MEMOIR OF DR. WALKER. 41 



literary eminence, to attain which they expended 

 all those energies which ought to have been ex- 

 pended in a nobler cause ; and unhappily considered 

 their sacred calling a more secondary object, subor- 

 dinate to the other. The Doctor was led aside to 

 sacrifice to the idol of the day, and thus involved 

 himself in an awful responsibility, and his parish 

 for some years in most lamentable destitution. He 

 contrived, however, to satisfy both his conscience 

 and a majority of the presbytery of Dumfries, 

 and struggled through a few unpleasant years, 

 till he obtained a presentation to Colinton, among 

 a more peaceful people than the mountaineers of 

 Moffat. 



Perhaps in his appointment the wreath went to 

 the worthy ; but, if so, " it was more by chance 

 than good guiding," for there were numerous other 

 applicants, and the decision appears to have been 

 made rather from regard to political influence than 

 professional talent, though fortunately in this case 

 they went hand in hand. 



That the university of Edinburgh should have 

 maintained its high character for so long a period, 

 amid the violent struggles of party politics and 

 family partialities which so frequently invaded its 

 bowers during these and other perilous times, when 

 an interest in the council or a vote at an election 

 were deemed superior to any qualifications of a 

 candidate, is truly astonishing ; and when we recol- 

 lect the long reign of this system, it is amazing 

 ' that all the chairs did not become hereditary, or 



