It took twenty-six months, after the Royal Assent was given to the London University Act, to complete all the subordinate legislation and to make the final arrangements for the launch of the redesigned University. The country was at war in South Africa throughout most of that period, but that does not appear to have delayed the academic realignment. The Senate and Convocation each had their own interests to protect when the Statutory Commission was drawing up Statutes and Regulations, though the inclusion of so many basic constitutional provisions in the Schedule to the Act made the task of the Commission far less controversial and much less time-taking than it might have been.

The Commission suffered the loss of Sir William Roberts, who died in April, 1899: he was replaced by another prominent medico, Thomas Barlow, Professor at UCL. The Commissioners invited comment from Senate and Convocation, among other bodies, as they began their work, in the early autumn of 1898, and concentrated, initially, on the establishment and representation of Faculties. They presented a first batch of draft Statutes and Regulations in May, 1899, and received recommendations from Senate and Convocation on them and later additions, until the autumn. They finished their task early in the New Year, and submitted the Statutes and Regulations, together with a Report and some Correspondence, during February, 1900.

Both Senate and Convocation set up Committees to pursue their concerns. The Senate’s was called the Special Committee for Assisting the Statutory Commission. It was appointed on 3 August 1898; and it was clear that the majority present were unforgiving of the ‘irreconcilables’, for when Napier proposed the inclusion of Collins he could not find a seconder. The first meeting of the Committee did not take place until 25 November, and, two days before, Magnus was added to its membership. There were only five sessions – in November, December and January, and then in May and June, 1899. Roscoe, Anstie, Fitch, Milman, Magnus and Rucker were almost always in attendance; Pye-Smith, Routh and Thorpe less so. The Chancellor (Kimberley) came to the last two sessions.

Convocation’s experience in this context was somewhat embarrassing. They had appointed, as long ago as May, 1895, a Special Committee on a Memorandum to be presented to the Statutory Commission, and had extended its life in 1896, 1897, and again in January, 1898.