The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAI , MAY 12, 1870

THE' OPENING OF LONDON UNIVERSITY
BY THE QUEEN.
(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
NV EDNESDAY.

At last London -University has a local habitation a►
well as a name. For more than thirty years it has pos-
sessed the first only. Settled dwelling it had none, but
was driven about from pillar to post in most undig-
nified fashion. To the public it was a mere
nomintis umbra. Even a Londoner, if he were
asked to mention its locale, would either confess
thut he did not know or answer " Gower-street." The
first answer would have been a good deal more accurate
than the second. The building in Gower-street was Uni-
versity College, not the University itself. The University
had apartments only; in Somerset House at first, then in
Burlington House ; and when that building was pulled
down to make way for the Royal Academy, the University
had to descend lower still—to take rooms in a private house
in Saville-row. But the Senate and Convocation were
cheered under this humiliation by the knowledge that
olose by their last and shabbiest tabernacle a gorgeous
temple was being erected for them. Yesterday that
temple was opened by no less a person than Queen Vic-
toria.. _ . _

Before I describe the ceremony, let me say very briefly
what London University is. It is mainly an examining
body. It has a Chancellor, Earl Granville ;it has a
Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Grote, the historian ; it has a
Senate and Convocation. But its chief function is the
examination for and conferring of degrees. The confu-
sion between University College and London University
was not altogether unnatural. When University College WILS
first formed it wasknown as London University, although a
mere joint-stock undertaking. In 1836 a charter was
given to that institution, and it was then known asUniver-
sity College. About the same time another charter was given,
and by it London University was established. This
was granted during the Royal will and pleasure, and it
therefore had to be renewed after the death of William
IV., which was done December 5, 1837. Addi-
tional powers were given in 1850, and on
April 9, 1858, a wholly new charter was
signed, instituting many changes in the func-
tions and arrangements of the University. At
that time there were forty-seven colleges and collegiate
schools in connection with the ,University. The number
is now considerably over fifty. The degrees conferred are
those of Law, Medicine, Surgery (which is distinct from
Medicine), Science, Literature, and Arts. The degrees
in Surgery, Literature, and Science are of very recent
origin, and at the present time Literature has but one
doctor, Dr. Weymouth, formerly of Plymouth, now of
Mill Hill school. It wil be seen that Divinity has no
place. This is intentional. It was expressly excluded at
the foundation of the University, and the exclusion for a
long time was reckoned as a reproach to the institution.
That feeling no longer prevails, and the result is that
men of all religions and races can and do obtain the benefits
ofthe University.

The new building is very ornate, but most unfortu-
nately situated. It lies at the back of the new Royal
Academy, and its front is in Burlington-gardens, a
street so narrow that it is impossible to obtain a
proper yiew of the elaborate elevation. A street running
at right angles to the gardens gives the only opportunity
of seeing the structure at a convenient distance, and even
then only a portion of it is visible. The architect is Mr.
Pennethorne, the style Palladian, and the building is
remarkable for the large amount of sculpture introduced.
In fact, it may be called a combination of sculpture and
architecture. As regards ground plan, the building
consists of two oblong blocks, the smallest of
which is placed behind or to the south of the principal
one. The front presents a central portion about
l2oft. in length, flanked by two square towers, and ex-
tended farther east and west by wings, apparently two
storeys in height and. 6:ift. in length. The towers carry a
clock and a wind dial, and between them is a projecting
portico with five entrances. The portico, the centre, and
the wings are all surmounted by balustrades, on the
pedestals pf which balustrades are placed statues of
eminent men, selected as fitting illustrations of
the various forms of academic culture. The statues
over the portico are seated, those on the Ivof
line are standing ; and there are also standing
figures in the niches on the ground floor of each wing.
The principal figures are on the balustrade of the por-
tico, and are by Mr. Durham. Taking them in order
from east to west, they are statues of Newton, Bentham,
Milton, and Harvey, as representatives of the four Facul-
ties—Science, Law, Arts, and Medicine. The figures on
the central roof line are Galen, Cicero, Aristotle, Plato,
Archimedes, and Justinian, representing ancient culture.
Of these the first three are by Mr. Westmacott, the last
three by Mr. Woodington. The east wing is devoted to
illustrious foreigners. To the roof line Mr. Wyon has
contributed Galileo, Goethe, and Laplace ; whilst for the
niches Mr. M'Dowell has furnished Leibnitz, Cuvier, and.
Linnasus. The west wing is adorned with English wor-
thies—Hunter, Hume, and Davy—by Mr. Noble on the
balustrade ; and Adam Smith, Locke, and Bacon., by Mr.
Theed, in the niches. Shakspere is conspicuous by his
absence. For him is reserved the place of honour, a
niche inside, out of the cold, and at present a cast of the
Westrainstey Abbey statue faces the visitors ascending
the great central stair case. This stair case is exceedingly
fine, and is quite the principal feature of
the interior. White marble balusters are surmounted
bs' a grey nimble handrail. Before mounting the
4afrms-. ® a fine corridor is passed, running at right
=glee. On the right or western side the corridor
leads to the torture chamber, otherwise the great library
or examination hall, a room 72ft. by 58ft. which coon-
pies the whole of the corresponang wing. On the left,
or eastern side, it leads to the theatre or lecture hall,
'Which occupies the whole of the eastern wing, and is
capable of seating nearly &.0 persons. At each end
of the corridor is a transverse passage, and these
passages give access to the smaller examination halls
which are situated behind the main building, at the
extremities of the southern or secondary block, and are
separated by private rooms for the use of examiners. The
eastern smaller hall will serve as a place of assembly for
official persons on public occasions. Ascending the main
staircase we reach a landing of polished marble, inlaid in
various colours. This landing gives access in the
centre to a very handsome Senate room, forty-three
feet by 27ft. and 56ft. sin. high. On either side of it are
smaller rooms for committees, and for the Registrar and
Assistant-Registrar of the University. At the extremities
are entrances to the respective galleiies of the greathall and
Of the theatre, and transverse passages, corresponding to
those below, give access to the first floor of the southern
block. This first floor is occupied by two examination
halls, placed over the smaller halls of the ground
floor, and fitted up especially for the conduct of
practical examinations in chymistry and in anatomy.
At present the tone of the building is too white. But
this will be remedied if Parliament consents ; if that is,
the House of Commons will find the needful funds. The
Theatre is not yet quite finished, the lights having to be
introduced. But it is a fine room, and the eleven tiers of
benches rising one above the other in a semicircle render
the place admirably adapted for hearing.
To-day Bond-street and Burlington-gardens presented
a gay appearance. Flags innumerable were suspended
across the former street, and the balconies in the second
Were hung with crimson cloth and filled with well-dressed
visitors. As the Queen had arranged to go through the
building, every one of the principal rooms in
the university was tenanted with a goodly and
distinguished company. For once the ladies were
eclipsed in costume by the gentlemen. It is impossible
for tongue or pen to describe the gorgeous and many-
coloured robes in which the members of the university
arrayed themselves. The older members were themselves
astonished. They had on plain simple gowns, or if they
indulged in hoods, these were of the quietest colours.
But at London University there are many faculties and
grades and there wasthus room for invention. The
i result s that though the University is distinctly non-reli-
gious, to-day's beautiful garments excelled anything seen in
the most advanced Ritualist church. It would be an ex-
aggeration to say that every man wore that which was
right in his own eyes for there were certain broad
principles laid down : brown for arts, yellow for science,
blue and white (a sweet dress) for Bachelor of Laws, blue
and purple for Doctors ; and so forth. But the amount
of colour in each seemed left to the decision of the wearer.
The effect was grand, and must have astonished even an
04ord Mus. D. if any were present.
The most favoured place was the theatre. So favoured
was it, and so select was the company, that the building
was not filled. The tiers of seats were occupied by mem-
bers of the Senate (robes were de rigueur) and distin-
guished visitors, but no ladies were admitted except five,
to be named presently. The gallery was filled with ladies
and members of theUniversitynot belonging to the Senate.
The five ladies were seated in the front row. There
was the Countess of Granville (wife of the Chancellor) who
°coupled the post of honour. On herright were Mrs. Grote
(wife of the Vim-Chancellor) and Mrs. Lowe, wife of the
representative of the University in Parliament. On her
left were Lady Louisa Cavendish, daughter of the late
Duke of Devonshire, formerly Chancellor of the Univer-
sity, and Mrs. Storrar, wife of the chairman of Convo-
cation. On the same bench were seated Mr.
Gladstone, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Forster, Mr. Cowper-
Temple Lord John Manners, Mr. Ayrton,
Canon Leighton (Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University),
the Lord Mayor and Sheriff Paterson. Those behind them
were General Sabine, President of the Royal Seciety, in
general's uniform, Sir John Bowring, olive-skinned Babes.
Ikeshub Chunder Sen. I noticed, also, Mr. Leatham,
M.P., Mr. Winterbotham, M.P., Mr. Shaw-Letevi e,
M.P., Sir William Jenner, and a whole crowd cf
dicals—Quain, Russell Reynolds, Professors Bentley,
GoGrdon, Reynolds, Angus, and a crowd of other magnates
political, literary, scientific, and the rest. Of the most
distinguished persons, Mr. Disraeli was the first to
arrive. He was dressed in Windsor uniform, and
was greeted with round upon round of applause,
chewing that even in so Liberal a body as the
London University there are some Conservatives, or else
that the Liberals are liberal enough to cheer great men of
every sort. Mr. Gladstone arrived later, and he alone of
all the Ministers present was in plain morning dress. For
him there was an even more distinguished recep-
tion than for his rival, the whole company
rising to greet him with cheering and waving of
hands and academic caps. At 12.20 the sound of the
band playing " God Save the Queen " told us that the
Prince and th, Frinotio of W4eis 10.4 arrived. It wan