418 REFORM YOUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. 



is the respect and esteem of the people. The principle of exclusion tends 

 to narrow this basis ; and might ultimately produce the overthrow of 

 the establishment, or at least cause it to sink into comparative insignifi- 

 cance. For instance, the College of Physicians admit no one, into their 

 society, who is not a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge ; these universi- 

 ties allow no one to become a graduate, who is not a member of the Es- 

 tablished Church ; therefore, so long as the College of Physicians ad- 

 heres to this regulation, no dissenter, however distinguished in the profes- 

 sion, can be a member of that learned body. We will not stay to con- 

 sider the justice of this ; but suppose a second Hervey to arise, and he a 

 nonconformist : can it be imagined that the College of Physicians would 

 hesitate to admit him a member of their society, because he was not a 

 graduate of Oxford or Cambridge ? Impossible. Thus these absurd 

 and unjust restrictions must ultimately defeat themselves. We shall, per 

 haps, be told, that this is of no consequence ; that it is not desirable for 

 the Universities to become schools of medicine. Indeed ! We warn the 

 Universities to beware how they sink into mere nurseries for the Church. 

 We believe that no other University in Europe can be pointed out, not 

 even that of Dublin, where a religious test is required at the time of con- 

 ferring degrees. Considering, therefore, this question in all its bearings, 

 we come to the conclusion that the restrictions of which we complain 

 are prejudicial to the best interests of the University, and unjust towards 

 the public, unless they can be justified : and, as we have before said, the 

 burden of justification rests entirely with the advocates for subscription, 

 they ought to be removed without delay. We call upon the members 

 of the Senate to enter immediately upon the consideration of this subject, 

 in the spirit of good will and sincerity. They must see and acknowledge, 

 whatever may be the tenor of the statutes which regulate and govern the 

 Colleges to which they respectively belong, that the charter and statutes 

 of the University are distinct from, and independent of, all these. If 

 ever it were necessary to impose the test of subscription, that necessity 

 has long ago ceased to exist. It now can answer no good purpose. It 

 is often grievous to the conformist ; it is always injurious to the non- 

 conformist ; it is not necessary for the protection of the establishment ; 

 and, unless the University is prepared to afford relief, redress will be 

 sought through the medium of the legislature. 



A FRAGMENT. 



THE green grass shook its head .all mournfully, 



And tears, in plenty, o'er her grave were wept ; 

 And sighs, that quieted would never be, 



The zephers breathed while they their vigils kept : 

 By living, and by lifeless, mourn'd was she ; 



Alas ! they could not wake her, for she slept 

 Her dreamless and her lasting sleep ah me ! 



The pleasant and the beautiful again 

 May throw their ray-like witchery, but in vain. T. 



