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UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, Dec. 11.

The Vote on Select Preachers. THE OPPOSITION TO DEAN STANLEY.

The great importance attached to the vote on the list of select preachers to-day in Convocation was the means of bringing a large number of old members up to Oxford for the occasion, and the appearance of so many old faces about the schools during the morning denoted that something of more than usual significance was about to take place. Many, no doubt, were attracted to the schools from the fact that the examinations in the various schools were going on at the present time, thus affording an opportunity to those who had passed the ordeal of examinations in years gone by of revisiting the place of all others in Oxford about which so much interest always belongs. Two o'clock was the hour fixed for Convocation, but long before that time members and their friends began to assemble in and about the Sheldonian Theatre, where Convocation was to be held. The area was appropriated solely to members of Convocation in academical costume, and the Ladies' Gallery was opened for ladies and others interested in the proceedings of the day, and was well filled. His Royal Highness Prince Leopold was present during the whole of the proceedings, and occupied a seat in the semi-circle among the heads of houses and doctors, and entered into conversation with the Provost of Oriel and others around him, till the entrance of the Vice Chancellor and proctors a few minutes after two o'clock, when the buzz of conversation in the area immediately ceased. Among the heads of houses and doctors present at this time we noticed the following:—Dr. Acland, Dr. Brunel, Balliol; the Warden of Wadham, the Principal of Brasenose, Dr. Goulburn, the Rector of Exeter, Dr. Wilson, Trinity; Dr. Hessey, St. John's; the Principal of Jesus, Dr. Irons, Queen's; the Principals of Magdalen Hall and New Inn Hall; the Hon. and Rev. H. Bertie, All Souls; Dr. Whorwood, Magdalen; Dr. Higgs, St. John's; Dr. Hayman, of Rugby; Dr. Ridding, of Winchester; Dr. Cox, All Souls; Dr. Cary, Magdalen Hall; Dr. Hodson, Merton; the Warden of New College, the President of Magdalen, the Provost of Worcester, the Master of University, &c. The Vice Chancellor opened Convocation in the usual Latin form, and the first name on the list of select preachers nominated was that of the Right Rev. Dr. Harvey Goodwin, Lord Bishop of Carlisle, and Caius College, Cambridge, which was put to the house and passed; the next on the list was that of the Very Rev. Arthur P. Stanley, D.D., Dean of Westminster, which on being put was received with a shout of “placet” and “non-placet,” the latter appearing to predominate. The Vice Chancellor at once ordered a scrutiny and a division took place, those intending to vote “placet” passing out of the theatre to the right of the Vice Chancellor, the votes being taken by the senior proctor, and those intending to vote “non-placet” to the left, the votes being taken by the junior proctor. The voting, by this means, proceeded rapidly and quietly, and the only incident which occurred was a rush of members who had only reached Oxford by the 2.20 train, and arrived just in time to record their votes, although the proctors had retired to the semi-circle to ascertain the totals, which were almost immediately declared, when there appeared— Placet 349 Non-placet 287 showing that 636 members of Convocation had recorded their votes, and giving a majority of 62 for the retention of the name of Dean Stanley as a select preacher. The announcement of the numbers was received with cheers. The names of the Rev. Edwin Palmer, M.A., Corpus Christi College, professor of Latin; the Rev. J. Earle, M.A., Oriel College; and the Rev. T. Fowler, M.A., fellow of Lincoln College, were severally put to the house and agreed to, when Convocation was dissolved, and soon after the precincts of the schools presented their usual appearance.

It may be noted that before the division was called there was not attempt by any one to address the house either for or against the appointment of Dean Stanley, or any other of the preachers nominated, so that the proceedings were confined to giving a formal vote.