The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-19 00:00:00

Finally, he created great amusement by comparing
the unfortunate Chancellor of the Exchequer to
Captain Macheath with the " Polly" of Durham on
one side of him, and the " Lucy" of the London.
University on the other. Therefore let us come to his
assistance, for no doubt he would use the language,
of that great hero, " Since you both leave me to—
gether, to neither a word will I say." Had it been,
practicable it would really have been advantageous,
to have selected Mr. OSBORNE'S middle coarse and,
to have given up the word university altogether.
" Why is it necessary," he asked, " that you should
bestow this member on the two universities that are
already beginning to quarrel with each other ?"
Perhaps the same idea has occurred to a good
many others who are not so ready as the hon. mem-
ber for Nottingham to express their sentiments. It
will, we think, be admitted that the decision of last
night is not on the whole to be regretted. We must
protest against the extravagant language of sorae
members on the subject of the right and wrongs of
the London University. They have not rendered
this institution a good service, for they have made it
appear in a most ungracious light before Parliament
and the people, just as a political privilege was be-
ing conferred upon it, which, it was said, had been
long desired. So far as we can judge from the
tenour of the present debates, it cannot be said that
there has been much recognition ; but, on the con-
trary, a great deal of prejudice has been exhibited,
which, as Mr. Drs RAELI said very truly, is not very
becoming under the circumstances of the case, and
its criticism is out of character, considering the
novelty of its existence.

The public, or at least that portion of it which
concern themselves with military matters, will,
we think, be glad to learn, from the debate in
the House of Lords last evening, that a change
is in contemplation with reference to the troops
at the Cape of Good Hope. The charge borne
by the colony is infinitesimally small, while upon
this country falls the burden of maintaining nearly
4,000 troops. Whether this fact has anything to
do with the perpetual small wars kept up by the
colonists in those parts with Boers and Kaffirs may
perhaps be questioned, but there is no doubt that
the colony does not bear a fair share of the expense.
Hong Kong pays us £20,000 a year for similar
assistance ; Ceylon paid £160,000 all in one ; and
even St. Vincent expressed its willingness to pay
£4,000 a year for a small detachment of infantry.
The terms arranged between the mother country
and her greatest colonies, Canada and Australia,
were fair on both sides and gave mutual satisfaction;
whereas the Cape pays only £lO,OOO a year for the
maintenance of these 4,000 troops, which cost Eng-
land about £300,000. The Earl of CARNARVON,
when in office, proposed a very desirable change,
and instituted a gradual reduction. He proposed
that a gradual increase should be made in the
colonial payments until the year 1872, after
which the whole of the arrangements should
be subject to revision. We have no doubt
that the noble duke now at the head of the
Colonial-office will carry out the same policy,
because while it is impossible to lay down the same
rules for our dealings with every colony, there is
certainly no demand of Imperial policy which jus-
tifies an exceptional military expenditure in favour
of the Cape.

Birmingham has been the scene of riots and dis-
turbances during the last few days, and the autho•
rities have had some trouble in restoring quiet and
order. In the House of Commons yesterday Mr.
MONSELL inquired of the Home Secretary if he
could impart any information on the subject to him,
to which Mr. HARDY'{eplied that he had heard that
morning from the Mayor of Birmingham to the
effect that he had received additional military aid
from Coventry and from Weedon, and that
owing to the measures taken everything was
quiet. So far this is satisfactory intelligence,
but it must be the cause of regret that
the disturbances should have taken place at all.
During Monday the place was in great confusion,
and mob law was in the ascendant for some hours,
the police having great difficulty in keeping their
ground at all, so fierce was the resistance made.
Of course, it is needless to say that the damage
done was very great, and in some instances even
people have been turned out of their houses, the
latter being in ruins. It adds to the regret of the
matter that the subject of controversy was a reli-
gious one, and we cannot too strongly censure those
ill-advised acts in the first place, and persistency in
the next which have led to such deplorable results.
This is an age of religious tolerance, and no excuse can
be offered for those who violate its being carried out
to the full extent and in the full observance of its
spirit. Mr. MURPHY has not done himself or his
Tabernacle any honour by his recent proceedings,
and it is to be hoped that it will be long before we
again hear of such extravagant conduct taking
place, for it brings discredit upon all who are con-
cerned in the affair.

' Speech-day at Wellington College is always an
interesting occasion, and yesterday everything was
calculated to make it pass off brilliantly. The
weather—which, although near midsummer, has
taught us this year not to make too sure of sun-
shine—was unusually propitious, and the company
wbo assembled from all parts had a pleasant excur-
sion. They came from different parts, and some of
them from long distances. Many of them were
governors, who were naturally anxious to see how
the scholars, for whom they were responsible, ac-
quitted themselves in this ordeal, and many had a
deeper and warmer interest in the ceremonial, for
they had reason to hope that their own sons would
share the honours and distinctions of the day. The
Earl of DERBY was, of course, present, since he
never misses an opportunity of testifying the hearty
goodwill he bears towards the college, of which he
has already given substantial proof. Prince ARTUUR
was also there, and had the pleasant task of deli-
vering the QUEEN'S medal to the successful com-
petitor. This prize, which the late PRINCE CON-
SORT was anxious should represent the character of
the Wellington School boys, is given for good con-
duct. The statute on which it is founded was,
according to custom, read aloud by the head-
master. Her MAJESTY, so runs the statute, desires
by the establishment of this prize to hold up to the
admiration of the students the virtues and great
qualities of the hero to whose memory the College
is dedicated. It is not beyond the power of any
boy to exhibit cheerful submission to superiors, un-
selfish good fellowship with equals, independence
and self-respect with the strong, and kindness and
protection to the weak, with a readiness to forgive
offences towards himself, and to conciliate the
differences of others ; above all, fearless devotion to
duty and unflinching truthfulness. He who dis-
played such qualities would have so far trod in the
steps of the great Duke. This was the first prize,
and was bestowed amid general applause on Mr.
BUCHANAN, son of our Ambassador at St. Peters-
burg. Next in order of precedence came Lord
DERBY'S gift, derived from the proceeds of his
" Homer ;" and it is worthy of notice that the two
chief distinctions of this college are given, not for
intellectual attainments, but for moral qualities.
This is the more significant, as the s;madard of at-