The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUL

you permit me space enough in your valu-
able paper to answer the remarks of "A Seeker ofJus
tice," in reference to the changes proposed by the Senate
to be made in the charter of the University of London.
Your correspondent is, it appears, opposed to the pro-
posed unrestricted admission to degrees, so ably de-
fended against the attacks of certain graduates in your
article of Saturday last ; and in entertaining that opinion
he is but exercising his right of private judgment, to
which, as " a proprietor of University College," he has
a special claim. But I wish your correspondent had re-
plied to the article he objects to by " hard arguments,"
rather than "hard words ;" for his letter is so full of
the latter—" fraud," "dishonesty," "British Bankism,"
and so on—that it is difficult to find the former in his
communication at all.

To understand the base it is necessary just to recal the
fact, so &early stated by your own writer, that the Uni-
versity of London—simply an examining body, em-
powered by the State to grant degrees as certificates of
attainment—has hitherto admitted to its examinations
only those who were connected with one of thirty-eight
collegiate institutions ; these thirty-eight institutions
having been selected quite arbitrarily on the application
of their conductors, who were only required to convince
the Senate that they were able to give their alumni the
requisite amount of education. By the proposed change
—which is what your correspondent characterises as
"fraud," "dishonesty," and "British Bankism"--;-the
Senate will admit to examination all who offer them-
selves, without reference to the college at which they
have studied, or to their having studied in a college at
all. Now it is difficult to imagine what can be the
"fraud," "dishonesty," and "British Bankism,7
in a c' aoge so simple as this ; but "A Seeker
of Justice" finds it in some "implied contract"
with the present graduates, which he imagines
the change would violate. Of course it is easy enough
for him to set up this "implied contract," as it would
be equally easy for me to imply " anything else, the
truth being, that an " implied contract, thus discovered
to snit a purpose, is no contract at all. • But taking his
own ground, where, I would ask, is the injus'ice to the
present graduates of the University, of thus widening the
door of admission ? If it be unjust to the present
graduates to admit the students of all colleges to the
compet;tive examination, it must be unjust (only less so
in degree) to admit the students of any one college not
at present on the list ; and so the graduates might de-
mand that the present privileged thirty-eight shouid be
the exelaeively privileged for ail time. Oa the Fame
principle, the present elect ire for representatives in
Parliament might characterise any extension of the
suffrage as "fraud," "dishonesty," and "British.
Bankism." Indeed, it is easy to see how this principle
might be used L--as truly it has been in numberless
instances—to prevent any improvement in anything
at all.
I confess I am sorry to see so many of my fellow-
graduates joining in the monopolising cry of WE is A
Seeker of Justice" bas 'chosen to be the exponent inyour
columns. That it is a monopolising cry, who can doubt ?
For is not education education, although not given in
one of the thirty.eight colleges ? If a man know Latin
and Greek, what matter whether he learnt it in one of
the thirty.eight colleges or not ? It might be that the
University of London had been established for the
benefit of 'the thirty-eight colleges, and not, as declared
in its charter, for the advancement of education in the
whole of Great Britain ! I fear myself that—whether
consciouily or not—it is the old ghost of "respectabi-
lity" that is haunting too many of the graduates. They
are alarmed for the standing of their class. Toey are
afraid to find rough brawny hands on the same table
with their gold-ringed fingers. Bit who would have
supposed that this old ghost still lingered amongst "Ole
educated" of England ? Who would have expected to
find it in Burrngton-house ?
As to the last suggestion of your correspondent, that
the whole matter ought to have been deferred, till, by the
new charter, the graduates had become a part of the
governing power, it is sufficient to observe that the re-
cent action of the graduates proves that it is well that it
was not so. The senate of the University of London
knew too well what they were about to band over their
institution, unguarded, to those who have proved that
they would have made it nothing but a clique. lam
proud of my own University as already one of the most
valuable agencies existing for the advancement of educa-
tion. 1 trust the Secretary of State will stand by the
ages to
proposed changes, all clamour notwithstanding, as cal-
culated to extend iminensely the usefulness of the Uni-
versity, and to perpetuate its isnirfl,uyeonucersfotrrumlya,ny
come.
A. GRADUATE.
I enclose my card, and am,
London, Aug. 22, 18,57.