Ancient ecclesiastical rules are no longer maintained in their former strictness and severity; a public duty, that of educating some of the most important classes of the country, is found to be alike agreeable and profitable to the Colleges of Cambridge, and no greater modifications are required to render both the University and the Colleges accessible to the whole nation, than what have been already effected for the convenience of the academicians themselves, and the advantage of predominant parties in the state. Reasonable powers of adjustment to the wants and opinions of the reign of Queen Victoria, and of the chancellorship of H.R.H. Prince Albert, may be obtained by a good parliamentary commission, and a parliamentary opening of the University and Colleges of Cambridge. Some control over the ecclesiastical tendencies of college corporations will thus be exercised, and the progress of education in England may be assisted by the influence of open competition in one of our most venerable seats of learning. The Cambridge Royal Commissioners, in a letter, dated May, 1855, recommend to the Lord Chancellor, that in the Cambridge Bill, submitted to Parliament, provision should be made for a certain concurrence of the parliamentary commissioners and of each college, on the following subjects, in which a change may be either necessary or desirable, at the present time: 1. The revision of all College Statutes, generally and in particular. 2. The abolition of all oaths taken to enforce their observance. 3. The alteration of the powers of Master, Fellows, and College Officers, both absolutely and relatively, inter se. 4. The conversion of close Fellowships into open Fellowships, as well as their commutation into Scholarships or Exhibitions. 5. The incorporation of bye Fellowships in reduced number, as the amount of funds belonging to the foundation may render advisable. 6. The regulation of tutors and lecturers by the ordinary government of the College, and as part and parcel of the collegiate system. 7. The creation of suitable Boards of election and government, where the whole body of Fellows, after the changes contemplated by the Bill had been made, would be too numerous for such purposes. 8. The provision of a suitable income for Masters of Colleges, so as to dispense with the necessity of their holding any of the ecclesiastical preferment of the College. 9. The creation of a sufficient number of open Scholarships, and of adequate value, either by the conversion of Fellowships or otherwise. 10. The commutation of all claims of preference, which may be thought worthy to be retained, into exhibitions. 11. The extinction of the powers of all external electors to Fellowships and Scholarships. 12. The modification of the rules which are now applicable to the tenure of College emol uments, the election thereto, and the qualifications of candidates. 13. The application of a portion of the collegiate funds to the establishment of a more extended Professoriate to the University at large. Decision of Hugh de Balsham, bishop of Ely, in the Rule that alienations, statutes, and graces, are to PAGE iii. 1 7 6. Duty of the chancellor not to make any innovation Duration of the chancellor's office 13. No one to be chancellor in the University, and at the same time an official to a bishop |