STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL, 347 



and history of the body which they criticise, and an imperfect 1866. 

 knowledge of the facts which they discuss, many circumstances 

 have been misrepresented. It is likely that these misrepresenta- 

 tions have influenced some even of the requisitionists ; and we 

 may assume without doubt that they have produced some effect, 

 more or less, on other proprietors who will attend the meeting. 

 We wish, therefore, to correct the more important of them, and 

 those especially which relate to the action of the Senate, or body 

 of Professors. 



The gentlemen who have signed the requisition, and who 

 are indignant that Mr. Martineau was not appointed to the 

 vacant chair, have not thought it necessary to make themselves 

 acquainted with the evidence respecting the qualifications of the 

 other candidates. Most of them, in all probability, had no 

 means of knowing it. But as it would not have been seemly to 

 impugn the judgment of such a body as the Council of the 

 College, which had a full knowledge of the case in all its bearings, 

 and considered it very carefully, and which in fact made its 

 final decision after three months' deliberation, merely upon the 

 plea, that knowing only the reputation of one candidate, and 

 not having examined the claims of any other, they had a strong 

 opinion another way, they shelter themselves under the authority 

 of the Senate, and justify their very unusual attempt to pass a 

 censure upon the Council on the ground that the Senate reported 

 that Mr. Martineau was the best qualified candidate for the 

 chair. 



The greater number of the requisitionists are Fellows of the 

 College, and were formerly distinguished students ; and probably 

 these gentlemen understand the constitutional relation of the 

 Senate to the Council. But in the articles on the subject which 

 have appeared in the public papers there have been expressions 

 as if the privileges of the Senate were invaded by the action of 

 the Council, or at least as if the two bodies were necessarily 

 placed in a position of antagonism by such a difference of opinion. 

 This is not the case. By the charter the power of appointing 

 Professors is given absolutely to the Council. Neither the 

 Senate nor a General Meeting can limit their discretion. But 

 it is wisely provided in our by-laws that, when a Professor- 

 ship is to be filled up, all the applications of candidates, and all 

 testimonials and other documents which they may present as 

 evidence of their qualifications, shall be submitted to the Senate, 

 and that the Senate shall report thereupon to the Council. But 



