I am desired by the Dean of the Medical Faculty to inform you that he has been interdicted by the Faculty from giving examination papers to ladies on the 17th and 18th curt. Kindly communicate this fact to the ladies whose names you some time ago handed in to me for this examination. I am, etc., THOMAS GILBERT.” It will be noticed that the letter was dated on the day previous to that on which the examination was to take place. Three ladies had come—or were on their way—from various parts of the kingdom to submit to it. If they were not allowed to enter, they would be thrown back in their professional studies for a whole year. Most women—and men—would have sat down under this blow. S. J.-B. went straight to her solicitor and took him with her to see the advocate (Mr. Fraser). The following is a copy of the letter that was sent by them to the Dean of the Medical Faculty: “Chambers, 8 Bank Street, Edinburgh. Oct. 16th. 1871. DEAR SIR, We have been instructed to obtain the opinion of counsel with reference to the legality of your refusal to admit ladies to the Preliminary Examination in Arts, which will take place tomorrow. We beg now to enclose the memorial submitted, and the opinion given thereon by Mr. Patrick Fraser, for your perusal, and request that you will, at your earliest convenience, return them to us. We beg to point out that you are individually responsible if the refusal is persisted in, and that we have been instructed, in that case, to raise actions for damages against you at the instance of each of the memorialists. You will also observe that the instructions of the Medical Faculty, being in themselves illegal, will be no defence against such actions. We trust that you will, in these circumstances, reconsider the matter, and see fit to retract the refusal, and prevent the necessity of further proceedings. We are, etc., MILLAR, ALLARDICE & ROBSON, W.S. Professor Balfour, M.D., Dean of the Medical Faculty.” There was no loss of time in receiving the reply: “University of Edinburgh, Oct. 16th., 1871.[90] DEAR MISS JEX-BLAKE, I have received the legal notice from your solicitor. Under these circumstances I shall not take the responsibility of refusing the ladies admission to the preliminary examination as heretofore. But I must inform you that I admit them provisionally until the matter is decided by the proper authorities, and without prejudice as regards myself. I am, etc., J. H. BALFOUR.” Footnote 90: The dates of these three letters are correctly given. They were all delivered by hand.