LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE PROPOSED NORTHERN UNIVERSITY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR:1
Sift,—Having had the opportunity, by the kindness of Dr. Greenwood, of examining the " more detailed scheme " proposed by the authorities of the Owens College for the constitution of the " Northern University," 1 find that, so far from removing the basis of my objections, it fully substantiates them.
As the draft is marked " private," I do not feel at liberty to discuss its details. But since Dr. Greenwood has stated that it gives to the Crown " a considerable representation on the Governing Body " of the proposed University, as a " guarantee " for the maintenance of its graduation-standard, and has further stated that the scheme provides for the incorporation of other Colleges " on a footing of independence and equality," I seem justified in indicating generally what these provisions are.
The scheme sets forth that the Court of Governors shall consist, in the first instance, of forty-eight members, of whom thirty-seven (more than three-fourths) are direct representatives of the Governing Body, Professors, and Graduates of Owens College ; its President to be the first Chancellor of the University, and to continue so until by an Order in Council he shall be elected by its graduates ; and its Principal to be ex officio Vice-Chancellor, apparently for all time. Of the other eleven members, three are to be appointed by the Corporations of Man- chester and Salford, four to be Members of Parliament nominated by the Court of Governors (i.e., virtually by the Governing Body of Owens College), and four—that is, one-twelfth of the whole— to be appointed by the Lord President of the Council. But further, as no provision is made for the increase of this last number, whatever may be the increase in the total number of the Court by the admission of representatives of other Colleges, the proportion of Crown nominees to those of the Academical bodies, small as it now is, will be still further reduced. 1 am sorry that I cannot agree with Dr. Greenwood as to the adequacy of the " guarantee " thus afforded, by what seems to me a very incon- siderable representation of the public interests.
Again, when any other College obtains incorporation, the scheme provides for its being represented by three office-bearers, with such number of other members of its staff "as may be determined by the Court, with the sanction of the Lord President,"—that is, de facto, as the authorities of Owens College (with their Principal as Vice-Chancellor) may choose to admit, subject only to appeal to the Lord President. No provision is made for the admission of members of the Court of Governors to be elected by the Corporations of Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, or any other great towns in the North, whose Colleges may hereafter be incorporated with that of Manchester.
I regret, therefore, to be again obliged to differ from my friend Professor Greenwood as to the " independence and equality" accorded by the Owens College scheme to such Colleges. To me it appears that an " Academic orchestra," at present composed almost solely of direct and indirect representatives of that College, of which its President is to be the " conductor" until the office shall be made elective, in which its Principal is to play " first fiddle" en permanence, and into which the number of outsiders to be admitted will be in great degree determined by itself, must continue to be essentially the "Owens College University." And I again say that, if instead of creating an independent " Univer- sity of London," the Government of 1836 had given to the then " London University " such a charter as is now asked for by Owens College, I am convinced that an Institution so constructed would never have acquired the position, or exercised the im- portant influence, which—whatever may be the defects in its con- stitution, or the mistakes of its action—the University of London now unquestionably possesses.
Allow me to remark that its constitution as a purely Examining body does not by any means exclude the University of London from very intimate relation with the Teaching body, while it makes that relation altogether unrestricted. In lately reconstructing its Science programme to meet the altered conditions of the present time, the Senate had the advantage of personal consultation with many most distinguished teachers, not only of the Metropolis, but of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, and of Owens College, who either were or had been Examiners in the University. And in now reconsidering its regulations for -degrees in Arts, the Senate is following the same course.
The difference between a University which has in any such rearrangements to have constant regard to the interests of the Colleges whose teaching it controls, and a University which has simply to consider what will best serve the interests of Education —general or professional, has become more and more apparent to me with the increase of my official experience. And it is the earnest desire I feel, that in any addition to the number of Eng- lish Universities, the interests of Education and the Public shall predominate over those of any particular College or Colleges, which alone prompts me to take part in the present discussion.—
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