The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-18
The New London University.

1t looks as IL the British metropolis
would soon have, what it has never yet
possessed, n teaching university on a scale
commensurate Will its place of primacy
among the worlds great capitals. A bill
appointing a commission to frame statutes
for the purpose has passed its second read.
ing in the House of Commons, and we may,
therefore, take it for granted that the
project will be carried out.
1t Is a fact not generally known that the
present University of London was started
as a teaching institution. 1t was not until
1885 that the power of granting degrees
was bestowed on it. n then degrees were
only to be conferred on students who could
show that they had attended a two years
course at Kings College, London, at Uni
versity College, London, or at some other af-
fliated college. 1t was in 1858 that the new
charter was granted under which the Lon
don University has developed into a mere
examining board. 1t has for n long time
heen felt that the British capital required
not merely a degree-conferring board, but
q great teaching university, and, for at
least twenty years, systematic efforts have
been made to Great such an institution.
Two Royal Commissions have been ap-
pointed to consider the subject, and
both have reported against the foun.
dation of a separate university, and
have recommended such notifications in
the existing University of London as
should enable it to discharge teaching
functions of the scope and character re.
quired. To give effect to the views ex.
pressed in those reports is the aim of the
scheme embodied in the bill, which has
passed its second reading. 1t is worth
noting by how many educational bodies
this scheme has been already considered
n approved. 1t has, in the first place,
been accepted by the Senate of the Uni.
versity of London by a majority of % to ;
an acceptance in which the convoca-
ton of the same university has con.
CURED by a majority Of AGO to 239.
The scheme has also been sanctioned
by the Royal College of Physicians, by the
Royal College of Surgeons. by the Society
Of Apothccaries, by University College.
London, by Kings College. London, by the
Bedford College for Women, by the twelve
medical schools which exist In the British
metropolis. by six theological colleges,
by the Society for the Extension of Uni.
ANNNHAb' ~ ~ LCIHulCdl Fulcl-
ton Committee Of the London County Conn.
GIL by tho corporation of the city of Lon
don, by the City and Guilds Institute. Inv
the Polytechnic Council, by the ROYAL So.
ciety and all tho other learned societies in
London. The number and variety of these
institutions indicate the range of subjects
concerning which the new university and
its constituent establishments will be e1.
pected to give instruction.
Some objections to the project have been
raised by friends of the present London
University, although it is admitted that.
II these were pressed to their logical con.
elusion, they wonld compel the formation
OF a second university, the rivalry of which
would be fatal TO that which now exists.
1t Is said. for instance, that II those
who are to take part In the teach.
Ing functions shall gain control of
the new university, they will assume
the right to m students, and will
lower tho standard OF the degrees. II ia
also alleged that the teachers will give the
preference to the students under their
charge over external students. Due pre-.
cautions seem, however, to have been taken
against such results. The teachers, indeed.
will constitute a large majority OF the
Academic Council, but they will always
be a minority in the Senate, which
is 10 have absolute control over the
examinations and the standards for de.
greeS. Even from the viewpoint o: exam.
nations and degrees it is just as well that
the teachers should have some representa-.
tion in the Senate, for the questions relat.
Ing 10 science. which the Senate has
hitherto formulated without any reference
to teachers, have been unrevised sine.
1875, Notwithstanding the great advances
made meanwhile in chemistry and physI,