Sta, — I was in the Sheldonian, seated comfortably in one of
the lower galleries, and saw and heard much better than any one on the floor could have done. My impression was that the principal cause of the interruption, except in a few cases, was impatience of the speaking, not of the things spoken (and, indeed, the interruption is made much more of by your corre- spondent " Layman " than I think is justified); how else do you account for this,—that the same persons tried to cut short both the opposing M.A. speakers ? I remember precisely the same phenomenon at the voting about select preachers in the "seventies," and about the grant for physiological research about twenty years ago. The fact is men come up to vote, and resent oratory, being anxious about time and trains, and fearing to have to go away re infectd. I found myself among a group of young M.A.'s, very evidently of the placet per- suasion; and they were fully as demonstrative with voice and foot as any of the men on the floor. I beg leave to deny the hissing, as unhistorical. Other uncouth sounds I must regret- fully admit, especially one cry of" Traitor!" but it was received with mock cheering, not real, and laughter. Indeed, on the whole, there was no bitterness. Before business-began we had the same old game of scaling the front galleries as we had at bygone Commemorations; and, on the whole, I should say it was. a good-natured, though excited, gathering of .English gentlemen in a hurry to get through their business.—I am, Sir, &c., CLEVEDON KEN, M.A.
[We have received a large number of letters on this subject, but can only find space for the above.—En. Spectator.] MR. PULSFORD'S ELECTION.
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