§ Mr. Bannermanin rising to move the second reading of the Aberdeen Universities' Bill, said, that it would be necessary for him to state a few of the circumstances which had led to the framing of this measure. It was a Bill of the utmost importance, which aimed at affording facilities for the advancement of learning in Scotland, by the consolidation of the two Universities of Aberdeen. At present both these Universities were individually inefficient to the purpose for which they were designed; each conferred degrees, without having the means of testing the fitness of the candidates, while there were two sets of professors, who, under the present system, were unable to perform, properly, the duties of one college. It might be supposed that he was introducing some new scheme; but the union of the Universities had been attempted in—1755, 1766, and 1786. In the former of the three years he had referred to, an attempt was made to unite the two Universities, which failed because individual interests were defended to the exclusion of views of general utility. In 1766 a similar attempt was made, which was ineffectual. In 1786, the under professors of both Colleges attempted to bring about a union. They met, and it was proposed, by a majority of the professors, that a petition should be presented, praying for a royal visit for that purpose; but the minority had interest sufficient to defeat the scheme. His way, however, had been made clear by the right hon. Baronet, the Member for Tamworth, who, in 1826, when Secretary of State, advised his Majesty to appoint a Commission to inquire into the subject,—an act on his part for which those interested in the prosperity of the Universities were most grateful. At the same time he must say, that when the Hon. Member for Middlesex endeavoured to urge the Government to do something towards the furtherance of the object he had in view, with reference to these same institutions, that effort, on his part, unfortunately proved unsuccessful. The act of the Right Honourable Baronet, however, 277 to which he had referred, had been his chief inducement to bring forward this measure. He moved that the Bill be read a second time.
§ Dr. Bowringdid not rise to oppose the Motion, but to request that the hon. Gentleman would give time for its full consideration.
Captain Gordonalso said, that he did not object to the second reading of the Bill, but that he hoped that ample time would be allowed for its consideration.
§ Sir Robert Peeldeclared himself friendly to the principle of the Bill, but joined the two Hon. Members who had preceded him in hoping that time would be afforded for its consideration. He trusted that the hon. Member would endeavour to obtain his object with the good will of all the parties concerned. It is a saying in Scotland, that "Aberdeen, like England, had her two Universities." He should be glad to remove this distinction; but he was decidedly of opinion that instead of risking an angry discussion in the present Session, the hon. Member for Aberdeen had better postpone the measure.
§ Mr. Humeconcurred in the wish for further time; for he was persuaded the more the proposition was examined the more distinctly would its importance and value be made apparent. It would be much better that Aberdeen should have one complete University, than that it should remain divided as at present.
§ Mr. Warburtonhoped that the evidence taken before the Commission would be reprinted.
§ Bill read a second time.