27 AUGUST 1831, Page 16

THE LONDON UNIVERSITY.

THE meeting of Proprietors, which took place on Saturday, de- cided, by 36 to 25, to adjourn sine die the consideration of Mr. PATTISON'S case ; or, in other words, they rejected, by that majo- rity, the appeal made to their justice and judgment from their par- tiality and folly. The chief speakers against Mr. PATTISON were, mirabile dicta, Colonel JONES, Mr2WILKEs the member for Boston, and Lord EBRINGTON,-three men who profess more than usual liberality of sentiment, and who are, on most occasions where their own power is not concerned, very sturdy protesters against the abuses of power. A Reverend Mr. YATES also spoke against Mr. PATTISON; and, as is commonly the case where clergymen take part in a dispute, was preeminently abusive.

The line of defence taken up by the Proprietors was stated in brief by Lord EBRIIVGTON. The Council," his Lordship said, t( had no alternative but to adopt the suggestion of the Committee ; for it became quite evident that the Uni- versity could not go on efficiently with. Mr. Pattison as the Professor of Anatomy. The Council had been anxious to do justice to individuals 7, • but they felt that they had a duty also to perform to the institution, to the proprietors, and the public. They had taken care to fulfil it with as little prejudice to him as the nature of the circumstances would permit."

The plain English of this is, that the Council having acted with unparalleled imbecility-having first stirred up and encouraged the boys of the University to rebel against the Professors, and then, as a necessary consequence, permitted them to dictate to the Council-found it necessary to finish their honourable work by the sacrifice of a man to whom they do not and dare not attach the shadow of blame, in order to extricate themselves from their own trap. We are surprised to find that another meeting of the Proprietors is in contemplation. This body seems doomed to a series of im- potent efforts. What is there to be done, which ought not to have been clone before, and for which ample opportunity was afforded? What can we expect, but another sine fine squabble closing in a sine die adjournment ?