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    Untitled Article

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    THE SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES,

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    MIDNIGHT MEETINGS.

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    Untitled Article

    carriage of letters , therefore , were in private hands , or in the hands of companies having' large establishments desirous of increasing their gains , the fifth part of the sum which the Government annually gains would amply reward individuals and induce them to Extend postal accommodation ; ¦ Merchants and manufacturers overcome enormous difficulties to extend the markets for their goods , and they have gradually lowered prices and increased their business . It cannot , therefore , be doubted , that were the carriage of letters in the hands of individuals , the motives to extend postal communication * and all the conveniences of the post , would be much stronger than they can be in the servants of the monopoly . From the obvious reluctance expressed in the example . quoted to extend postal accommodation to rural districts because it does not now yield 50 per cent ., we may be quite sure that the Government system stands much in the way of great and continual improvement .

    We have only adverted to two considerations . The public , and especially the commercial public , can scarcely fail to take a deep interest in this matter ; and it will find an abundance of evidence in relation to foreign and colonial postage corroborating- our view , The subject is unquestionably of great importance , and , as a means of gratifying the ever-expanding 1 wants of civilization , deserves attentive consideration .

    Untitled Article

    rpHE late speech of Mr . Gladstone at Edinburgh , considered in J- itself , is extremely suggestive of comment and criticism . It furnishes more than one separate and independent topic oh which there . are some differences ¦ ¦ ' of opinion , and still more numerous differences of view . But it is not our pi-esenfc object to consider the correctness of his retrospect of the relations of universities to . Christianity , civilization , libertvj learning , and culture . Nor shall we linger over the theme , still more tempting to literary journalism— - the consideration of the best means for keeping the dignity and efficiency of academic institutions abreast ofunaciidemic and outside advanceinent and discovery . What we may call the personal aspect of Mr . Gladstone ' s address might also have well detained usw : No one can have failed to remark the contrast between the recent

    performances on the large parliamentary arena , in which Mr . Gladstone has been rather the only than the merely prominent performer , and the appearance at Edinburgh , in the opportunity fimiished by the Easter recess , amid old , congenial , academic associations—those of the speaker ' s ancestral laud , if not of the Alma Mater of his own fo-aining . There must have been a welcome relief , an enjoyed restoration to , congenial fields , after long incarceration among " corks squared foi rounding-, " and " brown muscovado ;" .: after the hard fight with intriguing" paper-makers , the harder fight with blustering publicans and their teetotal allies . This sentiment , present in all our minds , prepared lis for what the speech discloses—a refined but perceptible tinge of that grave sadness which grows year by year upon every large-souled man , to whom more arid ' more-contact with the actual world divorces further and further the high ideal . of the aspiring' start in life from the rough realities of the working world . All these trains of reflection which the speech so amply suggests

    cases most dangerous and prolific of evil—is a safeguard here . The students , or University Council , appoint four delegates to represent them in the electoral body , to which the Senates and the Town Council have equal rights of delegation . It appears that the boystudents' have shown a , wisdom and self-abnegation in the exercise of this irresponsible function to which the conduct of the Town Council presents a most . diametrical and shameful contrast . The students elected Mr . Gladstone 'himself ; Mr . Mure , Xiord Advocate under the Deeby Government ; and the Solicitok-Genekal—not one of the three , we believe , themselves members of the University . The Town Council , on the other hand—although at the time of the election a small but respectable minority among them strove hard to have siicli men as the recently-deceased Colonel Mure , Adam Black , and Robeet CnAiiBEits returned— -persisted in returning not only members of their own obtuse body , but typical , i . e ., illiterate members of their own body , not one of whom , we believe , can decline do minus , or transcend the pons qsinorum—a couple of shopkeepers , an attorney of the second grade , and a half-pay naval officer . We can hardly wonder that the members of the juvenile * council should have been regaled by their orators with more or less pungent protests against this sullen behaviour of the former monopolists of patronage . The speakers , who musthave amused Mr . Gladstone , accustomed to the stateliness of the Oxford Convocation , were tolerably representative . There were Mr . Dalgleish , a respectable Edinburgh pedagogue ; Professor Lyox Playfaiu , recently relieved from the duty of writing 1 or touching xip the Pkince Coxsort ' s speeches , and now holding Gregory ' s chair of chemistry ; the Jiev . Mr . Pinxsr , a flashy orator of the General Assembly ; avid that eccentric , learned , popularity-hunting buffoon , Professor Blackie .. The last-named interposed as a sort of " buffer" between the ire of the juveniles and their spokesmen , and the . belaboured . Common Councilmen . . But if he was the apologist , and put the best aspect possible on the Cnse of his somewhat ironically advocated clients , what must the -ease have been when . put in a stronger and / more antagonistic light . ? Referring- to the old system- ; , of patronage ( to which he owes his election to the Greek chair ) , the Professor said , " The only sort of disadvantage Was ,, not that the men were shopkeepers , not that they were not academical or literary enoughfor they had the common sense of Scotchmen—the only disadvantage was that there were too many of them at least for a jury , and you had to go round , not only all of them , but also all -their clorgymen , all their wives , and ail their wives' friends , and all their family doctors besides . " _ ¦ From this prostrate condition did the Bill of the late Lord Advocate Ixolis deliver the University , of . 'Edinburgh ;• and the anticipations of a beneficial change which ho then expressed , and which we then seconded , are fulfilled , as far as the time h : isallowed . by the choice the students have made of a Chancellor and Hector . By the prudence which has characterized ' . their delegation of electoral power , they are equally fulfilled , and our gladness at ( he change which has " been effected is increased when we regard the sour and crabbed effort the Town Council have made to stamp with illiterateness their remaining share of patronage and power . If they can so stop the way now , when their powers are so cxirtailed and liltraled , what must ' have been their repressive influence when tiny were autocratic ?

    we abstain from following , that we may give our attention to one theme more within our fair scope , more present and practical . Mr . Gladstone ' s speech , and the occasion of its delivery , constitute the first marked phenomenon which counts for tangible evidence as to the working of the legislative change , now about two years old , in the constitution of the Scottish Universities . Tha , t of Edinburgh was the one of the four in which the reforms caused the largest change . It is tbe most important in respect of tho number of its students and graduates , and of tho fulness of its professorial staff . Xt is situate in the metropolis of the country . Ifc has the most illustrious history . Altogether , we may accept the facts disclosed about

    the change as affecting it , as representative , if not conclusive , as to the influence of tho alterations as affecting Glasgow , Aberdeen , and sleepy , backward St . Andrew ' s . We seek for facts to help us to a conclusion on this practical point , not so much iu the report of the oration given by Mr . Gladstone , as in the report of tho meeting of the young Council of tho University , at which Mr . Gladstone presided . , ' 1 That meeting' represents tho issue , aa far as it has had time to develop itself , of a radical and somewhat daring 1 change . Mr . Gladstone himself knows this . At the very outset of his oration he said to his audience— -tho majority of them , it iv . ay be necessary

    to say , lads under twenty ; the constituents of Mr . Gladstone , and counting as one of three constituents with equnl power m tho government of tho university— ' I cannot estimate lightly tho occasion on which I meet you , especially ns it regards tho younger nnd the larger part of my academical audience . The franchise which you huvo exercised i » my favour is itself of a nature to draw attcn ^ tion ; for the legislature of our Own day has , by a new deliberative act , invested , you , tho youngest members of tho University , with a formation of that

    definite nnd not inconsiderable influenco in tho tfourt which is to exercise , upon appeal , the highest control over its proceedings . " These " laddies" have now Borne shuro in tho appointmont of their own professors , Perhaps tho approval of " bumptious" precocity which characterizes tho Scots hnd something to do with tho on franchise m en t , for riuch arduous functions , of Young Scotland . Perhaps—and wo incline to this view—it was felt that any electoral body was bettor than tlio . illiloi'itto tradesmen who constitute tho Town Council , and who wore formerly the Hole . electors , oxcopt in tho few instances of " Regius" or Stato-appointea professors . It must not bo imagined that the students exorcise their Iranohiao directly . Tho principle of double representation—in most

    Untitled Article

    M IDNIGHT meetings of fallen women are fast Lccoming an institution . Not that they will continue many hinnlha , or thnfc they will have a very extensive or abiding - influence , but they bid i ' ajr to be among" the mailers which , for a tiuii 1 , at least , occupy public attention , often to the neglect of more important things . We do not for a moment question the sincerity or the piety of those who are promoting tho movement—we do not say that no good is done , Wo are quite accessible to the argument , that the rescue of quo woman from a lifo of vice and miser } ' is well worth all tho t «»» o a » d nil ^» o trouble that has been tnlcun , all tho nionoy and nil the tea , cofll'c , toasc , and muffin * , into tho bargain . We would not , therefore , have what wo are about to say nii « understood . If the benevolent persons who havq eonnnoncuil these meetings choose to go on , wo nhall be among those who cnnbuiago and wish them woll ,. hut wo desire that any new recruits to their ranks should join with their eyes open , with some conception of the evil they are about to combat and the condition of those they

    wish to assist . . Vory few persons are practically aware of the extent and diameter of tho b \\\ itself ; perhaps a low clergy , medioul practitioners , and parish officers would comprise tho whole j hut we uliall Jay before our readers a few facts concerning it , winch will probably greatly modify their views ns to tho manner in which it inu « t be treat c ' d . It is too often prommied that those unhappy women who infest our fitroots after nightfall are for the most part victims ot aoduction ; that they wore once happy in all the surroundings ot a virtuous home , and looking forward to a life of honour and usefulness . Then , to carry on the tale , came the spoiler , who , under tho guise of honourable affection , ongagod tho young and uiiHutipouUng heart , took a base and unmanly advantage of ita woaknoHH , mid then flung tho gathered flower to fade on the common highway , buoU is tho tale on which sentimental philanthropy Iovob to elwull ; suck nnvrntivoa will ho nourod into tho our of nyinpatliiKing _ inquirers ,

    and tho belief will bo spread that if an asylum could but bo olloreU , hundreds and thousands of fallen womon would ehoorluHy nooept it . Now tho very reverse of this is the case ; very few ot the class

    Untitled Article

    April 28 , 1860 , J The Leader and Safairday Analyst . 397

    The Scottish Universities,

    THE SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES ,

    Midnight Meetings.

    MIDNIGHT ' MEETINGS .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 28, 1860, page 397, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2345/page/9/