Autograph letter signed : Dundee, to William Angus Knight, 1895 December 13.

Concerning actions taken by the Council of Dundee College with respect to the union with St. Andrews; saying "I can easily understand that after all the hard & trying work wh. you have done, you cannot without injury to your health, enter into academic public meetings &c &c - But I am sure that at this juncture, you can, in the Senate, render very valuable assistance to the University - The Senate will have received this morning a copy of the letter of the D. Council to the Univ. C[ommissione]rs; and consequently, they will have very good reason for taking the question of Union into consideration on Saturday next, if they choose - The Senate can render very valuable assistance to the C'rs by making suggestions - If the Senate proposes a plan, and if the Court does nothing, the latter will be in a very awkward position - The Senate represents the teaching & working University in a manner in w'h the Court, more especially as at present constituted, certainly does not - The teachers in the Univ'y are much more interested in finding a wise solution of the difficulty than the Court is - I do not myself see any reason why the 10 or 11 Professors should not petition the Comm'rs, as well as the Senate - if they deem it advisable - It seems to me that the Commissioners are much more likely to attend to the Senate than to the Court - How , for instance, could they sanction the establishment of the proposed Medical Chairs if the Senate say that they are useless and a waste of money - I am sure that on this side of the [illegible] everybody is anxious to see St. A's a great University; as the Council are proving by their action - The Commissioners will I hope assist actively in effecting a wise settlement - Mr. Mackay seems to me very sensible and prudent and most conciliatory in his manner."