To the irreparable loss of the women students, Sir James Simpson died in the spring of the following year.
A few days previous to this an unobtrusive little note of no small import appears in the diary:
“8.30 p.m. at Begbie’s met Campbell Smith, who walked home with me. Older and more quiet than I had expected. Kindly.”
The favourable impression was mutual, if one may judge from the letter that follows:
I left your MS. yesterday with Mr. Findlay of the _Scotsman_. I think he will give you some help. If nothing be in the _Scotsman_ tomorrow, and whether or not, you may call for him at the office. He will be happy to see you. He said so, and said further that you needed no note of introduction.
The review of your book appeared on 18th Nov., 1867, and you will see that also in the pile when you call.
Thus began that support from the _Scotsman_, which, in the able hands of Mr. Alexander Russel, was destined to be of such incalculable value to the whole Feminist movement. The _Scotsman_ was just approaching the height of its reputation, and its advocacy was the more valuable because it was not supposed to have a specially weak side for new movements and forlorn hopes. It used to be said in those days that, when the North Pole was discovered, a Scotsman would be found sitting on it, and it might have been added that the Scotsman would prove to be engrossed in the newspaper that bore his name. In any case, from this moment on, all that publicity could do for the cause was done. For better and for worse, the doings of S. J.-B. were about to be writ large for the whole world to read. They were the text round which the whole question was threshed out by countless firesides,—the text on which the life and character of every other woman provided a running commentary.
Small notion had S. J.-B. of the great flame that small spark was to kindle. In her diary she speaks quite casually of “my” leader, “highly approved by Masson.”
Meanwhile the canvassing was proceeding steadily, and S. J.-B.’s “thumb- nail” notes and sketches of character often make interesting reading,— none the less so because her gifts in this direction were necessarily immature.
“Thursday, 18th.... A long 1½ hours’ talk with Allman,—-going earnestly over every inch of ground, he very nice; at last, he ‘should be delighted to see me in his class,’ and he thought no legal objection against admission to classes, however about degrees. I am sure he will be a firm strong true friend.”