The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 17, 1869.

was "passed on."
Happily, in spite of this, we have, for once, no oc-
casion to feel disappointed by the result, or rather by
the upshot, of the discussion provoked yesterday in
the House of Commons by a motion in itself, of
COUrbc, csirnrly ...Aailug
whatever to the purpose. We are satisfied,
especially with the drift taken by the discus-
sion, as a whole, because all points more and more
clearly to the conclusion that—at length—after all
these years of delay—the Ballot is at last coming.
Its approach was more than hinted at in the very
Speech from the Throne on the opening of Parlia-
ment. The admission that it is very probably
close at hand was, as one may say, accentuated
rather pointedly in the course of a recent address to
the House (of a recent confession to the House, it

might almost be called) delivered manfully enough
by the right hon. gentleman the Secretary of State
for the Home Department. But it was especially
and peculiarly satisfactory, this otherwise frivolously
introduced discussion of last evening,because of the part
taken in it successively by the Right llonourable
gentleman the member for Tamworth—Sir HENRY
BULIVER—arid by his friend the Firct Minister of
the Crown. Himself one of the most consistent

Liberals in the House, Sir HENRY BULIVE R, on
this particular question of the Ballot, is one
of the most staunch and devoted of its
advocates. As the Prime Minister said of him last

evening,, he is not merely a friend, but a veteran
friend of Secret Voting. As such he spoke yes-

terday, briefly, but very pointedly and effectively.

Effectually, we should, perhaps, rather have
said, seeing that it was in obedience to his
earnest suggestion, backed by a similar and

equally earnest recommendation from the lips of the

Prime Minister, that the motion, the really futile and

purposeless motion, of the member for Huciders

field, was eventually withdrawn. So far, at any rate,
it should beadded, thatmotion has!not been.f utile—see-

lig that it has in a manner rendered audible again
`or the first time, for we know not how many years a

voice always welcomed during the earlier Parliatnen

;ary career of Sir HENRY BULWER in the House o

Commons, before the legislator gave place to the

diplomatist—and seeing that it has also elicited from
the Prime Minister in the very act of wav-

ing it tibia,. (idle motion as it wai intrin

sic klly) the distinct assertion, uttered with cunsi

derable emphasis last evening, that Mr. LEATHAm,
the hon. ge.itleman bringing forward this motion "has
the strongest assurance any man can have that the

thing he desires will unquestionably be done"—
namely, that this matter of the Ballot, or otherwise

of Secret Voting, will be examined in all its phases, in
all its details, from every imaginable point of view,
by the Select Committee.

TIIE politicians who would nationalise our universi-
ties made a great step, in advance on Monday night.
For the first time they obtained the assent of the
whole House of Commons to the principle that the
universities are the property of the nation, not of the
Established Church. In fact, it is difficult to under-
stand how the matter could have been in doubt for
so long. Everyone who knows anything of history
is aware that the universities are nearly as old as the
nation, and have undergone the same changes with
respect to faith as the nation has. It is equally well
known that most of the colleges were founded before the
Reformation ; and that, nevertheless, at the Reforma-
tion these foundations were transferred from the
Roman to the Reformed faith. At that time the
Church and the nation were co-extensive, and it was
therefore inevitable, as well as desirable, that the
religious teaching should be that of the Esta-
blished Church. The two institutions have
long ceased to be identical, and there is,
therefore, no reason why the dignities and emolu-
ments of the universities should be reserved for
Churchmen. Nevertheless, Churchmen have long
claimed an inalienable and sole right to them. Little
by little they have been driven from their position.
First they had to admit non-Churchmen as students;
but they would not allow them, even though they
carried off the highest honours, to take their degree.
Then they were admitted to the lower dignity of
Bachelor, but were forbidden to become Masters.
Cambridge, the more Liberal of the two universities,
removed that restriction, but, while admitting dis-
senters to the honours, kept them out of the emolu-
ments of the university. Religious scruples
had yielded so far as to allow youthful Churchmen
to be exposed to the heresy of Nonconformist under-
graduates, nay, even of Nonconformist tutors, for
the Dissenters who had obtained the senior wran-
glership' set up as private " coaches." But when
it came to dividing the revenues with Dissen-
ters, orthodoxy was inexorable. Heretics may learn
and teach, but they must not get any portion of the
money. The whole private teaching of the univer-
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not expressed in this naked form. This selfishness
was so decently disguised that even those who were
most influenced by it did not suspect its existence.
They put forward other arguments altogether.
The teaching of the university—meaning by that
term so much of the teaching as is given by
the professors and the college tutors—would, they
affirmed, become untrustworthy. Infidelity would
creep in ; fn fact, it had already crept in, for it was
notorious that certain fellows and professors were
infected by Positivism. How could any one be so
cruel as to expose youths of immature minds to the
seductions of English Comtists?
It would be almost sufficient answer to this ques-
tion that, according to the questioner's own chewing,
they had not, with all their restrictions, succeeded
in keeping out the dreaded enemy. According to
their own statement infidelity has already obtained a
foothold in the universities. This fact alone shews
the worthlessness of tests. But after all an ounce of
fact is worth a ton of theory; and we turn from all
these lugubrious prophecies to a simple history. Dr.
Lvov PLAYFAIR, in an admirable maiden speech,
explained what had been done in the Scotch
universities. Scotland is always one or two
decades before England in educational matters,
and some sixteen years ago a bill was brought in to
abolish all tests at the northern universities. That
fine old Tory, Sir ROBERT INGLIS, objected that this
course would weaken the bonds which bound the I

the question, as to the advisability:or not of its adop-
tion, to the deliberate but immediate consideration of
a Select Committee. Still more does the probability
seem imminent that at last the important question of
the. Eallot will be introduced to the consideration of
the House of Commons with something like befitting
seriousness, when it comes to be known that the
member for Bristol is precluded by physical infirmi-
ties from renewing the yearly exhibition of his capa-
cities as an interpreter of Broad Comedy. Not a
bit of it ! Nothing further from the thoughts of his
suddenly appointed delegate or representative !
The member for Huddersfield, in lieu of the
member for Bristol, brings forward a motion—
not the motion, observe, but a motion—in regard to
the Ballot only last evening: and there is, after all,
very much the same kind of facetiousness. There is
simply a change of voice and of stature. The mot-
, ley is still there, but it is worn, this once, by parti-
cular desire (whose, except his own, we can't for
the life of us conjecture), by Mr. EDWARD
LEATHA3I instead of by Mr. HENRY BERKELEY.
There is no ngisapprehending any intended drollery on
the part of Mr. LEATHAM, by the way, under any, the
most ordinary, circumstacces. His metier is jocu-
larity. llis epigrammatic sentences are like so many
digs in the ribs to his audience. It was thug, there-
fore, almost as a matter of course, last evening. Mr.
BERKELEY was silent for one session, but the joke

university to Christianity ; and Mr. NEiVDEGATE
declared that the bill was simply one for filling the
professors' chairs with Roman Catholics and infidels.
Nevertheless the bill passed, and one of the minor
consequences was that several of the chairs were
filled by Dissenters, that is, by Episcopalians
from Oxford and Cambridge, who are, of course,
Dissenters north of the Tweed. The major result
was far more important; for whereas previous to
the Act of 18,53 the Scotch universities were losing
their hold on the affections of the people,
Free Churchmen, numbering one half of the Scotch
people, were erecting rival institutions directly
the Act was passed ; the old universities became once
more identified with the people and frequented by
all religious parties. In England, the old system
of exclusion has prevailed, and the working of the
two systems is clearly set forth in a very
few figures. In Scotland, where the universities
are in sympathy with the nation, there is one student
for every 900 of the population ; in England there is
only one for every 4,400, a lower proportion than is
to be found in any European country except Russia.
And yet the wealth and the prestige of the English
universities are infinitely greater than those of the
Scotch. A single year's revenues of Oxford would
buy up the whole capital of the University of Edin-
burgh and all the salaries of its professors at 20
years' purchase ; and yet Oxford has only 200
more students than Edinburgh.

Mal

CORRESPONDENCE F 1 02,1 PARIS,

[FROM our. OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, TUESDAY, March 16,

The Belgian affair still preserves its miserably disquiet-
ing existence. The two Governments are settling,
settling, but the settlement is not yet consummated.
The " authorities " are all on the side of peace, but there
are one or two disquieting rumours flying about to-day.
The most serious is that England is likely to wash her
hands of the business. The intervention of the British
Government has not met with a very cordial reception
at the Tuileries, and the Gladstone Cabinet will
therefore retire, leaving the disputants to settle
their own quarrel. Even if, as is not unlikely,
the Commission should not be able to agree upon a
decision, England will not consent to act as arbiter. It
seems to me hardly probable that England, having once
decided to interfere, will withdraw from the question so
readily, but I give the rumour for what it is worth.
The elections will take place during the fortnight follow.
ing the 15th of May. The candidates aro increasing
rather than diminishing in number. In few places are
there less than than two or three ; in many five or six are
to be found. In declining an offer just made to him to
stand for the department of the Vaucluse, M. Louis
Jourdan, of the Slide, observed : " Suffer me to think
that it may be good for our country to possess
Frenchmen, who are neither deputies nor candidates
for seats." There was some justification for this
remark; but this great multiplication of political
candidates is not by any means an unhealthy sign, for it
must proceed in great measure from an awakened interest
in public affairs. Men of ability formerly did not care to
be elected to the Corps Ltislatif. There were some
exceptions, but most Frenchmen of mark came to the
conclusion that it WOO both a waste of time and a humilia-
tion to sit in a Chamber which was virtually the creation
of the Government, and to take part in debates which
ended in nothing but talk. But a change has come over
public opinion. There is now some hope that parlia-
mentary government may be a reality ; and there is a
-very general belief that united action on the part of
a powerful Liberal party might soon make it a reality.
Hence this preparation.

All parties are active—the Government in particular.
The list of official candidates is complete, and the efforts
made to counteract the growing influence of the Liberal
party are mere vigorous than ever. The Democratic Com-
mittee of Paris is also ready, and its list contains several
representatives of the most important journals. M. Emile
011ivier is now preparing, I am told, a reply to the severe
criticisms which have been passed upon his book.
This will be a sort of electoral manifesto—..
a supplement to the " Apologia rro Vita Mea,"
which has already been published. The prospects of the
Legitimist party are not of the most favourable kind.
There is a division in the camp, and the Legitimists are
split into two sections, the Abstentionists and the Party
of Action. -

What sort of action the latter section

meditates I am not able to clearly comprehend, nor can
the hopes of the leaders themselves be very strong. The
Legitimists may have their chance, but it will not be
during the life of the Emperor.
Amongst the chief candidates who formerly received
official aid, but who will now stand on an independent

footing, is M. Haentjens.
The Prince Imperial is 14 years of age to-day. Paris
will be reminded of the fact by an illumination at the
theatres and public places.
The little relics left by Rossini have been sold off at the
Hotel des Ventes. They were of little interest, and did
not attract a great attendance. A gentleman who
had on the first day purchased a watch, believing it to
be gold, brought it back on the second, declaring it to be
brass. On the other hand, an object in the more valuable
metal was sold as being of the baser; the eagerness with
which an amateur bid leading to the discovery of the
error. A similar mistake occurred with respect to
a pistol of the Louis XV. period, the mount.

ing of which, announced as copper, was in gold.
The sum realised was small, and one may, perhaps, be
disposed to question the taste of disposing of the souvenirs
of the great musician in this way. The fortune that he
left will not be largely increased by this sale.
We have just read about the Vivian scandal in the

London papers. The pair are living at the Hotel Wesl

minster, but the Paris journals do not seem to have heard
of the affair, or, at least, do not notice it. Perhaps the

large stock of home scandal now on hand keeps this

remarkable occurrence out of sight. Otherwise, we
should speedily have been favoured with a column of
fiction interspersed with half-a-dozen lines of fact, accord-

ing to the wont of the French papers.
It is worthy of note that out of thirty papers which are
published in Madrid, just one-half are now in favour of

the Montpensier candidature, five still hold out for the
Iberian union, six are for a Republic, two for Don Oaths

and two for Isabella.

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF THE EARL
OF BANTRY'S DAUGHTERS.

The other day three ladies, the daughters of the Earl of
Bantry, had a singularly narrow escape from fearful in-
jury, if not from death. They had driven out on a side-
car, from Macroom Castle, the vehicle being drawn by
a young and spirited horse, driven by the family coach-
man. When crossing the bridge t.o the east of the
town, near Mr. Ifarding's mill, the horse became restive
and, swerving violently, attempted to leap the parapet.
This he would inevitably have done and borne his
burthens with him but fur the skill and firmness
with which the coachman held him in. As it was,
he half accomplished his (fleet, and lay balanced on the
parapet, his fore h g.; dangling over the river. In this
position the horse remained until some persons, who had
witnessed the occur! epee hem the mill, hastened to the
spot, and Ly cutting the traces, released the animal from
the car and his dangerous position at once. The ladies
were, of course, very much terrified. Had the horse
cleared the parapet of the bridge the vehicle and its oc-
cupants would in all probability have followed, and the
height from the bed of the river (very shallow at that part)
being considerable, the fall would, almost to a certainty,
have involved destruction to all or some of the party.

ACOIEIE:VT TO THE. LORD CHIRP JUSTICE.

The Lord Chief Justice of England has, we regret to
announce, met with an accident, though it is hoped not a
very serious one. It appears from inquiries that were
made that his lordship was riding from the Hayward's
Heath Station, on Monday afternoon, accompanied by his
marshal, across the Downs to Lewes, and as they were
crossing Lewes racecourse, across a portion of which
chains are fixed to keep off trespassers from the course,
the horse the Chief Justice was riding stumbled at the
chain and threw him. He was unable to remount,
but did not consider that he was much injured,
and he was able to walk to the judge's lodgings at Lewes,
where a medical man was sent for, who expressed an
opinion that the learned judge bad received more injury
than he imagined, and he advised him at all events not to
leave the house for a day or two. The commission was
consequently opened by Baron Bramwell; and business
was proceeded with yesterday morning, Mr. Hawkins,
Q.C., presiding in the Crown Court, and Baron Bramwell
on the Civil side. There are twenty-four prisoners for
trial in the Crown Court, and ten causes are entered on
the Civil side, six of which are marked to be tried by
special juries.