The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-30 00:00:00

•THE 111iliFSPAPER.3ftaft •
Mr. MILNER GIBSON wished to pritt4 qneittion fo too
Chancellor-of the Exchequer on this subject: The-rightheis.
gentleman had made a reply that evening to tlitt hon. amnia
ber for Meath (Mr. Lucas) which he (Mr. M. Gibson) did-
net understand, and which did not correspond with a
former answer he had given on- the same subject the other
day. The right hon. gentleman now said that the newspa•
per stamp was not under the consideration of the Govern•
ment with a view to legislation, and that the Govermnent
set at nought the resolution of that house. (No, no.) Well,
he understood the Chancellor of the Exchequer to hays
just said-that the Government had no particular intention
to deal with the subject, and that when they had such they
would give due notice of it—(hear, hear) —but the other
day the right hon. gentleman stated that the subject *wan
not only under the consideration of the Government-(for
to that _much weight could not be attached), but that itwas
under their special consideration. (Cries of "order.") Ho
therefore wished to ask the right -hon. gentleman whether
the house was to understand from his answer that the-Girt
verntnent had no intention of legislating on this subject?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I am quite
sure that the right hon. gentleman, as he has himself stated,
did not hear or understand the answer that I gave-this
evening, otherwise he never could by possibility have Made
a representation so entirely different from its tenonr 'and
purport as he has just made. (Hear.) I did not retract
or change a syllable that I uttered on a former occasion.
What I said when the question was put before was, that
the Government had re 'nested the Attorney-General to
take into his consideration, with a view to legislation, the
state of the law ; and I then said that the matter was still
under consideration. I was asked to-day if we had yet dome
to any decision, and I have a'rtaiy said that we have not,
and that when we have I will give fn.' notice of it to' the
house.
THE COPYHOLD COMMISSIONERS.

Mr. AGLIONBY asked to what place it was intended
to remove the office of the Copyhold Commissioners?
Sir W. MOLESWORTH said that at the beginning of
this month he bad received a direction from the Treasury
to provide offices for the War Minister, as near to. Dowttu
ing.street as possible; •,There were but two places eligible
"Gwydyr House, at present tenanted by the poor laic
authorities, anti Pembroke House, occupied by the Copy.
hold Commissioners. It was judged inexpedient to inter-
fore with the present occupation of Gwydyr House, and
hence the residence held by the Copyhold Commissioners
had been selected as the place for the War Minister. The
house to which the Copyhold Commissioners were to
remove was No. 3, St. James's-square, which would require
a sum of about 3,0001. to put it in order.
COLONIAL CLERG-Y DISABILITIES BILL.
Sir J. PAKINGTON asked whether it was the intim•
tion of the Government to Proceed with this measure thie
session ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was not the intention of,the
Government to proceed with the bill. te
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BILL.
Upon the order of the day for the further consideration
of this bill being read,
Mr. HEYWOOD proposed to add the following clause
" From and after the first day of Michaelmas Term, 1854,
it shall not be necessary for-any person, upon taking the
degree of bachelor in arts, law, medicine, or music, in the
University of Oxford, to make or subscribe anydeclara-
tion, or take any oath, save the oath of allegiance, or an
equivalent declaration of allegiance, any law or statute to
the contrary notwithstanding." After the statement which
he had made upon bringing this clause in on a former oo•
casion but little remained for him to say. He thought,
however, that this was a most opportune bill for such a
clause, as the power of the commissioners would last tor
far years and the degree of bachelor might be attained in
three. - Thus before the power of the commissioners ceased
the working of the clause would be seen in practice. With-
out reiterating the arguments which had been brought for-
ward on Monday, he begged to recommend this clause to
the house as one which, while it was due as a measure of
justice to the Dissenters, would do great good to the tuti•
versity itself. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. E DENISON felt great pleasure in seconding the
motion.

Mr. HENLEY opposed it, on the grounds that, though
alleged 0 be moderate, it was avowedly a step towards
future innovations, and because it would make religions
teaching in the university impossible. He moved that the
clause be read that day six months.
Mr. NEWDEGATE supported the amendment.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the Government intended to support the clause, consider.
ing that after the decision to which the house had come,
they were doing the best for the university, but he said
that nothing would induce him to vote for it if he belieied
that it-would put a stop to religious education. He was
convinced, however, that the university would address
itself in an earnest spirit to adapt itself to the require.
ments of legislation.
Sergeant SHE amid the impatience of the house, com•
plaint:a that the oath of allegiance should be imposed.
Tho house then divided, when there appeared—
, • For the clause 233
Against it . 79—fir
,The clause_ was accordingly read a second time.
Odthe question th.tt it be read a third time,
Mr. WIGRAM moved a•provision to the effect that no
person taking the degree of b ichelor in arts should be ca-
pable of holding any office of emolument, or take any share
in the government of the university, without having taken
the oaths at present required.
Mr. HEY WOOD opposed the motion.
Lord J. RUSSELL' also opposed it, as an addition to
--the Act of Uniformity. _ _

Mr. WA.LPOLE recommended its not being pressed.
He added an announcement that any future attempt to give
any portion of the government of the university to Wl-
senters would meet with the strongest opposition.
The motion was withdrawn, and the clause agreed to. •
Mr. J. G. PHILLIM.ORE moved the addition of the
following clause :—" That from and after the Ist day of
December next, no member of the university shall be
allowed, on account of his rank, to pass his examination or
take his degree sooner than another undergraduate."
Lord J. RUSSELL had no objection to the clause.
Mr. GOTT LBURN could not assent to the clause.
Mr. HE Y WOOD thought the time required to elapse
in taking up degrees could be advantavously shortened in
the case of commoners he well as uoblemen.

• Mr. WARNER also concurred in that opinion, as under
•the existing system much useful time was lost towards the
end of matriculation in absolutely doing nothing.
The clause was agreed to, and ordered to be added to
the bill.

Mr. E. DENISON moved to insert at the end of clause
18 the words, " Heads of colleges and halls being profes-
sors shall vote only for heads of colleges or halls."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER remarked
that the house had alrea,iy decided in favour of sectional
elections, and since tYs addition would improve the
clause in that respect there could be-no objection to it.
The addition was then agreed to, and ordered to be
added to the clause. •

W. HEATHCOTE moved an amendment to clause
29, the interpretation clause, " that the word 'residents'
shall be taken to mean persons whose residence within the
university for twenty-four weeks during the twelve months
next before the first day of the current or next preceding
Michaelmas term, shall have been verified by the declara-
tion in writing of all persons claiming to vote or act as such
residents, or in such other manner as the university shall
from time to time by statute appoint."
Mr. WALPOLE considered it better to leave the matter
to the university there would be great difficulty in proving
the 24 weeks' residence.

Mr. E. DENISON also opposed the amendment ; and,
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY and the CHANCEL•
LOR of the ExcHEQuEat.

Sir W. HEA.TH-00T.E withdrew it.
Mr. R. PALMER moved to add the following words to
the same clause :—" And the words existing' and en.
joyed,' when used with reference to interests specially
saved or protected by this act, shall-not extend to or in-
clude any right or claim which at the time of passing this
act may be in practical disuse."
Mr. KEATING considered the amendment would only
give rise to doubts.
Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE also spoke against the amend•
went, which was withdrawn.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved to
add to the end of the clause introduced on the motion of
Mr. R. Palmer some days ago, and which provides for the
nights of schoo's iu connexion with the colleges, the follow.
ing proviso :—" And if in any college where fellowships or
studentships are tenable by undergraduates, either the col-
lege, or the commissioners acting in respect thereof, shall
divide its fellowships or studentships into elder and
younger, the elder only shall be taken to the fellowships
or studentships within the meaning of this section." With
regard to scholarships and exhibitions, these words would
leave the clause as it stood, and would tonch only the fel-
lowships. The. fellowships stood upon a different footing
to the studentships. When the colleges were originally.
founded, they were not intended to be the great teach•
ing offices of the universities, from which the universities
were to draw their scholars, but offices of residence and
study in the colleges. Now, however, the oountryexpected
from the colleges the university edu-ition ; and though
they had private halls, it was to the fellows of the colleges
they had to look for the conduct of that education. The
question was, whether the bill, as it originally stood, did
not sufficiently provide for the protection of the interest of
the schools. Power was given to the colleges to propose
reforms, and if they did not, then the commissioners had
the power, and an appeal was given to the Privy
Council. That would have been a sufficient protection
to a school like Winchester, which was supposed to
have a tight of succession to New College; but, under
the clause introduced by the hon. and learned gentle-
man, the decision as to whether there should be any re.
form or not was left not to the governing body of New
Cullego, but also to the governing body of Winchester]
who would have to decide whether New College should
still be a close college for the boys, of Winchester or
not ? But was this governing body of 'Winchester
school, a body so practically acquainted with New
College or with the wants of Winchester school, to be
entrusted with this duty ? It was composed of ten c lerg
•
men, one of whom only took any active part in the aff
of the school, two others permanently resided in Winches-
ter, and the other seven were never heard of there, and
these were the persons who under the bon and learned
gentleman's clause, might nullify the purposes of this bill
and nullify the judgment of the
Mr. ROU N DE L L PALMER. estintitsiseioanlorn.dment pro-
posed by the right hon. gentleman was altogether opposed
to the clause the house hal affirmed, that.principle being,
e
that the schools were s much entitled to the emoluments
and endowments belongingto them as the colleges were to
their emoluments and preferments. He concluded by ex-
Prealing a hope that all who were interested in these schools
wouldnot forget the principle for which he was contending,
and which, but for this clause, would have had no special
protection, and that they would come forward and not al-
ene
low those schools to be deprived of hon.
; clause by the amendment of his right friend of that
1 Mr. LOWE hoped that the house weuldr consider what
the exact question was, namely, whether these schools
shotr!Ll send boys to the university in a manner which
I would do them irreparable injury, by destroying their in-.
dustry, while such a system
in-
jure the university by placing the
have a tendency to
tire conduct of its education
iu the hands of inferior meu ; and Oxford would never l•
intellectually supereminent—except by adopting the prin-
ciple of free and open competition. (Hear, hear.)
Sir W. HEAT/ICOTE said that Mr. Lowe had con—
tended that the governing bodies of these schools did not
possess enlarged and enlightened views, but he hoped that
the boo. gentleman did not wish that they should acquire
those views at the expense of other persons, and by
means of the invasion of positive rights. The authorities.
at Winchester had at this moment in contemplation a plan
fur enlarging the competition for the advantages of New.
College, while the authorities of New College might, under;
the provisions of this bill, exercise the strongest influence
• on young men, so as to give them every stimulus to in•
dustiy.
Mr. G. VERNON had entertained a strong feeling as to
the rights of these schools, which he thought were quite
as important, though smaller in kind, as the rights of the
university itself. He had accordingly voted for the clause
I of the ton; and learned gentleman opposite, but the irate •