1828. ] Affairs in General. - 5S 
University were actuated by much higher considerations than the 
enemies of both charged them with, or rather, what they charged each 
other with. The old Universities are convinced they were wrong in 
their opposition, and to this conviction the writer ascribes their acquies- 
cence—taking no notice whatever of the yet deeper conviction, that the 
new institutions cannot in the slightest degree conflict with their tho- 
roughly established interests. Some of the writer’s anticipations are 
really curious. It will soon, he says, become a matter of perfect indif- 
ference with- the father of a family, to which seat of learning he sends 
his sons, and accordingly one will go to Oxford, another to London, 
and a third to Cambridge, wherever the whim or the fashion prompts. 
One would think he had entirely lost sight of the annoying fact, that the 
old Universities retain the monopoly of degrees—that that alone will 
secure the exclusive reception of men destined for professions—that the 
disposal of masterships, tutorships, fellowships, scholarships, registrars, 
public orators, and offices and advantages innumerable, must always 
secure a preference over that which has nothing of the kind, amongst 
men who have their way to push in the world; end that, as to the 
aristocracy, every man of them are sure to send their sons solely to Cam- 
bridge and Oxford, except, perchance, some stray whig, who may be 
more bent upon himself being conspicuous, than consulting his son’s 
interests. As long as distinctions have any influence among men, the 
London will sink below the level of her opulent and ancient rivals. 
' The question of religion is, it seems, finally settled. For our own 
parts, we never could tolerate the cry that was made against the London 
University on this point—it was the offspring of sheer hypocrisy. The 
very persons who made the outcry well knew how carelessly, how worse 
than inefficiently, the matter was enforced and conducted at both Cam- 
bridge and Oxford. The New University was avowedly to be thrown 
open te dissenters of all denominations—from that quarter its founders na- 
turally looked for the chief supply of pupils,—and they wisely determined 
not to defet their own aims, by instituting creeds or forms in which all 
could not unite. A sort of compromise has been entered into. They 
still do not intend ex-cathedra to teach divinity, but the professors are 
permitted to supply the deficiency extra-officially: Two professors 
(members of the church) have announced the opening of an episcopal 
chapel, contigucus to the University, where accommedation will be 
furnished to students residing in the neighbourhood, and where divinity 
lectures will be read during the accademical session. Two dissenting 
Ministers, one the librarian, Cox, an Unitarian, will also deliver lectures 
on the subject, each after their own doctrines ; and the writer adds, from 
the best authority—himself, it will be understood—he doubts not, ifa 
Catholi¢ wishes to do the same, he also will be sanctioned by the council. 
This, indeed, is all that can be done. Prayers morning and evening— 
supposing them done after the old and approved method, would be 
scarcely practicable, where students do not reside within the building, 
and are changing all the day. King’s College propose to take the stu- 
dents under the roof, and then, of course, prayers and surplices will be 
easily managed. 
' In this same Edinburgh also, ‘we find a high-flown panegyric 
on the publications and views of the Society for the Diffusion of 
Knowledge, obviously from the same source. The writer is himself 
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