§ MR. RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the representations made in the Debate on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Bill in the House of Commons, and that the House might trust the Commissioners and the University to make such modifications in the terms of residence as should make the Universities more generally available, the Cambridge University Commissioners have, contrary to the wishes and recommendations of the Senate, proposed in the new statutes to fix the present terms of residence and, whether he will communicate with the Commissioners on the subject?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, he did not see how he could interfere with the free action of the Commissioners. He had, however, communicated with the Secretary to the Commission, who stated that no statutes had as yet been made by the Cambridge University Commissioners. It was true that it was proposed the former period of residence required for a degree—nine terms—should be continued; but the Commissioners had still under consideration the propriety of altering the exceptions to the rule.