§ Sir George Murray, on presenting the Petition from the University of Edinburgh, of which he had given previous notice, praying that the University might, by the Reform Bill for Scotland, have Representatives in that House, said, it appeared to him that the prayer of the petitioners was reasonable, as the Universities of Dublin, of Oxford, and Cambridge, were all represented in 525 that House; and as, by the Irish Reform Bill, Dublin University was about to have an additional Member. It was unnecessary for him to eulogize the eminent men who had been distinguished members of that University, many of whom of the last half-century he had the good fortune to be acquainted with. He need not do more than name Dr. Robertson, Dr. Blair, Dr. Munro, Dr. Black, Professor Playfair, and Mr. Dugald Stewart—all of whom were members of that University—to show what importance ought to attach to that place of learning. Their names were familiarly known in every part of the civilized world where religion, literature, and science, were known and cultivated. He begged leave to recommend the petition to the favourable notice of the Lord Advocate, and he knew he could not recommend it to a man more desirous of giving every consideration to the subject which the petition deserved, coming from a body so learned and scientific. He hoped that the Learned Lord Advocate would recommend it to the members of his Majesty's Government, and that the petitioners would find their prayer was granted.
§ Mr. Robert A. Dundassupported the prayer of the petition. It had been said, that there might be some difficulty in finding a proper constituency for the Scotch Universities, as the degrees taken there were not the same as at the English Universities. There was, however, an inquiry now taking place with respect to the Scotch Universities, and it might be worth while to consider whether it would not be right to enforce a certain course of studies, so as to ensure a respectable constituency.
§ Sir William Raesaid, after the observations which had been made by the mover and seconder, he would content himself by simply saying, that the petition well deserved the attention of Government.
The Lord Advocatesaid, that any proposition in behalf of the Scotch Universities, could not find any one more favourably disposed towards it than he was. The subject had been before his Majesty's Government already; and that House would now soon have an opportunity to consider the arguments for and against such a proposition; he would, therefore, abstain from any further remark at present, merely contenting himself with observing, that so far as a favourable consideration 526 went, it would find a response in his own breast, and he had no doubt in that of every member of his Majesty's Government.
Mr. Warburtonsaid, that the best way of judging of the benefit of having University Members was, to look at the effect existing with respect to the English Universities; and he begged to inquire, whether the Members returned to serve those Universities in Parliament had been distinguished by their literary or scientific attainments? Had the Universities selected men acquainted with scientific subjects? For his own part, he believed that the political opinions of the Members had been attended to by their learned constituents, rather than their acquaintance with scientific subjects, or literature. Whenever the subject of the petition came under discussion, he should be prepared to give it his opposition, and state his reasons for doing so.
§ Sir George Warrenderbore his testimony to the high respectability of the character of the petitioners; the constituency would consist chiefly of members of the Scottish Church, many of whom took degrees at the Universities, and a more honest, upright, and independent, body of electors could not be had in the kingdom.
Sir John Walshprotested against the opinions expressed by the hon. member for Bridport (Mr. Warburton), and said, that Ministers had not shown their distrust in the electors of the two Universities exercising their right in the way they thought most conducive to their own interest; for it so happened, that of all the great changes which had been effected in the Reform Bill, the mode of election at the Universities had been preserved by a special clause introduced into the Bill. He could not, therefore, agree in the hostility pronounced by the hon. Gentleman against the Universities. He was not sorry to hear from the Lord Advocate that he invited a full discussion upon the subject. If, however, when the Bill had passed a second reading, no provision was made for the University of Edinburgh, he should feel it to be his duty to move a resolution that the Committee be invited to provide for that University.
§ Petition read.
527§ Sir George Murray, on moving it should be printed, observed, that in giving the franchise to a University, the great object they had to look at was, to establish an independent and respectable constituency. Having done that, they might leave them to judge for themselves of what the political opinion of these Representatives should be.
§ The petition was ordered to be printed.
§ Sir William Raepresented a similar petition from the University of St. Andrew's, which was read, and laid upon the Table.