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. " Thi * University might segm M ha ^ j been deprived of its cM ^( |^ H ¦ PW of . reformiM ^ H 3 H 9 * w » y the sciences—it pnl y ^ H them on a firmer foundation . TBe
Reformation — the emancipation of the human understanding , gave a new vigour to the Unive i ^ ity ^ tinder the government of Melville , the aWe lawg iver of the Presbyterian Church , this University acquired a new impulse , which led it < Urectly forward to that prosperity at which it / was soon to
arrive . In a brighter period , Dr . Gilbqrt Burnet , to whom England owes tW history of her Reformation , and the expositi ^ a erf ber Creed , aod « o whom the liberties of England ore
deeply indebted , and whose language is elegant and his sentiments liberal , —he cagae from amongst you , and honoured the Divinity £ hair of this University by his virtues and his genius . To me it seems fortunate that
the sciences have not retired here , as elsewhere , to a hermitage , but have come and planted themselves in the heart < of a great and populous city , which has risen to be the second in the ialaftd and the third in the empire , and
in the vary midst of this great city this Uajpersbty has been planted . It was owing to this that the two most importautt tew sciences discovered in the eighteenth century- —the sciences of chemistry and polifcealeceiwuoy—were both laid , at the same time , within
these walls where I . now address you * They a * e both of , such a nature as to paifee Ihe abetive witii the spoe \* hitiv duties of life , AboiH iher same time the discovery of the ateaip eftgiae was made by Mr . Watt ; a person connected with this Univevttityr—one of the
most important discoveries in modern titnea , Thifc great inorease of aeiea * tific knowledge waa th& result of Hk& union of recluse speculation with the active huajaouess of , lift , and of the iati * inate connexion which Or . Smith and Dr . Blfrek mainlined with the praetL
cai bumoefis of this groat city . This ahuwB tha advantage od men . of scien ^ tilic * kiU mixing with the various ind&vaduftl * \ vita exert themselves in per iectiwt the arts , compared mfh those < wh 0 > dcMje away life m drwtn * of flci ^ « 0 cC wUhfiUtaqpplyU ^ Ihem to ih ^ practical benefit or mankind . Giifc
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l ^ fc ^ g * say , thet , ih other branches jj » 9 ci ^«^ this University has been Ht rJ ^ g ^ £ stipgiiished thau in these . Bjfiold % |» y hand aft old edition of P ^ emy * printed in 1630 , in which is l ^ ven a ^ ^ Q ^ etcr of the various nations , fa % « r world . The character assigned ^ % |^» ^ co ts is , that they are —1 st , priiA ^ i ^ « evenge---2 d , ftill « f the pride © f >| fif $ hi so that thev boast
of royal deaec ^ t , though in a state of beggary—^ nd &ro > they are much addicted to logical and metaphysical subtleties . Now , happily , the reign of hw «^| i ^^ fefej « veriMiient had reatndSMpiHpp iwmige within reasonable ^«^ j and the progress of comm ^)? e ^ : ? od * h 6 arts had
introdncwl a feefegof eqtt « Ktyfem «^ per ^ sons of tirtfe ^ Bm iwi ^ But it is curious that , even tip ^ mf < mr own times * no change has beeu wrou ^ it upon the other part of our character . The disposition to abstract science still
adheres to the Scottish nation . * But the study of metaphysics haa not where been more rationally osr » w > re successfully cultivated than aosiongst yon , and while it has beea stripped of itfe subtiities i has retained « U 1 * ta ^ our
and it # usefulness . T 3 » ere ia oow ^ Gentlemen , none of thc ^ spirit of hostility to our eountrymen of other per < - aufi ^ iousr that formerly was said to distlagiiish the peaple of this ^ country . ThiB apirit of in tolerance 19 fast
wearing aVyay from every i 5 CMUktry , Co Uiolic chapels are now ^ ejected at Amsterdam and Geneva ^ jNbme seen a Catholic Bishop at Boston . -ij m * d 9 even in Glasgow , ia a CatholieiihapeU pro ^ bably th $ most beautiful In the island . "
( Partial disap [ rr « bm * tcwarv ) When si ^ lenee was restored , Sir James , in con * - tinuation , observed with preat cmimation a » d effecfc > those iv ^ o had manir ^ feated symptoms v of disapprobation . would : ppobably have withheid them , hftd they waited for the following
senteiKpe : * ' Far hot it from me ever tt > ^ sai ^ Fi ; ^ ny ^ entimeat iaeonsistem with tiay io % inftl cttnvjicitiona af lite d » ctnnte © f a fllaMre ( ftrote ^ Uwt , or . with the most d ^ tetmined opjpoeiUow to tte arbitrary doeti ± ae » and tlocmilant anti intolerant spirit of tb ^ CShuroh of JBocne ^ On tint cotsxttwry ^ tke r retoon
that I re ) oicm . tn the existence ^ ancb » 4 < 3 athoKe ediftee > is , that it proves Ihaltte Jitain : of-intolerance has been
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46 Installation q / ^ fame * j ^ kintm % as
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1823, page 46, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1780/page/46/
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