per account of it. This account will not be more descriptive, however, of the country, than of his own mind. It must necessarily be tinctured with his habit of thinking, with the objects or ideas that have made the greatest impression, and are uppermost in his memory or recollection. Mr. Hall does not appear to us to be either a very learned person, nor yet a firstrate genius; though he is neither without a considerable share of learn ing, nor yet of natural parts. He is a social and merry soul. He recollects a thousand pleasant stories, which he introduces, for enlivening his tour, by easy and natural transitions, and he never fails to notice any occurrence, in the course of his travels, calculated to move laughter. He has a natural and happy turn, and great curiosity on the subject of natural history. He is sensible to the beautiful and sublime scenery of nature, and describes it in a feeling and eloquent manner. And he has, very properly, availed himself of some communications from his friends, which he does not fail fairly to state and acknowledge. These good qualities, in the mind of every good-humoured and candid person, will in a great measure atone and make up for a great deal of tittle-tattle or gossiping, and not a few remarks of a trifling and trite nature.

He left Edinburgh, 15th April, 1803, on a tour to the north,resolved to travel the whole of the sea coast of Scotland, and also the banks of her most emi nent rivers. He goes up the right bank of the Forth to Stirling. From Stirling down the left bank, and round the promontory of Fife to St. Andrews; which, with the past and present state of its university, he describes. From his description the following are extracts:

"St. Andrews, once the seat of the metropolitan bishop of Scotland, and even since the abolition of episcopacy, still famous for its university, exhibits at a distance, by its large extent, and its remaining steeples, turrets, and spires, an appearance of magnificence and grandeur. But, on a near approach, the general aspect of the shore, the priory, and other antient monasteries, the cathedral church, the castle, the residence of the archbishops, and not unfrequently of the kings, the city in every quarter, in some of which the streets are grown over with grass and solid turf, and one whole and very long street levelled with the ground; and, I am sorry to say, even the aspect of the colleges, suggests nothing but the melancholy-idea of former magnificence and grandeur now in ruins. There was nothing in all this at all surprising to me, as I had been more than twenty years ago for many years a student, both at the Philosophy and Divinity College of St. Andrews, except the present state of the university, which has now assumed an air and tone, completely in unison with the general dreary, desolate, and decayed condition, of that antient, large, and once flourishing city. On inquiring into the number of students, and the changes that bad taken place in the different chairs, the reflection that first occurred was the marked contrast between the state of the university, under the inspection of the late chancellor, Thomas, earl of Kinnoull, and under the present chancellor, the lord viscount Melville. During the subsistence of episcopacy in Scotland, the archbishop was the over-lord of the university, and held visitations of the university once in every two or three years, and also of the different col

leges.

leges. For though all the colleges, forming the university, were, and are still, in many respects, most intimately connected in patronage and jurisdiction, they enjoyed, as they do now, powers or prerogatives peculiar to each. Upon the abolition of episcopacy, the crown came in place of the archbishop, and may exercise the same powers as he did, as often as may be judged proper. I believe there has not been any visitation of the university since the establishment of presbytery in Scotland. Visitors would find it at St. Andrews, just as it was in "the days of Noe-men, eating and drinking, and marrying, and giving in marriage."

"The colleges here were once of great celebrity, and even about twenty years ago, or somewhat less, not a little flourishing. But since the professorships of the united college have fallen under the powers and almost become hereditary in one family, they are too often bestowed on men destitute of parts and accomplishments suitable to their important charge. There is, indeed, some probability, that the professorships will by and by become, what they nearly are already, mere sinecures. The only ground of consolation and hope, for those who could wish the university of St. Andrews to flourish, is, that a man of genius and learning may yet be admitted into that body; provided that he be careful to make a prudent marriage. But a kind of lethargy prevents the professors from exerting, as formerly, the talents and virtues they possess. It is through a negligence on the part of the present chancellor, or, as some have supposed, a collusion between him

and the leading members, that things have been permitted to come to the present pass. The university has a great sway in the royal burgh or city of St. Andrews, and some influence too in the county. A reverend principal of one of the colleges, on the occasion of chusing a knight of the shire for Fife, did not hesitate, in order to please the chancellor of the university, it was thought, to accept of a fictitious qualification, on the occasion of a certain general election. It is well known that the chancellor, Mr. Henry Dundas, now lord Melville, is, or rather perhaps was (for that is the tense in which we must now speak of this statesman) a great advocate for war and conquest, and also for stretching the prerogatives of the crown,, and bridling with great rigour, not to say encroaching on, the liberties of the people.

"Even in the pulpit, the principal seems to have paid court to the great man. In a sermon, preached on a public occasion, at the synod of Fife, in the end of 1792, his text was, "Happy art thou, O Israel! Who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord." The preacher, adopting the words of Moses (as if the prophet were speaking, not to the Hebrews, but to Englishmen and Scotchmen) maintains that WE are a people saved by the Lord-that WE are a happy people*—and that there is none like us. The principal is of opinion, not only that our political constitution is at present the best that is known, but that it is continually receiving improvements, which, without violence or danger, arise insensibly from the diffusion of enlightened

and

and liberal views, to augment or secure the happiness of the community. Britain has risen to be one powerful state, united under the same government, and availing itself, by this union, of all the advantages of its situation for internal security, and for conquest*.

"Among the professors who flourished before what may be called the present dynasty of St. Andrews, were, principal Tulidelph; Dr. Simpson, brother to the celebrated professor of Glasgow, and as nearly related by genius as by blood; Mr. David Gregory, professor of mathematics; Dr. Robert Watson, professor of logic and rhetoric; Dr. Wilkie, professor of natural philosophy, author of the Epigoniad; and some other professors, who were both admirably well qualified to fill their stations, and distinguished by a professional zeal, or what was called by the celebrated principal Robertson, the historian, in allusion to them, an academical ardour.

"William, duke of Cumberland, chancellor of the university of St. Andrews, died in 1767. Several persons in high political situations were proposed, by different members of the university, for his successor: but a considerable majority of voices declared in favour of "Thomas, earl of Kinnoull, after he had retired from an important and honourable political life; for no other reason than that he was an eminent patron and pattern of religion, and private as well as public virtue; that he inherited all that love and respect for learn ing, which distinguished his father, one of the most accomplished noblemen of the court of George H.

and his maternal grandfather, the illustrious Robert, earl of Oxford; and, that he was the worthy representative of one of the noblest races in Europe +." This excellent nobleman instituted prizes for every class of students in the colleges-paid them an annual visit-distributed the prizes with his own hands-took great notice of the most distinguished scholars, and, where patronage was needed, used all the means in his power for promoting their fortune. The antient celebrity of the univer sity of St. Andrews was, in a great measure, revived. The number of students amounted to one hundred and fifty, and upwards. Not a few families of distinction came to reside in St. Andrews, for the laudable purpose of having their sons educated at the university; thus uniting the advantages of a public and a private education.

"While the professors discharged their duty with equal ability, skill, and alacrity, there was an excellent public library; for the maintenance and increase of which there was ample provision. The books that had been placed in different libraries were brought together, and properly disposed in one spacious and elegant hall, which was built, or rebuilt, with improvements, for the purpose. The books were not chained, as some books are in the English universities, to benches or stalls; nor was it necessary to consult or peruse them on the spot. The students were permitted to carry them to their own chambers. The professors did not confine themselves to the reading of lectures once or twice a week; they taught every day; and

some

some of them twice: and the students were called on to give an account of the lectures or lessons they had received, on the day preceding the meeting, as in common schools. This is a custom in all the Scotch universities. It is certainly a very good one. The youth are thus incited to study by a principle of emlation, and the shame of appearing dull or stupid. In all the classes, the mathematical and natural philosophy classes excepted, the lectures commenced with prayer.

"At the same time, the strictest discipline was maintained. To this, the earl of Kinnoull, the chancellor, was particularly attentive. In an excellent speech, which he made in answer to an inaugural oration, by the reverend professor Brown, at that time the rector, when he was first received as chancellor, he declared, among other particulars, that he conceived it to be his duty to enforce the strictest discipline and observance of morality and religion. For gross offences against morality, several young men of distinguished and opulent families were expelled, or, as the phrase was, extruded from the university.

"The colleges in the university of St. Andrews, the oldest in Scotland, were originally three; namely, St. Salvator's, founded by James Kennedy, archbishop of St. Andrews, in the year 1458; St. Leonard's College, founded by prior Hepburn, in 1512; and St. Mary's, founded by bishop John Hamilton, in the year 1552. In each of these colleges lectures were given in theology, as well as in philosophy and languages; but in the reign of James VI. 1579, under the direction of the celebrated George Buchannan, who was at the time, or certainly had

been, himself, one of the professors, or regents, as they were then called, of St. Leonard's, the university was new modelled. St. Mary's College was appropriated to the study of theology. It is, therefore, distinguished by the name of the Divinity College, and otherwise the New College. In the year 1717, on a petition from the principals or provosts of St. Salvator's and St. Leonard's, the British parliament united these two into one society, under the designation of the United College, but commonly called the Philosophy College.-In all the colleges, the gates were shut at ten o'clock at night; so that none of the students, without special permission from the principal, could go out after that hour, or be admitted till six o'clock the next morning. The porters had it in strict charge to make a report to the principals of such students as, in defiance of the laws, which were read at the commencement of every session, to stay out all night. The greater part, or nearly the whole of the students, were then lodged in chambers, which they had gratis within the walls of the college. For the preservation of discipline and good order, other means were used besides those just mentioned. The masters, in their turns, weekly exercised the office of what was called Hepdomader. His business was to preside and say grace at the college table, and to go round and call at every different chamber at six o'clock in the morning, to see if the students had got up from bed, and between eight and nine at night to see if they were at home and properly employed. These morning and evening visits, or calls, were called Perlustrations, and the Hepdomader, in reference to this part of his office, the Perlustrator.

Perlustrator. At first, and till the union of the colleges, and some little time after, the morning were performed as regularly as the evening visits; but, in the progress of time and luxury, they were made very irregularly, at longer and longer intervals, and at last wholly given up: but the evening perlustrations, while the earl of Kinnoull lived, were continued regularly.

"Originally, the hour of dining was twelve o'clock,, and that of supper six; these hours were changed, for first one, and then two, for dinner, and first seven, and then eight, for supper. In the different colleges there were, as there are still, not fewer than fifty scholarships, or, as they are called, bursaries. By soine of these, according to the original establishment, the scholar was entitled not only to his board at the college table, but also to admission to the lectures or instructions of all the different masters without expense, though the masters at last demanded fees. By others, they had, besides these advantages, a sum of money, which was understood to defray other expenses, as books, clothes, washing, &c. There were others of the bursaries that consisted wholly in an annual sum of money, paid to the bearer by instalments at the beginning and end of the sessions, and solely at his own disposal.

"Besides the bursars, others were admitted to the college tables as boarders, at a rate so low, that it may appear in England, and in the present time, incredible. It was, for seven months in the year, only from nine to ten pounds, so lately as 1774. It was afterwards raised to 12 pounds. "In the United or Philosophy College, there were two tables: the one for the bursars, or, as we would say

in England, scholars on the foundation; the other for the young gentlemen that were boarders, and called, like all the students not bursars in the original institutions of the colleges, extranei, or strangers; and for a few of the barsars themselves, who, by the establishment, were entitled to seats there. Among the boarders were frequently young gentlemen of the first families, and sometimes young uoblemen. boarders had, not unfrequently, private tutors, who also were entertained at the college table.

The

"In St. Mary's, or the Divinity College, there was only one table. There were not, after the fall of popery, any boarders: all who sat at the college table were bursars. The other students in divinity were lodged in the town; but as many as chose it had apartments in the college free of all expense, except some trifling dues to the porter. All the tables were most plentifully supplied. There was nothing like pinching or parsimony; there was great abundance. In the Philosophy College, both tables were kept in the same hall, that both might be under the eye of the hepdomader. In the Divinity College, the students, in their turns, prayed; that is, did not read any form, but uttered premeditated prayers in the presbyterian fashion, evening and morning, in the com mon hall of the college. Before the prayer, a portion of the scriptures was read; after it, psalms were sung. After dinner and supper, in both colleges, a portion of the New Testament in Latin was read by one of the bursars, who was also precentor in the singing of psalms, with which the repast was concluded. The hepdomader, presiding at the tables, entered always into

some