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    nature of which , as far as I have heard it , was thus . The examinations of candidates of universities was in those days some more exact and close than I fear it is at this time , when learning" suffers by the too easy admission of many without exact trial , to the honorary trial of Master of Arts . * And their trial was not only personal but comparative ,- and after tbe examinators were satisfied as to the merits of thfc candidates , then to encourage a just emulation in the pursuit of studies , they proceeded to a comparative

    judgment upon them ; and as they were found to have made advances in learning upon trial , their names were noted down , and the public cryer of the College according to that list invocat them from the place where they were met , in the audience of all the students , the gentlemen invited to the solemnity , and the masters , and in the order in which they were invocat they came out and walked after their regent to the place of laureation ; and when their abilities and progress was [ were ] judged equal , then two were called in a breath , and thev walked at other ' s sides .

    * It seems it fell to my father ' s share on the day of laureation , to be first invoeat with another ; and they came out at other ' s hands , next to their regent , and the rest followed one by one as invocat , in their procession . I remember to have beard my father tell , that the E . of Eglintoun being in Glasgow the day of the laureation , was invited by the masters to the solemnity , and came . He knew nothing about my father ; f but when he

    observed Jacobus Wodrow first in the invocation , he asked about him and whose son he was , and finding him his factor ' s son , after the solemnity was over he came to him and took him by the hand , and told him how satisfied he was that he was so well liked by his masters , ! and took out three or four broad pieces of gold and gave hiaa , and said , Take these and buy books with them . Such was the regard persons of rank had for learning , and the plain hearty friendship of those days , "—Pp . 18—20 .

    We do not mean to intimate a doubt concerning either the c * regard " which this Earl of Eglintoun had for learning , or his " plain , hearty friendship , " when we observe that it is probable he was chiefly attracted by the circumstance of his factor ' s § son being so distinguished a student * The titled Aristocracy of the present age and of the United Kingdom are more generally and more efficiently patrons of literature than their predecessors ; though it must be acknowledged that there is still ample room for the extension of such patronage .

    The biographer , in sketching his mother ' s character , sets before us a fine picture of female intrepidity , | j and , at the same time , enables us to conceive of the dangers which , at that period of our history , surrounded the Presbyterian ministers of Scotland : " Margaret Stair , my mother , was of a stature rather low than tall , of a sweet and comely countenance , and a person of singular prudence and discretion , and noted for tbe management of a family . She had a firmness and courage that is not usual ; and it was very supporting and encouraging under the hardships and sufferings of this unhappy time to her husband . She waa not soon discomposed , and of a happy presence of mind in all exigencies . One instance I'll notice , of no great importance in itself , but a pretty plain

    • We fear that this evil yet exists , and heartily wish that measures were taken for its removal . t This is explained below— " he asked whose son he was . " The examination at Glasgow , for the degree of M . A ., appears to have been stricter thau at piesent . Cambridge men will be reminded of the brackets , &c . X Memoir of R . Wodrow , by Dr . Burns , ( prefixed to the new edit , of the Hist ., &c ., ) p . ii . § P . 7 . H See another , in which Mrs . Wodrow is also the principal . figure , pp . 61—64 .

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    Life of Professor Wodrow . 40 $

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    2 f 2

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1829, page 403, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2573/page/35/