The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-13 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY TESTS.

The house having resolved itself into committee,
Mr. COLERIDGE obtained leave to bring in a bill to
provide for the abolition of Religious Tests in connection
with Academy Degrees and Offices in the University of
Oxford.

Mr. FAWCETT said that on the second reading he
should move that the measure extend to Cambridge as
well as Oxford.

Leave was given to bring in the following bills

To Mr. Torrens, a bill to provide better dwellings in
towns for artisans and labourers; to Mr. Newdegate, a bill
for the commutation of church rates ; to The O'Connor
Don, a bill to extend the Industrial Schools Act to Ireland;
to Mr. Coleridge, in committee of the whole house, a bill
to provide for the abolition of religious tests in connection
with academical degrees and offices in the University of
Oxford (Mr. Fawcett giving notice that in committeo on
the bill ho should move that it be ox tended to the Univer-
sity of Cambridge); to Mr. Watkin, a bill for affording
better security to the holders of railway debentures; to
Sir C. O'Loghlen, a bill to regulate and improve the tenure
of land in Ireland between Landlord and tenant ; and to
Mr. Neate, a bill to exempt during a limited time associa-
tions of workmen which are, in respect of any part of their
constitution, entitled to the benefits of tho act 18th and
19th Vic., cap. 63, from forfeiture of those benefits by rea-
son of their being in other parts of their constitution
adapted to the purposes of a trade union.
On the motion of Mr. HUNT, it was agreed that the
house should ou Thursday (to-morrow) resolve itself into
committee on the duties relating to sugar.
The house rose at half-past 6 o'clock.

THE REFORM QUESTION.

BIRMINGHAM.

A crowded meeting was held last night in the
Town-hall, Birmingham, to consider the present
aspect of the question of Reform. The attendance
was estimated at 5,000. Lord Teynham occupied
the chair.

The following resolution was unanimously carried
on the motion of Alderman Ilawkes, seconded by
Mr.W. Radford, and supported by Professor Rogers,
of Oxford :

That this meeting having considered the statement of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Government re-
solutions, is of opinion that the propositions of her Ma-
jesty's Government aro an insult to the country, and a de-
ception attempted on the people ; that the Government
have neither the honesty nor the will to pass any satisfac-
tory measure of Parliamentary Reform ; and that our re-
presentatives be respectfully requested to invite the House
of Commons forthwith to declare its want of confidence in
her Majesty's Ministers.
A resolution affirming the desirability of manhood
suffrage and vote by ballot was moved by Mr. Bald-
win, seconded by Mr. Lanyard, supported by Mr.
Ernest Jones, of Manchester, and unanimously car-
ried. The O'Donoghue was unable to be present,
and the following telegram from Mr. Bright was
read to the meeting :

'l'ho proposals of Govornmont are only calculatod to did-
Appoint, to insult, and to irritate those who ask for an
honest reform in the representation.

THE REFORM LEAGUE.

A crowded meeting of provincial delegates was
held at the League Rooms, Adelphi-terrace, yester-
day, at 12 o'clock, to consider the resolutions of the
Government, and the future course to be pursued
by the League in reference thereto. Mr. Beales
occupied the chair. Most of the large towns in Eng-
land and Scotland, as well as the Irish Reform
League, were represented. After a long discussion
the following resolutions were unanimously agreed
to :--

" This meeting, consisting of the undersigned
delegates from different towns, and of members of
the Council of the Reform League, having taken
into consideration the resolutions laid upon thQ L.lAu
of the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer ;

1, Resolved unanimously,—That such resolutions
are wholly unsuited to meet the exigencies of the
present crisis, and that the time has arrived in which
the unenfranchised portion of the people of Great
Britain and Ireland have a right to demand from
the Legislature immediate and effective action in
favour of a real and substantial reform of the repre-
sentation, and to insist upon not being any longer
trifled with in the establishment of the electoral
rights.

" That the people having exhibited a spirit of
much forbearance in lending I their support
to a recent measurs of Reform, which fell far short
of their just expectations, and which was defeated
by the party now in power, combining for that pur-
pose, with professed but insincere Liberals, this
meeting begs very respectfully, but most emphati-
cally, to warn the members of the House of Com-
mons that the country is no longer disposed to ac-
cept a similar measure from any party, and espe-
cially beg to impress upon the minds of the Liberal
members of that house that if they desire to retain
the confidence of the people they must be prepared
to insist upon such a measure of Reform as shall
embody the principles of the Reform League, or
otherwise secure to the unenfranchised millions their
full share, free from all undue influences, in the
choice of persons to represent them in their own
branch of the Legislature."

Mr. J. BURT, President of the Scottish National
Reform League, proposed, an Mr. W.
'b,
T
of Huddersfield, seconded theg resolution,‘ROF,
which was also carried unanimously :
4, We, the undersigned country delegates, having
full confidence in the wisdom and prudence of the
President and Council of the National Reform
League, resolve, on behalf of our various constitu-
encies, to continue to be guided by and to co-ope-
rate with them in the further prosecution of the
great question of Parliamentary Reform, the settle-
ment of which is essential to the peace, prosperity,
and happiness of the nation, and we now call upon
the whole people to assert their unqualified deter-
mination never to rest contented until full justice
be done to them as regards their electoral rights."
It was next resolved--" That the question of a
Conference or National Convention be left with the
Council of the League."
The President was the .a cordially thanked for his
untiring assiduity and de, otion to the people's cause,
and the meeting separatet I.
The following delegate; ; then signed the resolu-
tions :—Scottish National : Reform League—Nlr. J.
Burt, president, Mr. Jame; ; Moir, and Mr. George
Jackson, secretary ; Pais; 'ey—Mr. R. Cochran ;
Kilmarnock—Mr. C. Job' ison ; Manchester—Mr.
Ernest Jones, Mr. F. Clay ton, and the Rev. John
Morgan ; Irish Reform Loag ue—Messrs. Jas. Reilly
and Thomas Cattle ; B;ra dford—Messrs. James
Wallwork and W. 11. Arnold; :Huddersfield—
Messrs. IV. R. Croft, C. Denham, and F. Curzon ;
Halifax—Messrs. 11. Hors; all, F. Wright, and H.
13irley ; Derby—Mr. R. 3rowv ; Uxbridge—Mr.
M. Leno ; Whitstable—M essrs. John Porter and
E. Watkins ; Nottingham--Mr. Councillor E. T.
Cox ; Oxford Reform League. —Mr. M. A. A.
Mathews ; Rochdale—Mr. M. Stock ; Oldham—
Mr. R. Allen ; Lynn—Mr. J. Re own ; Leeds—Mr.
Dransfield ; Birmingham—Mr. V. Wright ; Read-