298 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHAIR OF 



student of his day, and not only to these, but to every student 

 in all time. When this distinguished man of science, then 

 Principal of the University of Edinburgh, passed to his rest 

 in 1868, he left a record of at least eight separate works, and 

 no less than three hundred and thirty-six scientific papers 

 in his own name, and five joint communications, the result 

 of marvellous ability and stupendous labour. Besides these, 

 his daughter (who inherited much of her father's talent) gives 

 a list of seventy-five reviews and articles Sir David wrote for 

 the North British Review 'On subjects ranging from Lord Rosse's 

 Reflecting Telescope to DeQuatref ages' Rambles of a Naturalist. 



While the science-student of the period thus had a splendid 

 example at the head of affairs, and science had made certain 

 advances in regard to the curriculum, still much remained to 

 be done. In contrast with the opportunities then available 

 in the University of Edinburgh, the follower of science in these 

 years must have felt out of touch with his surroundings, 

 and he only breathed freely and braced himself for real effort 

 amidst the free atmosphere, the encouragement, the broad 

 views and wide sympathies of the larger University. At 

 least the great prominence of the subjects considered necessary 

 in training for divinity, and the absence of systematic stimula- 

 tion in science, must, in some degree, have had this tendency. 

 Even the distinguished presidency of the illustrious Sir David 

 Brewster, and subsequently the self-denying example of 

 Principal Forbes, were not sufficient to counteract the 

 tendency which, from the foundation of the University, had 

 made the purely classical and literary subjects paramount. 

 The science student had no practical classes in chemistry, 

 physiology, natural history, or natural philosophy. There 

 were no lectures on botany and no botanic garden. More- 

 over, the museum was antiquated in arrangement, and by 

 no means easily accessible. 



And now, after the lapse of fifty-four years, what is the 

 condition of science in the University ? The old Chancellor 



