Lord Selborne and the Oxford Commissioners have commenced - their sittings
in London, but it will be some time yet before their scheme for the requirements of the University is before the world. The case of All Souls' College has been partly considered this week. The College, it seems, is disposed to yield a small portion of its large revenues to the Bodleian Library, and is inclined to take upon itself various payments now made by other Colleges to -teachers of law in the University ; but those teachers are not to be incorporated into the institution. This is so far good, for the attempt on the part of a College to monopolise the academical teaching of any one subject can only be regarded with suspi- cion, as tending to interfere with the proper University control. We confess, however, to an entire want of confidence in super- ficial reforms which leave the core of abuses untouched. Both the theory and the practice of law are best taught in the metropolis and in the neighbourhood of the Law Courts ; and the efforts of the University should be limited to the bestowal of instruction in legal history and legal antiquities. The University Commissioners would do well to face the difficulties at once which they will have to-deal with in connection with this College. It would be far better that a comprehensive and final reform should now be made, even if made with difficulty, than that there should be a re-estab- lishment of old abuses under new names.
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