sidered, but how such and such a portion of time daily, say six hours, is to be divided into a certain number of equal parts. But surely the author of this scheme has not for gotten, that the Students who attend any given Class will not be disposed to forego the advantage of all the other Classes at the University, mere ly for the sake of being examined in one. He cannot have forgotten, that in ninety-nine cases in the hundred, the Students who attend, for instance, an Anatomical Class, are also in the habit of attending the Chemical; and that a double Course of Anatomy is generally given in the same Session; and consequently, even supposing that no other classes of any description were attended, and that no private dissections were practised, and that there was no private busi ness, in short, of any kind, to occupy a share of the Student's attention,→ I say, he cannot have forgotten, that even after making all these suppositions, were the lecturer to devote but an hour at a time to the examination of the first subdivision, and, after an interval of an hour or two of relaxation to himself, commence with the second division, and so on to the fifth, with equal intervals between each, he would be obliged to deny himself, and perhaps more than one of his young friends, the pleasure of such a thing as the article of dinner, during the months of half the year but perhaps this, by the bye, may be, not an oversight of the Doctor's, but a wise provision, to the end that, by stinting the material aliment, the Teacher may dispense a more abundant supply of that which is intellectual, and that the taught may practically learn "Quæ sibi summa boni est." That it is not "Unctâ venisse patellà semper," as Persius expresses it; nor, in the words of Flaccus, " benè canâsse;" but that the summum bonum of earthly good things consists in treasuring up, in the capacious receptacle of the brain, the dearbought discoveries of the healing art. But while we cannot have the conscience to propose that the Medical Professors should be required to give five or six hours a-day to the instruction of their respective Classes, even though this would be attended

VOL. XVIII.

with advantages, which it certainly would not, we must do Dr Reid the justice to say, that his scheme, if only reduced to moderation, is highly deserving of notice, and might be partially acted upon with much success. Were the Professors of Medicine to allow just one hour more than they do, making two in all, (and more than this would be as useless as unreasonable,) to the instruction of their pupils,-were they to devote this second hour to examinations upon the subject of the last lecture,--and were they to conduct these examinations in presence of all their class, not in "subdivisions" of it,-and, further, were they to leave it optional to all to be examined or not, as each felt inclined, there is no doubt that the best effects would accrue from the proposed alteration.

But it is well known to those who have attended this University, that in such Classes as are examined, there are many of the young men who, from modesty or ignorance, will not submit to be thus taken to task; and many others, again, who think themselves above it, and look upon such examinations as fitted properly for school-boys and children. Those, however, from curiosity itself, if it were from nothing else, would be willing to hear their Class-mates examined, and from this they would derive no small information themselves. Hence, it seems the most prudent and effectual way, to invite the WHOLE CLASS to attend at the hour of examination, and to propose the questions in such a manner as that those shall answer who are most anxious to distinguish themselves, and best prepared to do so; making it a rule to call no names, but to leave to the free-will of all to speak, or to be silent.

Dr Reid does not seem to be more fortunate in another favourite idea of his, respecting the multiplication of Professorships. That such has a manifest and necessary tendency to "impose an additional tax upon education," is certain. But it is just such a tax as we should like to see;-such a tax as would most effectually accomplish Dr Reid's wishes towards bettering the education of the Medical profession in general ;--3 M

such a tax as would rid the public of that most fulsome part of its members, the "swarms (to use the Doctor's own words) of half-educated adventurers, whom the present superficial system of teaching lets loose to prey on the public." That "the teasing, torturing, experimenting rage of busy ignorance and presumption," is confined, in our day, to a comparatively small circle to what it was forty years ago, when a six month's residence in the metropolis, and a few lectures upon some common-place topics, qualified, or, at least were held sufficient to qualify, the Medical Student to commence his experimenting career in some country village and its neighbouring district, we have to thank those regulations which have made it imperative on the candidate for a surgeon's diploma to avail himself of this "multiplication of Professorships." We cannot, therefore, subscribe to the Doctor's asseveration, that the "splitting of the Sciences, connected with Medicine, into many separate Professorships, is attended with most serious evils." We do not see that, by any of the Professorships as yet instituted, "the Student is rather confounded than informed, or that he is fixed down to petty details, at the expense of those elementary principles which form the proper ground-work of education."

If there be any one of the Medical Professorships more than another to which, from the scope of Dr Reid's arguments, we should suppose him particularly to allude, it seems to be that one which has for its object the Illustration of the Theory of Physic. This subject, which does not admit, so well as the others, of actual experiments, and which the "matter-of-fact-man" may there fore be pleased to designate as supererogatory, is, in reality, the most important of all the Medical Professorships in the eyes of him who means to learn his profession "raddicitus," and to go at once to the fountain-head for the solution of the doubts and difficulties which must constantly be presenting themselves in the course of his practice. It is a Professorship which involves a large field of most interesting and important matter,-matter which

could not but be interesting and important in whatever hands it were entrusted, but particularly so when the peculiar province of one of the first physicians of the day in any country-the venerable and learned Father of the Medical School of Edinburgh at present. That chair, which has been dignified by the celebrated names of Doctors Potterfield and St. Clair,-by the illustrious and immortal names of Cullen and the two Gregories, has been rendered still more famous by that of its present Professor, who has, much to his own credit, and the advantage of his numerous pupils, taught Medicine, in all its branches, for a period almost as long as the ordinary life of man.

It requires no common skill to pilot the young aspirant after Medical honours through the absurd, though long-received hypotheses of Bellini and his mathematical sect,

through the visionary theory of Stahl, and the erroneous doctrines of Boerhaave. It requires no ordinary talent to grapple with those branches of science which have the most immediate tendency to elucidate the animal economy;-it requires no ordinary measure of knowledge derived from experience, and no ordinary degree of acquaintance with the writings and experience of others, to be able to illustrate, by facts and observations, a subject which stands so particularly in need of such illustration as that of Pathological Physiology, and the doctrines regarding the principal functions of the most important organs of the human body; and it requires no ordinary powers of reasoning to draw the right conclusions from these facts and observations,-to apply them respectively to the subject which they are each best calculated to explain,-to arrange them under distinct heads, and prevent them from bewildering the mind of the Student, rather than enlightening it.

We have thought it but just and fair to say thus much in vindication of that quarter which seems to be most assailable by the insinuations contained in the above "plan of reform;" not that the " butchering of cats and dogs, and other such nick-nack experiments," (so much complained of

by the author,) might not be referred to an Anatomical or Surgical, as well as a Physiological Class; but because the "details" in the two former are less liable to appear to the superficial observer unimportant, than they are in the latter. And though Dr Reid's good sense, and general, as well as professional knowledge, are a sufficient guard to his mind against a disposition to undervalue physiological details, yet many of those to whom his paper was addressed were not equally prepared to construe his words in the sense which he perhaps intended them to convey.

I intended to take some notice of the other two Faculties in our University-those of Law and Divinity-in this hasty and imperfect sketch; but having extended the paper farther than I contemplated, I shall confine myself chiefly to a few observations upon the latter.

The Theological Faculty of Edinburgh consists of three Professorships with the Students of Divinity. The Professorships are those of 1st, Divinity, strictly so called; 2d, Church History; and 3d, Oriental Languages.

The Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale require, that all Theological Students, who come before any of the Presbyteries within their bounds, shall have attended the Church-History Class as regularly as that of Divinity, together with at least one Session at Hebrew. This regulation is not extended beyond the bounds of this Synod. The attendance upon a ChurchHistory Class is not, at other Universities, held equally indispensable to the obtaining the privilege of license; and many Presbyteries are satisfied with the simple requirements of the laws of the General Assembly upon the subject, which apply solely to the Divinity Class, and are applicable to all the Scottish Universities alike, viz. That the Student of Divinity, after having spent the requisite period of at least four years at the Literary and Philosophical Classes, shall thereafter attend a Divinity Class for not less than three full Sessions, and a partial Session; or, in case of the Student's

avocations, or other circumstances, rendering it impossible for him to give regular attendance, that he attend the Divinity-Hall six partial Sessions instead.

A full Session at the DivinityHall is a period of time differing in length in different Universities. Here it is commonly about four months. In Aberdeen, it is no more than three; and at Glasgow it is, I believe, extended to about five. The partial Sessions again are, in fact, no time at all, as the Student may return to the country immediately after enrolling his name in the Album, which may be done the same day that he comes to town. This is a necessary and excellent regulation, inasmuch as, from the circumstance of Divinity-Students being almost all engaged either as public or private Teachers, their time is not in their own hands, nor their means always sufficient to enable them to take advantage of full Sessions. Those, however, who, from proximity to the seat of learning, or other causes, are able to give regular attendance at the Hall, have many advantages in the pursuit of their studies which the others want; and as no fee is exacted for the ChurchHistory Class, the Students have no grounds of excuse who deny themselves the profit of attending it, at the same time that they attend the other two.

The business of the Divinity Class consists in the Students delivering discourses before the Professor upon subjects prescribed by him, and in the Professor reading lectures two days in the week upon Theological topics. Each Student is required, during his attendance at the Hall, to deliver five discourses, which have for their object to satisfy the Professor respecting the attainments of his Class in Classical learning, as well as in Theology; for this purpose, the discourses are as follow:

a critical analysis of a passage in the Greek New Testament, together with a paraphrase of it, and a statement of the doctrines it contains. And,

5. An exegesis, or a Latin dis

course.

This last is always expected to be accompanied with a prayer in the same language.

These exercises being performed to the satisfaction of the Professor, the Student receives a certificate to that effect, which also mentions the length of time he attended the Hall, for the purpose of being presented to whichever Presbytery he belongs, as a warrant to them for taking him upon probationary trials.

The Course of Lectures delivered in the Church-History Class is very extensive, and contains a most complete history of the Church. It occupies three full Sessions, and is rendered both agreeable and instructive, by embracing much doctrinal matter, and by exhibiting, in a clear and full light, the critical opinions of the most eminent authors upon subjects connected with the more immediate province of the Chair, as well as by containing the valuable result of the Professor's own studies. The care and anxiety which Dr Meiklejohn uniformly manifests for the improvement of his pupils, is truly praise-worthy and exemplary; and if there be any thing calculated to enhance their respect for him as a Teacher, and their affection to him as a Friend, it is the readiness and alacrity which he always shews to promote their views and prospects in after life.

He gives a greater number of lectures than were ever given by any of his predecessors, and exacts nothing from the Students for his trouble. With a view to improve them in the art of composition, as well as to call their attention more closely to the business of the Course, he is in the habit of prescribing subjects for discourses to his Students, and is most pains-taking in the means he employs, for neither, on the one hand, hurting the feelings of the Students by a hasty and unfair criticism, nor, on the other, suffering real merit to be slurred over by a superficial and general review. He has projected a plan which, though of no small la

bour to himself, has the best effects in promoting his scholars' improvement,-namely, that of reading the discourse or exercise carefully at home, and committing to paper the remarks which have then suggested themselves to his mind. These remarks and corrections he reads before the Class, after the discourse has been delivered.

The Oriental Languages are taught by the Rev. Dr Brunton in a manner particularly pleasing and effectual. To the most unvaried amenity of manners, and polite attention to his Students, he adds a perfect example of that peculiar and indescribable facility with which some, though very few, public Teachers are gifted, of smoothing down the asperities of a not-always-pleasant occupation. In other words, he conducts the business of the Class in such a manner as tells pretty clearly, that if he is well qualified for his situation as a Scholar, he is no less so by his skill in the knowledge of the human mind. By conducting the studies of the second Class at the same sitting with those of the first, there is a double and most important advantage gained, that of keeping the more advanced side in mind of what they had done, and presenting a good stimulus to the junior department to arrive at the attainments of their elders. By the same means, the latter, to whom the Doctor entrusts the charge of determining the prize for general merit in the younger Students, become, not only respected as fellow-Students, but their acquaintance is cultivated, and their good opinion made a matter of no small ambition.

Dr Brunton and his immediate predecessor, Dr Moodie, have both differed in the system of teaching Hebrew from that plan which Professor Robertson used. The latter was partial to the Masoretic punctuation, and endeavoured, but without much success, to encourage a taste for this most tasteless of all insipid articles in the University of Edinburgh. Dr Moodie, it is said, succeeded in reviving the knowledge of this sacred language, and his successor has zealously prosecuted the accomplishment of the same object. The good effects of his skill

and exertions are sensibly felt in this part of the country.

The Theological Faculty possess a library distinct from that entitled the" College Library," to which all Students of Divinity have access, without lodging any deposit, as is done in the other. They are also entitled to two or three volumes at once; and for this privilege there is paid by each Student that matriculates at the Hall, a fee of ten shillings, which is said to be laid out in encreasing the stock of books. This ten shillings of annual contribution from all Students, whether regular or irregular, together with two guineas of fee for admittance to the Hebrew Class, and Janitor's fees, is all that the Students of Divinity are called upon to pay at College, I mean during their Theological Course.

In the department of Law there are four Professorships: 1st, Public or International Law: 2d, Civil or Roman Law: 3d, Scots Municipal Law; and, 4th, Conveyancing. The

chairs of the three latter Professor

ships are filled by gentlemen of great talents and high respectability, and the Classes, especially that of Scots Law, are attended by a numerous concourse of Students. No course

of lectures has been delivered by the Professor of Public Law for many years, and this may be said to be the only Professorship in the University which is utterly dormant. Another peculiarity attends this chair, which is, that it is the only one in the University which has any thing

like a tolerable salary attached to it; the Professor being entitled to draw from the tithes of the parish of St. Cuthbert's (one of the most opulent in Scotland) on an average, about £.300 a-year; while scarcely any other of the Professors draws more than £.50 or £.100 a-year of fixed salary from the revenues of the city. For the remainder of their income they must depend on the fees of the Students, which, in all the Medical, Law, and most of the Literary and Philosophical Classes, are four guineas each Class per Session. I am aware that several foreigners of distinction have resorted to our University, chiefly for the purpose of studying Public or International Law and Political Economy. Their surprise and mortification may well be conceived, when they found that the Chair of the former branch of study, though occupied, was held by one whose only concern with the business of the Chair was to draw the liberal and unearned salary attached to it, and that there existed no Professorship of the latter at all, in that very city where the father of modern Political Economy lived so long, and where, at this very day, some of its most successful cultivators dwell. These things should not be; and I trust that ere long, the reforming and liberal spirit of the times will make its way so far among the patrons of this University, as to lead them to a thorough probing and rectification of abuses, whether these be attributable to the silent changes of time, or the intentional neglect and faults of men.

F.