Autograph letter signed : Danesfort, to William Angus Knight, 1896 August 19.

Concerning the ongoing institutional issues at St. Andrews; saying "I have heard from two or three sources of this last move of the Court in regard to Assistants. I had not however heard of the offer of yourself & Ritchie to do the requisite work. - this will be a test of the bona fide character of the new regulation. Even however, if they accept your offer on the terms on which it is made, I cannot but think the rule most mischievous - very hard on men like yourself who have given the best part of their life to St. Andrews, & very injurious also to the higher teaching in each department. The only hope now is, first, that the Privy Council may pass the ordinance in Oct. or Nov. & so make the money from the Equivalent Grant soon available; & secondly, that with a new Court a new policy may be inaugurated. I can't but think that the last card has now been played in this ruinous game which has been going on so long. Meantime I sympathize most deeply with you & others who are among the victims. Our summer here is a delightful one, - splendid weather, good harvest, general content at the passing of the Land Bill."