On Wednesday afternoon Mr. Goschen moved the second read- ing
of the Bill for the Abolition of Tests at Oxford in a speech of conspicuous ability, the great coherence and force of which, as a speech, have been but very inadequately preserved in the too compressed reports. He took the broad ground of the right of Dissenters, Jews, and Roman Catholics, educated at Oxford, to a real representation in the Convocation of the University,—a line of argument which alienated Mr. Gladstone, who professed him- self ready to give every right except the right of taking a part in the legislation of the University. Lord Cranborne made a feeble resistance, on the ground that " parents and guardians" are afraid of a Liberal Oxford, which Mr. Gathorne Hardy reinforced by a violent denunciation of the vague and misty Liberal theology, and a panegyric on the sharp dogmatism of Romanism, Angli- canism, Nonconformity—and we suppose Judaism—on condition, however, of never mixing your isms, which, as we understand him, ' parents and guardians' do not like any better for the soul, than mix- ing wines for the stomach. The state of Rugby—never so full and prosperous—under the head-mastership of one of our leadingLiberal Churchmen, scarcely substantiates this vigorous appeal to the pocket of the University. Mr. Goschen carried his motion, in spite of Mr. Gladstone's opposition, by a majority of 16,-206 to 190—even Mr. Cardwell voting in the majority, and Sir George Grey not voting at all.
