228 NEW UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. 0£i. 26 



in numbers together, under fevere reftraint. The poriel, 

 here, is the only bridle, and a powerful one it is ; a 

 bridle, which, in every ftation mufl be felt Iboner or 

 later ; and which, in a land of freedom, is the moft eli- 

 gible, and perhaps the molt powerful that ever could 

 have been devifed-: nor can thofc who mult be governed 

 by it in the future part of their life learn its ufe too foon. 



Under thefe regulations this univerfity has profpered 

 to perhaps an unexampled degree ; but as the original 

 buildings continued nearly the fame as at the firil infti- 

 tution, they were found to be extremely inadequate for 

 the purpofe intended, and fome of the profeflbrs were 

 under the neceflity of renting other larger rooms for 

 the purpofe of teaching. Every lludent, indeed who 

 has attended this univerfity, mufl own that the teach- 

 ing rooms were very inadequate for the purpofes re- 

 quired. 



The want of prober accommodation in this refpeA 

 has been univerfaily and loudly complained of for 

 half a century palt. Thefe complaints being fo 

 general, and their juftnefs more and more felt, as the 

 elegance of other buildings in this place augmented, the 

 deiire of having an entire new fet of public teaching 

 rooms erected became univerfal. Mr Adams the ar- 

 chitect was defired to give in a plan and eftimate of 

 an elegant ftrufture for this purpofe, to be eredted on 

 the fite of the old buildings. He did accordingly pro- 

 duce one, which was unanimoufly approved of by the 

 Magidrates of Edinburgh, the principal patrons of the 

 univerfity, and others to whom it was fhewn. The 

 expence of the whole was eflimated to amount to 

 about 6o,oool. ; and for defraying this expence, a pub- 

 he fubfcription was propofed, which was no fooner 

 pubiifhed than numbers entered their names with an 

 unexampled liberality. About the fum of 2o,oool. has 

 been, already fubfcribed; and it is not doubted but in 

 time the whole fum wanted will be obtained. The 

 building, in the mean time, is going on with rapidity. 



