Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... The Position Of The Question Immediately Preceding The Appointment Of The First Royal Commission. By the middle of the year i887 the long-debated question of the reform of the University of London appeared to be approaching within measurable distance of settlement; and although, as events proved, this result was still to be deferred for more than a decade, even if it can now be regarded as obtained, a very definite step in the progress of the subject was reached by the appointment in May, i888, of a Royal Commission "to inquire whether any and what kind of new University or powers is or are required for the advancement of higher education in London ." Marking, as this does, the first stage in the course of the proceedings, it may be convenient to record in brief summary the circumstances that led up to action being taken, and how matters stood when the Royal Commission began its sittings--all which it has been the object of the writer to set forth in fuller detail in the previous pages. For this purpose free use will be made of an interesting memorandum drawn up by Lord Justice Fry, and circulated amongst the members of the Senate in March, i886, and handed in by him to the Royal Commission presided over by Lord Selborne. "The agitation in favour of changes in the University had several distinct sources, and was assisted by men of different and often discordant views. First in point of time was probably the dissatisfaction felt by the medical teachers of London at the very small number of degrees obtained by their pupils in proportion to the very large number of students and the opportunities for clinical teaching." One of the earliest expressions of this feeling was manifested in a letter from Dr. Bristowe to the Chancellor in December, ...