4 APRIL 1891, Page 3

In Lord Granville the University of London loses a dis-

tinguished and very effective Chancellor, whose place it may not be easy to supply. Perhaps Lord Derby, who is already on the Senate of the University, who has always taken a strong interest in its affairs, and who understands the world of education almost as well as he understands the world of politics and of society, would be the most generally acceptable successor to Lord Granville. The University is passing through a crisis, and what seems to us a dangerous crisis, in its history-. A most elaborate and painstaking effort has been made to provide it with an organisation suitable for the exer- cise of what seem to us absolutely inconsistent functions, and whether the attempt should succeed or should fail,—we believe it must fail,—the University will pass through a phase of con- siderable peril during the next year or two, when it is quite certain that some not inconsiderable section of its constituents will see reason for dissatisfaction and for distrust. Either the Colleges which have provided it with its collegiate candi- dates for degrees, or the private schoolmasters and tutors who have furnished to the University its non-collegiate candidates, are quite certain to be alarmed by the impending conjuncture. The late Chancellor's influence and tact in warding off the danger would have been invaluable to the University. We can only hope that he will be succeeded by as able and influential a statesman.