I had quite given up the hope that anything but some wretched compromise would come of the University Commission, when I found, to my surprise, no less than gratification, that a strong party among the younger men were vigorously taking the matter up in the right (that is, MY) sense. In spite of all my good resolves to be a "hermit old in mossy cell," I have enlisted--for ambulance service if nothing better. The move is too important to spare oneself if one can be of any good. Ever yours very faithfully, T.H. Huxley. [Of his work in this position Professor Karl Pearson says, in a letter to me:-- Professor Huxley gallantly came to lead a somewhat forlorn hope,--that of establishing a really great university in London. He worked, as may naturally be supposed, with energy and persistence, and one, who like myself was not in full sympathy with the lines he took, can but admire the vigour he threw into the movement. Nothing came of it practically;...but Professor Huxley's leadership did, at any rate, a great deal to unite the London teachers, and raise their ideal of a true university, while at the same time helping to repress the self-interests of many persons and institutions which had been before very much to the front. Clearly this is the sort of thing referred to in a letter of December 20:--] Got through the Association business very well, but had to show that I am the kind of head that does not lend itself to wagging by the tail. [The Senate of the University of London showed practical unanimity in accepting the idea of taking on teaching functions if the Commission should think it desirable, though the Medical Schools were still desirous of getting their degree granted on the mere license examination of the Royal Colleges, without any evidence of general culture or academical training, and on July 28 Huxley writes:--] The decision of the representatives of the Medical Schools is just such as I should have expected. I always told my colleagues in the Senate of the University of London that such was their view, and that, in the words of Pears' advertisement, they "would not be happy till they got it." And they won't get it unless the medical examining bodies are connected into a distinct degree-giving body. [In the course of the autumn matters seemed to be progressing. He writes to Sir M. Foster, November 9:--] I am delighted to say that Paget [Sir James Paget, Vice-Chancellor of the University.] has taken up the game, and I am going to a committee of the University this day week to try my powers of persuasion. If the Senate can only be got to see where salvation lies and strike hard without any fooling over details, we shall do a great stroke of business for the future generations of Londoners. [And by the end of the year he writes:--] I think we are going to get something done, as the Senate of the University of London has come into line with us, and I hope University College will do the same.