resort to what he called sub-legislation inevitable; that is to
say, they were too complex for parliament, and could only be dealt with
by delegation to executive act.

It is untrue to say that Oxford as a place of education had no influence
on the mind of the country; it had immense influence, but that influence
was exactly what it ought not to have been. Instead of stimulating it
checked, instead of expanding it stereotyped. Even for the church it
had failed to bring unity, for it was from Oxford that the opinions had
sprung that seemed to be rending the church in twain. The regeneration
introduced by this momentous measure has been overlaid by the strata of
subsequent reforms. Enough to say that the objects obtained were the
deposition of the fossils and drones, and a renovated constitution on
the representative principle for the governing body; the wakening of a
huge mass of sleeping endowments; the bestowal of college emoluments
only on excellence tested by competition, and associated with active
duties; the reorganisation or re-creation of professorial teaching; the
removal of local preferences and restrictions. Beyond these aspects of
reform, Mr. Gladstone was eager for the proposed right to establish
private halls, as a change calculated to extend the numbers and strength
of the university, and as settling the much disputed question, whether
the scale of living could not be reduced, and university education
brought within reach of classes of moderate means. These hopes proved to
be exaggerated, but they illustrate his constant and lifelong interest
in the widest possible diffusion of all good things in the world from
university training down to a Cook's tour.

Mr. Gladstone seems to have pressed his draftsmen hard, as he sometimes
did. Bethell returning to him 'the _disjecta membra_ of this unfortunate
bill,' tells him that he is too deeply attached to him to care for a few
marks of impatience, and adds, 'write a few kind words to Phillimore,
for he really loves you and feels this matter deeply.' Oxford, scene of
so many agitations for a score of years past, was once more seized with
consternation, stupefaction, enthusiasm. A few private copies of the
draft were sent down from London for criticism. On the vice-chancellor
it left 'an impression of sorrow and sad anticipations'; it opened
deplorable prospects for the university, for the church, for religion,
for righteousness. The dean of Christ Church thought it