The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-25 00:00:00

ACT OF UNIFORMITY.

Mr. HEYWOOD rose to move that the house should
resolve itself into a committee, to consider such clauses of
the Act of Uniformity of 1662 as impose religious tests,
limiting the advantages of academical, or grammar, or free
school education ; and so much of any regulations of
National Institutions, either in England or Ireland, as
impose religious tests as conditions or qualifications for
any advantages connected with education in the Eng-
lish or Irish Universities or Public Schools. In deling
so the right hon. gentleman briefly dwelt upon the na.
ture of the oaths in question, and observed that they
might be all very well in the reign of Henry VIII., but
it could not be said that they ought to remain in the
present day, when all educational institutions ought to
be set as free as possible. (Hear, hear.)
Sir E. PERRY seconded the motion, which was then
put from the chair.
Lord PALMERSTON said he had waited for a
moment before offering any observations in the hope
that some hon. gentleman more intimately acquainted
with the subject would address the house. He would
briefly state the course he intended to pursue. With
regard to the first point contained in the motion,
he had no difficulty in agreeing with the honour-
able gentleman who had proposed it ; he thought
these obsolete regulations might be advantageously
set aside ; but with regard to the second,
point he could not go along with his hon. friend, inas-
much as it went to disturb the working of the act of
la,,t year before its operation bad been properly tested.
(Hear.) He should have no objection to the house going
into committee on his hon. friend's bill, when its provi-
sinus might then be discussed, and he would cordially go
with that portion which swept away all those obsolete
regulations to which he had alluded ; but he should re-
serve anything else he might have to say until that
time. He hoped, therefore, in agreeing to the intro-
diiction of the bill, it would be understood that Go-
vernment would adopt whatever course might seem to
them expedient. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GLADSTONE suggested to his hon. friend the
expediency of amending his rnoti-in, as it affected one of
the fundamental statutes of the land—the Act of Uni-
formity. (Hear, hear.) He could not understand the
bill being introduced and read a second time, whereby
its principle would be affirmed, in order that it
might be cut down to proper shape in committee ;
and he put it to his honourable friend whether
this was a proper course to pursue. For his own
part, as he was a party to the settlement of last
year, he must protest against any interference with its
provisions. (Hear, hear.) He begged of hon. gentle-
men not to commit themselves to any expression of
opinion on so vital a matter, which affected, as it did,
the fundamental settlement of some of the great institu-
tions of the eon' try. These questions ought not
to be renewed from year to year ; if they were, the
house must make up its mind to have little else to do
than discuss them. The proper way to arrive at the
desired en-I was to do so step by step. Commissions
bad sat relative to the universities, and, with regard to
Oxford, important recommendation- had been made
altering► the conditi in of those who were not intended for
the Church of England. That university bad manifested
a desire to forward the object aimed at by the
House in those commissions, and had behaved
with perfect good faith. Seeing this disposition
had been manifested, and seeing that it must take a long
time to perreet any new arrangements, he thought the
house ought not at present to interfere. He for his part
would give to any interference with the settlement of
last year a most decided opposition. (Hear, hear.) He
trusted, therefore, his hon. friend would amend his mo-
tion so as to meet this view of the matter. (Hear.)
Lord GEORGE MANNERS thought the house
would do very unwisely in opening up this vast question
at the present time. He quite agreed with the nohle
lord (Lord Palmerston) that all these obselete forms
ought to be abolished ; but he recommended his hon.
friend to modify his motion. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HEY WOOD expressed his willingness to meet
the opinions Of hon. gentlemen by altering his motion ;
but he complained that, in the case of the Dublin Uni-
versity, the sacramental test was still enforced, whilst
it had been discontinued everywhere else. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Heywood then r .ad his motion as modified,
ending with the words "religious tests," and said it
would he for the committee to determine what should be
done afterwards.

M . DISRAELI thought it was extremely unwise that
the house should go into committee on a statute in an
act of no less solemnity than the Act of Uniformity with
no clear notion of what the hon. gentleman intended to
do, and when the noble lord at the head of the Govern-
ment had expressed his sentiment& in a manner which
indicated that he was' totally unacquainted with what
was the intended object of the motion. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HEYWOOD explained that the only object he
had in view was to allow boys to attend grammar
schools and colleges, without having any religious obli-
gations imposed upon them which were not contem-
plated by their parents. (Hear. hear.)
After a few words from Mr. HARCOURT VERNON
and Mr. HENLEY,
Sergeant SHEE said his hon. friend the member for
Lancashire had done himself an injustice in the manner
in which he had altered his motion, inasmuch as he had
not in the slightest degree indicated what religionS tests
he intended to abolish. If his hon. friend would termi-
nate his motion at the word " education," the object of
the motion would then be manifest. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HEYWOOD said he would adopt the suggestion
of the learned sergeant. (Laughter.)
After some further conversation,, the motion, as again
altered, was negatived without a division, owing to the
hon. mover having mistaken the forms of the house as to
the mode of putting the question.