We sincerely regret to hear it stated that Sir William
Heath- cote is about to retire from the representation of the University of Oxford. Though a Conservative, he is a Conservative of so high-toned and earnest a character and so lucid an under- standing, that it is impossible to listen to him without respect, and difficult to listen to him without profit. Party feeling has left his mind almost untouched, and of political acrimony he seems to have never heard. His judgments,—often, in our opinion, of course, mistaken,—always give the impression of being formed directly on the facts of the case, and not with any reference to party exigencies. If lie had ever had the energy and wish to take the rank of a leading statesman, we know no man who could have led the Conservative party with so much dignity, and who would have raised their reputation higher in the national opinion. He will be a loss to the House of Commons not easily replaced. When he rose every one listened, as to the voice of the most impartial of Conservatives and the mildest and wisest of country gentlemen.
