xiv UNIVERSITY OF LONDON 349 



numerous than formerly. We were all proud of our 

 University. It had grown from small beginnings to its 

 present position, and now Convocation numbered over 

 4,000 graduates. It had taken the lead in granting 

 degrees to women ; and with what conspicuous success 

 all acknowledged. It was the first British University 

 to institute degrees in science, and fought the battle of 

 the recognition of the educational value of scientific 

 training at a time when classics and mathematics in 

 their most abstract forms were, like motley, the only 

 wear. It had encouraged the study of modern lan- 

 guages by incorporating them in the syllabus for the 

 Arts courses. In medicine and surgery our degrees 

 stand second to none all the world over, and our 

 graduates in this faculty, as also in that of science, 

 occupy the highest position in both professions. Our 

 success was mainly due to the examiners, and in a no 

 less important degree to the wisdom and expert know- 

 ledge of the members of the Senate upon whom the 

 selection of these examiners devolved. Hence our 

 very existence depends upon our not only retaining the 

 high standard of excellence which had hitherto marked 

 our degrees, but upon taking care that the standard 

 shall be still further modified and improved to keep 

 pace with modern knowledge and modern requirements. 

 The time had arrived when the University for its own 

 sake, as well as for the advancement of learning in the 

 metropolis, ought to take upon itself new duties and 

 responsibilities. The work we had done and were 

 doing was great and important, and must be continued. 

 I would not curtail the functions of the University. 

 The free admission to its examination halls of every 

 competent citizen of the Empire was a sine qua non. 

 But holding these views I could not hide from myself 

 the necessity of organising the higher education of 



