ceedings there he was much gratified; the students were all friendly and united.

In the Church of England but little attention is paid to the giving of instruction in the art of preaching, and thus it happens that while in that Church there have always been some distinguished men possessed of great gifts who have displayed the highest power in the preaching of the Gospel, the average qualification of the clergy as preachers is inferior to that of the ministers of the Presbyterian body. One reason for this is, that among the Presbyterians the greatest care is taken and a long time is devoted to the study of the art of expounding the Scriptures simply, earnestly, and effectively, so as to attract the attention of the hearers and to influence their minds and hearts.

In the Divinity Hall the principal part of the time was occupied in hearing the discourses of the students, three of whom daily delivered a discourse; the Professor, after having called upon the students to offer any remarks, if they had any to make, criticised the discourses himself. Speaking of Dr Dick, John Collingwood Bruce says:

"I was at first very much struck with the severity of his criticisms; he certainly does not spare, but as I have become more accustomed to him it makes less impression upon me; his remarks, however, as far as I can judge, are in general very admirable and just, and I daresay we may derive more advantage from attending to them than by any other part of the business at the Hall. The professor lectures four times aweek; his lectures, I think, are very good; he

TAKES M.A. DEGREE.

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reasons very calmly, gives a clear, comprehensive view of the subject he is treating of, and never uses a word more than he can help."

He thus writes to his father on the 7th September respecting a discourse delivered by him in the Hall :

"Of all my performances this is the one of which I am least satisfied; I fear it wants that heart and soul which you say should enter into every Scriptural discourse. If from this attempt I have learned that the aid of the Spirit is necessary for illustrating and enforcing the truths of the Gospel, it will have been a most profitable I have been led to think how necessary a constant heavenly-mindedness must be to the useful minister; unless his heart be in his work and his treasure in heaven, he must be one of those dry essayists you speak of; he must speak of joys he never knew, enforce obligations he never felt, and urge duties he does not perform."

one.

In the University Session 1825-26 he attended the Mathematical and Natural Philosophy classes, and in April 1826 he took the M.A. Degree.

On 15th September 1826 he attained the age of twenty-one, and his father in writing to him on the occasion says:

"We hope your life has been preserved for a valuable purpose, and that the talents which God has given you will be devoted to His service whether in a public or in a more private capacity. Though you have this day come of age we cannot congratulate you upon becoming an heir to an estate, or hold out any prospects of

your possessing much of this world's goods, but we sincerely pray that you may be entitled to a better and more durable inheritance. The education which you have received will, we hope, enable you to occupy a respectable place in society, and should your little brothers and sisters be by the dispensation of the Almighty deprived of their father, you must endeavour to make up the loss and supply my place."

In the University Session of 1826-27 he attended a course of lectures on Political Economy by Professor Mylne; he also attended the Surgery, Anatomy, and Hebrew classes. In after life he often spoke of the advantage gained from the knowledge acquired by his surgical and anatomical studies.

In the month of November 1826, Thomas Campbell, the poet, was elected Lord Rector of the University, and the election created considerable excitement amongst the students.

Mr Canning and Sir Thomas Brisbane were started in opposition to the poet, but Campbell was, after a sharp contest, elected by the unanimous voice of the "nations" into which the electoral body of the university is divided.

In April 1827 the new Lord Rector delivered his inaugural address. The following is the account John Collingwood Bruce gives of the ceremony in a letter to his father :

"On Thursday last Mr Thomas Campbell and I delivered our discourses, he in the Common, and I in the Divinity Hall. He made a miserable job of his from not reading it, as I did. His commencement was very fine, but he soon

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lost himself, and became dreadfully confused; sometimes, however, he hit upon a splendid figure, which showed the genius of the man. I am in hopes that out of justice to himself and his electors he will give his manuscript to the printers. Perhaps no audience is so trying as that which meets in the Common Hall on such occasions. The place is crowded with students and persons belonging to the town, and others who choose to risk their necks and arms in forcing an entrance. Red gowns, waving hats, and eager eyes salute the speaker from every part. At his entrance he is almost deafened with cheers, and every elegant period that he utters during his speech is welcomed by a ruff from the young critics. The audience in former days must have been very much like what it is now. Adam Smith, when he was elected Rector, rose to make a speech, but sat down again without uttering a syllable, and Edmund Burke, when he was installed, as Dr M'Gill informs me, made a complete stick; he uttered but one sentence, a very curious one, of about ten minutes in length. So Campbell is not the first person who has been in this awkward predicament. Some admired his speech, however, notwithstanding.

"Since you do not wish me at home before the end of the session, I will remain here till that time.

"I am glad to see that the Dissenters in England are beginning to view in their proper light the disabilities under which they labour. The Test and Corporation Acts are not so much

grievous to the Dissenters themselves as they are libellous of the religion they profess. Our forefathers did well perhaps to remain quiet for a while, to show what good and useful subjects they were, and how well affected to the Government. But we shall abuse their lengthened patience, their hard-earned triumph, if we do not rise and make their deservings and our rights the subject of never-ending appeals."

On the 30th of August 1827 his mother wrote to him :

"You are about a sacred work and must pursue it with diligence, preparation, and prayer, and the Spirit of God will bless your endeavours. "Your plan of being licensed appears to us good if it will not interfere with the two following sessions, but you must take the advice of those who know better than we.'

In the University Session 1827-28 he again attended the Anatomy and Surgery classes, and joined the Chemistry class. At the end of the session he attended the Divinity Hall during August and September, and then went home to assist his father. He entered into the business of the school with much energy, and was entirely engrossed in the work. On 20th February. 1829, writing to his sister Frances, he says:

"I am so completely immersed in my own affairs in school that I find it very difficult to gather together any news which will interest you at so great a distance. You will, however, be happy to hear we are all well. Father is