Mr. Gladstone .has written a letter to the Vice-Chancellors. of
Oxford and Cambridge, explaining that the Ministry think a complete inquiry should be made into the property and. revenues of Oxford and Cambridge,—not only the Universities, but also the Colleges and Halls belonging thereto, —and asking whether a Royal Commission or a Statutory Commission would best meet the views of those Universities. The Royal Commission seems to be- suggested as the milder, and would be issued, "if such Royal Com- mission would enjoy the free and full assistance of the Universi- ties and Colleges themselves." This is rather like the dentist's. kindly asking you whether you would like the forceps or. the punch used in your mouth, remarking that the latter could only be used if he (the dentist) were "to enjoy the free and full assistance of the patient." However, pleasant or not, it is an investigation which must be made, and may, we hope, be followed by an appropriation to more strictly educational purposes of a good many endowments now employed in such mis- chievous ways as, for instance, a multitude of "clerical fellow- ships."
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