Lord Selborne delivered the judgment of the Privy Council on
Monday in relation to the petition of University and King's Colleges, London, to be granted a University Charter with the power of conferring degrees in Arts, Science, and Medicine. As to Medicine, as we understand the decision, the new University must wait till it can make satisfactory arrangements with the Medical Colleges ; but as to Arts and Science, the petition is granted on condition that a minimum of two years' study in one of the Colleges of the University is to be required from all candidates for the regular degrees. As we read the report of Lord Selborne's decision, honorary degrees are to be permitted in Arts and Science, but not in Medicine. And the new University may call itself either the Albert University or the Metropolitan University, but must not plagiarise the title of "London " from the existing University. We do not think that the decision will be received with any general satisfac- tion, and for the present, at all events, we are clear that the existing University of London will not find the demand. for its degrees sensibly lessened by the grant of a. University Charter to University and King's Colleges. For a long time to come,—perhaps for so long a time that the new University will be disheartened in its attempt at competition, —eager students will prefer to be tested by the University which does not itself mint the coin which it assays, to being- tested by the University which knows beforehand all the strong points and all the deficiencies of the those on whom it confers degrees.
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