CORRESPONDENCE.
THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON AND THE CLOTURE.
[We have received the following correspondence between Sir John Lubbock and one of his constituents.—En. Spectator.] Wealdstone House, Harrow Weald, Stanmore, April DEAR SIR,—As one of your constituents, I have read with much interest the correspondence between yourself and Dr. Robertson. I entirely agree with him as to the Closure, but I wish to appeal to you upon other grounds.
I was one amongst a large number of Graduates who would have preferred the Master of the Rolls to yourself, as our repre- sentative. It is unnecessary now to give any reasons for this preference, but with me the principal one was that, looking to the origin and traditions of our University, I thought it would be more appropriate that we should have a representative who was not a member of the Church of England.
When it was shown that a majority of the Liberal Graduates preferred yourself, I willingly and cheerfully acquiesced in the decision; and if there had been a contest, I should have sup- ported you to the utmost of my power. I only ask you to do now what I, and numbers of your constituents, did then. I ask you to give way, and to acquiesce in the decision of the enormous majority of the Liberal party.
I am far from holding that a Member is a mere delegate, or that he is blindly to follow any Minister, although that Minister may be, as now, the greatest man of the century; but I venture most respectfully to submit for your consideration, whether it is not possible that Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright, and Lord Hartington, who have spent their lives in Parliament, may be right, and that you, who have only been there for twelve years, may be wrong. I do not presume to try to convince you of this, but I put it to you that it would show greater dignity—and may I say modesty 9—on your part, if, still retaining your present opinion as to the Closure, you forebore from embarrassing the Government by proposing your amendment. The Government have, and I think rightly so, made this a question of confidence or no confidence, which means that your amendment, if carried, will cause them to resign, or to appeal to the country.
I ask you plainly whether it would be an honour or a disgrace to the University and yourself, if a Liberal Government, the best we have ever had, were defeated by an amendment pro- posed by you. This is a question upon which I think I may fairly ask you to consider your constituents and your party. May I ask you to favour me with your views upon it ?
Apologising for troubling you, I am, dear Sir, yours faith- Sir JOHN LUBBOCK, Bart., M.P.. F.R.S., &c.
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