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our proceedings to-day will not be very lengthy, and that it will enable us to settle the matters we have in hand at one sitting. All of you have received the agenda of the proposals which we are to discuss. They were arranged by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and the representatives of Oxford, in consequence of a desire on their part to learn from the representatives of the Colonies who are in this country at this moment, what are the wishes and the views of those who are interested in education in the several Colonies with regard to the tenure of the scholarships and the curriculum at the University for gentlemen coming from re- sponsible self-governing and Crown Colonies. Of course, the matter has a somewhat added interest in consequence of the bequest which has recently been made by the late Mr. Rhodes. Under that bequest, as you are aware, a number of scholarships of considerable value--£300 a year--are to be given by the trustees under Mr. Rhodes's will, to be held by, amongst others, gentlemen from the Crown Colonies as well as We have been informed, within the last from the self-governing Colonies. few days, that in addition to the published details of Mr. Rhodes's will, in which certain Colonies are named-out of those Colonies only two, I think, are Crown Colonies, Bermuda and Jamaica the trustees have in their possession funds which they may devote to similar purposes in other Colonies than those the will, and under those circumstances which are actually mentioned in
it becomes still further a matter of interest as to what the University of Oxford is prepared to do, and what the Colonies themselves desire the University should do. You are probably aware that in the responsible Government Colonies, where there exists a University of standing, that University has, upon application to the authorities at Oxford, received certain privileges. That is to say, that after passing certain examinations in those Universities, a student can come to Oxford and, in some cases at any rate, he need pass but one, and that the final examination. The effect of that is, of course, to enable a student coming from one of the Colonies, to spend, compara- tively speaking, a small time at the University, instead of keeping the 12 to 13 terms necessary to take a degree. I think the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford will be glad to hear whether that is an arrangement which has been found to work satisfactorily in practice in the several Colonies, and if not, if there are any suggestions for alteration or amendment. Then, another point upon which the Vice-Chancellor will be glad to have some information from those present is as to the several courses. You will see on the agenda paper that there are certain courses already in existence at Oxford-Philosophy, psychology, history, theology, physical Some only of these science, law, economics, the history and practice of education.
are taken for degrees in the schools, others are extraneous from the University curriculum, and, therefore, do not come within the subjects in which a man can take his degree, but you will see that the Vice-Chancellor says it is believed that oppor- tunities for the practical study of some of these subjects may be made available during the University vacations, and further, that if sufficient notice of a demand were given, additional courses could be arranged. Well, I think it would be to the advantage of the representatives of the University of Oxford to know if there are any such courses that can be suggested as useful to any man coming for education to this country. I will ask the Vice-Chancellor if he will be good enough to supplement what I have said upon any other points upon which he would wish to receive information from the gentlemen assembled here at this meeting, and I think I may say, on his behalf, that he comes here, along with the other gentlemen who are with him, rather to seek your information and guidance than to put for- ward of their own motion any proposals of their own.
The VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD: My lord and gentlemen, I think perhaps the best thing at this point would be to state briefly the circumstances which have led to this meeting. The mover in it really is Professor Fremantle, who is a distinguished member of my own College at Oxford, and has been for a year or two past Professor at the Cape. He was in this country not very long ago, and soon after he returned he wrote me this letter:-
DEAR MR. VICE-CHANCELLOR.
South African College. Cape Town,
April 8. 1902.
I VENTURE to make a suggestion to you, which I have long meditated making, but which recent circumstances appear to me to render not only opportune but necessary.
I have always thought that the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge ought to be without question the two points of convergence for the intellectual and social aristocracy of the youth of the
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whole Empire. It can hardly be contended that this is so at present to anything like an extent satisfactory to University men who are acquainted with the state of opinion in the Colonies; nor will it be questioned that this is largely due to the want of communication between the Colonial Universities and the old Universities of England.
The position in which Oxford has been placed by the magnificent benefactions of Mr. Rhodes seems to give the University the right and the duty of taking a lead in this matter; and the drawing together of representatives from the Colonies for the Coronation appears to provide the best possible opportunity.
I would, therefore, respectfully urge you to invite Colonial Universities to send delegates to a .conference to be held at Oxford. I feel sure that the proposal would be welcomed in all parts of the Empire, and that the conference could not fail to be productive of much good. It might be hoped that Colonial Governments would assist in the matter, and, no doubt, the Colonial Secretary would lend his powerful aid.
The date of the conference might either be the time of His Majesty's Coronation, or next Christmas, which would probably be convenient to the more distant Universities of the Southern Hemisphere, and not inconvenient to the less distant Universities of Canada and the Universities of India.
Among the topics which it might be most advantageous to discuss are the general relation between the various Colonial Universities, and the position of the older Universities in regard to the professional education of Colonials, and especially in regard to the Civil Services of the various Colonies.
It would be eminently fitting that such a conference should be convened by the Vice-Chancellor of the University and the Provost of the College to which Mr. Rhodes was proud to belong; nor could any more fitting tribute of admiration, of affection, and of gratitude, be paid to his immortal
memory.
Believe me,
Dear Mr. Vice-Chancellor,
Yours sincerely, (Signed)
H. E. S. FREMANTLE.
The VICE-CHANCELLOR (continuing): I brought this before the Hebdomadal Council at Oxford, and it was taken up very readily, and a letter was written and sent to the Secretary to the Colonies proposing to hold this Conference, and he has think I will leave it to my kindly allowed us to meet in the Colonial Office. colleagues, who have come up from Oxford, to give details of the subject, as some of them are better acquainted with the details of the matter than I am.
Mr. H. T. GERRANS (Worcester College): Lord Onslow and gentlemen, I do not think it is necessary for me to make a long statement, but rather to explain that I am at the disposal of the Conference to answer any questions which they may see fit to put to me. The few words that I shall address to the Conference should be taken rather as an explanation of the first half of the second page of the agenda paper. Members of the Conference are doubtless aware that the ordinary student, when he comes to Oxford, resides for three years, and passes three examinations. The majority of those students who have come from the Colonies in the past have fallen into line with the ordinary English student. They have passed the same examinations, and they have taken the same curriculum. They have not asked for, nor have they ob- tained, any special privileges. About fifteen years ago, however, the University of Oxford came to the conclusion that Colonial students who had spent some time at the University in their own Colonies might usefully be excused from a certain amount of the requirements which are imposed upon English students, and, if I may use a somewhat well-worn illustration, I should like to suggest that the University of Oxford, by means of this action, really set up a ladder parallel to the ladder in the Colonial Universities, and enabled students who had passed up the Colonial ladder to a certain point, to step over to a corresponding point on the ladder at Oxford. Students from Colonial Universities who had spent the minimum period of two years at such Universities, are in any case excused the entrance examination. They are, in addition, exoused a year's residence, if they specialise at Oxford, and take what we call honours instead of a past degree. Quite recently an additional privilege has been granted to those very special studente who have spent not two years at their Colonial University, but three, and who have, while at that University, greatly dis- tinguished themselves. The numbers indicated on this agenda paper will give some very rough notion of the number of students which we receive at Oxford at the present time. With regard to the Universities which I have ventured to call the
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