204 UNIVERSITIES: ACTUAL AND IDEAL vm 



vision of many a brave and frugal Scotch boy, spend- 

 ing his summer in hard manual labour, that he may 

 have the privilege of wending his way in autumn 

 to this University, with a bag of oatmeal, ten 

 pounds in his pocket, and his own stout heart to 

 depend upon through the northern winter; not 

 bent on seeking 



"The bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth," 



but determined to wring knowledge from the hard 

 hands of penury ; when I see him win through all 

 such outward obstacles to positions of wide useful- 

 ness and well-earned fame ; I cannot but think that, 

 in essence, Aberdeen has departed but little from 

 the primitive intention of the founders of Univer- 

 sities, and that the spirit of reform has so much 

 to do on the other side of the Border, that it may 

 be long before he has leisure to look this 

 way. 



As compared with other actual Universities, 

 then, Aberdeen, may, perhaps, be well satisfied 

 with itself. But do not think me an impracticable 

 dreamer, if I ask you not to rest and be thankful 

 in this state of satisfaction ; if I ask you to con- 

 sider awhile, how this actual good stands related 

 to that ideal better, towards which both men and 

 institutions must progress, if they would not 

 retrograde. 



In an ideal University, as I conceive it, a man 

 should be able to obtain instruction in all forms 



