402 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CHAP. 



students of all ranks ; and it occurred to them whether 

 by providing a fitting place of residence under proper 

 superintendence, some of those who had left it, to the 

 loss of the University and of themselves, might not be 

 lured back. St. Andrews, with its noble historic me- 

 ories, its academic aspect, its healthy climate, and its 

 fine Links, which have been for ages the Elysium of 

 Golfers, seemed to offer peculiar outward advantages for 

 the trial of such an experiment. But for the energy 

 and business talent of Principal Forbes, this idea of a 

 College Hall might have continued till now only a 

 dream. As soon as it was mentioned to him, he 

 adopted it with all his energy and less than his 

 usual caution, and straightway set himself to realise 

 it. The result of his exertions was the formation of 

 a company, whose members subscribed for a sufficient 

 number of shares to set the institution on foot. With- 

 in two years from Forbes' appointment, the Col- 

 lege Hall was opened, with twelve students in the 

 first, and an increasing number in the following 

 session. These lived in a hired house, one of those 

 which occupied the old site of St. Leonard's College. 

 Over them was a warden, an Oxford graduate, who 

 superintended the discipline and management, presided 

 at the common meals, and assisted the students in pre- 

 paring their College work. During the first four or 

 five years, the College Hall prospered so well, and at- 

 tracted so many desirable students, that Principal Forbes 

 conceived the more ambitious project of building a large 

 Hall, which should be specially fitted for its purpose, and 

 should accommodate a greater number of students. As 

 the institution itself possessed no funds except those 

 necessary to carry it on from year to year, and as no 

 University revenues could be used for this purpose, the 

 venture was a bold one. There were some who thought 

 that it was too bold that the institution had not yet 

 struck its roots deep enough to warrant so large an 

 experiment. But Principal Forbes was not to be tunn d 

 from his purpose. By his almost unaided advocacy the 



