UNIVERSITIES (SCOTLAND). (Hansard, 16 February 1852)

§ The LORD ADVOCATE
moved— That this House will immediately resolve itself into a Committee to consider of abolishing Tests in the Universities of Scotland.

§ VISCOUNT MELGUND
thought the Bill was a good one, so far as it went; but the fact was, that the law was, to all intents and purposes, obsolete at the present moment, and there were many persons holding offices in the Scotch Universities who were not members of the Church of Scotland. One very desirable point omitted in the present Bill wrs the abolition of Tests now imposed on parish schoolmasters, who were now subject to the same Tests as were now proposed to be repealed in the case of University Professors. He could not see why the Government should select only one of the classes of educators, Professors in Universities, as the objects of their legislation, and exclude from the benefits of the present measure all those who were included in the operation of the old Acts. If the Government did not take up this subject, he would endeavour, by every means in his power, to prevail on the House to abolish the laws which were a disgrace to the Statute-book.

§ The LORD ADVOCATE
said, there was a clear distinction between the two cases mentioned by the noble Lord who had just spoken; he did not desire to mix up the two matters in the present discussion. The consideration of the question mooted by the noble Lord would be better disposed of in another Bill.

§ MR. FORBES MACKENZIE
was glad that the two subjects were not mixed up in the present Bill, which, as he understood it, applied only to lay professors, he should not now oppose. If the people of Scotland were prepared to let those tests be abolished, and took no steps to strengthen their hands in that House, he would not, single-handed, take upon himself to fight their battle. If, on the contrary, they detitioned against the abolition of those 629 Tests, they would find him ready to take up their cause.

§ MR. FOX MAULE
said, the people of Scotland, even those belonging to the Established Church, were beginning to see the impropriety of imposing on the lay professors Tests which it was perfectly well known had been to some extent taken by people who were notoriously not of the; faith which they professed. Now, nothing could possibly be so damaging to the characters of the instructors of youth as to tender to them any test which did not appear to bind, and which was not of bonâ fide utility, and he saw no object whatever in the Tests at present imposed. As to I theological professors, he was willing that the Tests in their case should be maintained; but in regard to the instructors of youth in the dead languages and the positive sciences, he must say that the Tests had long operated to prevent the Universities from obtaining the services of the best men; and the sooner therefore they were done away with the better. He agreed with the noble Lord (Viscount Melgund) in much of what he had said as to the Tests for parochial schoolmasters; but that was a subject for another Bill and another discussion. He hoped that at present the two points would be kept separate.

§ MR. FORBES MACKENZIE
said, that any measure brought forward to abolish Tests for parochial schoolmasters in Scotland would meet with his most uncompromising opposition.

§ MR. COWAN
would give the Committee an instance of the absurdity of the present law regarding Tests in the University of Edinburgh. The Greek Professorship, one of the most important chairs there, being vacant, was applied for by upwards of twenty candidates, among whom were some of the most eminent men the country could produce; but out of those twenty only four were legally qualified to be inducted. It was in the power of the Town Council to prevent the induction to the chair of the most accomplished scholar. He hoped this Bill would meet with the hearty support of both sides of the House.

§ VISCOUNT MELGUND
wished to know whether the Government intended to introduce a clause in the Education Bill which they had promised, for the repeal of the Test imposed on parochial schoolmasters; but

§ MR. FOX MAULE
said, that when the Bill was introduced, its provisions would 630 be explained to the House; but it was rather too much to expect that its provisions should be explained on a Motion for the introduction of another Bill.