At 7 pm on 5th April 1831, the surgeon Thomas Greenhow read to the Newcastle upon Tyne Literary and Philosophical Society a paper entitled ‘The expediency of establishing in Newcastle an academical Institution of the Nature of a College or University for the promotion of Literature and Science, more especially amongst the Middle Classes of the Community, briefly considered.’

The meeting was enthusiastic. James Losh, a vice-president of the Society and a shareholder in the new University of London, moved that Greenhow's paper be published and a further meeting convened to debate it.

Like its London prototype, opened in 1828, the Newcastle University was to offer ‘useful knowledge’ such as modern foreign languages, scientific and technological disciplines, law and medicine, possibly also classics, but definitely eschewing divinity, and was to be open to students of any religious allegiance.

In the animated public discussion which followed, Charles Thorp, who as a Trustee of the Society probably received a free copy, clearly mulled over Greenhow's plan attentively. On 7th June Greenhow produced a second and more detailed paper for the Special Meeting, which appointed a Committee ‘to draw up a prospectus of the proposed College, and to issue an address to the public’.

On 11 th June, the Newcastle Courant carried a major article proposed academical institution in newcastle. The same day, Thorp wrote from Bamburgh Castle to Van Mildert at Hanover Square: