the evening, returning in the forenoon from Mill Hill. "The Head Master of the school was Mr Humphreys. I believe that he had at that time just entered upon his duties. He had previously been an Independent Minister in London, and had been on the committee managing the school. Besides acting as the Principal of the school, he officiated as Minister of the chapel which was connected with it. I liked him as a preacher. The masters and scholars of the school sat in the gallery of the chapel in which worship was conducted, while such of the inhabitants of the locality as chose to attend it occupied the pews below. I trust I benefited by his ministry. At all events, it was when I was at Mill Hill that I entertained the idea of dedicating myself to the Christian ministry-an idea which I have, at all events in part, carried into practice. "The Second Classical Master was a Mr Corrie. He was an excellent classic and an excellent teacher. "Mr Wood was the Mathematical Master, and as he resided in the House he was, in an important sense, the head of the establishment. "The domestic management of the school was committed to the care of Miss Lees. We saw little of her, except upon a Saturday afternoon. "We rose early in the morning, and had in winter an hour, and in summer an hour and a half, in school before breakfast. We had milk at breakfast. "We had a pretty large playground, and at MILL HILL SCHOOL. 17 play-hours we seldom left it. I remember well that some very fine cedars of Lebanon spread their boughs over one end of the playground. There was, I believe, a good garden attached to the school, but we were not permitted to enter it. There was, however, a plot of ground on the sides of the playground where the boys were allowed to cultivate little gardens for themselves. There was, besides, a field in which we were allowed to play cricket. "We had prayers morning and evening, conducted either by Mr Humphreys or Mr Wood. A number of boys (ten or twelve) who had musical talents formed a choir for conducting the singing at prayers. I liked the singing of the hymns. A time also was set apart when each of us was expected to read privately a portion of Scripture each day. "Character Day' was one of the features of the school. Once a-month each class stood upon the school floor in presence of all their companions and all the masters, and the conduct of each boy during the preceding month was discussed by the various teachers who had had him in charge. This was rather a formidable proceeding to new-comers; but I am not sure that it produced much good. "Once a-quarter a body of examiners (about four) came down from London, on behalf of the committee, to examine the school. I remember the names of only two of these gentlemen, Dr Olinthus Gregory, who examined us in Mathematics, and Mr Hughes, Baptist Minister (and originator of the British and Foreign Bible B Society), who examined us in Classics. This was a real examination. I remember Mr Hughes (on one occasion) being much dissatisfied with the state of the class of which I formed one. "Once a-year we had what was, I believe, called Grand Day.' Before breaking up for our midsummer holidays the boys who had elocutionary powers were set up to recite speeches and pieces of poetry in presence of their friends and parents and all the school. All interested in the display were invited to be present, and refections were provided for the strangers. 'The boys of the school were all, or nearly all, the sons of Nonconformist parents. We all learnt the Shorter Catechism. To the best of my recollection, there were about 120 boys in the school when I was there. My number was 113." CHAPTER III. 1821, J. C. B. AT GLASGOW UNIVERSITY-1822, AT EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY DURING APRIL AND MAY 1831-SEPTEMBER AT ARDENTINNY, DETER- IN October 1821 John Collingwood Bruce entered as a student at the University of Glasgow. In these days athletic sports of all kinds receive so much attention at the English Universities that it is difficult to realise the sombre, not to say austere, surroundings of a student at a Scottish University in the early part of the nineteenth century. Glasgow University did not meet in the summer, so that there was no opportunity for the practice of cricket or other summer games. There was not even a University football club. There was no golf course on the College Green, no bicycles to enable the students to get away from the smoke-laden atmosphere of the large city to green earth and open sky." open sky." There was no University boat on the river Clyde. The students had no recreation save that of taking long walks through the crowded streets of Glasgow, and there was little to vary the dull routine of their studies; they learned "to scorn delights and live laborious days." He entered upon his University career with the dogged determination to devote himself with assiduity to his studies and to avail himself to the utmost of the advantages the University afforded. He had no very luxurious lodgings, and was obliged to practise strict economy. He writes home on 12th October 1821 from Havannah Street, Glasgow, and says: "I am at present as comfortable as my separation from my home and so many dear relatives will permit. I have got a very nice lodging; it consists of a bedroom which is exclusively my own, and where I generally sit, and a drawingroom where I may sit when I choose, and where any visitor is shown. My room is on the fifth storey, which is the highest in the house. My window just fronts the clock in the College tower, and I have a view of little else than chimneys and the roofs of houses." He attended the Humanity class of Professor Walker and the Greek class of Professor Sandford. In putting down his name at Professor Walker's he was asked his father's name, where he came from, and what denomination of Christians he belonged to. He says: "The last question came so unexpectedly upon me that I just got out 'Seceder,' otherwise I should have told him I was not yet determined. But I suppose it is of no consequence." Professor Walker was reputed to be an accomplished man, a successful teacher, and a scholar |