143 



CHAPTER V 



(Physical Science) 



THE HERITAGE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 

 continued 



rTIHE foundation of the University of London, followed 

 JL by that of the newer Universities, plays so important 

 a part in the history of our subject that a few words must 

 be said on the origin of the movement. It arose not so much 

 out of a feeling that the number of Universities in the country 

 was too small, but in consequence of the religious exclusive- 

 ness of Oxford and Cambridge, which only admitted adhe- 

 rents of the Church of England to University honours. In 

 October 1828, therefore, a number of Nonconformists of 

 various religious denominations combined, and University 

 College was opened as the " University of London," with 

 power to grant degrees. Unfortunately, some influential 

 persons, though favourably inclined to the scheme on educa- 

 tional grounds, objected to its entire dissociation from the 

 national church, and successfully pressed their objections. 

 At the present time the difficulty such as it is would be 

 met by the establishment of a religious Hall of Residence, 

 but no one thought of that expedient, and King's College was 

 founded for the purpose of combining secular teaching with 

 instruction in " the doctrines and duties of Christianity, as 

 the same are inculcated by the Church of England and 

 Ireland." 



The University of London then became a mere examining 

 body, granting degrees, without control of the teaching, while 

 University College received a new charter, without the power 

 of conferring degrees. Among its first Professors was 

 Augustus de Morgan (1806-1871), who was elected to the 



