Oxford has conferred what we may call a controversial de-
gree on Dr. Dollinger, of course for his distinguished serviced against the Pope. It was eloquently advocated by Dr. Lid- don in a Convocation held on Tuesday, in a long Latt speech, of which we may fairly conjecture that the drift MIA to honour any Catholic who seems likely to make Dr. Pusey's dream of Catholic unity, as distinguished from Roman unity, a little lass dreamy. The motion was, however, very warmly op- posed, on the ground that the present time is inopportune, but carried by a majority of 49,-65 votes against 16. Dr. Diillinger is a most learned and able man, and we should be glad to see Oxford willing to confer her honorary degrees on distinguished theologians of other Communions ; but it is hardly wise to bestow her diplomas by way of encouragement to the recalcitrant members of other Churches,—which is the light in which Dr. Dollinger's degree will certainly be taken by Roman Catholics. What would have been said if the Queen had sent a decoration to General Garibaldi after Aspromonte,—or the University of Munich had conferred a degree on Mr. Mackonochie directly it was known that he had evaded the Privy Council's decree? Yet that is exactly parallel to what Oxford has done in rewarding Dr. Dollinger for his courage in defying the Pope.
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