Item 51 - Letter from Edward Hawkins

Oriel College - Thanks WW for the third part of his work on education ['Of a Liberal Education in General...3. The Revised Statutes 1851-1852', 1852]: 'Though it relates so exclusively to your own Statutes, I found the work very interesting'. EH thinks WW 'appears favourable to the admission of M.A.s of Durham and the London University to 'ad eundem' degrees. We have an application from Durham to this effect now before us, to which I see no objection. But I think graduates of the London University, who have been educated almost anywhere, and upon any principles, ought not to take our titles as if their education had been the same'. EH finds it 'curious that you think it a good thing to have your Statutes unalterable without the Royal consent, which in Oxford is thought intolerable'. EH was sorry to find 'so much jealousy even among you as to a supposed Party of the Heads. it consists here, and with more plausible grounds for it, the Hebdomadal Board having considerable powers, though in truth without any separate interests or wishes. But I had supposed that your Constitution was better, and that you were free from such jealousies. I am very sorry to find it is not so'. The Oxford Commissioners have presented a report but he has not yet seen it.