The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-25 00:00:00

CONVOCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY

OF LONDON.

The Convocation of the University of London
met yesterday, by adjournment from the 10th inst.
at Burlington-house, Piccadilly. The Chairman of
Convocation, C. J. Foster, LL.D., took his seat at
7 o'clock, and there was a numerous attendance of
fellows and graduates.
The following statement was read by Mr. Shaen,
M.A., clerk of Convocation, on behalf of the chair-
man, with reference to the proceedings which took
place at the last meeting, relative to the appoint-
ment of a representative of the University to the
Medical Council constituted under the Medical Re-

form Act of the last session :
" Gentlemen of Convocation,
" I have to acquaint you that at a meeting of the Senate
held on the 17th instant, I communicated, pursuant to the
25th clause of the charter, the minutes of the proceedings
of Convocation on the 10th inst., and that your resolutions
respecting the appointment by the Senate of a representa-
tive of the University on the Medical Council on the 3d

inst. was considered,-
" The Senate have forborne to pass formal resolutions
upon the,subject, but I am requested to state to you the
circumstances under which the Senate proceeded to make
the appointment, and which now preclude a formal com-
pliance with the requests made by Convocation.
" With respect to the appointment itself the Senate con-
sidered that the communication from the Privy Council
appearing on their minutes on the 20th October rendered
it imperative that the appointment should be made with as
little delay as possible.
" There was not at the time that the Senate acted any
conflict of legal opinion ; nor did there appear to the Senate
to be any reason for anticipating any such conflict. The
opinion of the legal gentlemen consulted (one of whom was
selected by the Senate on account of his having been en-
gaged in settling the charter in the interest of the gra-
duates) was clear and distinct, 'that the choice of a member
of the New Medical Council on the part of the University
of London is vested in the Senate,' and the legal members
of the Senate itself did not entertain any doubt that such
was the law.
" Under those ctrcumstances the Senate proceeded to
discharge the duty which the letter from the Privy Council
appeared to them to cast upon them—viz., of making the
appointment without delay.
The confirmation of minutes is, according to the prac-
tice of the Senate, a matter of course, provided such minutes
accurately state the proceedings recorded by them, which in
this case they did. The appointment made by the Senate
was complete on the 3d inst., and was officially notified to
the Privy Council on the day following. The proposed sus-
pension of the confirmation of their minutes would there-
fore be nugatory.
" Since the meeting of Convocation the Senate have re-
ceived notice that the validity of the appointment which
they have made will be brought into question in a court
of law. The Senate, therefore, deem it probable that Con-
vocation will not now consider it necessary to take the opi-
nion of the law officers of the Crown upon the subject."
In reply to a question from Dr. Baines, the
CHAIRMAN said that, as he was advised, it was not
competent to members of Convocation to vote by

proxy.
Dr. E. SMITH, pursuant to notice, moved resolu-
tions to the effect that it was expedient that a sub-
scription list should be opened to obtain funds to
assist in the erection of University buildings, and
for the formation of a library. and museum, and that
a committee should be appointed to confer with the
Senate on the subject.
The resolutions, however, were not seconded, and
therefore fell to the ground.
Mr. CREAK then moved resolutions to the follow-

ing effect :--
" That, as her Majesty's Government have announced
their intention of introducing a measure of Reform in the
House of Commons during the next session of Parliament,
this Convocation deems it a fitting opportunity for pre-
ferring the claim of the University of London to two seats
in the Legislature, in fulfilment of the pledge that this
University should be placed on a fcoting of perfect equality
with the older corporations of Oxford and Cambridge. That
with a view to secure the recognition of this claim, the
Senate be requested to lend their co-operation. That a
committee of ten members of the Convocation, with power
to add to their numbers, be appointed to confer with the
Government on the subject, and to adopt such measures as
they. may consider most suitable to promote the interests of
the University in this respect."
- - - •

Mr. Creak said he thought that, as her Majesty's
Government had announced their intention of in-

troducing a measure of Parliamentary Reform dur-
ing the next session, some effort ought to be
made on the part of the University to secure
representatives in Parliament. He believed it
would be generally admitted that the status
of the University would be improved if
it returned members to Parliament, and that
such representation would greatly facilitate
the passage through Parliament of Bills affecting
the interests of the University. (Hear, hear.) He
thought much time would have been saved at their
last meeting if they had had representatives in Par-
liament to watch the progress of the Medical Act
,passed last year. (Hear, hear.) He was satisfied ,+
•that the public sympathised with them in this
movement, and Lord J. Russell stated in the House
of Commons, when he introduced his last Reform
Bill, 'that he proposed to give representatives to the
University of London. (Hear, hear.) As there
seemed to be a growing feeling in the country that
education ought to be constituted a qualification for
the exercise of the franchise, he did not think they,
were likely to encounter any very serious opposi-
tion. A question might arise as to whether they
should have one or two members, but he hoped the
Convocation would not rest content with only one
member,:for if they so the probability was that
they would not get a second representative for 50
or 60 years to come. (Hear.) He thought there
were two grounds upon which they might urge a
claim to two representatives. The first was that
when University College abandoned its claim to be
considered the University of London an express
pledge was given that it should be placed upon a
footing of perfect aquality, save as regarded theo-
logical degrees, with the old Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge, and until the University. of London
had two representatives in Parliament that equality
would not be secured. (Hear, hear.) There was,
however, a second ground for urging this claim.
It would be found that there were at present upon
the register of the University upwards of 1,100 gra-
duates, most of whom were of more than three years'
standing. On striking a balance it appeared that
the average number of constituencies in each
place throughout the kingdom was 1,400.
There could be no doubt if the Univer-
sity of London continued to progress in
the same ratio as had hitherto been the
case it would soon number 1,400 graduates
of more than three years' standing, which would
form a most respectable constituency, whose claims
he thought no Government could deny. (Hear,
hear.) He had conversed on the subject with seve-
ral members of Parliament, who were of opinion
that the claims of the University of London to Par-
liamentary representation were well founded. He
did not think, however, that they were likely to
find in Mr. Bright—who, it was said, was to intro-
duce a Reform Bill, in opposition to that of the
Government, a very warm advocate of their views,
for, as Mr. Bright's opinion was, he believed, that
Oxford and Cambridge should be deprived of their
_Parliamentary representation, it was net likely that
he would be disposed to extend that privilege to
the University of London.
Mr, B. H. COOPER seconded the motion.
Dr. ILIFF moved that after the words " Univer-
sity of London," in the first paragraph of the re-
solutions, the words " the Chancellor, Vice-Chan-
cellor, fellows, and graduates" be inserted.
Only three hands were held up in favour of the
amendment, and the original resolutions were car.
ried nem con.
Mr. CREAK then nominated ten gentlemen, who
he proposed should form the committee, and after
considerable discussion, and the proposition of seve-
ral names by way of amendment, it was determined
that the following gentlemen should constitute the
committee :—The Chairman of Convocation (Dr.
Foster), Dr. Wood, Dr. Storrar, Dr. Miller, Mr.
dessel, M.A., Mr. Whaley, M.A.,Rev. A. Creak,
' M.A. Rev. B. H. Cooper, 8.A., lr. Robson, 8.A.,
and Mr. Littler, B.A.
Mr. J. R. QUAIN observed that in 1852 the claims
of the University of London to Parliamentary re-
mpLroeermsdebneptra.etriboAnythbtayhd.a a been brought under the notice of
deputation of which he was a
t time a Franchise Committee was
formed, by which subscriptions were received, and
i tie wished to know whether there was any balance
E available for the purpose of the present movement.
Mr. SITAEN, as secretary to the committee referred
t o, stated that he believed there was a balance of
bout £7O in the bankers hands, which he had no
0,
d oubt might be rendered available for the further
si ritation of the question. (Hear.)
- 'The next business was a motion, of which Mr.
T. . S. Osler had given notice, for the appointment
of s
,committee to consider and report upon the re-
g piatims adopted by the Senate on the 7th of July