1892 LONDON UNIVERSITY REFORM 235 



no less than gratification, that a strong party among the 

 younger men were vigorously taking the matter up in the 

 right (that is, my) sense. 



In spite of all my good resolves to be a " hermit old 

 in mossy cell," I have enlisted — for ambulance service if 

 nothing better. 



The move is too important to spare oneself if one can 

 be of any good. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Of his work in this position Professor Karl Pearson 

 says, in a letter to me : — 



Professor Huxley gallantly came to lead a somewhat 

 forlorn hope, — that of establishing a really gi'eat univer- 

 sity in London. He worked, as may naturally be supposed, 

 with energy and persistence, and one, who like myself 

 was not in full sympathy with the lines he took, can but 

 admire the vigour he threw into the movement. Nothing 

 came of it practically ; . . . but Professor Huxley's leadership 

 did, at any rate, a great deal to unite the London teachers, 

 and raise their ideal of a true university, while at the 

 same time helping to repress the self-interests of many 

 persons and institutions which had been before very much 

 to the front 



Clearly this is the sort of thing referred to in a 

 letter of December 20 : — 



Got through the Association business very well, but 

 had to show that I am the kind of head that does not 

 lend itself to wagging by the tail. 



The Senate of the University of London showed 

 practical unanimity in accepting the idea of taking on 

 teaching functions if the Commission should think 

 it desirable, though the Medical Schools were still 



