The Sun.
London, England, 1831-08-02 00:00:00

LONDON UNIVERSITY.

S'
N.
O THE EDITOR OF THE SU''llt—You will oblige me by publishing in your Journal
the
following minute of the Council of the University of
L•nnrion, received by me last night :
" Session of Council, 23d of July, 1831.--The Council,
'4 concurrence with the suggestion contained in the report
of the Select Committee of the Council of the 18th of
Jane, 1831, That the popularity and efficiency of the
medical school have received a shock by the disturbances
which have prevailed in it, and which can only be ob-
‘4ted by the retirement of Professor Pattison from the
'hairs of anatomy and surgery,' and deeming it therefore
"'Natio' to the well-being of the University, and the sue-
e"3 of the medical school, that Professor Pattison should
got any longer continue to occupy those chairs ;
" Resolve d, That Professor Pattison be, and he is here-
'_lYr removed from his situations of Professor of Anatomy
and Surgery in this University.
" Resolved, That in taking this step the Council feu'
Ik` due to Professor Pattison to state, that nothing which
bas
come to their knowledge with respect to his conduct
'l' any way tended to impeach either his general character
er professional skill and knowledge.
(Signed) " THOS. COATES."
As it is my intention to publish immediately a history
of
ITV connexion with that institution, and an account of
causes which gave rise to the disturbances referred to,
',Will ?illy now observe, that, by the admission of the
general
themselves, " nothing has come to their know-
I'dge Which has in any way tended to impeach either my
character, or my professional skill and know-
Ne." This being admitted, it is diffi,:ult to understand
?a what principle of justice a gentleman, who has been
14daced on the representation of the Council to resign a
professorship in America, which was worth above 2,0001.
Per annum, to engage in their service, can, by an arbitrary
a", be deprived of an office to obtain which he made so
great a sacrifice.

I remain, Sir, your bumble servant,
GRANVILLE S. PATTISON.
129, Regent-street, July 24.

T 0 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

justice to Mr. Prof ssor Pattison, whose re-
rernent from the chairs of Anatomy and Surgery in the
London University, is, in my opinion, so arbitrarily re-
commended in the Report of the Select Committee, ap-
pointed by the Proprietors to inquire into the past and
present state of the University, and read at their meeting
Yesterday, I
beg, as a Member of that Committee, to sutr-
a my reasons for decidedly disapproving of such recom-
mendation :
I. In examining the documents it was my duty to do,
p the office of the University, I found numerous highly
rl?aourable testimonials in Professor Pattison's favour,
Peen by the most eminent professional and literary men
in Great Britain and America.
to_2. I found that, when a candidate for the chair of Ana-
Ys he asked the Council not to rely on these testirno_
nias
Oy, ut "shuld the consider any probationary
e4el rcinl
se orb
trial neocessaryy to test the qualifications of
the candidates, he was most willing to undergo it."
The Council however did not consider it necessary, and
appointed him to the chair; and this preference, I fear,
Wu never forgiven!
3. I found the Council did not permit him, as is gene-
rally, if not invariably, the practice, to nominate his own
hemonstrator or Assistant, and out of this false step
arose, as it was easy to foretell, rivalry, contentions, and
all the subsequent excitements and disturbances.

4. I found, soon after this, that discontent and disre-
spect to their Professor began to be evinced by a small
number of the anatoirical pupils, which gradually ex-
tended itself, from the irresolute, vacillating, and foolish
manner in which the Council dealt with so inadmissable
an let as that of students questioning the competency of
their teacher !

5. I found next that meetings of the medical students
Were held in the Dissecting (Demonstrator's) room, and
elsewhere, and committees appointed, with a secretary,
to concert measures of annoyance and injury to Professor
Dattison, and to heard and abuse and ridicule the Council!!
Yet no vigorous means were adopted to punish or pre-
vent this.
68.ity.....1f0u,,nd it observed in a letter recently transmitted
to the Council from a late Medical Professor of the Uni-
,el. That the conviction on his mind will always
be, that Professor Pattison has been the victim of a most
pucked conspiracy, and that if he had been allowed to
oe his duties 'unmolested, he would have been one of
the most popular and one of the most useful teachers of
1;"ny in Europe." Another istinguished literary
rofessor also addresses the Council in these words,—
entertaining the opinions which I do of Mr. Pattison's
litalifications, I would deplore his removal from the Uni-
versity, as an event which would he more injurious to it than
the 1055 of almost any other Professor, cet tainly more so than
he loss of any other of his medical colleagues. It is greatly
t
be lamented, (he remarks) that some of his medical col-
'Rues did not devote their time and attention to the int-
Peevement of those qualities in which Mr. Pattison is so
e:nepieuously unworthy suerior, instead of engaging in the
it/Melons. and task of accomplishing the.rltin
their most respectable and gifted colleague, by giving
et'utitenanee and encouragement, as I understand they did,
those riots among the students which have disgraced the
teltitution.”
se 7' Ilikewise found it affirmed, in a very able memorial
nt in to the Council by Professors De Morgan, Lardner,
s Key, Long, and Rosen, " That the disturb-
its
-c," Which have unhappily occurred in the Medical
I\l'44'o cannot be attributed to any defect or misconduct of
no Pattison. He is at least (they observe) as competent
of tie he was three years ago, when the peace and order
«.w establishment eqablishment were undisturbed." (And add)—
that
thenca have no hesitation in declaring our conviction
etn. cause of the rise of insubordination and riot
,urg a certain portion of the medical students, is to be
isi chiefly in the want of an efficient system of acade-
cel discipline in the University."
b After seeing all this, and much more, which it would
tt'in:w too long to detail, I could not honestly and con-
hute tously say
that Professor Pattison merited any blame,
pktrti" the contrary, great consideration ; and the more
eoti ocularly, as we found in the minute-book of the
tigt:" that a committee appointed by them had inves-
"l the charges against him, and found them ground-
-48
did, therefore, protest against the resolution of the
to repet Committee (of which 1 was a dissenting member),
been "amend Professor Pattison's retirement, until he had
,54
thrairly heard in his own vindic.ition, which was refused
bor greunds that the Committee were neither competent
the uid time to decide the question of merits, whilst at
rsh,:liTe instant they award the severest punishment (dir.
bee,:") the University could inflict on a Professor who laid
Pr"ed guilty of the deepest moral delinquency ! ! ! ! '
WILLIAM GOWAN,
No Member of the Select Committee.
61 Cleveland-row, July 24, 183!.

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