Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-04-20

a Society which has no immediate connection
with the established church, and taught no
system Of religion" Cambridge urged that
there was no security that degrees would be
properly conferred Sir Robert lngis, the
Rep rcscntative of Cambridge University, ar.
gucd in Parliament that the Association was |
a joint stock company ind not fit to be in
vested with the power of comforting degrees. |
4 not very captivating dOuceur was held out
to the old Universities by a member of Par
lament who assured them that it might even
be to their advantage to be obliged to COM
pete with a young rival. The matter was
finally adjusted in 1885, by compromise.
That which had formerly been called the Uni
versity Of London, was incorporated as Col
lcge under the name of university College:
Il body Of men were also incorporated as the
d" University of London with the power Of
comforting degrees in Arts, Laws and Medi-
cine on students of certain Colleges. For
long time, there had been UNCONVENTIONAL col
leges existing in different parts of the land
without the power Of comforting degrees.
These, with University College, Kings Col
legc, all the Colleges in the Universities of
England, Scotland and Ireland, certain Col
lcge in the provinccs-among them McGlll
College in Montreal-werc entitled to send
students to be examined for degrees in the
University of London. No religious test of
any kind was TO be exacted.
As practical commentary on the fears of
Cambridge lest the standard of degrees would
be lowered in the new University, it may be
remarked that the degrees conferred by the
University Of London are more honorable, be-
cause moro difficult to be obtained than the
the same degrees in any other Institution oi
the United Kingdom, No degrees are gwen
Il without examination No merely honorary
{ degrees are con ferrcd there is no admitting
u graduates Of other Universities nd eundenr
y The degrees Of Ii. B., Ii. D., NJ. a.. ant
i NJ. d, (Which must follow NJ. b. can onl,
be obtained by examination they have con
sequenty significance which they have no
s elsewhere. Some conceted young gentle
. men, who arc anxious to be thought quite FIRE
% from the upstart and republican SAVIOR of til
'' University Of London, IRE always careful t
i'b''IIs'l ii,n>t'N'S no Ni' "a pIVt' VI W a
~ CAN'T, but they do not thereby add anythi
y to their literary repu tation.
Is You will understand that the Universit
- Of London is not in any way concerned i
teaching. Ii is merely board Of men VIII
", meet occasionally in Somerset House. Their
G, has heretofore been no public ceremony con
5, nected with the comforting Of degree
mr. Diplomas ara written in English. As gene
81 ss raj thing the scholarship encouraged by tt
81 University has less pedantry alta ched to il
" is less cumbersome and scholastic, than tht
'-hist r----;i- = "-r--i ...i C"i~LrilS'
though far more than could thrive in n
~ American College. And although | sha
% have more to say of this at some future tim,
- | cannot help remarking in passing, that
- far as can judge, there is moro Of acquire
= learning, but not more of vital scholarship,
+ the English than in American Colleges.
:. In the Parliamentary Reform Bill intr,
duced by Lord John Russell during the la
session, but withdrawn for the present on a
count of the all absorbing interest of the Wa
- question, provision was made for the repr
- sentation of the University in Parliamen
=. The same Bill proposed that every gradua
of any University in the kingdom should
thereby qualified to be an elector. indepe
IDENTIFY of other acquisitions. >ou may
sure that if these measures are ever revive
we shall hear more complaints from Oxfol
and Cambridge. You may be aware that
bill passed last session, Oxford las bee
compelled, much against its will, to adm
NJ Dissenters to n share in its privileges al
~ honors. In Latin speech made by the vi
al Chancellor IN October last, this bill was q
m luded to as " a dangerous measure, fraug
he with the most alarming perils to learning al
re morality ~
OF lshall write moro particularly of Cniversi
ar College in a future letter.
ad Your Chronicler,
T