The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-19 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY TESTS ABOLITION BILL.

This bill, brought in by Mr. Coleridge, stands for a 1
second reading on Wednesday, the 25th, and, according
to a recent statement of the Home Secretary, the Govern-
ment and the Conservative party generally will put forth
their utmost strength, with a view to its defeat, or, if
that be not practicable, to prevent its being sent to the
Lords by a large majority. The bill comprises both Mr.
Coleridge's and Mr. l3ouveric's bills of past sessions.
It applies to the two universities, and thus meets the
objections of those who deprecated part'al
It moreover satisfies the demands of those who re-
quired the subject, if dealt with at all, to be dealt
with completely and finally ; for, if this bill is passed,
the tests question at the universities will be settled,
so far as regards Parliament. The fundamental prin-
ciple of the bill is the recognition of the national
character of the national seats of learning. This principle
is worked out with due regard, on the one hand, to the
public interests, on the other to the independence of the
colleges as self-acting societies. As regards the universi-
ties, the Legislature prescribe; : as regards the colleg s, it
enables. The opening to the Queen's subjects of the
degrees, public professorships, and academical offices,
emoluments and privileges, is mandatory ; the opening of
the college fellowships and offices is permissive. The Act
of Uniformity and other restrictive Acts of the Legislature
are repealed ; but, so far as concerns the colleges, the bill
emancipation, and leaves each stops short of requiring
college to please itself. These are the positive enactments
of the bill. On the negative side clauses are introduced
to disavow any intention to interfere with existing law or
usage as regards (1) mastership of endowed schools (sec-
tion 3, proviso), or (2) the celebration of public worship in
the universities or the colleges (section 7). The leading
Nonconformist tutors and students at Cambridge have
issued a circular urging Nonconformist ministers to exert
themselves in fay.,,nr of Mr. Coleridge's measure by pro-
moting petitions in its behalf. " If," they say, "it be
objected that the passing of this bill will benefit but few,
we reply—first, that as a mere question of princ;p!e, it is
our duty to protest against the present infringement of
civil liberty ; secondly, that the interests of 'Nonconformity
are at stake, for its future cannot but be dark if it remain
at a distance from the centres of educational light ; and
that, albeit the number of its representatives at these
centres is steadily increasing, it is kept down by the exist-
ing barriers ; thirdly, that there is a strong probability of
the universities being made more accessible than they are
now to the middle classes ; and that, inasmuch as the bulk
of the middle classes is Nonconformist, no section of the
people %%ill be more nearly affected by the prole exten-
sion ; in view whereof it is eminently desirable that every
invidious distinction should 1 e previously removed. The
party for the abolition of tests grows yearly in strength,
as the divisions in the House of Commons tes'ify ; but the
success of its proposals may be seriously impeded unless
the Nonconformists raise their voice in the assertion of
their rights."
A petition to both Houses of Parliament in favour of
Ole bill is in course of signature at Oxford University.

THE GOVERNIII,,TT AND THE VOLUNTEERS. —A
large and important gathering of commanding officers of
volunteer regiments has been held at the offices of the
National Rifle Association, in Pall Mall, to consider the
steps which should he taken for bringing before the
Government the necessity which exists for an increased
capitation grant to the volunteers, so as to relieve
the efficient members and the officers from the
heavy expenses which now fall upon them. Colonel
Lord Elcho, M.P., presided, and there were present
Colonel the Duke of Sutherland (20th Middlesex),
Colonel the Marquis of Donegall (London Irish), Colonel
Lord Truro, Colonel the Hon. Charles Lindsay, M.P.,
Colonel the Hon. Loyd-Lindsay, V. 0., M.P. (the Hon.
Artillery Company), Colonel Charles Buxton, M.P., and
many other commanding officers. At the last Wimbledon
meeting of the National Rifle Association a deputation of
volunteer commanding officers, representing volunteer
corps of every county, waited upon the Secretary of State
for War, and left with the understanding that though the
se icon was then too far advanced for the wants. of the
' force to be considered in the estimates of 1367, yet that
they should be considered this year. Commandi'n, officers
now stated that, in the full belief the grant would be
increased this year, they had, in order to advance the num-
bers and efficiency of their various corps, rendered them-
selves responsible for many expenses which should rightly
fall upon the country, and officers from the country stated
• that they had taken action themselves to point out to the
Government that, if the Government desired to keep up
this " reserve force," it must at once declare its inten•
Lions. The meeting then resolved itself into a deputation
to Sir John Pakington, at the War Office, who not only
declined to have any representatives of the press present,
! as such, at the interview, but called upon those will were
in the room to hold the proceedings as private conversa-
dm The interview lasted for nearly an hour and a
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