348 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CHAP. 



of the University. I saw that the appointment of the 

 right man for the post was a vital matter to the Uni- 

 versity at such an epoch ; and I was convinced that no 

 one in the country could be found more fully qualified 

 to take over the onerous and difficult duties of such an 

 office than my friend, Professor Rlicker, who had dis- 

 tinguished himself not only as a scientific man and 

 teacher, but as a man of energy, a cultured gentleman, 

 and a man of affairs. I therefore induced him, with 

 some difficulty, to become a candidate, and most 

 earnestly and warmly advocated his claims before the 

 Senate and its Committees. Other proposals were 

 made, and I only gained my cause after long and serious 

 opposition. The result of Sir Arthur Rlicker's appoint- 

 ment has more than justified my efforts and has gained 

 the appreciation of all interested in the University in 

 fact I consider that my success in obtaining his appoint- 

 ment as Principal was the best day's work I ever did for 

 the University. I desire also to express my apprecia- 

 tion of the services rendered to the University during 

 my Vice-Chancellorship, especially by three officers, 

 namely, Mr. Milman, the former Registrar, Mr. Victor 

 Dickins, C.B., who succeeded him, and Dr. Frank 

 Heath, now of the Board of Education, and generally 

 by all the members of the University staff. 



It had long been the custom of the University on 

 Presentation Day for the Chancellor or, in his absence, 

 the Vice-Chancellor, to recount the progress made by 

 the University in the past year. On several occasions 

 this fell to my lot, and in May, 1896, I spoke to the 

 following effect. 



The work of the University of London had, during 

 the past year, been more successful and more useful 

 than ever before. The actual number of new graduates 

 was larger, and the distinctions won by them no less 



