On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
joinfed to a professional career of edud ^ ienga ^ toid brilHaacy . ^ He wouldi ^ H eaifefiH Aat there should not es ^ H him ar ' single expression which m ^ pf wfeate the least irritation . He w < mSF do his utmost to preserve concord and good-will within the University . If nis own character was- not sufficient
security , that he would not depart from these rules , he had then beside him two of the dearest friends of his youth , ( Lords Gillies and Alloway , ) who had raised themselves to the
highest judicial situations in the country , aria he was sure , that even their friendship for him would not sanction party politics * In revetting to the honour done him , he remarked that this was one of the most flattering distinctions that could have been conferred upon him , for it is peculiarly gratifying to those lmmersea In political affairs , that any
part of their conduct should receive the calm approbation of those devoted to study . He greatly prized any literary honour from a Scottish University , and more especially from so distinguished a seminary , where he had received hia own education . It
reminded him of that period of life , and of those scenes where he derived that tone of literature which has been the never : failing , and steady enjoyment , and consolation of his life , and to which he could now add , the testimony
of a g * eUt Latin orator , as proved frdm his own experience : ' ' ¦ Hsec studia , adoleseentiam alunt , senectutem obleotant , secundas res ornant , adversb perfugium ac solatium
praebent / ' He was verging on those years in which be wae almost entitled to confirm by experience that which he felt not to be a panegyric on letters , but a testimony by him wte was most eminently qualified to estimate their value . He felt in a more sensible
manner the honour done him in this that the youth of the University have been principally instrumental in th 6 election . € < I must confess there id something in , this feeling of
approbation df youth , ( which must of necessity be pure , ) which is extremely gratifying ^ especially to those who pass through a long and varied life . I recur to the eurly period' of my existence ; awrf I now feel a renovation of the pleasure I enjoyed When I wafe
Untitled Article
Me of a similar class . I feel a sort ^ pjenovation of flie pursuits knd Hinds of my youth—my sympathy Hies with your expressions of approration \ and I cannot but acknowledge that I feel as if I were sensible that
were I in your situation , I should long to have 4 Ji * s t as you have acted . ( Loud and continued applause . ) It can be no great infatuation in me , therefore , to say that I warmly value the approbation and support of youth , like the poet who revisits the scenes of his early life :
* I feel the gales that from ye blow , A momentary bliss bestow ; As waving fresh their gladsome wing , My weary soul they seenl to sooth ; And , redolent of Joy and youth . To breathe a second spring / But , Gentlemen , no delight or gratification could recommend to me an
Institution in . which such privileges were granted to youth , as you enjoy , unless my reason and experietiee were satisfied of their utiKty . T am satisfied'that the privileges 6 f the Academic youth of this UmyeraEty , which have been enjoyed for sq many ages , are most beneficial to your acacfeimcal
institutions . They serve to promote u&chistry—* to lighten obc ^ ictice—** o eaforce discipline—and to attach the students to the Univerrfty . Itseetns to me that all great seromariea should seiVe but as means of prepalration for the active duties of Hfe . I am
satisfied that the original institutions of this seminary , which conferred ilpon the ^ outh the election of thei r firs t magistrate , have been wisely contrived , for they have never exerciseil that
valuable privilege without doing honour to themselves and the University . In looking over the list of natnes of those who have been raised to that distinguished eminence by their suffrages , I observe no name that 1 would wish to be expunged . They have always used this privilege wisely and
honourabl y . Their m ^ nds are nr > t yet influenced by venal or interested motives , and their voices ; are mote to be valued than if they baift been moved by considemtiona which infltfenee persons of riper years , but of lie ^ s cfeii > - tereeted feelings . Beskfes , tlie calculations of preb ^ ility are in tbfe r ^ s ^ ect cottfirmed by exj ^ eW ^ e 5 tfc ^ b <* lderfi
Untitled Article
44 Inttnllalion of Sit : Jamei Sittehintosh as
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1823, page 44, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1780/page/44/
-