184 
ment threatened by the provetb and the 
prophecy. 
We impatiently look for the general 
diffufion of the magnificent copper cur- 
rency, promifed by his majefty’s late pro- 
clamation, on which all private coins, 
ee or tokens, mult {peedily va- 
ith ; and the defirable imprevements in 
their fabric, fuggefted by Crvis, be pre- 
cluded, by the non-exiftence of their ob- 
jes. 
The obverfe of the piece inclofed bears 
a reprefentation of the eaft front of our 
“new univerfity,” at prefent building. 
It is the greateft edifice ever attempted 
in Scotland—I fay attempted; for many 
of our moft judicious citizens doubt, as 
I do, if we fhail in this generation wit- 
nefs its completion. 
_ The chief objeét of my prefent paper 
is, to impart to your Englith readers 
fome particulars concerning the ftate of 
the univerfity, and of this building *, 
intended for the more elegant and con- 
venient accommodation of her profeffors 
and ftudents. At the clofe of the feffion, 
1792, we had, by a lift, then made, a 
copy of which I procured from one of 
the profeffors, 
Students of Divinity — 138 
Law — — 102 
Phyfic — — 449 
General Claffes — 415 
Inall — 1104 
And fince then the number has cer- 
tainly not decreafed. Our principal, and 
_ twenty-eight profeffors, are all, with 
perhaps two or three exceptions, men 
truly eminent, refpeétable, and well- 
verfed in the different branches of {ci- 
ence which they teach. The diftinguith- 
ed abilities of the profeffors of anatomy, 
chemiftry, praétice of phyfic, moral phi- 
lofophy, and rhetoric, are juftly refpeét- 
ed, and weil known throughout all Eu- 
rope; and our diplomas for graduate 
phyficians, have long been highly efteem- 
ed in every nation. Some fevere ftric- 
tures might be made on the exceptions 
noticed ; but I forbear. Unlefs talents, 
and a difpofition towards ftrenuous ex- 
ertion in the performance of duty, fhall 
have been either beftowed by the great . 
Maker, or the refults of unwearied and 
fuccefsful application, little reformation 
is to be hoped for from the reprehen- 
arene en cmnieeienre meena et 
* It is affumed, that the word “ univerfity” 
may be legitimately ufed in two fenfes, as the 
literary feminary, and as the building which 
accommedates it. 
Univerfity of Edinburghe 
[ Sept. 
fions of a writer, who, for feveral rea- 
fons, choofes to veil himfelf in anonymous 
ob{curity. 
The old building is very mean, and 
‘quite difproportioned to the dignity and 
utility of our venerable univerfity. A 
new one was therefore-indifpenfable ; 
and Iam none of thofe who difapprove 
of the extent and coftlinefs of the pro- 
pofed edifice ; excepting, in one point ; 
that- the dwelling-houfes, intended for 
the profeffors, are perhaps too large and 
fhowy, in proportion to the manner of 
living to which their incomes confine 
them. 
By the faft eftimate, about 80,000l. 
_was to be the fum which fhould complete 
the building ; but of this fum, only about 
30,0001. has been procured, and applied 
to its purpofe ;—-soool. has been libe- 
rally contributed, it is faid, by his ma- 
jefty, but nothing by our exhaufted na- 
tional exchequer ; the remainder being 
provided by the munificent fubfcriptions 
of individuals, and corporate and trad= 
ing companies, in all parts of the world ; 
many gentlemen, now eftablifhed in dif- 
ferent climes, having gratefully remem- 
bered their a/ma mater, and contributed 
to her renovation. Yet, as may be fup- 
pofed, the building is in a very imper- 
fe&t ftate. Only a part of the north- 
weft corner is finifhed, wherein the 
claffes of 
Anatomy 
Midwifery, 
Theory of Phyfic, 
Practice of Phyfic, 
Materia Medica, 
Scottifh Law, 
Moral Philofophy, and 
Greek, 
are provided with complete apartments, 
and now receive leétures. Part of the 
eaft front, reprefented on the coin, is 
roofed in; intended to accommodate the 
principal and fix of the profeffors, in 
dwelling-houfes, but thefe houfes are 
ftill unfinifhed. The chemifiry and na- 
tural philofophy claffes attend in the old 
college; to which may be added, the 
divinity-hall, and one or two fmall rooms, 
in which inftruétion is ftill adminiftered 
to fome claffes, which confift of a few 
ftudents, who are under the neceffity of 
reforting to the old buildings. ; 
This eaft front extends 255 feet, and 
the north and fouth fronts 358 feer.— 
The new library is propofed to be a mag~ 
nificent hall, 160 feet in length, and 
the mufeum to be ftored in an apartment 
of equal dimenfions; thefe, however, 
es arg 
9 é 
