UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. 341 



But I ought to have seen that minimum is the first step 1866. 

 from nihil to totum ; and when St. Denys, with his head 

 under his arm, had made that first step, I ought to have 

 foreseen the second. 1 My self-complacency is comforted 

 by observing that there are even now men of experience 

 and thought who not only cannot foresee the third step, 

 but who affirm it will never be made. 



Before proceeding to the most delicate part of the 

 subject I make two remarks. 



First, in all that I say I am stating the decision of my 

 own court, by which my own course is determined. It is 

 for me alone to weigh evidence, and for me alone to de- 

 cide. This distinction is often forgotten ; such a letter as 

 the present is treated as appeal to those to whom it is 

 addressed, instead of recorded argument in a decided case. 

 Be it remembered that the first sentence of this letter 

 contains the needful ; all the rest is partly respect to the 

 body I am addressing, partly evidence of what is thought 

 by a person who has stood by the College for thirty years, 

 and who is likely to represent the opinions of many. 



Secondly, I earnestly protest against being supposed 

 to impute to any one, in or out of the Council, the least 

 wilful or conscious impropriety of reasoning or conduct. T 

 mean to give the offence which, in our thin-skinned day, 

 is always taken at plain and uncompromising attack upon 

 alleged wrong proceedings ; but I am free of all intention 

 to be personally disrespectful to any of the promoters. I 

 can never forget the cordial co-operation of thirty years. 



In the matter of Mr. Martineau, I am aware of the 

 existence of two cross currents. Since the first vote of the 

 Council I have weighed all that I heard, and have for 

 months been satisfied that there has been an objection to 



1 St. Denys carried his head to Montmartre after his execution. I 

 take the allusion to mean that just as the miracle was complete as soon 

 as the Saint made the first step, so the alienation of the College from 

 its principle was effected at the very earliest departure therefrom. 

 S. E. DE M. 



