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Mr. C. MAYO of Winchester moved (se-conded by Mr. G. BURY of Farnham),-"That the resolutions which ttave been

passed be printed, and sent to each of themedical practitioners residing in the dis-trict."Mr. C. MAUL of Southampton moved (se-

conded by Mr. J. JUDD of Southampton),-11 That the thanks of this meeting be given

to the chairman." ,

The whole of the resolutions were carried.At six o’clock about fifty members of the

Southern Branch dined together at the StarInn. The President, Dr. FORBES, in the

chair; CHARLES MAUL, Esq., Vice-chairman.

THE LANCET.

London, Saturday, December 17, 1836.

METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY CHARTER.

THE Draught Charter which was framedsome months since for the l.urpose of con-

stituting an UNIVERSITY in this metropolis,has received the sign-manual of the KiKG.The members of the first senate have been

named, and this new national institution

will, it is hoped, forthwith be organized inall its departments in a manner which is

well calculated to accomplish the objectswhich it has been designed to execute. Wehave not space on this occasion to insert any

portion of the new charter.We are not about to analyze the mental

qualifications of the members of the newsenate. It is not, in fact, our object at thismoment either to condemn or to commend,excepting on two points. On examimng thecharter we discover, with fixed feelings of

regret, first, that no provision is made

for compelling the senate to conduct the ex-aminations of candidates in public ; and, se-

condly, that it is in the power of that bodyto act upon regulations of a character whichare not less exclusive than are those which

have so long been sanctioned by our corrupt and ’

mercenary medical colleges.On the existence of these imperfections

we found our protest against every act of the

newly-constituted senate which may havethe effect of excluding any candidate fromthe RIGHT to be examined for the diploma of

the University, unless it be on the ground ofa moral disqualification.We seize this, the earliest opportunity

which is offered to us, for making a broadand general claim to all the advantageswhich can be derived from the new institu-

tion, on behalf of THE WHOLE PEOPLE oll

ENGLAND. ’If the ministers apply to the

Parliament for a grant or grants of moneyfor the purpose of setting in motion the new

establishment, and of giving stability and

solidity to its arrangements, there are to befound, we believe, many independent menin the House of Commons who would resist

a demand for a single shilling, unless the

regulations which are to be framed by thesenate for the conduct of candidates be

based on the broadest foundations of libe-

rality and justice. If the system of 11 recog z)nizing," as admissible to examinations onlypersons who have received their edu-

cation at particular schools, there -will be nosuch thing as abolishing that system withoutan Act of Parliament, and during the whole

period of its existence, little else than in-

justice and tyranny will be the consequence.The character of the members of the new

senate may be of that sterling quality for

integrity and love of science, which is bestcalculated to give confidence to ministers

and to lead to a most sincere conviction in

the minds of the advisers of the Crown that

every measure of the senate will be framed

in accordance with the liberal spirit of our

times, and be perfectly consistent with thedemands and wants of the public. There

is, however, it should be recollected, amongsuch a numerous body of men, a divided, a

multiplied, responsibility, and we all knowthat where izccdii-idual amenability can be

avoided, amongst an incorporated body of

men, scrupulousness of conduct in accom-plishing any given object, where self-in-

terest is concerned, is not a characteristic ofthat body. Whenever the law can secure

the complete accomplishment of any object,its fulfilment ought not to be left to the

discretion .of any given number of indi-

viduals. Nor should the convenience or

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the behests of the persons appointed to of persons to struggle for mastery in the

execute the law be avowed to interpose be- paths p,f science and literature. A prize,tween the wants of the couimunity apd the. therefore, is given to candidates in the formintentions of the persons by whom the law of a title, or the right to exercise the func-is framed. Instead, for example, in the tions pertaining to a profession, or a largepresent instance, of having the law as a income in money, such as belongs to the fel-security for the good government of the lowships of several of our ancient colleges,newly-constituted University, we have only. for the purpose of stimulating the wholethe comparatively frail security which can.be mind of the nation to pursuits of a scientificfurnished by the good intentions and Intel- and classical nature. What sort of a systemlectual capabilities of the members of the is that, theu, which would limit the applica-senate. Fortunately, .however, the new tion of a highly-useful stimulus to learning,charter, 1n this respect, will be totally in- to pupils studying in specially selected, or, asefficient, as an instrument of law, without they are generally termed, "recognized"the addition of an Act of the legislature; establishments? If the offer of a prize, orand that this is a fortunate circumstance is the chance of obtaining a diploma from aobvious, because the senate are likely to be highly-gifted body of men, is known to ope-mrsted in their duties by the selection of the rate beneficially upon the feelings of.thenames of two of -our institutions for introduc- pupils who may be, engaged in studying attion into the body of the charter. University College, or King’s Cllege, whyAlthough the senate are clearly at liberty should the- proposal operate less effectively

to examine candidates who have been edu- on the minds of, those students who may becated at any, even at the least important, of similarly employed in the least gaudy and thethe schools in this kingdom, or persons who humblest of our establishments?have been educated entirely under a system Having long witnessed, not only the

of private tutelage in private dwellings, the pernicious, but even the atrocious effects ofintroduction into the charter of the titles of the system of "recognizing" particularthe two establishments in question, (Uni- schools, as it has been adopted and sanc-versity Coltege, and King’s College, London), tioned by our diploma-selling colleges, weis - calculated to mislead the senate, by would avert, if possible, in the proceedingspointing to an inference which, we trust, is of the new institution, an error of;so fatal awholly alien to the intentions of the ministers character and. -tendency.,-- - If the new Uni-of the Crown. -If the new University is to versity be not a national institution, what isbe devoted to the purposes of the landed it to be? Why,of course, something less thanaristocracy, or to the monied classes, of the « national;" and, therefore havidg-only acountry, let one or both of these bodies sup- direct relation to a particular branch, or to

port all the charges of the establishment, certain classes of the community. If it beby contributions to its funds. Necessarily not national, it ought not to be, and we trustit will not bedenied that the costs ought that it will not be, supported by nationalto be sustained by the parties whom it is funds. If it be not national, let the draughtsdesigned to benefit. In examining the rules- for supplying its funds be made upon thosewhich are too often sanctioned in our Uni- pockets which ,.are to be enriched by aversities, the position of the candidates for monopoly of its advantages: --With the ex.examination, with relation to the community, ception of titles, the ,senate:Eertaiuly haveis generally, if it be not always, forgotten, no power to grant any thing.. The monopo-University honours and rewards have been lists’, if there should be any, will enjoy onlydesigned and bestowed, not with a view that peculiar farne which can arise out ofto benefit individuals, but for the purpose the nature of their proceedings. But it

of stimulating and inciting a great number may be far otherwise if the present charter

441

be made the foundation of an act of the iti relation to -edueatiou and collegiatelegislature, and if the provisions of both privileges, where are we to stop? And yetmeasures accord in spirit and arrangement. it would seem, from the introduction intoStill, we may be permitted to ask, what the charter of the titles of two existingought the senate, under any form of law, to establishments, that the framers of that

be enabled to confer, which every individual document, the advocates of liberality,in the community should not be entitled’tb science, and learning, in the nineteenth

enjoy, if he were qualltieil-to master the century, are prepared to renew, under royalexamination instituted by his scrutators? and government auspices, the worst andLet any person who styles the new institu- most infamous- contrivance which is con-

tion a "national -establishment,"- answer nected with our old corporations. Of

this question. If it be presumed that-can- course We refer -in this instance to the

dirlates undergo the labour of study, and medical corporations, as it would be a grossincur, throughout a series of years, restraints injustice to the Universities of Oxford andupon their personal habits, and--large sacri- Cambridge to expose them to the odioua

fices of tsianey, for the purpose merely of compaiusotiwhich would attend their classi<contributing to the funds of the University, fication with those corrupt and benightedby the purchase of the diploma, strangely institutions. Contrasts, however, may often

are they (the promoters of-the new establish- be made with advantage, when comparisonsment,) deceived in making theircalculations. cannot be instituted without drawing largelyA person finding that he has certain acquire- on the credulity or the dulness of the

ments,-seeks to he examined, in order that reader; and there is one clearly observable

thepossession of his diploma may be in- in the cases before us; one, indeed, wherestrumental in making the public acquainted all the honour to be derived from it must bewith the nature and extent of his profes- bestowed on the ancient universities, whilesional gualifieations.- What matters it where all the shadow, or darker part, belongs to thethe candidate was educated, so that he be new or Metropolitan institution. We alludeeducated? What matters it whether the to the " open scholarships " of the ancientcandidate acquired his knowledge in Uni- universities, which offer to the youthfulversity College, London, or in a private aspirants of this nation,-whatever maymansion-in a distant county, so that he be have been their birth, whatever is their

capable of :passing his -examination? If station, whatever has been the course of

other considerations are to be taken into their studies,- wherever may have been thethe account, what are they? These ques- place in which those studies were pursued,tions-ought to be answered fully and ex- or by whomsoever superintended or direct-plicitly, not only by the senate, but- by ed,-the highest honours, as well as thethat niinister, who, doubtless, will apply most valuable pecuniary rewards, whichto Parliament for a grant of pulrlic money- those universities can bestow. This is a

to support the new institution. We defy system which is worthy of imitation, andthe ingenuity of man to devise any scheme operates justly with reference not only towhich shall operate justly, with regard to gifted individuals but to the entil’e nation.

the juvenile members of this nation,.-with The absurdity and iniquity of "recog-regard to the mass of our private, as well nising" particular establishments as the

as an, immense number of our public only places whence candidates for the

seminaries,-=-if the candidates for the dip- diploma shall be received, is proved in thelomas and honours of the new University fullest possible manner, by the introduc-are to be received only from a particular tion, into the new charter, of the name of3et of " recognised colleges and schools.- King’s College. Another example can scarcelyIf we commmce with the work of exclusion, be required to prove the rottenness of the

442

basis on which such a system must work. The senate, which is just appointed, is cm-

’powered, be it observed, to grant degrees,in medicine. Already does the new chartersecure to the teachers in the medical de-

partment of King’s College, that the matri-culation tickets of their pupils shall entitlethe candidates to be examined by the senatein the new University. Now, this advan-

tage is conferred upon a medical school,which, probably, with only one exception,is the least efficient, is the worst, in London.

Why, then, is that place preferred ? Becausethe lectures are delivered in a pompous

pile of buildings, and because it enjoys the

patronage of the aristocracy. We are

bound, therefore, to declare that the selectionof such an establishment as the medical

department of Kiug’s College, on this oc-casion, reflects discredit either on the

tnoires or on the judgment of the advisers ofthe Crown, and holds out an example to thesenate, which may be adopted, in many in-

stances, to the exclusion of the most giftedof our students from the honours and

rewards of the new University, and to the

irreparable injury of a majority of our

private teachers in medicine.

MEDICAL WITNESSES ACT.

H. ALFORD.

To the Editor of THE LANCET., SIR:&mdash;We have great pleasure in bearingtestimony to the success of the Medical Wit-nesses Act in this town. The legal fee wasimmediately paid to us by the overseer ofthe parish, on the production of the coroner’sorder. The inquest was held Dec. 3rd. Wethink that it was the first order issued underthe new Act here. We are your obedientservants,

WoRTS & WALKER, Surgeons.Colchester, Dec. 12, 1826.

SIR :&mdash;I should have replied before to

your enquiries relative to the operation ofthe Medical Witnesses Act, but I was notahle to obtain the requisite information forsome days after receiving your lett4er.

I find that only one of the surgeons of theUnion has been called in to give evidenceatinquests since the Act came into operation ;and of two which he has attended, he re-

ceived on each occasion-an order from thecoroner for the guinea, fee. One was paid,I believe, at once, but on the second somedifficulty arose as to what parish was liable,No objection, however, has been made tocomplying with the provisions of the Act(so far as I have been able to learn) in anyone instance. I am, Sir, your obedient ser.vant,

H. ALFORD.5, Hammet-street, Taunton,

Dec. 12, 1836.

MEETING AT SOUTHAMPTON.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR:&mdash;You will probably be furnished

with a report of the proceedings of a meet.ing of medical gentlemen which was heldat Southampton on the 29th of November,to establish a branch of the ProvincialMedical and Surgical Association in theSouthern division of England. I do notknow what title you may be pleased to putto the report, but I would suggest one tobe drawn from the chief promoters’ ownepithets, employed in their speeches. I canassure you that if derived from those sourcesit would be not less correct than candid, andmore explanatory than any other. It might,then, stand thus :-"AN ASSOCIATION FOR EXTENDING AND

ENFORCING

THE HOMAGE DUE FROM HUMBLEAND IMPOTENT BRITISH MEDI-CAL PRACTITIONERS,TO THEIR LORDS AND MASTERS OF THE

PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS,AND THE DUBS AND PURES IN GENERAL."

In framing such a title for the meeting nodraught, I say, need be made on the fancyor imagination. These terms were suppliedin speeches which afforded abundant evi.dence that the Worcester-Winchester-Chi-chester scheme has been concocted to decoythe southern " subordinates " into the pay-ment of an annual homage and fealty to the" great and distinguished shepherds" of theprofession, at Winchester, Chichester, An-dover, Portsmouth, or other southern county.Nothing more than such a title, and a re-perusal of your just and acute remarks inTHE LANCET of July 30, on the designs of theParent "Migratory" Association, can benecessary to open any half-closed eyes ofattendants at the meeting, to the real objectsof the bombastically-extolled branch," andI do trust that those gentlemen who mayhave been momentarily delud ed on thatoccasion will refrain, on their return, fromattempting to persuade their professional