The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-01 00:00:00

THE SU

university, should be alone sufficient to silence
all objections; and we cannot but hope that
my Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S love of Alma
Mater will induce him zealously to promote
the proposition for the enfranchisement of the Uni-
versity of Edinburgh. With regard to the Univer-
sity of Glasgow, seeing that all our great statesmen
are most ambitious of the honour of being elected
Lords Rectors of that university, and thus pay a
homage, a deserved homage, to the discernment and
talents of its graduates, we cannot for a moment
imagine but that they will all without a single Ciis-
sentient join in bestowing the franchise on those
whose approbation and whose votes they are one and
all so anxious to secure. *But we would fain extend
our educational franchise still further. The London
University, including as it does not only University
College and King's College, but the Colleges of Lam-
peter and Durham, the Roman Catholic Colleges of
Oscott and Stoney burst, and all the colleges of
the various holies of Protestant Dissenters,
is surely as entitled to be represented in
Parliament as are the Universities of Oxford and
Cambridge. The graduates of the University of
London are, as a body, much more learned than are
the graduates of Oxford or Cambridge. We know
all three of these universities, and we have no hesi-
tation in declaring that the majority of the gentlemen
who, at Oxford and Cambridge, have taken the
B.A. degree, could, not pass the examination re-
quired for a similar degree in the University of
London ; therefore we contend that the University
of London is entitled to one Member at least. We
would also wish to see the right of returning one
Member to Parliament conferred upon the Queen's
Colleges in Ireland—or that, at all events, for
Parliamentary purposes, the Queen's Colleges should
be incorporated with Trinity College, and should
exercise the franchise in conjunction with the
graduates of that college, so that the two Members
for Trinity College should represent what we may
be permitted to call the University of Ireland, in-
stead of being merely the representatives of Trinity
College, Dublin. On a subject of this sort it „is
hopeless to look for any great amount of popular
support ; but we appeal to the justice of those in
authority, to the calm judgment of all educated men,
and we trust that her MAJESTY'S Ministers will see
the propriety of, at the earliest opportunity, pro-
posing to the Parliament the enfranchisement of
those who by their education are of all other men in
the world the most fitted to be entrusted with the
franchise, because they will exercise it not only con-
scientiously and independently, but also advisedly.

It has been our painful duty on many occasions to
speak in by no means laudatory terms of the Minis-
terial proceedings and policy. Although anxious io
render a fair and honest support to a nominally
Liberal Government, there were unfortunately but
too many instances in which we could not con-
scientiously do so. The fiscal and financial policy
especially excited our strongest indignation, and
we have never endeavoured to suppress the animadver-
sions which the unaccountable conduct of Sir CHARLES
WOOD naturally provoked. There is one department,
however, and that perhaps the most arduous of any,
of which we have never had reason to complain, the
management whereof has obtained the approbation
of every disinterested person anxious to perpetuate
the union between the sister kingdoms. Ireland had
long been the difficulty of successive Administrations.
It had been the rock ahead that blanched the cheeks
of Whig as well as Tory Premiers. No matter how
just the intentions of the Lord-Lieutenant for the
time being, on entering into office, he was
speedily taught that he could only rule
through, and as a natural consequence for, a party.
He could not act impartially—that would have been
regarded as little better than an act of treason to
the banner under which he had arrayed himself.
Every object should be regarded either through
green or orange spectacles. Lord NORMANDY en-
deavoured to change the system, but unfortunately
even his powers were unequal to the Herculean task.
His generous exertions were alighted and contemned,
for

" Civil dissension with its vip'rous tooth,
That gnaws the bowels of the Commonweal,"
prevailed throughout the length and breadth of the
land.

But what NORMANDY attempted CLARENDON has
accomplished. We speak it not in depreciation of
the former highminded and talented nobleman, who
did all that man could do at the period when he filled
the Viceroyalty of Ireland. He it was that sowed
the good seed that subsequently came to maturity.
Had there not been a " NORMANDY" the efforts of a
" CLARENDON" might not have been so beneficial, or
succeeded in obtaining the cordial and heartfelt ap-
probation of persons of every creed, class, and grade
in society, representing conflicting interests, and
differing toto ccelo in political opinions. The former
prepared the way fur the latter, and we are now reap-
ing the fruits of his unrequited labours.
At present, while the voice even of faction is mute,
while the Earl of CLARENDON is recognized as the
best Lord-Lieutenant that ever presided over the
destinies of Ireland, when almost the very highest
praise is to be found in the absence of reproach, we
find a body of noblemen coming forward to pay a
compliment which is almost equally honourable
to the donors and the distinguished recipient
A number of members of the Royal Society for.
the Promotion and Improvement of the Growth of
Flax in Ireland associated themselves together for the
purpose of p resenting a suitable testimonial to the
nobleman who had so strenuously endeavoured to
promote the development of the industrial resources
of their native land, by encouraging to the utmost ex-
tent the production of its principal staple commodity.
The gifts were appropriately selected—a magni-
ficent silver vase, a set of damask table
linen, and a case of cambric handkerchiefs,
were tendered for the acceptance of his EXCELLENCY
—the former as " a permanent record. of the causes
which led to its presentation," the latter as repre-
senting " the great and flourishing textile manuface
tare," whose twofold connexion with the agriculture
and commerce of the country had been often ad-
verted to by his EXCELLENCY, and whose future
progress he had strenuously endeavoured to aid, by
encouraging a more careful and extended home pro-
duction of its raw material, and by giving his in•
fluence, both as a member of the Government
and as a private individual, to the freer admission of
its products among foreign consumers." Men of all
parties—the Marquis of DOWNSHIRE, the Earl of
ERNE, the Very Rev. the Dean of Ross, Mr. W.
SHARMAN CRAWFORD, M.P , Messrs. S. K. MUL-
HOLLAND, W. DARGAN, W. COATES, J. CHARTERS,
J. HERDMAN, J. GRIMSHAW, jun., J. CAMPBELL, J.
liPMASTER, J. HANCOCK, R. MiKIBBIN, M.D., and
J. MACADAM, jun., and others, representing
the highest aristocracy, the best landlords,
and the most enterprising commercial men
in the province of Ulster were present
to do justice to the illustrious representative
of their SOVEREIGN, whose acts had so truly merited
their approbation. For once all parties in Ireland
were represented in harmonious union, co-operating
together " to render honour where honour was justly
due." Although a Tory and Protectionist, the
Marquis of DOWNSIIIRE headed the deputation ; while
Perhaps the very best landlord in the sister
kingdom, the Earl of ERNE, a man revered and re-
spected by his numerous tenantry, supported his bro-
ther Peer.
WILLIAM SHARMAN CRAWFORD, the un-
flinching and indefatigable advocate of tenant-right,
with Messrs. MuLHOLLAND, DARGAN, GRIMSHAW,
and many others, vibe, EXCELLENCYh'Is
were
truly
st e
ob-
served, rightly understood,as and a pot
o
promote the best interests of
Ireland, were also pre-
sen`. Nothing, in fact, was wanted to render the
ovation as perfect as it could be.

His EXCELLENCY, happy at all times in his replies
to addresses, was peculiarly felicitous on the
occasion. We can easily conceive the emotion
with which he responded to the gratify in g
coerpliment the enthusiasm with which he
declared that " the vase should from that day be-
come an heirloom in his family," while he
spoke of the " surprise and regret " with which
he held " the vast annual importations from
abroad iof a raw material, for the production of
which the soil and climate of Ireland were emi-
nently suited." 'We trust that the people of
i
reland may profit by the valuable lessons
offered
by his EXCELLENCY, and that they
may direct their attention to the cultivation of