Mr. Gladstone received a deputation from the Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge on Wednesday in favour of the compul- sory abolition of tests both in the Colleges and the Universities, and gave a very favourable reply. He intimated that the time had come when the Government ought to take the subject up and deal ;with it by a Government measure; he intimated his general assent to the principles of the deputation and his prefer- ence for compulsory over permissive measures; and he 'intimated the possibility of the Government dealing with the subject even in the coming session, though to this he did not pledge himself, speaking of the great pressure of other Government business. With Lord Derby to bring the Conservatives of the Upper House to reason, the prospect is really not by any means unpromising, and we can scarcely doubt that a nook will be found for this most important measure, if the Government are, as they seem, in earnest about it. After all, where is the loss of Parliamentary time in substituting an earnest debate with the Government in the front, for what has taken place every year for many years hack, a half- hearted debate, with the Government in an attitude of critical approbation?
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