Among the earliest pupils beside those already named, were Miss Buss, Miss Frances Martin, Miss Jex-Blake, Miss Elizabeth Gilbert, and Miss Adelaide Anne Procter, whose simple holland dress without ornament, bands of dark hair, pale complexion, and regular features are noted for us by a young fellow-student, Miss Wardell. And the teachers were worthy of the pupils. Among the lecturers and examiners were the Rev. F. D. Maurice, the Rev. E. H. Plumptre, afterwards Dean of Wells, the translator of Dante, the Rev. Charles Kingsley, the Rev. R. C. Trench, then Dean of Westminster, afterwards Archbishop of Dublin, John Hullah, W. Sterndale Bennett, Dr. Brewer the historian, Professors Bernays and Brasseur. These are well-known names, but there were many others almost forgotten to-day, who were interesting and inspiring teachers. There were no lady-teachers at first, but Miss Beale enumerates with grateful words a staff of lady-visitors, ‘who undertook, of course gratuitously, the often burdensome duty of chaperoning. Lady Stanley of Alderley, stately and beautiful all her life, but especially then; Mrs. Wedgwood, the daughter of Sir James Mackintosh, so clever and kind, whom everybody liked; Miss Elizabeth Twining, Lady Monteagle, and Lady Page Wood were often present; and a Mrs. Hayes, of whom I have lost sight, was one of the most diligent. I never happened to meet Lady Canning, she went to India almost immediately.’
Before tracing Miss Beale’s own connection with Queen’s, it is worth while to read the following letters written to her by Miss Buss in 1889, in which the working of the College, especially with regard to the evening classes, is shown in a detailed and personal way:
January 13, 1889.
‘Queen’s College was distinctly an outcome of the Governesses’ Benevolent Institution. It was found that governesses living in the Home in Harley Street were often very ignorant, and Mr. Laing, a University man himself, asked some of the King’s College professors to give some lectures to the ladies living in the Home, so that they might be better informed when leaving to take a situation. The professors responded, some lectures were given, but it soon became evident that outsiders must be admitted to help to pay expenses—so the College was opened in 1848....
‘Mr. Laing kept his original idea before him, and soon induced some of the professors to give, free of charge, courses of evening lectures to women actually engaged in teaching. I was a member at the very outset, being the youngest woman then attending the evening lectures. A very able man, Mr. Clark, Principal of Battersea, gave a splendid course of Geography lectures (of England, I think), Mr. Cock took Arithmetic, Mr. Brewer, Latin translation—he was a first-rate teacher. Some one else took Latin Grammar, Mr. Laing gave Scripture. The first term I attended six nights a week, the second, four. F. D. Maurice took Elizabethan Literature somewhat later; Trench gave his lectures on English from his manuscript notes, and how delightful they were! English Past and Present, etc. I do not remember Kingsley, I was not introduced to him until many years after. Nicolay gave Ancient History, and was not popular....
‘Queen’s College began the Women’s Education Movement undoubtedly, but it became conservative, and did not grow.... There was a Rev. A. B. Strettel, who taught grammar well, but only to the day-students, I think. Recalling the old days in this way takes one back to one’s youth. Queen’s College opened a new life to me, I mean intellectually. To come in contact with the minds of such men was indeed delightful, and it was a new experience to me and to most of the women who were fortunate enough to become students.... Believe me, as always, yours affectionately and admiringly,
Frances M. Buss.’
In reply to some questions from Miss Beale in answer to the above, Miss Buss wrote again on January 17, 1889:—
‘The day classes were of course attended by girls and women from outside. I attended the evening classes in 1849. Our school was opened in 1850, and then as we began with sixty girls, and ended the first quarter with eighty, I had not time to attend and work as I had done before. Mr. Laing always wanted to help women teachers, and he was strong enough to get the King’s College men to teach governesses gratuitously in the evening, each professor only attending one night in the week. The men had plenty of work and pay for their day lectures. The evening classes went on for some time, and were very well attended by women, all of whom were teaching. Some of these women (I among them) presented themselves for the irregularly conducted examinations, for which certificates were offered. Each professor did as he liked, he saw the candidate alone—at any rate in my case it was so—told her to write answers to questions set by him, asked a few vivâ voce questions, and then gave a certificate. No papers were printed, therefore no one could know what line the examiner would take. I have three of these certificates. Later, the examination became more formal and more valuable; a sort of standard was created.’