THE UNIVERSITY IDEAL. 4 6 7 



chair, occupied by men of celebrity. There was no other innovation 

 till near the end of the seventeenth century, when Greek was isolated 

 both in Edinburgh and in Marischal College ; but the end of regenting 

 was then near. 



The old system, however, had some curious writhings. Durino- 

 the troubled seventeenth century, university reform could not com- 

 mand persistent attention. But, after the 1688 Revolution, opinions 

 were strongly expressed in favor of the Melville system. The obvious 

 argument was urged that, by division of labor, each man would be 

 able to master a special subject, and do it justice in teaching. Yet, it 

 was replied that, by the continued intercourse, the masters knew better 

 the humors, inclinations, and talents of their scholars. To which the 

 answer was the humors and inclinations of scholars are not so deeply 

 hid but that in a few weeks they appear. Moreover, it was said, the 

 students are more respectful to a master while he is new to them. 



The final division of subjects took place in Edinburgh in 1708 ; in 

 Glasgow, in 1727 ; in St. Andrews, in 1747. In Marischal College, 

 the change was made by a minute of January 11, 1753 ; but, whether 

 from ignorance, or from want of grace, the Senatus did not record its 

 satisfaction at having, after a lapse of five generations, fulfilled the 

 wishes of the pious founder. In King's College the old system lasted 

 till 1798. 



This closes the second age of the universities, and introduces the 

 third age, the age of the professoriate, of lecturing instead of text- 

 books, the end of disputation, and the use of the English language. It 

 was now, and not till now, that the Scottish universities stood forth, 

 in several leading departments of knowledge, as the teachers of the 

 world. 



The second age of the universities was Scotland's most trying 

 time. In a hundred and thirty years, the country had passed through 

 four revolutions and counter-revolutions ; every one of which told 

 upon the universities. The victorious party imposed its test upon the 

 university teachers, and drove out recusants. You must all know 

 something of the purging of the university and the ministry of Aber- 

 deen by the Covenanting General Assembly of 1640. These deposed 

 Aberdeen doctors may have had too strong leanings to episcopacy in 

 the church and to absolutism in the state, but they were not Vicars of 

 Bray. The first half of the century was adorned by a band of schol- 

 ars, who have gained renown by their cultivation of Latin poetry ; a 

 little oasis in the desert of Aristotelian dialectics. It would be needless 

 and ungracious to inquire whether this was the best thing that could 

 have been done for the generation of Bishop Patrick Forbes. 



Your reading in the history of Scotland will thus bring you face 

 to face with the great powers that contended for the mastery from 

 1560 : the monarchy, always striving to be absolute ; the Church, 

 whose position made it the advocate of popular freedom ; the univer- 



