At Oxford, on Tuesday, Congregation discussed and passed the .preamble
of the Statute opening some of the University examin- ations, under certain restrictions, to women. The Provost of 'Queen's and the Warden of Merton spoke in favour of the measure, after which Canon Liddon, in a very considerate and weighty speech, insisted that this is but a first step to bringing women into a totally different social phase,—that in which they would wield a direct influence over affairs where hitherto their in- fluence, though great, has all been indirect. There we cannot agree with Dr. Liddon, though we entirely hold with him that women must always wield a far more powerful influence in- directly than they ever can wield directly over public affairs. Is, however, the work of education,—even teaching,—outside their natural sphere ? The large amount of teaching entrusted to governesses seems to prove that it is not, and the ready welcome which the British public gave to women on the School Boards seems to show that women's direct influence in matters of education is regarded as eminently wholesome. After a debate, in which only Canon Liddon represented with any force the negative side,—Professor Burrows appears to have made an injudicious speech on the same side,—the preamble was carried, by 100 votes against 46.
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