The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-21 00:00:00

OXFORD UNIVERSITY.

Lord J. RUSSELL moved for leave to bring in a bill to
make further provision for the good government and ex-
tension of the University of Oxford and of the colleges
therein. He deferred, for the present, a consideration of
the question, as to the right of parliament to interfere
with the Universities, and he assumed, as sufficiently
proved by the evidence, that the University of Oxford
did not at present fulfil the purposes for which it was
established, and that some reform was absolutely needed.
The first ground of complaint related to the constitution
of the governing body of the University; the heads of
houses, being, it was said, elected for other purposes,
could not be specially qualified to 'undertake the superin-
tendence of its studies: The second alteration called for
was the extension of the University, many halls and
colleges having, in • the course of time, become extinct.
There had been much acute discussion as to the compara-
tive advantages of the college tutorial and the professorial
systems ; but it appeared to him that we had an opportu-
nity, which ought not to be lost, of combining the
advantages of both 'systems, and that the students,
besides the college tuition, should enjoy the advantage of
acquiring a knowledge of modern science and literature
and of modern tongues, which would be beneficial, not
merely to those who studied for a profession and
tivated learning as a path to eminence and emolument.
Another matter of complaint was the restriction in respect
to various honours and emoluments which were the re-
wards of learning. In the next place, it appeared that
some portion of the revenues of the richer colleges, not
now applied to the purposes of learning or teaching,ought
to be so applied. Changes, and very important ones, had
been made, not only at the Reformation, but, later still,
in the endowments set apart for lectures on divinity, the
canon law, moral and natural philosophy. What had be-
come of these endowments ? Dr. Routh, the venerable
President of Magdalen College, had said that the altera-
tions had 'been made pro ratione tenzporis. As the object
in view, was to rectify abuses, not to destroy 'endowments,
why shordel not other changes be introduced in the same
spirit and to the same end, that of aclaptir.g.endowments
to the exigencies of time ? Lord John then proceeded to
explain the general nature of the bill. With respect to
the government of the University, instead of the Hebdo-
madal Board, consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, the Heads
ref Houses, and the Proctors, it was proposed to create a
body of 24 or 25 members, to be called the Hebdomadal
Council, to be thus composed ; the Vite-Chancellor and
'the two Proctors to be always part ofthe Council, and the
'Vice-Chancellor of the preceding year, 'when not elected a
'member of the Council, to continue :to be a member until
the next triennial election. With 'regard to the other
members of the Council, it was ;proposed that the body
'called the Congregation should elett six Heads of colleges
or halls, and that a seventh Head should be nominated by
the Chancellor of the University; that six Professors
should be elected by the Congregation, another appointed
by the Chancellor, and another ,chosen from among the
professors of theology, and thdt Six members of Convoca-
tion, of not less than five yem.e:Standing, should be elected
by the Congregation. Of the-persons to be elected out of
each of the three chmses--Ileads of Houses, Professors,
and members of Convocation—the three juniors would
vacate their seats at the expiration of the third year from
their election. This was the,constitution of the proposed
governing body of the University. It was proposed to
abrogate the oaths binding persons not to disclose any
matter relating to their rcollege or to any inquiry
appointed by law, and 'to certain other matters.
Another object of the tillywas to give a power of open-
ing private halls, by license from the Vice-Chancellor.
The power of applying part of the revenues of colleges
to increasing the funds for the promotion of education, it
was intended to be thus conferred and exercised. It was
proposed to appoint a 'commission with power to approve
of statutes framed by the-colleges until Michaelmas Term,
1855, after which the commissioners would have authority
to enact statutes, which, -When approved by the Queen,in
Council, would have tle force of law, and the colleges
would be autherised to 'contribute for University Trar-
poses to the extent of one-fifth of their revenues. There
remained one iquestion -respecting which no provision. was
contained in gm 'bill,.:andwhieh it was thought shouTC, be
reserved for separate consideration and a distinct measure
—namely, the ,adniission of dissenters to the Univer4ties.
Upon that luestion he.: held the same opinion which he
had heretofore 'expressed.
After a discussion; in•Whitit several members toaluatart,
leave was given to bring iwthe bill.
NsuTn.&.l. CIA:REFOES.—On the order for going into
committee of ways and means, Mr. M. Ginsox moved an
address, praying Her Majesty to give special instructions
to the officers.oommanding Her Majesty's cruisers;. in the
event of war, to abstain; from interfering with neutral
vessels on account of any goods or property not-contra-
band of war,tontained therein ; and to direct her ministers
to consider th.eTblicy of entering into treaty stipiiktions
with foreign -countries- on the principle that free-ships
shall make freegoods and the neutral flag give neutrality
to the cargo.—Mr. 11011SFILL, in seconding the motion,
called the attention of the government also to the,kindred
subject of privatecring and fitters of marque.—Lord J.
RUSSELL said it was the intention of the government to
advise Her Majesty, before* hostilities took place,-and he
hoped shortly to issue a dccument, declaring them policy
in this matter.-IThe motion was withdrawn.
THE INCOMEiTAX.-The house went into committee of
ways and means, •for the consideration of the nes-caution
already moved the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to
the effect, that -there shall' be • raised for the year•:oom-
mencino•' on the atli. of April, 1€54, for and in respect of
property, &e., 'Chargeable for the year, with the:duties
granted by the act 18th and I'7th of Victoria, chap. 34,
additional duties, -Amounting- toAone moiety of the dailies
charged by the -act for the year, and that the-aft-hole
amount of the additional duties shall be collected.and
paid with, and over the above, the first moiety Of the
duties charged -by the act for the year.—After a -4.--ort
debate, the chairman was ordered to report progressiand
the house adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock.