94 SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY 



leader. On 13th February, 1887, Ramsay wrote to 

 his mother: 



" We have been going on in our usual way, except for the 

 excitement which I have been undergoing in getting people to 

 promise to come to the meeting in favour of Govt. support, 

 which is to be held here on March 2d. I have written to Mun- 

 della asking him to come down. I have had a letter from him 

 saying he would do what he could to help us. He can do a great 

 deal. I am sending, with the appeal for state aid, an appeal to 

 the Bristolians to help the college, on the ground that if they 

 don't they won't see much of the Govt. grant when it comes. 

 God helps those who help themselves. I am going to Bath 

 to-morrow to get the Bath people to help us." 



Everything being ready the campaign, was opened on 

 3rd March, 1887, by a long and convincing letter from 

 Dr. Jowett and a warmly supporting leader in The 

 Times. The London evening papers of the same day 

 joined in a favouring chorus, and next day the pro- 

 vincial papers spread the cry all over the country. 



Roscoe's letter followed and Mundella asked Mr. 

 Goschen (Chancellor of the Exchequer) whether he 

 would assist in the introduction of a measure for granting 

 pecuniary aid to the English colleges. A beginning was 

 thus made and Mundella returned to the charge again 

 on April 19th. Meantime several meetings had been 

 held at Bristol on March 2nd, Southampton March 10th, 

 Sheffield April 12th, and Birmingham May 26th. At 

 Bristol Ramsay was of course present and gave an 

 account of what had been accomplished at the College, 

 the number of students and their subsequent careers. 



