an

such protection did not militate against, been disappointed. It has been intimated the principle of the Bill or the interests to us that it is the intention of Her Maof the public.

jesty's Government to resist the further Mr. 'P. Howard thought, that at this progress of the measure ; and under these late period of the Session, it was unjust circumstances I now rise to move the Seto throw upon parishes and small coun-cond Reading of the Bill. Were this an ties such large expenses as this Bill would ordinary occasion, I should, under such entail; and, unless the Bill was greatly circumstances, despair of success; but modified in this respect, he would, on the when I consider the strength of our cause, third reading, take the sense of the House and recollect the justice and necessity on an Amendment to have the Bill post on which it is founded, I cannot think it poned to next Session.

possible that even the opposition of Her House in Committee.

Majesty's Government could succeed On Clause 75,

against it. I should consider success not Mr. T. Duncombe proposed as

only possible, but certain, if I did not Amendment, to leave out from the word know how imperfectly most English Gen“Asylum” io the end of the Clause, in tlemen are informed on subjecis immediorder to insert the words

ately connected with Scotland. It is on

this account that, departing from the ordi[“ Notice of the same shall be sent to the nary course, I think it necessary, even Coroner having jurisdiction where such Asy- after the able and eloquent statement of lum is situated, who shall cause an Inquest to my hon. and learned Friend in introducing be held touching the cause of such patient's the measure, to address the House, instead death.”]

of simply moving the second reading of Question put " That the words proposed this Bill; and in doing so I shall beg the to be left out stand part of the Clause." attention of the English Gentlemen present

Committee divided :-Ayes 37, Noes 4: to the state of Scotland. I hope that they Majority 33.

will think that on this occasion the Mem

ber for Edinburgh has some right to their Universities (SCOTLAND) BILL.) Mr. indulgence. I have been sent to this Macaulay rose to move the Second Reading House as the Representative of a great of the Universities Scotland Bill. He city, which was once the capital of an insaid : I have been requested by my right dependent kingdom-once the seat of a hon. and learned Friend the Member for Court and of a Parliament; and, though Leith (Mr. Rutherfurd), to act as his sub- for the general good it descended from that stitute on this occasion. I very greatly eminence, it still continues the intellectual regret that a substitute should be neces- metropolis of a great and intelligent sary. I regret that we have not him people. Their chief distinction of late among us to take charge of this measure, 1 years has been derived from their Univerwhich he introduced to a very thin House sity, which was practically constituted on indeed, in one of the most forcible and lu- the pure principles of toleration now adminous speeches it has ever been my lot vocated by Her Majesty's Ministers. So to hear. The few hon. Members, how- constituted, it has flourished during seveever, who were then present, cannot fail ral generations, a blessing to the Empire, to remember the powerful effect which the and renowned, to the furthest ends of the speech of my hon. and learned Friend, on world, as a great school of physical and applying for leave to bring in the Bill, moral science. This noble and beneficent produced. The Ministers who came down institution is now threatened with a comto oppose it relinquished their objections to plete and ignominious alteration in its chait. They hesitated; they consulted toge- racter by the shortsighted and criminal ther; and at last, under the irresistible policy of Her Majesty's Government, and influence of his eloquence, they consented by the virulence of ecclesiastical faction, that he should have leave to bring in the which is bent on persecution, without Bill. They subsequently appeared to re- even the miserable excuse of fanaticism. gard the Bill with favour, and his hon. Nor is it only Edinburgh that is threatened. and learned Friend, with himself, was thus In pleading for it, I plead for all the induced to expect that the opposition to it great academic institutions of Scotland.

We anticipated that this im- The fate of all depends on the discussion portant and salutary measure would be of this night; and, while pleading for suffered to become law. But we have them, I am confident that I shall be heard

ment.

with favour by every one who loves learn-, at the head of the Government said that it ing and religious liberty. I shall now was utterly impossible to suppose that the proceed, therefore, without further pre professors would stoop to conduct anything face, to the consideration of the Bill be- so degrading, and abuse the confidence refore the House. I say, first, that this posed in them. We heard in other quarBill is founded on a sound principle. Iters the use of very different language; say, secondly, that even if the principle of but that language made as little impresthis Bill were not one which could be de- sion on Ministers as on me. We were told fended as generally sound, still the princi- that secular knowledge, unsanctioned and ples of the Ministers should make them unaccompanied by sound views of pure re. desirous of passing the Bill; and, thirdly, ligion, was not merely useless, but was poI say, that if the Bill ought to pass, it sitively noxious—that it was not a blessought not to be delayed by the Govern- ing, but a curse. I respect most deeply

I state, first, that the principle of some of those who used that language ; this Bill is a sound principle; and whoever but it appears to me that this proposition else may undertake to controvert that as- is one which, while you state it in merely sertion, by Her Majesty's Ministers, at general terms, may possibly have a pleasleast, it cannot be controverted. From ing sound to the ears of some persons, but their mouth a declaration will not sound which, when brought to a test by applywell, that literary and scientific instruction ing it to the real concerns of life, is so is inseparably connected with spiritual in- monstrous and ludicrous that refutation is struction. It will not do for them to rail out of the question. Is it seriously meant, against the principle of this Bill as estab- that if the captain of an Indiaman should lishing “a godless system of education ;” be a Socinian, it would be better that he or to talk with horror of the danger of should not know the science of navigation ; young men listening to lectures delivered by and that if a druggist should be a Swedenan Arian professor of butany, or a Popish borgian, it would be better that he did not professor of chemistry. They have con- know the difference between Epsom salts tended that those sciences can be taught and oxalic acid ? Is it seriously meant, without reference to a religious creed. that 100,000,000 of the Queen's subjects, They have, for a country in which a great being Mahomedans and Hindoos, and proproportion of those who require academi- gressing towards our state of civilization, cal education are dissenters from the Estab- should be sunk below the aborigines of lished Church, advocated a system of aca- New South Wales, without an alphabet, demical education altogether separate from and without the rudiments of arithmetic ? religious tests. In that case they have Gentlemen who mean seriously that secular thrown open the professorships to every knowledge, unsanctioned by a pure system creed ; and they have strenuously defended of religion, is a positive evil, must go that this principle against attacks from opposite length ; but I should think that no sane man quarters-against the attacks of zealous would be found to do that. At least, I never members of the Church of England, and could conceive how an error in geology or of the prelates of the Church of Rome. A astronomy could be corrected by divinity, or test was offered only the day before yester- how a man well acquainted with his Bible day for their acceptance by the hon. Baro- could be saved from scientific errors. On net the Member for North Devon (Sir T. these grounds, I cordially supported the Acland), a test singularly moderate, mere- measure which Her Majesty's Government ly requiring the professors to declare their introduced with respect to the Irish Colbelief in the divine authority of the Old leges. The principle of the Irish Colleges and New Testaments; and even this test Bill, and the principle of the Bill the sethe Ministers resisted as inconsistent with cond reading of which I now move, are the the principles of their measure.

same; and the House and the country then argued that it was unnecessary to have a right to know why those who bring apply such a test to professors of secular in the Irish Colleges Bill call on us to science ; that it was unworthy to insi- throw out the present Bill. It is most true, nuate that they would inculcate infidelity that in Scotland there is no clamour against on their pupils; and all men must remem- the English connexion. It is true, that in ber with what scorn Ministers dis- Scotland there is no demagogue who thinks carded the notion that science could not be to obtain popular favour by attempting to taught except in conjunction with a reli-excite animosity against men of the English gious creed. The right hon. Gentleinan race; and it is true, that in Scotland there

It was

is no party who would venture to speak of, land. The case of Scotland differs widely the enemies of the State as possible to be, from the case of England and from the case under any circumstances, the allies of Scot- of Ireland. The English Universities have land. In every extremity the Scotch peo- a character of their own—an ancient, ple will be found faithful to the common deeply marked character. It may be good, cause of the Empire; but it will not, I or may be bad ; that question I will hope, be thought I am sure that, at any not now argue; but this we must acknowrate, it will not be publicly avowed—that ledge, that it is in perfect harmony with on this account a measure bestowed as a the system of tests. The Irish Colleges boon on another part of the Empire, ought have no character. They have to receive to be withheld from Scotland. But if this their character from the Legislature, and is not the distinction, where are we to look we may impress on them what character we for a distinction? In Scotland, as well please. If we think it desirable to give as in Ireland, unhappily, the Established them a character not in harmony with the Church is the church of the minority of system of tests, we may do so. But the the population. It is perfectly true, that Scotch Universities have a distinct chathe proportion of Dissenters to the Estab- racter, as strongly marked as that of the lished Church in Scotland is not so great English institutions, and altogether out of as in Ireland; but we cannot say that on harmony with the system of tests. I enthis occasion we are dealing with the whole treat English Gentlemen not to suppose of the population. The question concerns that the system of discipline or mode of that class which requires academical educa- instruction in them is like that in the tion; and among that class in Scotland the English Universities, or that there are such proportion of Dissenters from the Estab- authorities in them as the Provost of King's lished Church, it would not be very diffi- College is, or the Warden of New College. cult to show, is as great as the proportion This is a distinct question from anything of Roman Catholics among a similar class connected with the English Universities, in Ireland. If it is desirable that there and is to be decided on different grounds. should be no sectarian education in Ireland, We are not introducing a precedent for it is no less desirable in Scotland. If it is allowing Dissenters to be professors at Os. desirable that Protestants and Catholics ford and Cambridge. There is, in fact, no should study together at Cork, it is no less analogy whatever between the Universities desirable that the sons of elders of the Es- \ of the two countries. What ought to be tablished Church of Scotland, and the done with respect to the English Universons of those who are separated from that sities is a perfectly distinct question, and to Church, should study together at Edin- be dealt with on perfectly distinct grounds. burgh. If it is not desirable to require The object of the Universities of Cambridge from Irish professors a declaration that and Oxford is, to bring up young men in they believe in the divine authority of the connexion with a particular Church. At Gospels, on what ground is it necessary to Cambridge, no person is suffered to gracall on the Scotch professors to say that duate without declaring his adhesion to that they assent to every clause in the Confession Church. The rule at Oxford is even more of Faith? I defy right hon. Gentlemen strict; for on matriculation a declaration opposite, with all their ingenuity and elo- on oath must be made. The discipline, quence, to find one argument or rhetorical even outside the walls of the Colleges, is topic bearin gagainst this Bill, which would analogous to that pursued within. not be as effectual against their own Irish students are lodged in the Colleges, and are Colleges Bill. I consider this Bill, then, obliged to attend to the strictest regulaas safe from attack, with respect to its prin- tions with regard to their conduct, and to ciple, from Her Majesty's Ministers. But attend constantly in chapel and in hall. A I further; and I say that, even if I did person is appointed in each College to note not hold the principle of this Bill to be the absence of the young men from divine most sound and excellent, I could still show, service, another to watch their absence in the peculiar case of Scotland, some irre- from hall, and another to keep account of sistible reasons for adopting the Bill, and those who return to the College at late for inducing many who even voted against hours; and University officers parade the the Irish Colleges Bill, to vote in favour of streets by night, as a sort of University the present Bill. In the first place, I police, to seize upon any students they may would call attention to the peculiar char- find beyond the walls of their respective acter of academical institutions in Scot- Colleges. In these Universities, there are

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punishments for any breach of decoruni, , the passing of such a measure. I say that and the authorities of the University have by those Acts I am not bound to throw this the power of control over the conduct of measure out; but that I am bound to adopt the pupils. The Scotch Universities are it, or some measure to the same effect; and of a different nature. They do not pretend this I undertake to prove by irresistible arto inculcate one form of religious opinion guments. I shall resort to no paltry quibmore than another; a Jew might become bling with the view of explaining away a Master of Arts or a Doctor of Medicine words. I utterly repudiate such an at as readily as a member of the Church of tempt when made in reference to questions Scotland. No academical authority has a like this. If I thought that the public exiright to ask a young man attending the gencies required us to break through the University whether he went to the Syna- | Treaty of Union, I would say so openly, gogue, or the Catholic chapel, to the Free and should never quibble at words. I mean Church or the Established Church. As to to deal with the Treaty of Union as a sothe moral conduct of the young men be- lemn engagement. In what sense was that yond the walls of the University, no influ- Treaty adopted by the contracting parties ; ence could be exercised, and none of the and more especially, in what sense was it 'heads of it could interfere with a stu- understood by that party which, if there is dent for conduct in the streets of Edin- any doubt, ought to prevail, that party beburgh. The proceedings in Edinburgh ing the weaker party, and standing in need were similar to branches of scientific edu- of a guarantee? It was declared by that cation in London. A young man might Treaty that no person should be a teacher attend lectures at St. George's Hospital, or office-bearer at the Universities who did or the lectures of Mr. Faraday in Albe- not subscribe to the Confession of Faith; marle Street, to learn chemistry, and of or, in other words, did not declare his adMr. Carlyle on German literature, with hesion to the Established Church. What out any interference on the part of his in- Established Church was that? It was the structors beyond the lecture room. Would Church established in 1707, when the it not be absurd to require a religious test Union was adopted. Is the Church of Scot from the lecturers to medical students at land, at the present moment, on all points St. George's Hospital, at Surgeons' Hall, constituted as that Church was in 1707? or in other places where science was taught? 1 answer, certainly not. The British LeThe relation between those parties being gislature violated the Articles of the Union, exactly analogous to the relation existing and made a change in the constitution of between the Scotch professors and Scotch the Church of Scotland. From that change students, on what principle can we defend has flowed almost all the dissent now exthe requiring of religious tests from the isting in Scotland ; and if you attempt to Scotch professors? If I held all the opinions enforce the letter of the Articles of the Act of those Gentlemen who most dislike the of Union against the Dissenters, you are Scotch system, I should say, after all, that actually excluding from acting as officers in such a system religious tests would be of the Universities precisely those persons out of place. Where you aim at bringing to whom the Act of Union meant to give up young men as members of a particular the exclusive possession of the academic Church, there is a reason for requiring from offices. This I undertake to prove. Every all who educate, a test to show that they person who knows anything of the ecclebelong to that Church; but where you do siastical history of Scotland must be aware not propose to inculcate certain religious that in the opinion of the great body of opinions, it is absurd to require that men Scotch Presbyterians, the mode in which should be Protestants before they give lec- pastors are appointed is a matter of great imtures on chemistry, or Trinitarians before portance. From the time of the Reformation they can take medical degrees. I therefore the great body of Scotch Presbyterians held say, that the peculiar character of the that in some form or other the people ought Scotch Universities is, in my opinion, one to have a share in the appointment of their strong reason to agree to this Bill. The ministers. They do not consider this as a peculiar engagements which exist between thing indifferent; they consider it as a the English and Scottish nations also ap- matter jure divino, for they think that pear to me a strong reason for adopting the according to the revealed word of God, no Bill. Some Gentlemen may think that I individuals are entitled to be ministers to am venturing on dangerous ground. We congregations if their preaching does not have heard that the Treaty of Union and tend to edify the congregations. I am sure the Act of Security require us to prevent that I do not exaggerate when I say that

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