The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-18 00:00:00

RIOT AT BIRMINGHAM.

In reply to Mr. MONSELL,
Mr. HARDY said he had received a letter from the
Mayor of Birmingham, stating that he had received addi-
tional military aid from Coventry and Weedon, and under
such circumstances he did not think the Goverment need
further interfere, as the local authorities seemed quite cer-
tain of being able to preserve the peace.
PIERS AND HARBOURS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed. -
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
The house wont into committee on this bill.
On clause 15 being proposed, on which the question
arose for the union of the universities of London and
Durham for the purposes of Parliamentary representa-
tion,

Mr. LOWE presented a petition from the heads of the
University of London and urged the postponement of the
subject, on the ground that the proposal had not been a
sufficient time before the house to enable the matter to be
well considered by the University of London. The Uni-
versity of Durham was local, whilst that of London wag
cosmopolitan, and he felt certain that the proposition
could not be appreciated with gratitude by either body, be-
cause it would be impossible, however good the one mem-
ber might be, for him to truly represent the feelings of the
two universities. He would be fit for one, but totally un-
fit for the other. (Hear, hear.) Both universities were
excellent in their way, but they were both founded for dif-
ferent ends, and for different purposes. (Hear, hear.)
He did not think it possible to propose the union of two
greater contrarieties than that now submitted to the house
by her Majesty's Government. He could not in anordance
with the forms of the house move the postponement of the
clause, but ho hoped the right hon. gentleman the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer would not persevere in pressing
forward the proposal of the Government for the union of
the two universities for representative purposes.
Sir M. RIDLEY said he was not so much alarmed at
the proposal of the Government as his right hon. friend
opposite. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the Government would
persevere in their proposal.
Mr. BRIGHT said the great effect of the right hon.
baronet's remarks was not so much with regard to the union
of the two universities as to show the desirability of ob-
taining political representation for Durham. Tile Uni-
versity of London was founded for purposes somewhat
peculiar—viz., to grant degrees to persons who, for various
reasons, could not avail themselves of the Universities of
Oxford and Cambridge. The proposal of the Government
ho considered short-sighted and unwise, because they
might just as well hope for a happy state of
things by proposing to unite the University of Edin-
burgh, with its high Protestant feeling with the
College of Maynooth. The union of the two
universities was proposed for certain purposes, for good
reasons, he had no doubt, to a very few persons; but if
the house, he felt 'Certain, by a strong expression of opi-
nion, refused to assent to the proposal, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer would be very much obliged to it.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said he had ti t yet voted on this
question, which had all at once assumed such gigantic
proportions. (Laughter.) Ho could not for the life of
him understand how the idea about the union of the two
universities had entered into the minds of Her Majesty's
Government. He had no doubt the hon. member for
Durham had poured the venomous distillment into the
ears of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Laughter.)
He for ono until very lately was unaware of the
existence of the University of Durham—(oh, oh, and
laughter)—and he believed that a great many 9f his
countrymen shared in that state of darkness. (Laughter.)
Durham was generally connected with short horns, not
scholars. (Loud laughter.) However, the existence of
the university-had been introduced, and in a manner that
would be a very good advertisement for it. (Laughter.)
He did not believe the Government sincerely wished to
carry the proposal, and therefore he called upon all true
Radicals to come forward to the rescue of the
Chancellor of the • Exchequer, who, like Prometheus,
was chained to the rock by that insidious man the member
for Durham. (Loud laughter.) The two universities
were teasing the Chancellor of the Exchequer, like . Polly
on the one side and Lucy on the other, and he only hoped
he would and by saying " to neither a word will I say."
(Loud laughter.) He thought the course they were pur-
suing was altogether wrong, and therefore he should move-
to fill up the blank in the bill with the word " Liverpool"
—(loud cheers)—instead of the word "universities."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
could not understand why such an opposition should be
offered to a proposal which affected England, whilst the
advisability of the same proposal for the union of the
Lniversities of Aberdeen and Glasgow was tacitly ad-
mitted. • (Hear, hear.) It was said that neither of the
Universities of Durham or London possess very large
constituent bodies, but he had not been influenced
by— that, but by what had been the state of ad-
vancement, the present condition and brilliant pros-
pects for the future of each university in submitting the
proposal to the house. (Hear, hear.) He had heard no
solid reason against the proposal of the Government, and
therefore he hoped tha house would give its assent.
Sir G. BOWYER reminded the house that if they re-
jected the proposal Durham would be the only university
unrepresented, and to prevent that he should give his vote
in favour of the proposition of the Government.
Mr. CARDWELL strongly objected to the proposal,
and he hoped the house would reject it.
Mr. MOWBRAY remarked that it is not the fact to say
there were religious tests required at Durham. Divinity
was the only matter in which such were required.
Mr. CRAWFORD asked whether it was possible for the
proposal of tho hon. member for Nottingham to be put in
any shape to the house ?
The CHAIRMAN replied by putting the question to the
house for its decision, viz., " That the blank in the clause
be filled up with the word ' universities.' "
On a division there appeared—
Ayes 226
Noes 225

Majority for Government ... 1
Mr. TREVELYAN then moved as an amendment, the
effect of which was to unite the University of Durham
with that of Oxford. (Loud cheers.) H• did so because
ho believed the sympathy of Oxford and Durham was
stronger in sympathy than Durham and London, and
therefore ho moved the amendment.
_ _

The CUAIRMAN then put the question to omit the word
"London," and to insert the words "Durham and Ox-
ford."
Sir G. BOWYER asked whether it was the intention to
give the power of voting to all tho graduates at Durham.
Mr. MOWBRAY replied in the affirmative, and said that
it was in the power of every new corner to bodome a gra-
duate. Of course they must have been graduates for a
certain period before they became entitled to the pri-
vilege. He had further to state that ho believed
it was the intention of the authorities in the event
of representation being given to the university, to re-
move the restrictions which now ''required members
of Convocation to bo members of the Church of Eng-
land.
Mr. GLADSTONE would like very much to hear on
what authority the hon. member made that assertion.
Mr. MOWBRAY said he merely believed that, was
the case from certain circumstances that had transpired,
all of them pointing in that direction.
A discussion then took place, during which the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer said he had no desire or intention
to alter the constitution of any universities by any of the
provisions of the bill.
Mr. TREVELYAN having withdrawn his amendment,
the division was taken on the question that after the
word "London" the words "and Durham" be inserted.
Ayes 226
Noes 231
Majority —B
The words "and Durham" were accordingly rejected,
and the clause enacts that the University of London alone
shall send a member to Parliament.

Clauses 16 and 17 were agreed to, it being arranged tllat
the discussion on the amencituotit of Sir J, Collier to the
latter should not be taken until the bringing up of the
report.
Clause 18 (joint occupation clause) was agreed to.
Clause 19, relative to the registration of voters, occupied
the attention of the house up till seven o'clock, at which
hour the sitting was suspended until nine o'clock.