UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. 337 



assertion of its founders and subsequent Governors that 1866. 

 the essence of its being was absolute and complete 

 religious equality in every portion of its organisation. 

 His anticipation that the pledge, so often and so emphatic- 

 ally given, would be fulfilled, was destined to a complete 

 and final disappointment. 



The occasion arose on the appointment of a new Pro- Candi- 

 fessor of Mental Philosophy and Logic, in June 1866, in of Rev.Jas. 

 place of Dr. Hoppus, an Independent minister, who had 

 held the chair from the beginning. In accordance with 

 the laws of the College the testimonials of all candidates 

 were submitted to the Senate of Professors, who examined 

 and reported on them to the Council, in whose hands 

 rested the final appointment. Prom the first foundation 

 the Unitarians had been among the most powerful sup- 

 porters of the College, which could never have risen to its 

 then condition without their assistance in money and 

 effort. When it was first known that the Rev. James 

 Martineau, a Unitarian minister and a distinguished 

 scholar, was a candidate for the chair of Mental Philosophy 

 and Logic, a gossiping rumour came to the ears of my 

 husband and myself that the Unitarians on the Council 

 were working to bring in their own candidate. This was 

 merely foolish talk among a few persons, but I mention 

 it to show what my husband's feelings were on the subject 

 of the appointment. When he heard the report he declared 

 his disbelief in it, but said he would make inquiries, as 

 there must be no suspicion of the preponderance of any 

 one party in religion in that place. He inquired about 

 the rumour, and, as he expected, found it false. No 

 member of the Council at that time knew anything of the 

 relative merits of the candidates. It was evident, even if 

 any one who knew him well could have supposed it 

 possible, that friendship for Mr. Martineau, for whom he 

 had a sincere respect, did not influence his subsequent 

 conduct. 1 



1 I note this, as one of the newspapers spoke of my husband's 



z 



