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

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report of the commissioners. Formerly the great uni-
versity
confined to mathematics. He did
ncomplain that Cambridge should have made mathe-
maticsetstudies were
the keystone of its education ; but, feeling that
this was too confined a view, the university somewhat
more than 30 years ago, diverging from its old habit,
introduced into the cylcle of its studies classical studies;
and not confusing its honours with mathematical tripos,
instituted examinations and honours for those proficient
in classical merit. This was in 1824; and as society,
and knowledge, and the appetite for information pro-
gressed, other studies were introduced, and in the last 5
or .6 years other high honours were conferred, and a
moral science tripos and a physical science tripos were
introduced. In legislating upon this question it was the
bounden duty of their lordships to recollect the sort of
body for whom they proposed to legislate, and to bear
in mind that it consisted of persons who fur the dis-
charge of their duties could be safely trusted. It was
obviously impossible for the Government by any course
of legislation to carry out the recommendations of the
commissioners with respect to matters'of discipline, or
internal regulations—those must be left in the hands of
the governing body to be constituted by an act of the
Legislature. All that the Government proposed to do,
or could safely attempt to accomplish, was to put the
governing body of the university in such a position as
that they could do fur themselves all that their conduct
showed they had been anxious to do, and if obstructions
in the statutes had not prevented their doing. There
appeared at first sight no part'cular reason why an act
of a precisely similar character to that passed last year
for Oxford should not be applied to the University of
Cambridge. But while the mode of reformation intro-
duced at Oxford should, he thought, be the same, still
there were many circumstances which rendered some
modification in the details necessary. The bill proposed,
as in the case of the Oxford act, to appoint certain com-
missioners, and to give them power to carry out those
reforms which by statute they were now prohibited from
effecting. The board of commissioners he proposed
should consist of the Earl of Burlington, Lord Mont-
eagle, the Bishop of Chester, Baron Alderson, Professor
Sedgwick, and Mr. John Lefevre. There would be one
other, but he had not yet received the consent of that
nobleman to act upon the commission, and he had also
thought since the bill had been printed that it would be
desirable to add two others, in order to avoid difficulties
which he understood had already arisen at Oxford in con-
sequence of the limited number of the members of the
board. At Cambridge the senate was at present most
inconveniently constituted for any practical result. In
Cambridge the governing body was called the " caput
sanctum," but as now formed it was an eminently ob-
structive body. The Vice-Chancellor now named three
doctors, one of each faculty—law, physic, and divinity,
and also one master of arts of more than five years, and
one of under five years' standing. Each proctor also
named the same number, and the heads of houses made
a similar selection. To leave the council as now con-
stituted would be most discreditable, and the question
arose how was the new council to be formed ? Ile
did not propose that the new council should be formed
in the same mode as that of the council at Oxford. The
convocation at Oxford answered to the senate at Cam-
br'clge, and consisted of all masters of arts or doctors who
retained their names on the books of the colleges. But
at Oxford there existed a select body of convocation
known as the "congregation," which body was to some
extent remodelled by the act of last year, and the council
as appointed by that body consisted of six heads of houses,
six professors, six masters of art of five years' standing, and
six of under that standing. With respect to Cambridge,
there were many reasons which induced him to think that
this would not be the best mode of constituting the council
for that university. There was at Cambridge no such body
as a congregation distinguished from the senate, and it
would be necessary to create, in fact, a constituency, in
order to elect a body similar to the congregation atOxford.
Again,the preponderance of the two colleges of St... John's
and Trinity, at Cambridge,would seriouslyaffect the work-
inee, of a system similar to that of Oxford. Before the
commission was issued by the Government, in 1850, the
university constituted a syndicate, or committee, for the
purpose of inquiring into the best mode of improving the
constitution of the caput and the me ms of its election.
The whole subject was most maturely considered by that
body, and they finally recommended that the caput
should consist of three heads of houses, three doctors,
three professor e three masters of arts above five and three
under five years' standing, to be named by the colleges
in turn, according to the cycle of proctors fixed by the Act
of Elizabeth. This recommendation the bill proposed to
agreat extent to adopt. One alteration which he proposed
to make was to set aside the appointment of doctors as
such, as he thought it an absurd thing to give votes to the
doctors as a class ; doctors would, of course, be eligible
as members, but they could not be elected as doctors.
He also proposed that instead of three there should be
four heads of houses, four professors, four senior and four
junior masters of arts, with the Vice-Chancellor as
their head. Since the had been printed he had
received numerous suggesstions and proposed alterations
with respect to the working of the measure, some of
which he proposed to adopt, and asked the house to
allow the bill to go into committee in order that their
lordships might discuss and consider these various de-
tails. Among the alterations which he proposed to make
was one in section 5 of the bill, which would have the
effoet of removing fs viz' the Vice-Chancellor the power
of veto on the decision of the, council of the senate pro-
posed to be established by the bill. The noble and
learned lord also explained in detail the constitution of
the cycle of proctors., the functions of the syndicate, and
the mode of election. One of the main propositions of
the bill was to abolish, as in the case of the Oxford act,
the necessity for taking that large number of oaths which
were no .v required to be taken. The bill also proposed, in
a similar manner to that of Oxford, to establish private
hall,. Many persons, he believed, were of opinion that,
owing to the constitution of the colleges at Cambridge.
these private halls were not necessary ; there were, how-
ever, various reasons which induced him to think that
their establishment would he attended with beneficial
results. (Hear.) The next class of enactments relating to
the constitution of the council formed the substance of
the bill. They were similar to those in the Oxford bill
in which power was gives to the colleges, and in cases
of trustees, to the university, to alter and modify the
trusts, so as to interfere with the intention of the testa-
tor or donors. Then came clauses, a'so taken from the
Oxford bill, which rendered it unnecessary on admission
to the university to take any oath or make any declara-
tion whatever.. He believed that the mode of cons itut-
ing the council was the best that could have been adopted
for the university, and with these observations he asked
the house to resolve itself into committee on the bill.
Lord LYNDHURST very much regretted that it had
been expedient, and he might add necessary, to intro-
duce the bill now on their lordships' table. For seve-
ral years past the University of Cambridge had been ac-
tively and industriously employed in endeavouring to
amend its statutes and to render them as extensively
useful as possible. (Hear.) The university had been
checked from carrying their intentions into effect by a
want of sufficient authority for that purpose ; and it
would have been much better if it had been practicable
to introduce a bill merely to give effect to their amend-
' meets than to introduce a bill like the present ; but he
admitted that after the passing of the Oxford bill it
would have been difficult, and perhaps improper, to have
pursued such a course, because it might have created
some unpleasant feeling between the two universi iee
which had hitherto been united in frien iship. He regretted
to find that the universities did not possess so much hold
on the public opinion as they had heretofore done. When
he first entered public life the majority of the members
of Parliament had been educate I at the universities,
but he understood from good authority that no more
than one-sixth or almost one-fifth of the present mem-
bers had been so educated. It has been repeatedly said
that the system of instruction pursued at the universities
was becoming obsolete, and that a great and radical alte-
ration ought to be made in that system, and in the mode
of mode of carrying it on. Now he did notbelieve there
was the slightest foundation for such an opinion. (Hear.)
He should very much regret the necessity of introducing
any essential alterations. Young men entered the uni-
versity at the age of 17 or 18, and remained about three
years and a-half, and the question was, how that import-
ant period of a young man's life could be best and most
profitably employed. The object was to form the character I
raise
i t
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powersal and
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individual were capable of attaining, and for this pur-
pose his studies were directed to the cultivation of
the taste, to the formation of the judgment, to the
invigorating of the reasoning powers, and above all '
to instil into the mind of the student the principles
of religion and morality. It was not to be sup
posed that classical educationconsisted merely of instruct-
ing"
young men to translate a few passages in classical
authors. Far different was the course of study pursued
at Cambridge. The student was instructed to read the
most eminent.authors, poets, philosophers, orators, and
historians among the ancients, and to compare them,
under the direction of his tutors, with modern writers of
the best character writing on the same subject. As con-
nected with ancient history, the student was instructed
in the laws and institutions of the ancients, and not only
composition in ancient language but in his own tongue.
He submitted to their lordships that no system of study
was better calculated to form the character of a gentle-
man in its most comprehensive sense. (Hear.) The attec-
tion of the student was directed also to mathematical
science. Let it not be supposed for a moment that
his instruction in this respect was confined to a few
problems of "Euclid." On the contrary, that branch
of science was cultivated to an immense extent in

adorning each other. He should regret extremely any
interference with the branches of learning to which he
had alluded. No university had ever produced more dis-
tinguished men than the University of Cambridge. It
Produced that father of inductive reasoning, Newton ; it
produced Milton, the sublimest of poets ; Spencser, Dry-
den, Cowley, Byron ; it produced, amongst other great
lights of English jurisprudence, Coke, and a long train
of jurists, including Thurlow ; it produced, amongst
other statemen, Walpole, William Pitt, the great orator
and statesmen, and the noble lord opposite (the Marquis
of Lansdowne), who, as leader of their lordships' house,
had shown so much tact and eloquence, and such an
abundance of good sense. (Hear, hear.) It had also
produced most eminent men for the right reverend
bench, such as Barrow and Jeremy Taylor. But he
must leave their lordships to fill up the long catalogue of
worthies who had issued from that university. Such
was the system of instruction which had prevailed at
Cambridge in olden times, and such was the fruit which
it had produced. (Hear, hear.) He trusted their lord-
ships would be careful not to impair the efficacy of such
a system by the introduction of new devices likely to in-
terfere with it. He would now call the attention of their
lordships to the mode in which the system of instruction
was carried on. He did not find in the bill any specific
clause making any alteration in this respect, but ho found
certain provisions which, connecte 1 with other things he
had heard, led him to suppose that very extensive alte-
rations were in prospect. The mode of instruction was
very diversified. It consisted of instruction by tutors
of colleges, private tutors, mentors, professors, and
others. He believed that private tuition was almost the
exception and not the rule, and tfiat persons who had the
assistance of private tutors did not come out the most dis-
tinguished. Persons seeking medical honours were obliged
to have private tutors, but he considered the system
of private tuition a great evil, for it led to the system of
cramming, weakened the faculties of the student, and
was unjust towards those who were not in a pecuniary
situation to obtain such, and he believed the most dis-
tinguished members of the university were anxious to
limit, if not put an end to the system. He believed also
there were some defects in the system of education by
college tutors, which it was desirable to remedy. With
respect to the residence of students in the town, he be-
lieved the clauses were taken from the Oxford Bill. Ad-
verting to the subject of private halls, the noble and
learned lord said he was satisfied they would not have the
effect of reducing the expenses incidental to a university
education, while, as for their encouraging the entrance of
Dissenters, it was hardly likely that a Dissenter would be
willing to send his son to one of these establishments,
where he would be under the direct control of aTmem-
ber of the Established Church. With respect to the re-
commendations of the Royal Commissioners, they were
principally founded upon the report of a syndicate which
the University itself had appointed to inquire into its
constitution ; and therefore it was more than possible
that many of the reforms which they suggested would
have been carried out even in the absence of any legisla-
tive enactment on the subject. Some objection had been
taken to this measure, because it did not include the
system of open voting in the Senate, now applied to Ox-
ford ; but the fact was, if that system was introduced at
Cambridge, all the power of regulating the University
would be thrown into the hands of the members of Tri-
nity and St. John's colleges, who decidedly formed the
majority of the University. The noble and learned
lord (who had become so hoarse towards the ter-
mination of his address as to be scarcely audible
in the gallery), concluded by apologising to their
lordships for having detained them so long, but
the bill was one of considerable importance as well
to the public as the university, and since he took a deep
interest in the continued success of the university, it was
his wish as it was his duty to do all that in him lay to
make the measure as perfect as possible. (Cheers.)
Thu Earl of POWIS said he had listened with much
delight to the eloquent and instructive speech of the
noble lord, which he thought ought to convince every
one that the past and present condition of the University
of Cambridge was highly satisfactory. Those who bad
declared that the university had failed to produce men
of learning and distinction in former centuries, would
find a sufficient answer to their charge in the names
which the noble and learned lord had recalled to me-
mory ; while as for the notion that the existing sys-
tem of the university was inadequate for the wants
of the age, he thought that assertion was refuted by
the brilliant reputation of the noble and learned lord
himself, who, whether in Westminster-hall or in the
chambers of Parliament, had always displayed the highest
order of intellect. (Cheers.) With regard to the
measure before their lordships, the noble and learned lord
who hal charge of it had wisely taken warning from the
fate of the Oxford Bill, and had avoided all those useless
changes which gave rise to so much controversy last
year. He felt, therefore, that there was some chance of
this bill passing without undergoing any very material
emendation, though at the same time that he made that
admission he must be allowed to observe that when he
contrasted what the university bad gained from private
bounty with the little the State had done for it, he could
not help thinking that the State was somewhat arrogant
in the pretensions it put forth to deal with the founda-
tions, the scholarships, and the fellowships of the uni-
versity. It appeared to him also that much of this
legislation was dictated by a bigoted and narrow-minded
spirit ; but much would depend upon the discretion of
those to whom these legislative powers were to be
entrusted, and he, therefore, regretted to find that
with one single exception all the commissioners to be
named in the bill belonged to one political party. The
noble earl then proceeded to discuss the details of the bill,
and in doing so, he said he concurred with most of what
had fallen from the noble and learned lord who had pre-
c3ded him ; but lie could not agree with him in thinking
that any. fetters ought to be put upon the free choice of
the student by selecting his own private tutor. It would
very often happen that one part of the lectures delivered
in a college would not supply all that a student need de-
sire in order to enable him to take honours. Private tui-
tion was therefore a good test of the efficiency or non-
efficiency of the system pursued in the colleges. He
hoped, however, that there would be no diminution of
liberty on the part of a student to have recourse to pri-
vate tuition if he desired to avail himself of that conve-
nience.

was found necessary to erect !ew works ; he sent for
Sir C. Fox, who gave a satisfactory assurance, and the
works were commenced. The factory had been in ope-
ration now for some time, and it was found satisfactory.
The building was working well, and seemed to be on the
whole satisfactory.

REMOVAL OF WOUNDED.
Mr. BRADY asked the Secretary for War if (in the
event of another battle taking place before Sebastopol)
any means bad been recommended by the Medical Di-
rector-General for the removal of the wounded from the
battle-field other than those usually employed (namely,
bannermen and drummers); and, if so, why were not
those means resorted to after the battles of Alma and
Ink erman?

Mr. PEEL said he knew of no plan recommended by
Dr. A. Smith, except what he stated before the Sebasto-
pol Committee ; but the removal of wounded was espe-
cially provided for.
ARMY PROMOTIONS.
Major REED asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether her Majesty's Government were satisfied as to
the correctness of a statement made in that house, to the
effect that there had existed, and at present did exist, a
system of paying large sums above the regulation price
for promotions in the army (which by Act 49 Geo. 3
was made a misdemeanour), and, if so, whether her Ma-
jesty's Government had taken, or intended to take, any
and what steps, at once to put a stop to the same ?
Lord PALMERSTON said though such practices did
occasionally occur they were entirely contrary to the
existing regulations.
SAVINGS BANKS.

In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
Mr. WILSON said certain savings banks returns
ordered on 23d Dec. last were not yet ready, but would
be very soon presented to the house.
INDIAN FINANCE.

I❑ reply to Mr. DISRAILI,
Mr. V. SMITH said no official intelligence had been
received as to the financial loan opened by the Indian
Government, but no doubt some intelligence would be
sent home, and as soon as it was received it should be
submitted to the house.

➢lr. DISRAELI said as the answer of the hon. gen
tleman was not satisfactory, he should take an early op
portunity of bringing the subject before the house.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL.

In reply to Mr. BRIGHT,
Lord PALMERSTON said he had had a telegraphic
despatch informing him that Lord J. Russell left Vienna
yesterday, and that Mr. Hammond would be here on
Thursday.

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, eiaer 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 doing
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
last year before its operation had been properly tested.
(Hear.) He should have no objection to the house going
into committee on his hon. friend's bill, when its provi-
sions might then be discussed, and be 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-
duction 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 motion, 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 country. 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 end was to do so step by step. Commissions
bad sat relative to the universities, and, with regard to
Oxford, important recommendations had been made,
altering the condition of those who were not intended for
the Church of England. That university had 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 perfect 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 amen/ 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 noble
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 read his motion as modified,
ending with the words "religious tests," and said it
would be for the committee to determine what should be
done afterwards.
Mr. 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 sentiments 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 thorn 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 hou. 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 religious 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
bon. mover having mistaken the forms of the house as to
the mode of putting the question.

Lord REDESDALE must congratulate the Univer-
sity of Cambridge on the discussions that took place last
year on the 'bill for the reform of the University of Ox-
ford. He confessed, however, that he did not see that
the same measure had been meted out to the two
universities. A much larger measure of alteration
had been operated on Oxord than Cambridge re-
ceived by the bill before their lordships. Similar
provisions, for instance, had not been made to
meet the case of a fretful rejection of a new mea-
sure by certain bodies in the university, and there was
a difference in the constituency through which part of
the council was to be elected. He (Lord Redesdale) had
ventured to propose with reference to Oxford that,
where cengregation rejected a measure sent down to
them by the Hebdomadal Board, that board should have
the right of taking the sense of the university at large
on the question. That proposal was rejected, and yet
he found that in the Cambridge bill the noble and learned
lord had proposed something of the same kind. How-
ever, ho bad no real objection to the bill ; but it was im
possible not to come to the satisfactory and gratifying
conclusion that it contained modifications and improve-
ments which they had not been fortunate enongh in pro-
curing for Oxford.

Viscount CANNING said that, with reference to the
difference of the constituency through which part of the
council was to be elected, he must ask the noble lord to
bear in mind that such a constituency as had been cre-
ated in the case of the University of Oxford would be
fable to be overridden by the comparatively overgrown
establishments of Trinity and St. John's. He thought
that the present bill was much less stringent and grasp-
ing than the measure which passed their lordships' house
last year.

L;rd LITNDIIURSTsaid he had a number of amend-
merits to propose,. but he should like fir,t to have an
opportunity of seeing the amendments which he under-
stood the noble and learned lord had to propose.
The bill then passed through committee.
CONVENTION WITH SARDINIA. BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned at twenty minutes past
eight.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
THIRD READINGS.

CHARITY COMMISSION.
Mr. A. PELLATT then rose to move for a series of
Treasury orders relating to the appointment of standing
counsel under this commission, and a variety of docu-
ments relative to informations, petitions, memorials,
briefs, and statements connected with the commission. In
doing so he disclaimed any personal feeling towards
the Attorney• General, and, after a few remarks expla-
natory of the object of his motion, he observed that the
question was one with which he, as a non-legal gentle-
man, was not very intimately acquainted, and he must,
therefore, leave it to be dealt with by hon. gentlemen
more competent to understand it than he. But, at the
same time, the expense to the counrry which it involved
seemed to him to demand some investigation.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he did not
like to oppose motions for returns, but really the returns
asked for by the present motion were so unprecedented,
and would be so voluminous, that he should not feel that
he was doing his duty to the house unless he afforded
them some information, so as to enable them to see what
was asked for. Ile was sure that the hon, member who
had brought forward this motion had done so with the
utmost innocence and simplicity, and without having the
slightest idea of what he (the Attorney-General) believed
was the case—that he was made neither more nor less
than the puppet of a discontented solicitor, who had ap-
plied to other members of the house to bring forward the
same motion, but had failed in the attempt. The motion
included twenty-two returns, thegreater part of which were
already on the shelves of the house, while others could
only be produced at a cost wholly disproportioned to the
value of the information which they would afford. With
regard to the first returns nioyed for, it was sufficient to
say there were no such orders as those referred to. Tho
counsel in question, who acted as the juniors of the At-
torney General in charity matters, were appointed by
him. The same reply might be made in the case of the
solicitors, who were also appointed by the Attorney-
General, as it was right and fit they should be, seeing
that he was responsible for the manner in which they
conducted the business in which they were then engaged.
NVii,ll regard to the next returns, he must inform the
house that they were the first of a series of covert attacks
on Mr. Fearon, than whom a more valuable officer never
conducted the business of a public department in this or
any other country. No doubt, a number of ex-officio
informations had Teen filed by the Attorney-General
without the previous recommendation of the Charity
Commissioners. But that was sufficiently accounted
for by the net that there were no Charity Com-
missioners in existence from 1839, while there were
numerous cases in which it was necessary to file
informations, and in which they were accord-
ingly filed at the instigation of parties interested in the
charitiefi, In the motion for other returum which fol-

-
The Jedburgh Railway Bill and the Llynvi Valley
and Bridgend Railways Bill were read a third time and
passed.
The Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway
(No. 2) Bill was read a second time.

PETITIONS.
Petitions were presented by Mr. Kirk, from Dan-
bridge, against the Poor Removal Bill ; by Mr. Had-
field, from Sheffield, signed by the Mayor and Corpo-
ration and 12,000 inhabitants, in favour of the bill for
legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister ; also a
petition with the same prayer from married women of
Sheffield ; by Mr. Muutz, from West Bromwich,
against the Nuisances Removal Bill • by Sir Joshua
Walmsley, from Leicester, praying for the abolition
of church rates ; also a petition from the same place
against the Maynooth grant ; by Mr. Bright, several
petitions from Lancashire and Gloucestershire, against
church rates, and in favour of closing public-houses on
Sundays ; by Mr. Ker Seymer from Shaftesbury, against
the proposed alteration in the law of marriage ; by Mr.
Bowyer from Exeter (signed by the mayor and corpora-
tion and other inhabithnts), in favour of marriage with a
deceased wife's sister ; by Mr. Scholeield (signed by
45,000 inhabitants of Plymouth), in favour of legalising
marriage with a deceased wife's sister.
• PACKET SERVICE BETWEEN HOLYHEAD
AND ENGLAND.
Mr. CAIRNS asked the First Lord of the Admiralty
f whether any tender for the packet service between Holy-
head and Kingstown had been made by the London and
North-Western Railway Company, and whether such
tender had been accepted ; and whether the Government
would lay the particulars of the tender on the table of
the house before thee
Englandsecon
second reading I
g
orea flin7rßnvilel,dwChoircnh.
munication
stands for the 27th instant?

the University of Cambridge, and every one must
admit that the faculty of attention was cultivated by
that course of study. It was not to pure mathematics,
whether geometrical or analytical, that his study was
confined. It extended to all the branches of physical
science and which mathematical knowledge was con-
nected. That science, added to the cultivation of classical
literature, had a most powerful effect in forming the
character of an individual. (flear.) Perhaps the most
important matter of all was to inculcate deeply the prin-
bielileensteOrft
learnedman t o
prc,Fe
sfsnitoon ,
religion. (Hear.) Whatever opinion might
ver,it ,lined.Ly persons unacquainted with the uni-
-37, he believed that better system of instruction
could befored for tahtenopurrose of enabling a young
Ile had thought his career in life, whether in the
.itin, political science, or literature.
of
can,briindissnty,ac:weeenhemtciceilusets,rtiahtleilriemes:Wsudtaesnnitnolayt tdbbheeeesac
beautiful
Uitsbiufel
up,
Idi : .
duty to say thus much in
vindication of the
versity
apsosmeded
itcliinaet
for
rher gl::
c:re neglected, such
between the diffeliTyr branches of litera-
tphaesscaogneneinctiConicebreot,
tore and science, foraiing, as it ent
ally assist!ng, supporting, were, "0 famil
encouraging;
and

Sir C. WOOD said all the Admiralty knew of it was
I
that the arrangements were still pending.
I Captain L. VERNON asked the Clerk of the Ord-
nance whether the building for the Lancaster shot manu-
factory at Woolwich was erected by Messrs. Fox and
Henderson without the supervision of an officer of the
Royal Engineer Department ; and, if so, what was the
reason for adopting such a course ? Also, whether that
work had been performed in reApect to construction and
materials to the entire satisfaction of the Ordnance, and
whether an, officer of the Royal Engineer Department
had been directed to examine and report upon the same ?
the atanillfa
Mr.i‘ONELL said he applied to Mr. Nasmyth on
the subject, and, it being found impossible to carry on j
exre at the existing works at Woolwich, it

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 185 5.

lowed, he could detect the game animus be had already
pointed out; while if the information required by others
were furnished, it would be exceedingly voluminous
and altogether useless, especially as the very informa-
tion had, in many cages, been already furnished to the
house. If the hon, gentleman thought there was any-
thing wrong in the office of the Attorney-General, he
ought not to ask for useless and expensive returns, but
to move for a select committee. (Hear.)
Mr. G. VERNONdeprecated the printing of such a
mass of trash as the returns moved for by the lion.
member for Southwark.

Mr. PELLATT, after a few observations in reply,
terminated the discussion by withdrawing his motion.

THE POST-OFFICE.
H. DAILLIE rose to call the attention of the
house to the system under which the Post-affice was ad-
isinistered, and to move that, in the opinion of this house,
the orders given by the Treasury to the Postmaster-Gene-
ral, in the year 1848, to establish a post-office comnsuni-
cation, at the expense of his department, between the
islands of North and South Uist, Harris, and Barra, should
be carried into effect without delay. He c•implained of
the numerous and important defects in the management
of the Post-office. The country were not a ware of the sys-
tem under which that esta.bli,htnent was adolioistered.
It was a fact that the Postinaster•General, though riAni-
nally at the head of the institution, was completdy wider
the control of the Secretary to the Treasury; and when
c )mplaints were made of errors or irregularities in his
department, he bad not the power to inquire into them
himself, and provide a remedy if necessary. Why should
the Postmaster-General not have the entire control and
management of his own department ? No wonder that
great calamities bad occurred at Balakiava, when such a
system was allowed to continue in the administration of
the Post-office at home. He maintained that the Secre-
tary of the Treasury should have nothing to do with the
Post-office, but should be strictly confined to his own de-
partment. The effects of the present system were ad-
mirably illustrated by the case referred to in his resolu-
tion. So long ago as 1848 orders were given by the Trea-
sury to the Postmaster General to establish a post-office
communication between the islands of North and S.mth
Uist, Harris, and Barra ; but up to the present
time, in consequence of the want of organisation in the
department, those orders had not been carried into effect.
He now asked that the post-office communication sanc-
tioned by the Treasury in 1848 should be established
without delay. The inhabitants of the islands, though
very poor, were at present obliged to send their corre-
spondence in boats to the mainland at their own expense,
and it was but fair that they should be put upon the
same footing as other parts of the country--
An How. MEMBER here moved that the house be
counted, and there being only 38 members present,
The house adjourned at seven o'clock.

HEALTH OP LONDON DURING THE WEEK,
( From the Report of the Registrar-General.)

The present return exhibits a decided improvement in
the health of London. The deaths, which had been re-
d spectively 1,226 and 1,347 in the first two weeks of April
fell in the week that ended on Saturday to 1,087. The
temperature of the last fortnight was little higher than
it is expected to he in April, but it was 10 degrees higher
than in March, and human life reaps the benefit of the
change. In the last four weeks the mean temperature
has been 36.5 deg., 41.9 deg., 47.2 deg., and 49.1 (leg.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54,
the average number of deaths registered was 1,035, which,
if raised in proportion to increase of population, becomes
1,138. The number of persons who died last week is
51 less than the estimated number.
Diseases of the respiratory organs, exclusive of phthisis
and hooping-cough, destroyed about a fourth part of the
persons who died in the first three months of this year.
The deaths from that class of diseases were reduced last
week to 222, about a fifty of the total mortality of the
week. From phthisis 139 persons died ; in the winter
months the mean weekly number was 165. Sma'l pox
was fatal in 19 cases, of which 14 occurred under ten
years of age ; scarlatina was fatal in 46 cases, hooping-
cough in 50, typhus in 33, measles only in 12, diarrhcea
in 11. Six cases of scarlatina were fatal in Hammersmith
and Fulham ; 3 cases of small-pox in St. James's, Ber-
mondsey.
Last week the births of 916 boys and 872 girls, in all
1,788 children, were registered in London. In ths ten
corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54 the average
number was 1,472.
At the Royal Observatory,Greenwich,the mean height
of the barometer in the week was 30.143 in. The mean
daily reading was above 30 in. on six days of the week.
At the end of the week the barometer rose to 30'40 in.
The mean temperature of the week was 49 1 (legs.,
which is higher by 2'6 degs. than the average of the
same week in 38 years. The mean temperature was 56.9
degs. on Monday, which is 10'9 dogs. higher thaa the
average ; and it fell to 41 9 degs. on Saturday, which is
5'4 degs. below the average. The wind had been in the
south-west on the first two days, and blew during the re-
mainder of the week from the north-east. The highest
temperature occurred on Monday, and was 72 8 degs. ;
the lowest occurred on Thursday, and was 29.2 degs.
The mean dew-point temperature was 40.9 degs., and
the difference between this and the temperature of the
air was B'2 degs. No rain fell, and London enjoyed a
clear sky

The registrars, in compliance with instructions given,
to them, make occasional communications in their re-
turns with reference to the deaths they have registered,
and to particular circumstances in which these have oc-
curred. The correctness of such opinions and state-
ments must be held exclusively on the testimony cf the
registrars, and of the medical or other informants.
ST. JAMES'S WESTMINSTER ; St. James's-square.—
At 50, Brewer-street, on 14th and 13th April, the
daughter and son of a leather breeches maker, aged re-
spectively 20 months and 9 years, "scarlatina." Mr.
Keith, the registrar, observes :--" This is the only house
in the sub-district where I have heard that scarlatina
prevails. The mother was first attacked and afterwards
the three children, of whom two have died during the
last week. The other child remains seriously unwell."
WANDSWORTH ; Putney.—At 33, Gay-street, on lath
April, the son of a blacksmith, aged 17 years, " small-
pox, confluent and petechial (5 days), congestion of the
brain (3 days)." Mr. Whiteman, the medical officer,
says :—" This patient was imprudently removed from
Tooting to Putney in an open cart, and died shortlyafter.
Vaccinated in his infancy, but no visible cicatrix."
ST. GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST ; St. John.—At the work-
house, on 15th April, a New Zealander, aged 32, "natu-
ral death, accelerated by want, privations, and exposure."
ISLINGTON ; East.—At 1, Montague-place, on 24th
March, the son of a mariner, aged 14 days, "atrophy (14
days)." Mr. Butterfield, the registrar, states that " the
child was buried the day after death, without certificate
or notice to registrar, and without religious ceremony."

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED
IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, APRIL 21.

Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
,Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Biood-vessels 4l
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration .
222
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
.11,
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bores, and Muscles - 7
~..2
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations
0
Premature Birth arid Debility 36
Atrophy
Old Age
Sudden 53
8
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 26
Causes not specified

63

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES
Population Deaths in corre- Deaths
Enumerated. sponding week in the
.
West Districts
2111854
Week
North Districts 490,396
Central Districts..... 393,256
East Districts 485,522
South Districts

Totals
Males
Females.

1,087
545
542

1,193