDinuralth Signor
Graziana Meyerbeev.
Sit
y andmphon cy. inAtr, b t Sweet~bird r' Po movementems;
berosoi, Schabert.
k.
Mdlle. Xnequist ; Flute obbligato,
Mandate Handel.
Corn erto, lo S riot, Pianoforte, Herr Litheek
11w., " Tutte le Irate al tempt° " ißiguletto)
Mdlle. Enequirt and Miriam tiradeni Verdi