xxvni LONDON UNIVERSITY 51 



of before the judicial decisions of a Statutory Commission 

 is absurd. I must be allowed to doubt entirely whether 

 Lord Salisbury ever suggested anything so foolish. Is 

 it not evident that if the decisions of the Commission 

 who would sit to hear and weigh evidence were liable 

 to be upset by a post-card vote of graduates at large 

 who had never heard the evidence, no person of any 

 standing would ever consent to serve in such a capacity. 

 The proposal is simply fatal to the authority of the 

 judicial body proposed as a Commission. It is most 

 deplorable that you have not seen this before your 

 circular letter was sent out. The absurdity of it must 

 be painful to many who would otherwise have supported 

 you. Let me again urge you before it is too late to 

 modify the words that seem to commit you to so un- 

 tenable a position. — I am, yours most sincerely, 



SiLVANUs P. Thompson. 



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

 Sir John was quite immovable. 



Gth July 1895. 



My dear Silvanus Thompson — The issue seems to 

 me simple enough. 



You desire in the present case to abrogate the existing 

 right of veto possessed by Convocation because in your 

 judgment the Commission will make a wise scheme, 

 and Convocation will unwisely reject it. 



Surely it is natural that I, as their Member, should 

 desire to protect the rights of my Constituents, and 

 that I should have confidence that they will exercise 

 their right wisely and well. — I am, yours very sincerely, 



J. Lubbock. 



Professor Silvanus Thompson. 



Some very heavy artillery vi^as then brought up 

 to attack his position, 



July 6th, 1895. 



Dear Sir John Lubbock — The interests of learning 

 and education are so closely bound up with the future 

 development of the University of London, that we 

 hope you will not regard us as interfering between 

 yourself and the Electing Body of the University if 



