We hear that, at first, the size of the class rather alarmed Mrs. Menzies, but—
“she soon felt at ease with girls so sympathetic, earnest, and intelligent. She determined to keep them to Latin exclusively, and see how far she could carry them on in the limited time, without strain. Long before the end of the term, she came to the conclusion that girls, trained as these had been, could easily, by the time they were admissible to the University, be perfectly able to pass the preliminary examination, and do as well as the freshmen who usually go up for it. She was of opinion that the time given by boys to athletics lost them the advantage which their six or seven years’ earlier start might otherwise have given them.”
Mr. Menzies concludes—
“This important experiment, which the foresight and management of Miss Buss made possible, showed the school-mistresses that these pupils could obtain the advantage of University training without any alteration of their studies up to fourteen or fifteen years of age. In consequence, such of the school-mistresses who had hesitated about Miss Davies’ University scheme, were reconciled to it, and, in course of time, approved of it.”
In February, 1873, there is a report in the Union Journal of the first examination for the Mathematical Tripos, held at Cambridge, in connection with Girton College. Miss S. Woodhead was examined, by the official examiners, in their private capacity, and they reported on her papers according to the University standards. The marks assigned would have placed Miss Woodhead among the senior optimes, i.e. in the second class of mathematical honours. In April, 1873, Miss Cook and Miss Lumsden took what would have been second- and third-class honours.
At the usual Convocation of the University of London, held on May 12, 1874, Dr. Storrar presiding, it was moved by the Rev. Septimus Buss, and finally resolved, “That, in the opinion of Convocation, it is desirable that women should be permitted to take degrees in the University of London.”
This resolution was warmly supported by that unfailing friend of the higher education of women, Dr. J. G. Fitch, who stood his ground against the not less warm opposition, headed by Dr. Quain, who, referring to Mrs. Somerville, asked “if the University was to go for a new charter just to further the ambition of a few exceptional women?” Dr. Gibson, also in opposition, urged that a woman could not take up a University course without detracting from her other powers, for, as woman was differently organized, it was necessary to give her a different education; and he asked “if the University was to direct its work by general wants, or by exceptional wants—the wants of a few masculine women?”
From the fact that many of Miss Buss’ pupils were resident in London, it followed that most of them were likely to avail themselves of the facilities of the London University, even apart from the fact that London was the first to grant degrees, an event of great excitement to all women, of which Miss Buss writes in 1878—
“The great thing of last week is the opening of the examinations and degrees of London University to women! An immense concession, and one which must be followed in time by the older universities.
“It is just fifteen years ago since the agitation began about opening the local examinations, and now, I suppose, the cause is won along the whole line.”