32 UNIVERSITIES: ACTUAL AND IDEAL. 



acceptance must be taken as evidence that, less wise than 

 the Armourer of Perth, I have not yet done with sol- 

 diering. 



In fact, if, for a moment, I imagined that your in- 

 tention was simply, in the kindness of your hearts, to 

 do me honour; and that the Hector of your Univer- 

 sity, like that of some other Universities, was one of 

 those happy beings who sit in glory for three years, with 

 nothing to do for it save the making of a speech, a con- 

 versation with my distinguished predecessor soon dis- 

 pelled the dream. I found that, by the constitution of 

 the University of Aberdeen, the incumbent of the Rec- 

 torate is, if not a power, at any rate a potential energy ; 

 and that, whatever may be his chances of success or fail- 

 ure, it is his duty to convert that potential energy into 

 a living force, directed towards such ends as may seem 

 to him conducive to the welfare of the corporation of 

 which he is the theoretical head. 



I need not tell you that your late Lord Rector took 

 this view of his position, and acted upon it with the 

 comprehensive, far-seeing insight into the actual condi- 

 tion and tendencies, not merely of his own, but of other 

 countries, which is his honourable characteristic among 

 statesmen. I have already done my best, and, as long 

 as I hold my office, I shall continue my endeavours, to 

 follow in the path which he trod; to do what in me 

 lies, to bring this University nearer to the ideal alas, 

 that I should be obliged to say ideal of all Universi- 

 ties; which, as I conceive, should be places in which 



