262 THE CECILS
permanently, in face of the advances of the House of Commons, the ancient privileges and constitution of this House." The Bill was thrown out on the third reading. Twenty years later Lord Salisbury made a second attempt to introduce this reform, but with no greater success. His Life Peerage Bill of 1888, after passing its second reading, was withdrawn, and has never since been heard of.
At this time (1868 1872), Lord Salisbury was chairman of the Great Eastern Railway, and he was associated with Lord Cairns as arbitrator in connection with the affairs of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway in 1871 72. In November, 1869, he was elected by a unanimous vote to the office of Chancellor of the University of Oxford, rendered vacant by the death of the old Lord Derby. A scholar and a student by nature, it was a post for which he was in many ways excep- tionally well qualified ; but though he held it for the rest of his life, he refrained from active participation in University matters. His interest in University Reform is shown by his appointment of the Universities Commission in 1877.
The remaining years of the Gladstone Govern- ment may be passed over with little comment. While applying himself to the amendment and improvement of several of the chief measures introduced by the Government, such as the Irish Land Bill, the Education Bill, and the University Tests Bill, and supporting others, such as the Peace Preservation Bill of 1870 and the
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