84 EARLY LIFE. 



some of my friends, a debating society, which was 

 founded in December 1792. I have now before me 

 the original minute-book, in which the first entry is 

 as follows : 



"This society was formed in December 1792; 

 and at the first meeting, on the 22d day of Decem- 

 ber 1792, received the name of the Juvenile Literary 

 Society." 



Then follows a list of the members, twenty-one in 

 number, headed by my name as founder and first 

 president. Among the first members were Horner, 

 Henry Mackenzie (afterwards Lord Mackenzie), John 

 Forbes (afterwards Lord Medwyn), James Keay, who 

 rose high at the bar; Andrew Wauchope, who dis- 

 tinguished himself in the Peninsular war; and Andrew 

 Thomson, the eloquent preacher and leader in the 

 Church Courts. 



The laws were very strict. Absence without ex- 

 cuse, to be inquired into by a committee, was fined. 

 Coming late, half an hour beyond the time of meeting, 

 was also fined ; and occasionally, though very rarely, 

 expulsion was inflicted for repeated breach of the 

 rules. The laws were sometimes revised by a com- 

 mittee of inquiry, and altered upon its report. At 

 the end of the session and commencement of the six 

 months' vacation a commission was appointed, on the 

 model of that in the General Assembly, to look after 

 the affairs of the society. The meetings were on 

 Saturday morning, when there were no college classes. 

 The members presided in rotation, and an essay was 



