THE PKOFESSOR AND HIS CLASS. 229 



About a year after he had entered upon his new duties, the Pro- 

 fessor was rambling during vacation-time in the south of Scotland, 

 having for a while exchanged the gown for the old " Sporting 

 Jacket." On his return to Edinburgh, he was obliged to pass through 

 Hawick, where, on his arrival, finding it to be fair-day, he readily 

 availed himself of the opportunity to witness the amusements going 

 on. These happened to include a " little mill" between two mem- 

 bers of the local " faucy." His interest in pugilism attracted him 

 to the spot, where he soon discovered something very wrong, and 

 a degree of injustice being perpetrated which he could not stand. 

 It was the work of a moment to espouse the weaker side, a proceed- 

 ing which naturally drew down upon him the hostility of the oppo- 

 site party. This result was to him, however, of little consequence. 

 There was nothing for it but to beat or be beaten. He was soon 

 "in position;" and, before his unknown adversary well knew what 

 was coming, the skilled fist of the Professor had planted such a 

 " facer" as did not require repetition. Another " round" was not 

 called for ; and leaving the discomfited champion to recover at his 

 leisure, the Professor walked coolly away to take his seat in the 

 stage-coach, about to start for Edinburgh. He just reached it in 

 time to secure a place inside, where he found two young men already 

 seated. As a matter of course he entered into conversation with 

 them, and before the journey was half over, they had become the 

 best friends in the world. He asked all sorts of questions about 

 their plans and prospects, and was informed they were going to 

 attend College during the winter session. Anions: the classes men- 

 tioned were Leslie's, Jameson's, Wilson's, and some others. " Oh ! 

 Wilson ; he is a queer fellow, I am told ; rather touched here" 

 (pointing significantly to his head) ; " odd, decidedly odd." The 

 lads, somewhat cautiously, after the manner of their country, said 

 they had heard strange stories reported of Professor Wilson, but it 



"In the Third Division of the Course, which runs into the Second, it is attempted to explain 

 some of the chief Means by which Individual and National Virtue and Happiness may be strength- 

 ened and guarded : and to point out some of the most fatal causes of the Decline and Fall of 

 Nations. 



" At the commencement of each Session several Lectures are delivered, containing a Prospectus 

 of the whole Course, which contains a hundred Lectures. 



"Each alternate year the Professor delivers a Course of Fifty Lectures on Political Eccromy. 

 He follows, in a great measure, the order observed in the Wealth of Xations; and, in explaining 

 the doctrines of Smith, compares them with those of Eicaedo." 



