The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-03 00:00:00

the title of their ruler, and be called an
ind .ependent sovereign. It is insulting likewise to
cot ninon sense and reason that assertions of this
sor b should be made by one in so responsible a posi-
tion as Herr BISMARK ; and it is some sort of a
latieaction to find that the Chamber of Deputies
1 las made a protest against him and his colleagues,
rah their vain-glorious attempts and most shallow
a-zz uments. A large majority rejected the Government
bill. In Prussia, however, it seems rather imma-
teris .1 to those in power whether their plans and
designs receive the sanction of thepopular assemblies
or not, for if they fail in one direction they are sure
to -try another mode of getting their own way in
the end. It raises the character of the assembly,
however, in the opinion of foreign states to
n( Aice that it has the sense and spirit to dis-
c.ard the Government efforts and meet their
propositions with a direct negative. The nego-
tiations between Austria and Prussia still con-
tinue, and verify the old description of trainer en
largeur, for we are no nearer a conclusion than we
were a month ago. If the Austrian Government
would resolve to be .more firm, a great deal
more might be expected ; but as soon as
the Berlin powers take exception to their
requests and resent their suggestions they draw
back. The latest probability seems to be that
Prussia will eventually gain her point of
settling the Convention of Representative Assem-
blies in the Duchies, notwithstanding all the efforts
that have been made against it, and thus another
proof will be afforded of the evil that is wrought by
want of firmness, and the wrong that is done to the
cause of justice by the laxity of those whose position
and influence should render them the upholders of
the principles of right.

There was probably a good dcal of truth iu Mr.
DUFF'S assertion last evening that at least one-
third of the members of the House of Commons had
no very clear idea as to the whereabouts of the
London University. Those who had a dim idea on
the subject probably connected it with the imposing
establishment in Gower-street, whose neighbouring
hospital lends it additional reputation. After Mr.
DUFF'S succinct and lucid explanation, however, our
Parliamentary representatives have no excuse for
ignorance, and the public at large will have learned
something about the present condition of this valu-
able institution. The London University is, as Mr.
COWPER observed, a tangible fact, but it has no
tangible position. It is an asssociation without the
means of associating, an institution without
an establishment. The similarity of name may
mislead many persons into identifying it with the
University College in Gower-street, with which it
has in fact nothing to do. It consists of an ex-
amining body whose influence on popular education
is admitted to be very beneficial, and who annually
examine a thousand students in all the higher
branches of education, including medical and phy-
sical science. Its chancellor is the President of the
Council, 'its vice-chancellor no less eminent a man
than Mr. GR OTE ; and its examinations, as might
be expected under such auspices, are of a very
superior order. Its chief distinction, however, is
its absence of exclusiveness. "It is," as Mr. DUFF
observed, " an imperial institution which takes no
heed of creed, colour, or birthplace. It is open
to all her Majesty's subjects who choose
to come up to it for examination, and to pay the
small fees required of them." Few will be inclined
to dispute the justice of his conclusion, that " such
an Institution has a right to demand of the Govern-
ment a building appropriate and suitable to it."
The difficulty, as Mr. COWPER. explained, does not,
however, arise from an unwillingness on the part of
the Government, but from a perplexing choice.
The University of London, after many wanderings
from King's College to its namesake in Gower-
street, from the Royal Society to the Thatched
House Tavern, from Marlborough House to Exeter
Hall, has at length located itself in a corner of
Burlington House. It only requires rooms for the
annual examinations besides the library and senate-
rooms, and, therefore, it would not appear so difficult
to obtain them, but it has even been reduced on one
occasion to holding its examination in Willis's
Rooms, where the continual concerts did not assist
either examiners or examined in their deliberations.
The question now is whether the University should
continue to make its head-quarters at Burlington
House, or whether a new building should be erected
for it. At any rate, the subject is under conside-
ration, and Mr. COWPER has promised that it shall
not be overlooked. In the meantime, the University
has at least a temporary resting-place not unworthy
of its reputation and of its public importance.