.fe^iJr F_ '''^U^< m-1 M;0^:,ii'--- '■'■".'■■<:'' ::■ „, "• b,-i-,'i':"-:^ \ ■ ■ •■ ■■■' ■■■•■ .',' .,-*> Reports of the Oxford Tutors' Association. No. II. RECOMMENDATIONS RESPECTING THE CONSTITUTION OF « THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, AS ADOPTED BY THE TUTORS' ASSOCIATION. APRIL, 1853. OXFORD: JOHN HENRY PARKER; AND 377, STRAND, LONDON. M.DCCC.LIII. RECOMMENDATIONS RESPECTING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. At a Meeting of the Association, held at Ch. Ch., Nov. 29, 1852, it was resolved, That it is desirable that the Initiative of Legislation should be confided to a single body ; and that it should contain representatives periodically rene^^ed of the various classes in the Uni- versity, whereby the harmonious cooperation of the Body with Convocation may be better secured — but that all details be referred to a special committee, to consist of Rev. T. E. EspiN, Fellow and Tutor of Lincoln. Rev. 0. Gordon, Student and Senior Censor of Ch. Ch., Moderator. Rev. W. C. Lake, Fellow and Tutor of Balliol, Senior Proctor, Rev. F. Mbyrick, Fellow and Assistant-Tutor of Trinity. C. Neatb, Fellow of Oriel. E. Palmer, Fellow of Balliol. Rev. G. Rawlestson^ late Fellow and Tutor of Exeter, Mo- derator. Rev. T. Shadforth, Tutor and late Fellow of University. Rev. E. Stokes, Student and Tutor of Ch. Ch. Rev. S. Wayte, Fellow and Tutor of Trinity, Pubhc Exa- miner. The following Report, having been agreed to by the Committee, was presented to the Association on Feb. 28, 1853. It was further discussed at meetings of the Association held March 4. 7. 11, April 15. 18. 22. 25, and finally adopted April 29, 1853. E 2 36 REPORT. No. II. Feelings of dissatisfaction have for a long time pre- Con stitut ton. veiled among those engaged in the instruction and General dissa- discipline of Oxford, witli regard to the present con- the'^existin^ stitution of the University, and the relations now Constitution, gubsisting between Convocation and the Hebdomadal Board. Efforts have been made at intervals during a space of nearly twenty years to eifect some altera- tion of the actual system, and to secure a greater share in the direction of University matters to Convo- cation or its representatives. These efforts have hi- " therto proved fruitless ; and the result has been a want of cordial cooperation and harmonious action between the governing bodies, which has checked the progress of improvement within the University, and greatly hin- dered the practical working of its system. Instead of the confidence which all persons would wish to see exist between the several powers in the iVcademic body politic, the prevalent feeling has been too much one of mutual distrust; and we are convinced, that without some considerable change in the Constitution, as now, by usage if not by law, determined and fixed, it is vain to expect the establishment of satisfactory relations between the two bodies. Tenor of the The Statements of Her Majesty's Commissioners to^Her Ma-^^"^ upon tliis head furnish ample evidence of the exist- misSn?rr" i"g disconteut. "As to Convocation and the Heb- domadal Board," they say, "the complaints are loud and general, and the evidence which has been laid be- fore us on the subject is copious, explicit, and, in its general principles, unanimous. One only voice has been raised in defence of the present system. It is, however, the voice of an eminent man, who is himself a member iwir 37 of the chief governing body *." And again — " The dis- No. IT. satisfaction respecting the Hebdomadal Board is very C'ows^eow. strong. Grave objections have been urged against its composition and powers, not by one party only, but by persons of various opinions in the University f ." They therefore conclude, and in this conclusion we desire to express our entire concurrence — " That into any plan for University Reform must enter some modification of the Academical constitution, as regards the legisla- tive powers now almost exclusively confided to the Hebdomadal Board :}:." Another indication of the general dissatisfaction Sentiment of with the actual state of things may be found in thetion, almost unanimous vote of the Tutors' Association, which led to the appointment of a Committee to consider and report on the subject of a change in the Constitution. Without venturing to offer any remarks upon the Necessity of a T-» 1 n 1 -n 1 • change, arising Board as now actually composed, we will proceed sim- from inherent ply to notice those principles in its constitution which existing Sys-^ appear to us to disqualify it for a satisfactory discharge *^"^- of its present functions. 1. Apart from the Proctorial element, which is too i. isolation of ,- iTTiiii ^^^ Hehdoma- small to be or any great account, the Hebdomadal dai Board. Board consists of persons belonging to a single class ; and that, moreover, a class detached and isolated, by the very circumstances of its position, from the general Academic Body. It is on this unavoidable isolation that our chief objection is founded ; for, however will- ing the Heads of Houses may be to consult the wishes * Report, p. 1 1 . t Ibid. ;{; Ibid. p. 12. 38 No. II. of those with whom they are called upon to act in o ns lu ion. jjjg^|.^gj.g ^f University legislation, it is obviously diffi- cult for them to form a correct estimate of the views and feelings of the great majority of the Residents, from whom they are at present separated not only by the distinctness of their office, but also, and more effectually, by the numerous influences arising from their different social position. Whatever social and friendly intercourse at present subsists between the two classes, is not such a guarantee for sympathy and mutual understanding as would be supplied by an ha- bitual communication and connexion in the manage- ment of the affairs of the University. 2. irresponsi- 2. The members of the Board, the Proctors ex- perpetuilyTf ^ coptcd, hold their office in perpetuity. This circuni- " ^' stance, besides adding difference of standing to the causes of isolation above mentioned, is open to the further objection that it creates too wide a separation between the initiative body and the legislative, by ren- dering the former wholly irresponsible, and so less care- ful than it would otherwise be to ascertain the wishes, and carry with it the confidence, of the latter. And it tends naturally, in combination with the other defect which we have noticed, to give to the proceedings of the Board that secret character of which other members of the University so frequently, and, as it seems to us, with so much justice, complain. 3. Peculiarity 3 rpj^g members of the Hebdomadal Board (to speak m the mode of ^ '■ appointment, generally) acquire their seat in the initiative body from jDowWe office of ° ^ \. V . , . , 1 t-, n /. , • Heads of Col- the fact OT their selection by the Jbellows of their re- ^^^^' spective societies to preside over Colleges. As there- fore the offices of Collegiate and University Governor are distinct, and require for their effectual discharge 39 somewhat different faculties, there must be a proba- No. II. bility of persons being appointed to the double office ^institution. who, though they possess eminently the powers and qua- lities requisite for the narrower sphere, may be deficient in those which are needed for the wider. And this probability is strengthened, if we consider how closely the interest of each elector is bound up with the pro- sperity of his own Foundation, dependent so greatly upon the character of its Head, and how solemnly he is in most cases adjured by the Statutes of his College, laying aside all other considerations^ to choose the person whom he deems the fittest to promote its welfare. It is also to be borne in mind, that the elector's choice is in most cases limited to those who are or have been on the Foundation of his Society, a restriction which narrows the chance of obtaining a person qualified for hotli offices. On these grounds we rest our obiection to the con- Consequences ° *' . of these defects tmuance of the Hebdomadal Board in its present state, as seen in the T. • . • 1 , , actual state of It IS not our wish or our purpose to cast any censure things. at all upon the past or present conduct of the Board, but only to point out the impossibility that a body so constituted should discharge satisfactorily such func- tions as are now exercised by it. We consider such a Board to be precluded altogether by its position from obtaining any real or thorough acquaintance with the wishes and feelings of the great mass of those who have to adjudicate upon the measures which it pro- poses, and hence as improperly entrusted with the initiative. We feel that measures brought forward by a Board which in no sense emanates from or represents the body before which its propositions have to be laid, are unlikely to be considered merely upon their own merits, or to receive fair and candid treatment from No. IL Constitution. 40 those who have to decide upon them. The isolation of the existing Hebdomadal Board works badly in two ways ; it disqualifies the Board from proposing accept- able measures to Convocation, and it indisposes Con- vocation to look favourably upon the propositions of the Board even when in themselves unobjectionable. Comingchanges It is further to bo uoticed, that the evils attaching will aggravate . . t . i i ^ i i the evil. to the cxistmg systom are likely to be aggravated by the alterations in progress, or to be expected, in the character of our studies and the distribution of our students. If greater prominence is to be given to Pro- fessorial instruction, it will become a still more strange anomaly to keep the government of the University in the hands of persons who need not any of them be Professors, and who, as Heads of Colleges, cannot be expected to sympathize warmly with what must be regarded as an extension of University in opposition to Collegiate teaching. Again, if new Halls of various kinds are to be allowed, and a considerable body of students is to grow up outside the existing founda- tions, it will be manifestly unfair to retain the ex- clusive direction of the University in the hands of persons, who then, at any rate, cannot be thought to represent all the elements of our system. Proposals for Among the various methods which have been amending the i c i. i . . /» t tt • Constitution proposod for amoudmg the constitution of the Uni- already made. -j. j.r , i • i ■ versity, there are two which seem to require some special and distinct consideration. The first is that of her Majesty's Commissioners, from which we find our- selves compelled to dissent for several reasons. M^^s?Sm ^' ^®^ Majesty's Commissioners propose to transfer missioners. the powor of initiating and preparing measures from 41 the Board of Heads of Houses and Proctors to a " re- No. II. modelled Congregation, consisting of all Heads of Constitution. Houses, the Proctors, all Professors and Public Lec- turers, together with the Senior Tutors of all Colleges and Halls*." This body is not to be substituted for the present Hebdomadal Board, but to exist side by side with it. The Board is to remain, constituted as at present, and is to " retain its executive and adminis- trative functions," as also its " right of originating mea- sures," that is, apparently, of introducing them into the remodelled Congregation! . This last mentioned assem- bly is to discuss, amend, and finally promulgate all new measures, to debate in English, and to have a power of appointing Committees or Delegacies for spe- cial purposes or on special subjects. Our principal obiections to this scheme are the fol- objections to * ^ " this scheme. lowing : — 1. It ffives an indefinite, but palpably a very undue i- Undue pre- 1 T^ n ' \ 1 1 • 1 ponderance of preponderance to the Professorial element, which the Professorial would not only predominate in the " remodelled Con- ^ ^^^^ ' gregation," but would have the entire control of all its votes and proceedings t- This would be an enormous * Report, p. 256. t In the general summary of Recommendations (p. 256) it is said, " the Hebdomadal Board should retain its present right of ori- ginating measures." But in the body of the Report it appeal's that the right thus spoken of is to be one " of initiating measures to be submitted to Congregation." (p. 15.) + As the Commissioners do not state definitely either the number of Professors which they consider the University to need, or the proportion which the Public Lecturers are to bear to the Professors, it is impossible to determine with exactness, of how many persons Congregation, according to their scheme, would be composed. The nearest approach to a definite statement of its numbers which we can find in the Report is contained in Page 14, where it is said, " Con- Constitution. 42 No. 11. change from the present state of things, in which Pro- fessors, as such, have neither place nor influence ; and would, almost of necessity, lead, within a short time, to such further alterations, as would amount to a complete revolution in our existing system. It is impossible not to apprehend over-sweeping and over-rapid changes, tending to an undue exaltation of Professorial over Tutorial teaching, and of the University over the Col- leges, in case the Professors, who have hitherto been allowed no voice in the government of the University, should be suddenly invested with the supreme and paramount authority. We speak from no jealousy of Professorial teaching, which we wish to see made more effective in Oxford, but as it is in no way desirable that the instruction of Professors should ever become the main instruction of the place, so it seems unfit that its dispensers should have the chief influence in University legislation. Nor must it be forgotten that the Pro- fessors, as a body, must ever be, to a certain extent, liable to some of the very same influences which at gregation, as thus constituted, would consist of more than a hundred members." This enables us to see distinctly, that under the pro- posed scheme the Professorial element would constitute a clear ma- jority in the assembly, and so have the full direction of it. For the other numbers being known, we obtain from this statement the fol- lowing result : Heads of Houses 2^-\ Senior Tutors of Colleges and Halls 24 >=^o Proctors 2 J Professors and Lecturers 5° + Total loo-l- The intended predominance to be given to the Professors may be very great, for we are told that " the Professors and Public Lectu- rers ought to be considerably increased/' while the expression " more than a hundred" is so indefinite as to leave a very wide margin. 43 present tend to separate the Heads of Houses from the No. II, bulk of the Residents. Constitution. 2. No provi- 2. The scheme of the Commissioners is not likely to securing har- produce any better understanding or more harmonious ^^ny oi &ction. cooperation between the different powers in the Aca- demic polity than at present exists. Legislative and administrative functions perpetually run into one an- other, and to establish a supreme legislature and a supreme executive power, neither of them deriving its authority from or being responsible to the other, would be to pave the way for constant disputes between the two bodies. So long as there exists a Hebdomadal Board, composed on such exclusive principles as the present, it will be viewed with jealousy by any mixed University assembly; nor is there any reason to believe that Congregation, remodelled as the Commissioners ad- vise, would look more favourably on propositions sub- mitted to it by the Board of Heads of Houses than Convocation has done hitherto. Indeed the retention by the Heads of a right of originating measures as a Board in the remodelled Congregation, over and above the right of bringing them forward as individual mem- bers of the body, could, in our judgment, only lead to unpleasant consequences. Thus it is very unlikely that harmony would exist between the remodelled Congre- gation and the Board, two bodies, which, being so dif- ferently constituted, could scarcely fail to be animated by different spirits. 3. The scheme is further open to the objection that 3- Danger of it would raise up among the Senior Members of the becoming University a "vast debating society,"* the excitement ing society."* ' of which would tend to withdraw persons from the * Report, Evidence, p. 3 1 . No. II. quiet discharge of their ordinary Academic duties. Constitution, rpj^j^ objection is not removed by the proviso, " that Congregation should not meet regularly for legisla- tion," since it would always be in the power of a fraction of the body to make its meetings as frequent as they desired, by addressing a requisition for a meet- ing to the Vice-Chancellor. Nor is it safe to trust to the " character and station" of the members of such a body, for " preventing its degenerating into a debat- ing society."'!' Oratorical powers are necessarily called into play in addressing an assembly of " above a hundred persons" — quiet discussion cannot be the ordinary tone of the proceedings in so large a body — and so it is greatly to be feared that the evils of undue excitement and of party spirit would follow the introduction of any such change as that recom- mended by the Commissioners. 4. Want of a 4. It is a great defect in the proposed Scheme, that mentinit. it iutroduces iuto the "remodelled Congregation" no element of a popular character. The body to be en- trusted with the most important of all Academical functions consists of persons, either appointed by the Crown, or by the body itself, or by certain of its members, or, at best, elected by the Fellows of single Colleges. Hence it appears, that while self-election would prevail in the new legislature to a dangerous extent, it would contain no representation, virtual or actual, of the great body of the Masters. The " Senior Tutors of Colleges" would not even adequately repre- sent the Tutors, who are themselves only one Class of the Resident body. Fellows not being Tutors, and Masters of Arts or other Graduates not on the founda- t Report, p. 14. 45 tion of a College, would be left unrepresented alto- No. II. gether. It may well be questioned whether Convoca- Constitution. tion would be " disposed to receive with favour, rather than with suspicion," propositions emanating from a body so constituted. 5. Finally, we must object to the plan, that it s- Unsatisfac- •' ^ * tory position in leaves the present Hebdomadal Board in a position which the , . . . Hebdomadal disadvantageous to themselves and injurious to the Board is left. University. We desire to see a real influence exer- cised by the Heads of Houses under the new system. This can only be secured by the removal of whatever tends to continue the separation which has too long existed between them and other grades and classes in the University. The plan of the Commissioners leaves them just enough of special functions to hold them to- gether as a body, and so to perpetuate the isolation which has worked so badly, while it deprives them of all the important powers which they at present wield, taking away the substance but leaving them the sem- blance of authority. With their executive functions crippled by the right of Congregation to assign each branch of the administration to a Delegacy of its own members, and their control over the legislation lost by the concession of the Initiative to members of Congre- gation generally, it is difficult to see what useful pur- pose could be served by their continuance as a distinct body, while it is plain that such continuance would tend to keep them separate from the rest of the Residents. II. The other scheme, which seems to us to require n. Plan of . 1 .., 1.111 1 1 remedying the some special notice, is that which has been advocated defects of the by some Members of our own Association. This is by new reg^iia"^ a proposal to retain the existing Hebdomadal Board re^'specTto nearly in its present position, but to control it by Delegacies. 46 No. II. means of certain checks and stimulants. It is thought, Constitution. ^^^^ -^^ ^^le framing of all important measures were entrusted to Delegacies, and if to Congregation, as at present constituted, were given the power of proposing to Convocation the appointment of Delegates on all occasions on which it might seem to them desirable, no further change would be needed. Objections to Of this schemo, it is perhaps enough to say, that this scheme. ^ -i •, c , • ^ • -i_ • j. • while it professes to maintain the existing govern- ment, and to be based on what has been called " the principle of continuity," it does in fact make altera- tions as great in reality, though not in appearance, as those which we ourselves are about to recommend : and further, that it does not provide for that which we are convinced is the most important point to be considered in any constitutional change — the establish- ment of harmony and 7nutual confidence among the several 'powers in the Academic polity. Proposal for ^^q are obliffcd, therefore, to dissent from this plan, the creation of ° i tt i* ,r • » a new Hebdo- no loss than from that put forth by Her Majesty s ma a oar . QQjjj^^jgg^Qjjgj.g ^^^ think that the only security for the permanent good Government of the University, and the harmonious working of its several parts, is to be found in the substitution for the present Heb- domadal Board of one with similar powers, but differ- ently constituted. Representation The truo principle upon which it appears to us cipie on which that a Board should be constructed to direct and ad- shouid be^* minister academical affairs, is that of Representation, based. Such a body should in our opinion be composed of Delegates or Representatives of the different classes engaged in the business of Oxford ; each set of such 47 Delegates being elected by its own class for a termin- No. II. able period, and thus the whole body forming a com- ^institution. plete Representation of all the resident and working members of the University. The principle here put forward is, professedly, re- cognised in the scheme of Her Majesty's Commis- sioners. It does not, however, appear to us, that the plan recommended by them affords in reality any true or substantial representation. For while into two of the elements contained within their Governing Body, — we mean those of the Professors and the Heads, — the principle of representation does not even appear to enter, the third element, that of the Tutors, which is said to be representative, is not so in reality, since it consists of persons who hold their seats not by election but ea;' officio. We think that the only means by which a real representation can be obtained, and the confi- dence of the body represented in those who represent them secured, is by allowing to the body the free choice • and direct appointment of its Representatives. We also think it desirable to avoid any needless complica- tion in our scheme of University Government. We therefore propose, in lieu of the two Initiative Bodies of the Commissioners, that the Initiative in University Government should be vested in a single Board as at present, and the Board itself made a real Representa- tion of the University. The alterations necessary for this purpose would be conservative rather than sweep- ing or destructive ; for the Board might consist of about the- same numbers, and retain the most valuable of its existing elements, while it might receive such important additions as would alter what has been called its Oligarchical character, and constitute it a real Representation. 48 No, 11. Two plans suggest themselves as expressing the Constitution. ^^^^^ principles. Constitution of the Board. j rp^^^ g^^^ j^^ ^^^zX the Board should consist of Twelve Representatives chosen by the Heads of Houses, and Twelve by the other Resident Members of Con- vocation. 2. The other, to which our remarks are more es- pecially applicable, is, that it should consist of Nine Delegates chosen by Heads of Colleges and Halls. — Nine chosen by Resident Professors, Public Exa- miners, and Moderators, — and Nine by the Tutors and other Resident Members of Convocation, not included in either of the above classes. Such Delegates, how- ever, need not be elected exclusively from the several electoral Bodies indicated, but might be chosen freely froni any class. The Electors must in all cases be Residents, and Residence should be defined as presence in the Uni- versity during eighteen weeks of the Academical Year. No Elector should have a double vote, but as Pro- fessors, though Masters, would only vote in their capa- city of Professors, so Heads of Houses, though Pro- fessors, should only vote as Heads. Term of office, The Vicc-Chancellor and Proctors should have official r^neS^^jfot s^ats at this Board. The other Members should be more than one elected for three years. Nine should retire every Member trom •' •' each section to year ; three from each section. To start the system, be reeligible till . . « i • • i i n i after the inter- the juuior mombors of cach section might be called Ta a year. ^pQjj (.^ retire at the end of the first year ; the next junior at the end of the second ; after which no one would have to retire before the completion of his full time. Nine places in the Board would thus be 49 filled up by election every year, and casual vacancies No. II. might be supplied at the same time ; but persons ^<'«*^'^"^«<'«- elected to such casual vacancies should retain their seats no longer than those whom they succeed would have done. Of the retiring Members not more than one from each section should be reeligible till after the interval of a year. This regulation would ensure an annual change in some of the elements of the Board ; but no desirable object would be gained by preventing the frequent reelection of the large body of its Members, while the University would neces- sarily be often thus deprived of the services of many men of tried character and experience.* The numbers of the new Board would be almost Numbers of the identical with those of the old. And we have been ^SsS! '^°* inclined to increase rather than diminish them for the following reasons. First, we have desired (as was before stated) to represent adequately all the differ- ent classes in the University ; and, secondly, we have considered the more favourable and friendly position which a Board thus containing many of the more dis- tinguished members of Convocation would occupy to- wards the great Legislative Body of the University. We are aware of a difference in the number of Reasons for places which the suggestions of Her Majesty's Com-proSrsT missioners and our own would assign to the Delegates If ^/^^® *^^° o o that assigned of the different classes. They have virtually placed far *» ^^em by Her '' 1 Majesty's Corn- more power in the hands of the Professors, while we missioners. have wished to give greater weight to the Delegates both of the Heads of Houses and of the College Tutors * It is obvious that similar details might be applied, mutatis mutandis, to Plan 1. F 50 No. II. and other Resident Graduates. This has been done Constitution, ({eliberately, and after fully weighing this point in their proposition, which indeed appears very prominently in various parts of their Report. For the tendency of their propositions is not merely to strengthen our Pro- fessorial teaching, as a valuable auxiliary to our pre- sent system, but to place an undue and excessive amount both of the teaching and the government of the University in the hands of Professors. We by no means desire so entire a revolution. We believe it would be unsound in theory to diminish largely the Collegiate education of the young men who, as living in Colleges, may best be influenced by the teach- ing they receive from their College instructors ; we believe also that 'practically the tuition in Colleges works well at present, and that coming changes can- not but increase its efficiency ; and we would urge, in fine, that the Tutors and Resident Masters of Arts, in- timately connected as they are with the working and the daily life of Colleges, are on the whole the best body to give a tone and colouring to the character and teaching of Oxford. We should therefore be very un- willing to weaken this body as compared with that of the Professors, — a class whose effect on our studies and power of combination with our system we should test with caution. Let us further be allowed to add, that if coming improvements are likely to raise our Professors, they are equally likely to raise our Tutors and Resident Fellows. For we cannot but look to improvements in the mode of bestowing Fellowships, and to the abolition of sinecures through increasing residence and employment, as the changes which will affect most im- mediately and most favourably the great bulk of the 51 University. In the prospect of a larger body of Resi- No. II. dent Fellows of increased qualifications and with addi- Constitution. tional educational employments, we see a further rea- son for assigning to this class an important place in the government of the University. We have dwelt the more upon the above difference from the proposition of Her Majesty's Commissioners, because it is the point in which our own scheme dif- fers most widely from theirs. We proceed now to objections to ,.. ^ • ^ Tiij^i 1 the plan here notice two objections, which are likely to be urged proposed. against the plan here proposed. These are, (i.) That Jf E^Sions^.^ it involves frequent elections. (2.) That the time of of theTime^of many members of the proposed body would be unduly Members. occupied by the amount of business they would be re- quired to transact. (i.) As to Elections, we should certainly have pre- (f.) Elections, ferred to avoid them altogether, although, considering avoided. the tendency to quietism and conservatism in an Uni- versity, we are far from holding them to be an unmixed evil, or one sufficient to vitiate a plan otherwise unob- jectionable. But it is impossible to secure a real Re- presentation in any other way than by Elections ; and the attempt to do without them, joined perhaps with a wish to repress any general expressions of University opinion, has driven the Commissioners to a suggestion involving anomalies and evils of a far greater magnitude than any which can even be supposed to attach to a system of Elections. We may further notice, that party heat and violence would be avoided to a great extent by the subdivision, which we propose, of the electoral body into three distinct classes, conducting their elections separately, and so with comparative quiet and freedom from excitement. F 52 No. II. (2.) With regard to the fear that the direction of University affairs may demand more time than many Constitution. (2.) Demand Members of the Board could bestow, it must be re- MembersTf" mombered, that all the details of any important busi- so'greTas''"'' ness would be drawn up by Committees which would imagined. occupy ouly a fow of the whole body at any one time. Subjects wliidi might be en- Jt jg obvious, for instance, that matters like the con- trusted to , . Committees structiou of au Examination Statute, the institution of Delegacies. a Hall, or the founding of a Professorship, would, for the arrangement of their details, be referred to such Com- mittees. And this practice might be further extended by appointing, more frequently than at present, Dele- gacies, composed of other persons besides the Members of the Board, for special important subjects. Such a course is enjoined by the existing University Sta- tute on Delegacies. The establishment, management, or enlargement of a Museum, any scheme for the re- gulation of the University libraries, or for the improve- ment of the Vice-Chancellor's Court, would fitly come under the consideration of such bodies. Possibly also a Delegacy on the Studies of the University, whose busi- ness it should be to receive the Reports and Sugges- tions of Examiners, Professors, and College Tutors, and to make Reports themselves, might be attended with advantage. By these means the work of the Initiative Body would be greatly lightened, and might, we think, be brought within such compass as should prevent it from interfering with the other duties of the persons engaged in it. Subjects which Besidcs sucli Committees and Special Delegacies, unde? Standing ^^^^J "f the details of University Business would re- Deiegacies and niaiu, as at prescut, in the hands of Standing Dele- Curators. ^ ° gacies. Although the duties of some of these are 53 almost nominal, yet those of others, such as the Dele- No. II. gacies of Accounts, of Estates, and of the Press, are Constitution. extensive and laborious. Again, the ordinary business connected with the Bodleian Library and the Taylor In- stitution would continue to be transacted by the Cura- tors of those Foundations. We have now stated the chief points both of Prin- Conclusion, ciple and Detail, which we should hope to see carried out in the formation of such a Governing Body as we believe essential to the conduct and improvement of the University. In some respects, and at previous times, the Board established by Abp. Laud may have worked well for the University, but it seems to us beyond a doubt that it now requires extension and alteration. Our aim in the alterations which we have recom- mended has been, so to extend the Board as to make it fairly and in due proportions represent the various important classes of which the University is com- posed ; and thus at once to bring it into harmony with the great body of the Residents, and to increase its practical efficiency. We believe that the plan which we have here set forth would produce these results. We therefore recommend that the Body so constituted should succeed to the powers at present exercised by the Board of Heads of Houses and Proc- tors without curtailment or change. We think no useful purpose would be served by allowing to Con- vocation the right of amending the propositions sub- mitted to it ; for while such a right would be nugatory unless accompanied with the privilege of debating in English, which we should be very unwilling to see conceded, it would not, we think, be required, when measures were framed by a body not only represent- ing Convocation, but in great part emanating from it, 54 No. II. and therefore in possession of its confidence. Amend- o nstitut ion. jjjgjj^g generally desired would find a ready entrance through the Delegates of the different Classes, and if really valuable, would, we believe, be adopted by the Initiative body during the progress of a measure through it. Other amendments might well wait till they approved themselves to the general opinion, or till their authors obtained a seat in the Initiative. In conclusion, we think it important to observe, that the point of University Reform here treated of, stands, in one respect, on a peculiar footing. If the University is to improve its system in other respects, its action must be free ; and for this purpose some such change as we have indicated in its constitution is a necessary preliminary. Without imputations on the integrity, ability, or zeal of the Heads of Houses, and simply on the ground that they are but a single class in the University, we ask of them to give us the oppor- tunity of making such alterations in the Initiative Body of the University, as shall open it to all the influences of Academical public opinion. We believe that it may still be in our own power, even without the intervention of Parliament, to alter and improve sufficiently the Constitution of the University. And, at all events, looking to the exigencies of the present time, we regard such a change as at once inevitable, and also in the highest degree desirable, inasmuch as it is the first and necessary step towards the extension of our system, the improvement of our education, and the better appli- cation of our various resources to the encouragement of merit, and the advancement of Learning. i t ^^^ *^i^W 'ii ^M ' « ^Si^K W^!"^ wiA^-il-'-Wuk / *!*/ ^*r'^V:»i^