50 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ch. 



flicting interests, and adjust differences with care and 

 judgment, if he knew that his most careful judgment 

 was Hable to be upset by the vote of a lot of provincial 

 graduates, who had never heard the evidence, and had 

 no real means of judging ? The thing is too absurd. 

 No Parliament would ever put the vote of Convocation 

 above the authority of Parliament in such a way. An 

 appeal to the Privy Council (who would hear and weigh 

 evidence) would be quite reasonable, and in accordance 

 with precedents. But such a clause as you propose 

 would be both unconstitutional and against all pre- 

 cedents. Can you not, before it is too late, recall or 

 modify the phrase you have used ? It commits you 

 to a quite untenable position, and exposes you to 

 ridicule. 



I write in haste in hopes of being able to do you a 

 service thereby. — Yours most sincerely, 



SiLV. P. Thompson. 



The Right Hon. Sir John Lubbock, F.R.S., M.P. 

 Sir John replied : 



Srd July. 



My dear Silvanus Thompson — Your letter reached 

 me just as I was coming out last night. 



I am glad that we agree on so many points, and 

 sorry that you feel so strongly against a reference to 

 Convocation. 



I can hardly think, however, that this would be 

 so impracticable as you suppose, indeed I understand 

 that it has been actually suggested by Lord Salisbury. 



Surely it is natural that the graduates should wish 

 to be consulted in a matter so vitally affecting their 

 own University ? — I am, yours sincerely, J. L. 



But Professor Thompson sticks gallantly to 

 his guns. 



July 4ith, MoKLAND, Chislett Road, 



W. Hampstead, N.W. 



Dear Sir John Lubbock — Pray do not mistake the 

 issue. I am not opposed to a reference to Convocation ; 

 on the contrary I worked hard last year to obtain it. 

 But what I say and say emphatically is that the pro- 

 posal to make the reference to Convocation after instead 



