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THE REGISTRARSHIP OF OXFORD 'UNIVERSITY.
28th April 1853. Sni—Tott sometimes complain of Oxford for her reactionary tendencies. The election that has occurred this week will give you an instance of the way in which mischief is forced upon her from without, in opposition to the SORBS of her beet and most active sons.
The Registrarship is an important office, for which there is naturally much competition in the University. Two of the candidates on this occa- sion, Mr. Rawlinson and Mr. Cornish, were well known to the resident mem- bers of Convocation, had gained academical distinctions, and had been fami- liar for many years with the practical work of the University. Either of them would have justified the choice of the academical body for the vacant office. It seemed desirable, however,. to certain members of the Derbyite party. to turn the election into a political contest. The influences which are associated with the names of "W. B." and Mr. Lempriere in the memory of Mr. Gladstone's election were brought to bear ; the daily organ of the party in London exerted itself to reinforce the Protectionist tactics. A great array of squires and members of the Carlton appeared in the Convocation House yesterday, to return, on purely political grounds, a gentleman whose merits are known only to his own supporters, and whose official influence will pro- bably harmonize with that clique in the Hebdomadal Board which has so long opposed the reformatory aims of the Tutors and Masters of Arts at large. Of course we shall be told that all this electioneering was got up for the sake of the Protestant faith ; perhaps the Herald has already calculated the exact amount of influence which the triumph of yesterday will have on the downfall of the Papacy. But you, Sir, know the real meaning of these professions ; and we have been told, on high Derbyite authority, that saints are not fit for contested elections. I only draw your attention to the whole matter that I may persuade you to do justice to those who represent the heart of Oxford, while you stigmatize, as you have often done, the narrow- minded obstructiveness of a political faction among the members of her Con- vocation.
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