The University of London

Abstract

MR. THISELTON DYER appears to think that Fichte's ideal of a University is unrealizable, unless, as he supposes, “some wealthy man gives, say, half a million to found such a University in some quiet country town in England, where professor and pupils might labour together, undisturbed by the life and movement of a big city, or the worry of the examination-room, for the advantage of knowledge.” I venture to think that this supposition of Mr. Thiselton Dyer's conveys the unwelcome truth that the conception of the true nature of a University has not yet reached some even of that section of the British public who have earned well-merited distinction in science; and it is as one who has had experience of a Scottish and a German University, in the character of student and teacher, and of two English University Colleges as teacher, that I ask permission as shortly as I can to place before your readers what many minds aim at, in the hope that a teaching University in London, call it what you will, would ultimately provide it.