The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-04 00:00:00

COMMITTEE.

The following bills passed through committee :—British
Columbian Boundaries Bill—the Jurisdiction of Justices
Bill, and the Oaths Relief in Criminal Proceedings (Scot-
land) Bill.
Tha.report of Amendments to the Naval Medical Supple-
men Fund &cicty Winding-up Act, 1861, Amendment
Bill was brought up and received.
The report of amendments to the Telegraph Bill wan also
brought up and received.
THE SEE OF WINCHESTER.

Lord LYTTELTON presented a petition from the
clergy of the rural Ceanery of Southwark,praying for a divi-
sion of the diocese of Winchester on its next avoidanee,

ACADEMICAL DEGREES.

Earl fI,US SELL presented a petition from certain heads
of colleges, pi °lessors, knows, and tutors of the University
of Oxford, praying for the removal of the present subscrip-
tion required for academical degrees. The noble lord
thought there was great danger in multiplying declarations
which were totally unnecessary, and that it would become
both the great Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, con-
sidering the immense number of her Majesty's subjects not
members of the Church of England, if they were to open
the benefits of those universities without requiring from
them a declaration of their assent to the Thirty-nine
Articles.
The Earl of DERBY complained that the petition had
been got up surreptitiously, had not been laid upon the
table in any of the common rooms, or submitted to the
hebdomadal council, and did not fairly represent the
opinions of the university. He should very much regret
to see the petitioners' request adopted, as he feared it would
only be the first step towards a similar interference with
clerical subscription.
Earl GRANVILLE denied that the petition had been
got up in the manner described, and stated that it had been
laid upon the common table of the university.
The Earl of HARROW BY would strongly object to any
relaxation of the subscription, which would have the effect
of introducing into the university as teachers persons who
did not belong to the Established Church.
The Bishop of LONDON was of opinion that the decla-
ration might with safety be relaxed. He rejoiced that the
subscription formerly required from undergraduates had
been abolished, and regretted that any shred or tatter of the
same system should be retained by the authority of the

university.
After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM and the LORD
CHANCELLOR,
The Bishop of OXFORD said that the only object of
the subscription was to ensure that the governing body of
the university should be members of the Established
Church. For his part he thought no grievance existed,
ane that, therefore, it was unnecessary to legislate upon the
subject.
The Mutiny (East India) Act Repeal, the Public Works
Manufacturing Districts, and the Thames Embankment
(South Side) Bills were read a second time.
The Innkeepers' Liability, the Postmaster General (Sale
of Land), and the Local Government Supplemental Bills
were severally read a third time and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 20 minutes past 12.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Anglesey Central Railway—Dulas Valley Mineral Railway
—Okehampton and Lidford Junction Railway—Ringwood,
C hristchurch, and Bournemouth /tail way--and Watford and
Rickmansworth Railway.