1877 SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION 225 



he can't be here." Owing to this and to the enforced 

 absence of the judges on the Commission from some 

 of the sittings, it was found necessary to have addi- 

 tional meetings at Easter, much to his disgust. He 

 writes : 



I am sorry to say I shall have to come here again in 

 Easter week. It is the only time the Lord President is 

 free from his courts, and although we all howled pri- 

 vately, there was no help for it. Whether we finish 

 then or not will depend on the decision of the Govern- 

 ment, as to our taking up the case of you troublesome 

 women, who want admission into the University (very 

 rightly too I think). If we have to go into this question 

 it will involve the taking of new evidence and no end of 

 bother. I find my colleagues very reasonable, and I 

 hope some good may be done, that is the only consola- 

 tion. 



I went out with Blackie last evening to dine with the 

 Skeltons, at a pretty place called the Hermitage, about 

 three miles from here. . . . Blackie and I walked home 

 with snow on the ground and a sharp frost. I told you 

 it would turn cold as soon as I got here, but I am none 

 the worse. 



It was just the same in April : 



It is quite cold here as usual, and there was ice on 

 the ponds we passed this morning. ... I am much better 

 lodged than I was last time, for the same thanks to John 

 Bruce, but I do believe that the Edinburgh houses are 

 the coldest in the universe. In spite of a good breakfast 

 and a good fire, the half of me that is writing to you is 

 as cold as charity. 



April 4. We toil at the Commission every day, and 

 don't make any rapid progress. An awful fear creeps 

 over me that we shall not finish this bout. 



VOL. II Q 



