XXVII AT HOME AND ABROAD 87 



The following letters from Lord Milner refer 

 to the London Society for the Extension of 

 University Teaching. Sir John accepted the 

 Presidency and retained the position until, in 

 1902, the Society was merged in the University 

 of London. The letters are worthy of quotation 

 for their lucid exposition of the purposes of the 

 Society. 



47, Duke Street, St. James's, S.W., 

 29.11.94. 



Dear Sir John Lubbock — I am addressing you at 

 the request of the Council of the London Society for the 

 Extension of University Teaching. Mr. Goschen, who 

 has done many years of invaluable service for the Society, 

 and has seen it grow from quite small beginnings into 

 a really important educational movement, is retiring 

 from the Presidency, which he has held since 1877. 

 This decision, which is due entirely to private reasons, 

 and which in view of the great amount of work which 

 Mr. Goschen has done for the Society, the Council feel 

 that they ought not to seek to alter, nevertheless leaves 

 them in a somewhat difficult position, as it is no small 

 matter to find a successor of equal public eminence. 



The Council would be unanimous in welcoming you 

 as their President, if you felt able to undertake that 

 position. They have hesitated to approach you, in view 

 of the importance and multiplicity of the public enter- 

 prises with which your name is already associated. 

 But they believe that, if they could secure the immense 

 advantage of having you as the head of the Society, 

 arrangements might be made to relieve you of the burden 

 of all the details of the work. The Council has several 

 hard-working members of great practical capacity, like 

 Canon Burnett, Canon Browne, Mr. Brooke Lambert, 

 Mr. Mocatta and others, and there would be no difficulty 

 in appointing an Acting Chairman to preside at the 

 ordinary Council Meetings, leaving only the important 

 public meetings and the decision of important questions 

 of policy to make any demands upon the time and energies 

 of the President. 



The Council hope that, even if you do not see your 



