Vitus to tier attar.
THE REGISTRARSHIP OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY.
Oxford, 2d May 1853.
SIR—The letter of " M." in the last Spectator gives a most inaccurate account of the election of an Oxford Registrar. Your readers are led to in- fer that political influence has forced on Oxford an unfit successor to the ex- cellent and indefatigable Dr. Bliss. The case is not so. The new Registrar has been learning his duties for a long time : the two rejected candidates, both most respectable men, have been employed in tuition. The new Registrar has already held an office connected with the business as distinguished from the education of the University : the other candidates have not. The new Registrar is a layman, and may as well em- ploy himself in writing names and records as in any other professional work : the two other candidates are clergymen ; and (whilst some may conscien- tiously hold a different view) many persons consider themselves bound not to assist in placing a member of that profession in a post where his time must be mainly occupied with mechanical details, which are certainly neither " prayers " nor " the Holy Scriptures," nor " such studies as help to the knowledge of the same."
The contest lay between a gentleman who could show some training for this particular office, and two gentlemen of great general abilities, wholly un- practised in the kind of work expected of a Registrar. It is a healthy sign for Oxford, that the first mentioned was successful by an immense majority : with his political principles I do not sympathize.
As to whether " Oxford's best and most active sons" voted as yoar cor- respondent wished or not, I cannot say ; no doubt, he thinks they did. But let him take the trouble to inquire of the worthy Registrar just retired, what he thinks of his successor.
I am, Sir, your constant subscriber, P. P.
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