1837-38. THE UNIVERSITY MAGA. 123 



spite of his courageous bravery, by the attack of a crew who 

 severely hurt him. He was taken, however, as a culprit to the 

 police-office, which was so full that he got out. The other 

 students were bailed out, and trial is coming on. Meanwhile, 

 the students and the professors are having a daily committee, 

 sitting in Dr. Christison's room, collecting evidence, a Mr. Scott, 

 solicitor, having volunteered his services ; and we hope to have 

 against the police various charges, likely to cost them their 

 places. The students will probably be fined, in which case we'll 

 all subscribe to pay. I shall most cheerfully contribute my 

 mite. The students are all in great glee. A number of songs 

 and parodies are written on the occasion, such as the ' Battle of 

 the Quadrangle/ the ' Gallant 78th Kegiment,' and so on. There 

 are parodies, one a most excellent one, on Hamlet's famous 

 scene, 'The Policeman's Soliloquy,' 'To stand or not to 

 stand, that is the question.' One on the Battle of Hohenlinden, 

 the Battle of the Baltic, the Lady of the Lake, Byron's Hebrew 

 Melodies, Burns' Tarn o' Shanter, etc. It is intended to publish 

 them in a pamphlet afterwards; if so, I'll send you a copy. 

 The students have no ill-will at the soldiers, but praise them 

 highly. It is declared that the soldiers were brought to accus- 

 tom them to snow-fighting in Canada. In another song, the 

 'Major's Address to his Men,' he shows the probability of 

 his being knighted, and recommends the expunging of Sala- 

 manca from the flags, and putting in its place, Quadrangle, and 

 so on." 



The Maga alluded to in this letter was a weekly periodical, 

 sold at the College gates, of which Edward Forbes was editor, 

 and the contributors students. It might be considered a Uni- 

 versity Punch, containing, as it did, caricatures of lecturers, 

 chiefly professorial, as well as of civic dignities, or others who 

 chanced to rouse the wrath or mirth of the students. A healthy 

 spirit ran through it, and it formed a safety-valve by which the 

 worries of student-life found a harmless outlet. Correspondents 

 were informed that " no libellous personalities, or betises of any 

 kind," were admissible. The number George speaks of sending 

 to his brother was the first of that Session ; and Dr. Martin 

 Barry, of whom it treats, had excited much amusement by 



