The New Lord Rector of Glasgow University. 125 



to the great ends for which it is designed. I see in it a scheme that makes 

 learning subservient to action that does not partake of a professional cha- 

 racter that embraces all distinctions and classes of society that qualifies 

 those of the highest rank for the public duties they will have to perform 

 that offers to men engaged in business, and even advanced in life, the oppor- 

 tunity of ascertaining the progressive discoveries of science, and the applica- 

 bility of those discoveries to their respective circumstances that offers also 

 to those whose pecuniary means are the most restricted, those benefits of an 

 enlightened education and the rewards of literary distinction. 



" I should not be acting in conformity with established usage, I should 

 still less be acting in unison with my own feelings, if I did not on this occasion 

 address myself immediately to those who are pursuing their studies within these 

 walls. Let me assure you, with all the earnestness of the deepest conviction, 

 founded on the opportunities of observation, which public life and intercourse 

 with the world have afforded, that your success, your eminence, your happi- 

 ness, are much more independent of the accidents and caprices of fortune, 

 infinitely more within your own control than they appear to be to superficial 

 observers. There lies before you a boundless field of exertion. Whatever be your 

 pursuit, whatever be the profession which you may choose, the avenues to 

 honourable fame are open to you, or at least are obstructed by no barriers of 

 which you may not command the key." 



The Lord Rector then proceeded to encourage the students to 

 perseverance in their several pursuits of theology, science, and law ; 

 and in the recommendation of the latter he took occasion to remark 

 on the preference of the learned men of Glasgow for him, an English- 

 man and an Oxonian, over a regular Scotsman. [This might have 

 been omitted in a speech totally unconnected with politics.] He 

 continued, as follows : 



" I have said that the field for exertion is boundless, and that it is within 

 your power to command an entrance to them. I repeat, with the earnestness 

 of the deepest conviction, that there is, in my mind, a presumption, amounting 

 almost to certainty, that if any one of you will determine to be eminent in 

 whatever profession you may choose, you will, if health and strength be given 

 to you, infallibly succeed. If what is called genius shall have been denied to 

 you, you have faculties of the mind, which may be improved by constant 

 exercise and vigilance, that they shall supply the place of genius, and open to 

 you brighter prospects of ultimate success than genius, unaided by the same 

 discipline, can hope to attain. There are, no doubt, original differences in 

 different minds, in the depth and in the quality of the intellectual mine ; but, 

 in all ordinary cases, the practical success of the working of that mine depends, 

 in by far the greatest degree, upon the care, the labour, the perfection of the 

 machinery which are applied to it. Do I say that you can command success 

 without difficulty ? No : difficulty is the condition of success. ' Difficulty is 

 a severe instructor set over us by the supreme ordinance of a parental Guar- 

 dian and Legislator, who knows us better than we know ourselves, as he 

 loves us better too. Pater ipse colendi, haud facilem esse viam voluit. He 

 that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our 

 antagonist is our helper. This amicable conflict with difficulty obliges us to 

 an intimate acquaintance with our object, and compels us to consider it in all 

 its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial.' These are the memor- 

 able words of the first of philosophic statesmen, of the greatest orator of 

 modern ages at least, if it were allowed to judge of oratory by the composi- 

 tions it has bequeathed to posterity, without reference to the physical qualifi- 

 cations of the speaker. I say then, in conformity with the advice of Mr. 

 Burke, enter into the amicable conflict with difficulty. Whenever you en- 

 counter it, turn not aside, say not it is a lion in the path ; resolve upon en- 



