520 ‘MEMOIR OF 
philosophy, and occasionally exhibited all the splendors of an- 
cient eloquence. 
Of the progress or success of Mr Tyrxen’s studies during 
these years, no record, indeed, remains in the annals of the 
University. It has been the practice, and perhaps the wisdom: 
of the Professors of that distinguished Seminary, to seek more 
to gratify the desire of knowledge in the young, by the instruc- 
tion they convey, than to stimulate it by the distinctions they 
confer ; and to look for their reward rather in the future emi- 
nence of those they instruct, than in the display of early and 
premature exertion. Of the dispositions or attainments of the 
young, however, there is, at this age, one unfading proof to be 
found, in the character of the friends and associates whom they 
select. The circumstances of the times, and the celebrity of 
the Professors, had at this period excited in the young men of 
the University, an unusual spirit of literary ambition, and many 
of those who have now arisen to the highest distinctions in 
their country, were at this time laying the foundations of the 
eminence to which they have attained. It was in this class 
that Mr Tyrier sought for friends, and it was in this class he 
found them. The vivacity of his temper, the variety of his at- 
tainments, and the high spirit of honour which distinguished 
even his earliest years, rendered him acceptable to all the 
young and spirited of his own age; while his zeal for know- 
ledge, and his ambition of distinction, conciliated the regard of 
those who were older. It was in these years, accordingly, that 
the great friendships of his life were formed ; and it was his 
peculiar happiness, that among those to whom the affections 
of his youth were given, the course ‘of his mature life was 
passed, and its final period was closed. The list is an ample 
one, and will not be heard in this Society without emotion ; 
for it contains the names of Henry Mackenziz, of ALEXANDER 
~~ ABERCROMBIE 
' 
