January 27, 1898] 



NATURE 



297 



THE REORGANISATION OF THE 

 UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. 



'T'HE influential deputation which was received by the 

 ■■■ Duke of Devonshire at the Privy Council Office 

 on Monday will serve to remind the Government that 

 the scheme for the reconstruction of the University of 

 London as a teaching body has the support of the 

 leaders in all branches of learning. The deputation was 

 thoroughly representative, and its constitution shows the 

 strength of the plea for a measui'e of educational reform 

 of pressing importance. 



The deputation was introduced by the Vice Chancellor 

 of the University of London (Sir H. E. Roscoe), and 

 included Prof. Michael Foster (representing science), the 

 President of the Royal College of Physicians (Sir Samuel 

 Wilks), the President of the Royal College of Surgeons (Sir 

 William MacCormac), Dr. Frederick Taylor (chairman of 

 the delegates of medical schools), Lord Reay, Principal 

 Kendall (of Liverpool University College), Dr. Crosby 

 (City Corporation), Mr. Sidney Webb (chairman of the 

 Technical Education Committee of the London County 

 Council), Mr. Ralph Palmer (City Guilds), Mr. Warren 

 (President of Magdalen), Sir Wolfe Barry (President of 

 the Institute of Civil Engineers), Mr. Cozens- Hardy, 

 ISLP. (chairman of the General Council of the Bar), Sir 

 A. Rollit, M.P., Sir Joshua Fitch, Mr. Anstey, Mr. 

 Haldane, M.P., Mr. Frank Heath (Assistant Registrar 

 of the University of London), and others. 



The Duke of Devonshire's sympathy with the objects 

 of the deputation is known to all who are interested in 

 higher education in London ; and though the reply he 

 gave to the deputation was cautiously expressed, it is 

 sufficient to justify us in believing that the Govern- 

 ment will give prominence in the next Session to 

 the scheme for the reorganisation of the University. 

 The Duke of Devonshire pointed out that the Govern- 

 ment did not need to be convinced as to the importance 

 of the question, and that there are no political obstacles 

 in the way ; but the effect of the meeting on Monday 

 will be to furnish the Ministry with additional force in 

 urging upon Parliament the expediency of giving such 

 moderate provision of time as may be necessary to over- 

 come the small amount of opposition which still exists 

 to the Bill for the reconstruction of the University. 



With regard to the question whether the Senate of the 

 University of London should ask for a new charter, 

 which would carry out the objects required without the 

 interposition of Parliament, or the appointment of a 

 Royal Commission, the consensus of opinion is distinctly 

 in favour of proceeding by statutory commission rather 

 than by new charter. It was, perhaps, just as well that 

 the question was raised, for it enabled the deputation 

 to express the conviction of those who are directly in- 

 terested in the development of the University, that the 

 only practicable solution of the problem lies in pro- 

 cedure by a Statutory Commission Bill. For the sake 

 of learning and the advancement of science, it is devoutly 

 to be hoped that such a Bill will soon pass through both 

 Houses of Parliament. That there are grounds for 

 entertaining the opinion that this desirable settlement 

 of the problem is in sight may be gathered from the 

 subjoined report abridged from the Times : — 



Sir Henry Roscoe introduced the deputation, and Prof. 

 Michael Foster, Sir S. Wilks, Sir William MacCormac, Dr. F. 

 Taylor, Lord Reay, Dr. Randall, the President of Magdalen, 

 Dr. Crosby, Mr. Sidney Webb, Mr. Ralph Palmer, and Sir 

 Wolfe Barry, representing a variety of interests, spoke in sup- 

 port of its object. In the course of his reply, the Duke of 

 Devonshire said : — 



I wish, in the first place, to express to you, gentlemen, my 

 cordial thanks for the trouble which you have taken in coming 

 here, for the purpose of repeating and confirming the representa- 

 tions which many of you have, in various other ways, already 



NO. 1474, VOL. 57] 



made as to your sense of the great importance of a reconstitution 

 of the London University upon such lines and principles as will 

 render it, not, perhaps, a teaching University of exactly the 

 same character as the older Universities, but as an institution 

 which will be recognised by all who are competent to form an 

 opinion, and all who hold a leading position in scientific know- 

 ledge, as a real and genuine teaching University. The assistance 

 which you have rendered to me in coming in such strength to 

 repeat and confirm these representations will be very great. 

 This deputation was not necessary, so far as the Government 

 was concerned, in order to convince them of the importance of 

 the subject. The fact that the Government has already in two 

 Sessions brought forward a Bill to give effect to the recommenda- 

 tions of the Cowper Commission, has shown that they, at all 

 events, have been convinced by that report of the necessity of 

 such a measure. Neither was the deputation required in order 

 to remove any political obstacles to the passing of such a 

 measure. Politics, I am happy to say, political differences have 

 never entered into this question at all, and a great many 

 members of the present Opposition are as fully committed to the 

 principle of this Bill as the members of the Government them- 

 selves. The value of this deputation in my opinion consists in 

 the support which it will give to me in urging upon my colleagues, 

 and which it will give to them in urging upon Parliament, the 

 importance which is attached to the question by almost the 

 whole of those in any way connected with any of the teaching 

 institutions of this great meiropolis, and in urging upon them 

 the expediency and the necessity of making such moderate pro- 

 vision of Parliamentary time as may be necessary to remove or 

 overcome the small amount of opposition which still exists as 

 regards the measure. I have, however, little doubt that the 

 more fully I can convince my colleagues of your resolute and 

 determined attitude upon this question, the smaller will be the 

 actual sacrifice of Parliamentary time which will be demanded 

 from them. Much, gentlemen, as the delay which has occurred 

 in dealing with this question is to be regretted, it has, I think, 

 been accompanied by one compensating advantage. It is that 

 the discussion and consideration which have been given to the 

 subject during this period of delay have tended in the direction 

 of removing almost the whole of the serious opposition which 

 has ever been entertained to it. This delay has enabled certain 

 concessions to be made by the advocates of the proposal 

 and a compromise to be arrived at, which has, I believe, 

 substantially removed, as I have said, any serious oppo- 

 sition which had to be encountered. The measure as now 

 proposed cannot be regarded as a triumph of any section 

 of opinion or of interests, but will be, I think, properly and 

 rightly regarded as a fair and just compromise of every shade 

 of opinion upon the University question. Due regard has been 

 paid to the strong and conscientious objections — I will not say 

 whether well-founded objections or not — which were felt by a 

 certain number of gentlemen who undertook the defence of the 

 character and reputation of the woik which had already been 

 performed by the existing London University, and the gentle- 

 men who undertook the defence of what they considered to be 

 the interest of external students and those who undertook the 

 defence of independent teaching and the rights of the Con- 

 vocation of the University. So far has the process of com- 

 promise and reconciliation of opinion been carried out, that I 

 have heard that it is possible that the view may be urged that 

 such general agreement has been arrived at that the appoint- 

 ment of a statutory commission is no longer required, and that 

 it would be in the power of the Senate of the University of 

 London itself now to frame such a scheme and ask for the grant 

 of such a charter as would carry out all the objects desired 

 without the interposition of Parliament or the appointment of a 

 Royal Commission. That, perhaps, is a suggestion which has 

 not come under the attention of gentlemen present. I observe 

 that it has received no attention or observation to-day. I am 

 not sufficiently acquainted with the details which will be 

 necessary in order to carry out the report of the Cowper Com- 

 mission to say whether such a suggestion is possible or not. 

 But it would to some extent strengthen my hands in putting 

 aside a course which may possibly be recommended with some 

 plausibility if, before this deputation separates, I could receive 

 the opinion of some gentlemen who are present. I am under 

 the impression that, although upon vital points practical 

 unanimity has to a great extent been arrived at, the details 

 which would require to be elaborated are probably such that 

 great obstacles would be found to arise in any course except 



