the Dissenters of the means of education, | so long upon its attention; but the imand of acquiring knowledge. When the portance of the subject, and the high mind was intent upon that object, they honour conferred upon him in having had might try every means to check its expan- this petition intrusted to his charge--an sion-they might follow the example once honour, coming as it did, from the Uniset in Ireland-they might prohibit home- versity to which he belonged-which he education, and render penal all foreign could not overstate;--had induced him to education-they might use every effort to dwell upon the subject at such length. exclude the hallowed light of knowledge To the advocates for an adherence to the from the mind; but, despite all such exer- practices of ancient institutions, he would tions, there was a Power (and they ought say, "Seek your model during the best to be grateful to Providence that it was so) period of our Church history;—take your -there was a Power above them which principles from the reign of Edward and proclaimed that, for "the heart of man to of Elizabeth, rather than from that of be without knowledge, it is not good." James 1st, and regulate the establishments If they excluded the Dissenters from the of the University by the rules laid down and national Universities, they must not only acted on at Cambridge in better times." tolerate, but encourage the formation of To those solicitous for the advancement of institutions for the education of the Dis- literature and science, but who wisely consenters. What would be the consequence? nected with literature and science the Had they not read an instructive lesson on great interests of religion and morality, he this subject in the history of Ireland? In- would say, "Look at the names attached stead of imbibing those principles of toler- to this petition-the names of men emiance, and those feelings of Christian cha-nent for piety, distinguished in every rity which a joint system of education would necessarily produce, the Dissent ers would, if their reasonable requests were not complied with, be justified in forming themselves into distinct classes, and a spirit of hostility would be engendered, by the influence of which they would become more and more estranged from the doctrines and the authority of the Established Church. He owned, that he was not so fearful for the integrity or permanency of the Church, of which he was a sincere member, as to suppose that the tendency of the admission of the Dissenters into the Universities, would be to seduce the mem-it." In whatever light the question was bers of the Established Church from their regarded, it must be considered one of the faith and opinions; on the contrary, as highest importance-an importance which one most anxious for the stability of the was, if possible, augmented to a still greater Church, he affirmed, that such a measure, extent, by the fact that this petition in as far as he could form an opinion on the favour of the claims of the Dissenters, was subject, would have a tendency in the signed not merely by members of the Esopposite direction. He did not advance tablished Church, but by those who were that supposition as an argument in favour connected with its ministry; and if, with of the petition-he did not rest his recom- this fact before them, there should be any mendations of the claims of the Dissenters of the Dissenters so unjust or unwise as on the ground of proselytism; but he could to raise an outcry against the Established not help expressing his conviction, that Church, it could be shown them, not only the prevalence of the doctrines of the that they injured their best means of final Church, and the stability of the Church, success, but they would prove their ingrawould be increased and confirmed by the titude to the sixty-three members of the adoption of that combined system of Uni- Established Church, who had prayed the versity education, which the respectable Legislature that the monopoly which they and intelligent petitioners had called upon themselves enjoyed should cease, and justhis House to sanction. He ought to apo-tice be done to the Dissenters. Sooner or Jogize to the House for having trespassed later the subject must be discussed with a

branch of human learning, and then ask yourselves how can you justify any hostility to the claims of the Dissenters, when those claims come recommended to your notice by this petition." On what reasonable grounds did they venture to differ from those great and eminent men? To those whose peculiar anxiety was for the preservation of order and of sound collegiate discipline, he would merely say, "Cast your eyes over the list of the College tutors subscribed to this petition, and you will find that those of the greatest experience and authority are favourable to

view practically to remove the grievances | right hon. friend had told them, that the of which the Dissenters complained; and petition had been signed by two heads in the mean time he would entreat the of colleges, by ten professors, and by House to prepare their minds for a calin, eleven Gentlemen connected with the deliberate, and dispassionate view of the University. He admitted, that it was subject, by taking the petition into their signed by two out of seventeen heads of serious consideration. Colleges, by ten out of twenty-five Professors; and it was signed by eleven out of seventy-four gentlemen who were engaged in tuition in the different Colleges. The House, therefore, would see that out of 116 persons composing the classes referred to, the petition had been signed by twenty-three. Let not the House think that he said this to undervalue the Gentlemen who signed the petition; quite to the contrary; but when the right hon. Gentleman told the House, that it was bound to give implicit deference to the opinion expressed in the petition on account of the numbers, rank, and situation of those who signed it, it was incumbent upon the House to bear in mind. the greater number of those whose signatures had been denied to it. Those signatures had not been denied to the petition for want of solicitations, but purely out of difference of opinion formed after the most careful examination and most attentive consideration of the subject. He meant to cast no slight on those who had signed the petition, when he said, that amongst those who had refused to sign it, were many who would not be ashamed to stand in comparison with them in point of science and importance. No man could be more respectable than Mr. Peacock; but he himself would be the first to allow that there were others in the College of which he was an ornament, men of the greatest respectability, whose names were not appended to the petition. This petition certainly came to the House recommended by the high respectability and attainments of the names appended to it; but still it did not come with the weight which the House had been accustomed to give to the petitions of the University itself, for it was, in fact, signed but by a minority, a small minority, of those classes to which the right hon. Gentleman had particularly adverted; a small minority of resident members, and a still smaller minority of the whole body corporate. But it was more important that the House should refer to the prayer of the petition itself, than that he should enter into any further discussion as to the persons by whom it was signed. It seemed

Mr. Goulburn said, that being connected with the learned body in whose name the petition had been presented, he felt that it was not requisite to solicit the indulgence of the House whilst he entered into the subject of the petition, and whilst he endeavoured to state fairly and candidly what was the origin of the petition itself, what was the real object of it, and what were the sentiments which he entertained upon the views of the petitioners. Although his right hon. friend had expressed an opinion, that his petition would not meet with a favourable reception, he must have done so inadvertently. His right hon. friend surely could not have meant to do such an injustice to the House as to state that a petition upon a most important subject, signed by sixty-two respectable and even eminent individuals, and couched in language perfectly decorous and respectful, could be presented in its proper manner, and be opposed by any Member of the House. As far as he (Mr. Goulburu) was concerned, he could only say, that such an idea had never entered into his contemplation. He would, at once say, that he entirely agreed with his right hon. friend, that the petition which he had been intrusted to present was signed by Gentlemen in every respect as unexceptionable as any in the University of Cambridge. He agreed with him, that amongst the signatures were to be found the names of men distinguished in every | branch of scientific and literary attainments; of men whose characters were not to be raised by any observations made in that House, because they were already eminent by their acquirements, and by their great and successful exertions in the cause of science, and by their general endeavours to advance the interests of all that came within their sphere. He might add, that he was proud to number some of them amongst his personal friends; but though he respected them much, he must canvass their opinions freely. His right hon. friend had told the House, that this petition was very numerously signed by resident members of the University. His

degrees of the Senate; but this was not the petition which was strictly confined to arts, law, and physic. He however had no hesitation in saying, that it appeared to him, that, even to this limited petition the great body of the University was most decidedly opposed. He was not one who was bigoted to the principle of resistance to the just claims of the Dissenters, nor was he for excluding them from the advantages which the Churchmen could with safety to their own consciences allow them; but he was opposed to the present petition upon the principle, that the Universities of the country were places for the education, not only of Members of the Church, but for the education of all those who came to them for any instruction in the doctrine of the Church. If it were impracticable, consistently with the discipline of the Uni

to him that the prayer of the petition in some instances had been misunderstood. The Noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had first intimated that such a petition was ready for presentation, had represented it as a petition which prayed the House to accede to the prayer of the Dissenters. Now, those who signed the petition, so far from going to the length of acceding to the claims which had been preferred in the petitions of the Dissenters, had taken a course at utter variance to them. They had, at the very threshold of the discussion, announced that they were amongst those who would not consent to accede to the claims of the Dissenters, but would give them the most determined resistance and opposition. The petitioners had told the House, that they most distinctly disclaimed all intention of interfering directly or indirectly with the private statutes and re-versity, to grant the concessions which gulations of individual Colleges. What were the claims which the Dissenters set up? They unanimously claimed to be admitted to all the full privileges, benefits, and advantages and emoluments of the University. They claimed with respect to these to stand on the same footing as members of the Church of England, and as these benefits included the endowments of Professorships and Fellowships, the protection which the petitioners would still give to the private statutes of the Colleges, was a decided bar to the claims advanced by the Dissenters. Let it not be thought, then, that the Gentlemen who had signed the present petition were advocates for the claims which had been urged by the Dissenters. If the Dissenters should urge their claims to participate in the emoluments, honours, and privileges of the University, he believed that the petitioners would be as firm in opposing those claims as any members of the University whatever. The real prayer of the present petition was, not what the Dissenters demanded, but that they should be admitted to take the degrees of Bachelors, Masters, or Doctors in Arts, Law, and Physic; and he begged the House to remember the limited extent to which the petition carried these concessions. He particularly begged the House to do so, because the right hon. Gentleman had stated, not intentionally, he was sure, but inadvertently, that the petitioners had recommended that the Dissenters should be admitted to all the

it was the desire of the petitioners to make, it would be perfectly a waste of time to enter now into a discussion of general principles, which it would be impossible to carry into effect. His right hon. friend had justly stated, that the University of Cambridge was at the present moment open to the education of Dissenters from the Church of England. There was no bar whatever in the University of Cambridge to the Dissenters having every advantage which the education there could possibly confer on them— to their having access to every branch of knowledge, to their having their education superintended by the most distinguished characters which the country could afford-there was no bar to their having every assistance in the prosecution of their studies, and to their reaping those mathematical distinctions which sent a man forth with the stamp of abilities and the reputation of knowledge, and which proclaimed him to the world as a man distinguished by his attainments. The acquisition of such honours gave weight to men in their subsequent struggles through life. The letters A.B. or M.D. added to their names were of comparatively little value, and did not make them known as men of superior acquirements. The system followed at Cambridge University gave the Dissenters every advantage which it afforded to the members of the Church of England. That University was a Church of England Establishment, with all the

toleration and liberality which had ever | be if the character of the University were, distinguished that Church, and it was in this respect, to be in the least degree willing to extend to every man, whatever altered-woeful would it be if the body might be his faith, all the benefits which to which was intrusted the education of could be derived from its institutions, con- so large a portion of the youth of the sistently with the safety of the original country were ever to set the example of principles upon which it was founded. separating education from religion-woeful The University permitted Dissenters to would it be, if it were to confine instruccome within its walls to accept of its tion exclusively to the propagation of education; but it also attached to this pri- what was vulgarly called knowledge, vilege the condition that they conformed which was knowledge without religion, to the existing system of discipline, which and was not the sound instruction which was based on the doctrines and principles the University now dispensed. If it taught of the Church of England. Of that they science and excluded that which alone could have no reason to complain, because was a saving religion-which fitted a they came voluntarily to an establishment man for the ultimate object of his beingwith a full knowledge of its principles, if it were to frame the course of study and of the terms on which its advantages with a view to meet every varying docwere to be obtained. If it should be de- trine which fanaticism or superstition from termined, that the Dissenters were not time to time might originate, not only of only to have their present advantages, every Christian sect, but of the Unitarians but that they were to be admitted to and all others which could not come withtake degrees, and by taking degrees to in the line of Christianity;-if it were to become a portion of the governing body forsake the rules of the Church,-how of the University, such a change could could any man answer for any one princionly be effected by the forcible interfer-ple which might be taught? The expeence of Parliament, for that change never would be effected by any act of the University itself. Such a change would alter the whole character of the institution. Such a change would proclaim that the institution had not been formed by members of the Established Church; that it was not intended to direct the education of the members of that Church; that it was not confined to the provisions of its members, whether lay or ecclesiastical; but it would proclaim, that it was an establishment formed for general education. Yes, he said, for general education, without any reference whatever to religion, in all, all had a right to participate. When once the House had laid down that principle, he would beg leave to ask any man-and he appealed to the hon. Gentleman opposite as one conversant with the education pursued there, (Mr. Pryme), if the object of the petition were to be gained, how would it be possible to carry on the education of the Uni-to inform himself as to the religious docversity? Would they, when the change was made, continue to educate on the present system, or adapt the system to the change which would take place in the governing body of the University? At present the University was a seminary of sound learning and of religious distinctions. Yes, a seminary of religious distinctions; and most unfortunate would it

riment had already been tried in this country of setting on foot a liberal University, a University of which the object was to admit all persons indiscriminately, without reference to the religious tenets of those who were willing to share in the education of the place. What had been the effect? Why this liberal University, as it was called, had been obliged to exclude religious instruction altogether. Did the House mean then to adopt the prayer of the petition, and with it to adopt the course of this liberal University? Would the House, he asked, thus take upon itself to unchristianize the country? At the present moment the University of Cambridge was labouring most anxiously to get rid of that objection which had been made against its system in the year 1777. His right hon. friend had told the House the story of a young man in 1777 who had been so ardent in the study of the abstract sciences that he had not had time

trines to which he was called upon to subscribe before he could take his degree. He admitted, that the system which had been pursued showed a really enormous defect; but the University, from that time to the present had been constantly improving in its course of studies. It no longer required a subscription to that which no man had an opportunity to study. At the moment at

which he had the honour of addressing the | the House suppose that, if it admitted House, all who were called upon to study Dissenters into the University, and told any branch of knowledge had to share in them that they were to become a part of the study of the doctrine of the Established the governing body, but that they should Church, and to attend with regularity to attend the worship of a religion in which its rites and ceremonies. Would the House they did not believe, that this would inwish the University to abandon this? Ifthey crease the harmony of the general body? meant to do this, he could tell them, that If they were to tell the student, "Of whatthose who had signed the present petition ever faith you may be, you must attend meant nothing of the sort. The petitioners the worship of a religion you do not believe; were members of the Established Church; you must be instructed by men best calcuand he could only express his regret that lated to instruct you in the doctrines of they had not told the House how they in- the Church of England; you shall have tended to conduct the education of the the canons expounded, and the ScripUniversity, if their plans were pursued. tures explained according to the Church Was the House prepared to abandon the of England; the religion of this Church religious instruction of the Universities, and shall be explained, to you; you must not make them the seats exclusively of profane be absent from lectures;"-was this, he learning? He, at least, would protest asked, likely to benefit the conscientious against such a doctrine as a Member of scruples of men admitted indiscriminately to that House. He protested against it as a the University, or was it calculated to proRepresentative of the University; he pro-mote harmony within its walls? His right tested against it as a member of society; hon. friend had referred to the case of Ireand, above all, he protested against it as land, and yet he was well aware of the a father, for never would he intrust a son, disputes that had arisen in that country, at a time of life peculiarly sensitive to im- as to whether the Roman Catholics could pressions, to be educated at any institu- conscientiously attend with Protestants to tion which did not accompany the scien- hear the Gospel read according to the tific studies with instruction in the prin- Douay version. Notwithstanding this, his ciples and doctrines of religion. In that right hon. friend proposed that all sects University, where general principles of in- should read indiscriminately at the Unidiscriminate admission were adopted,-in versity, but, he asked, how were they to that University where prevailed that indis- read? Were they to read according to criminate system of education, without the established version, and were they not any reference to religious principles what- to have the instructions of a master ever, what, he asked, had been the con- to point out the fallacies of the Church of sequences? In order to get over all diffi- Rome, or of any other Church to which culties, the students were made to reside, some of the parties might belong? Were not in the University itself, but under their members of different sects to have these parental roof, where the deficiency could errors exposed to them, with all the weight be supplied. It was not thus at the Uni- of age, over the young mind; with all the versity of which he had the honour to weight which Church of England men be a member. There the students were would have the power to enforce? When separated from their family connections; he was told, that the University was to they were separated from all who had pre-adopt the system proposed in the petition, viously the charge of their religious educa- he was bound to confess, that he did not tion, and they were left, at the most cri- see his way clear; and he wanted to hear tical period of their lives, without parental from some of the Gentlemen who were instruction in any sound principles to anxious to be admitted to the priviguide them in the most critical period of leges of the University, and to form a their lives. Was not the University bound part of the governing body of that great to supply this want, and to afford the re-institution, while they did not profess its ligious instruction to the youth? Could it be supposed that the harmony of the University would be increased. Was it to be supposed that the consciences of men would be much relieved, by avoiding all religious instruction as the consequence of discarding all religious distinctions? Did

creed, how they proposed afterwards to carry on the discipline of the University without involving themselves in difficulties ten times greater than any which existed at present, and without creating dissensions, which, at the present moment, were unknown. Having stated the substance of