XI 



in Virginia he began his etymological study of the Latin language, which 

 he prosecuted to the end of his life. 



In 1828 he was appointed Professor of Latin in the University of London 

 in Grower Street. The University of London was opened on the 1st of 

 October, 1828. An attempt was made to establish in Grower Street a school 

 in connexion with the new University for supplying it with well-prepared 

 pupils. The design was good, but the school did not promise much suc- 

 cess. In 1833 this school, or a school in place of it, was established in 

 the University buildings in Grower Street, and Mr. Key, the Professor of 

 Latin, and Mr. Maiden, the new Professor of Greek, were appointed 

 joint head masters. In 1842 Mr. Key gave up the Professorship of 

 Latin and took the Professorship of Comparative Grammar with the un- 

 divided headship of the school, which he held to the day of his death. 

 Professor Maiden still continued to teach the sixth Greek class in the 

 school till recently. 



In 1836 the present University of London was established, and the 

 University of London in Gower Street received a Eoyal Charter, and took 

 the name of University College, which it now has. This Charter was 

 annulled by Act of Parliament of the 24th of June, 1869, whereby the 

 College was reincorporated with additional powers, and divested of its 

 proprietary character. 



The school of University College has been a good place of education 

 under the two original head masters and the subsequent head mastership 

 of Mr. Key only. It has given a more enlarged and useful education for 

 boys than could be got at most schools ; and one proof of success is the 

 number of able men who have been brought up in it and are now well known 

 in the world. Por some years the number of boys was not large, but 

 there was a steady increase. In 1868 the number was about four hun- 

 dred, and in 1875, the last year of Mr. Key's life, it was above six hun- 

 dred. 



Mr. Key was employed from 1828 till his death in November 1875 as 

 a teacher and head master in University College School, and also, first, as 

 Professor of Latin and afterwards of Comparative Grammar in University 

 College. He was the first Professor of Comparative Grammar in the College, 

 and it will be very difficult to supply his place. It is stated in the Report 

 of the Council, February 23rd, 1876 :— "Since 1842, when Mr. Key was 

 appointed to the Professorship of Comparative Grammar, the science of 

 Philology has been more generally studied than had previously been the 

 case ; and there can be no doubt that the increased interest with which 

 the subject is now regarded is to some extent attributable to the zeal 

 with which he devoted himself to his professorial duties, and to the ex- 

 tensive erudition which he displayed in lecturing on the subject in which 

 he took an enthusiastic interest, which gave to his lectures a charm ren- 

 dering them most attractive, and communicating his enthusiasm to many 

 of the students." 



