The early reactions to the report of the Cowper Commission were, from most quarters, generally favourable. But the reaction of those presently dominant in the councils of Convocation was hostile. Convocation’s effective executive, the Annual Committee, was, however, subject to election at the General Meeting held at the beginning of May. The sequence of events between early March and early May, 1894, has to be read, therefore, with the forthcoming choice of a new Annual Committee in mind.

On 28 February – the day after the Report of the Cowper Commissioners was released – the Senate met and appointed a Special Committee to consider and advise on it, and to confer with the Annual Committee of Convocation. The new Committee’s membership, in addition to the Chancellor and Vice- Chancellor, was larger than its predecessor, but contained twenty-four familiar names. Seventeen of them met on 14 March, when Anstie’s proposal of a general acceptance of the Commission’s Report was put aside, to make room for an agreement to invite the Annual Committee to meet with them in a week’s time. It is not unlikely that Busk, who was present, would have reported the hostility to some aspects of the Report felt by the sub-committee of the Annual Committee, which had met the previous evening.

The sub-committee had worked on a draft Report to the Annual Committee at three meetings, on 2nd, 7th and 13 March. Three new members had been added, and at their third meeting a crucial motion by Napier was carried, recommending Convocation to adopt the view that, while being

This was not only accepted, but Busk and Napier were authorised to strengthen the draft further.

The sub-committee’s Report was finalised at the first of three significant meetings which took place, one after another, on 20 March. The sub-committee was followed by the Annual Committee, to which it presented its Report.