UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

The university of Edinburgh owes its origin to James VI. In 1582 "the wise monarch" granted a charter, empowering the lord provost, magistrates, and council of the city to repair and build houses for the reception and habitation of professors and students of the liberal arts, humanity, philosophy, divinity, medicine, law, and any other liberal sciences (quarumque aliarum liberalium scientiarum). The same charter constitutes the municipal authorities, with the advice of the ministers (cum avisiamento ministrorum), electors of all the professors, with the power of dismissing them should they find it necessary; and, with strange inconsistency, prohibits all persons not admitted by the patrons from professing or teaching any of the sciences within the liberties of the city. The king, who was ambitious of being commemorated as the founder and greatest benefactor of this literary establishment, inserted in the charter an imposing list of ecclesiastical properties for its support, which however were found to possess little more than a nominal value. Even the ground on which the college was built (the Kirk of Field) could only be obtained by purchase from a menial servant of the king, who had acquired a title to it; and, in like manner, the other royal benefactions proved in a great measure delusive. The plan of the seminary was thus most extensive; and the patrons, being unfettered by the minute prescriptions contained in the foundation charters of the older universities, have had fewer difficulties to encounter in adapting it to the existing state of philosophy and science.

The design of founding a college in the metropolis had been contemplated by the magistrates within two years after the reformation; but their endeavours were thwarted by the bishops, who were jealous of the reputation and prosperity of the seminaries placed under their immediate and official protection. In 1562 the town supplicated from Queen Mary a gift of certain ecclesiastical property within the city, to be applied, among other things, for "colleges for learning and upbringing of ye youth;" but received an evasive answer. Renewing their application the following year, they obtained a grant of "the Kirk-of-Field, to bigane schule;" but seem to have been prevented from carrying their design into effect. It was not till 1579 that successful measures were adopted. In this year the magistrates, encouraged by the ministers and other public-spirited individuals in the city, commenced building apartments for the accommodation of professors and students, and three years after obtained from the crown the charter of erection and confirmation. The chief promoter of the design was James Lawson, the successor of Knox as minister of Edinburgh, by whose recommendation Robert Rollock, one of the regents at St Andrews, and a man of high intellectual endowments, was selected in 1583 to fill the arduous situation of first and indeed sole regent in the new institution. The college was accordingly opened in October 1583, under the newly appointed regent; the number of students, who, as in the other universities, probably all belonged to the faculty of arts, was eighty-four. Rollock was engaged only for a year, with a promise of continuance and promotion if he conducted himself faithfully, and complied with the rules and injunctions of the patrons. His salary was to be L40 Scots, or L3. 6s. 8d., with a quarterly allowance of L30 Scots for board, in addition to the fees to be paid by the students. According to the contract, he was to receive "for a year's education to the sons of burgesses, L2 Scots and to others at least L3 Scots; a small sum, apparently, but not disproportionate to the scale on which the professor was maintained." This rate of fees continued till 1593, when the town council ordained that the sons of gentlemen not burgesses of Edinburgh should pay L3 Scots a year, and the sons of burgesses half that sum.

A second regent was appointed soon after the opening of the college; and in 1586, the town council, "having sufficient proof and experience of the lyfe and conversation" of Rollock, "and of his qualification and learning," constituted him principal master, with all the emoluments of the appointment, committing to him all the authority vested in the principal of any college in the universities of the realm, and subjecting to his jurisdiction the regents established or to be established, with all other members of the college. He was required to attend to their doctrine and conversation, and to punish delinquents; but the council reserved to themselves the right of deposition, and of enacting statutes for the regulation of the seminary. A third regent was nominated in the same year, a fourth in 1589, and in 1597 a regent of humanity. Till 1620 the principal was regarded as professor of divinity, and his prelections were confined to that department. In this year a second professor of divinity was appointed; but several of the succeeding principals continued to read theological lectures. Those of Dr Leighton were published after his death.

The charter of erection was soon (1584) followed by another, in which the king, gratified by the success of the new seminary, conveyed to the magistrates and council certain property for its support. In 1612 another charter was granted, by the king, ratifying those which had previously been given; and in 1621, an act of the Scottish parliament was passed, confirming various grants of property which had been made to the town of Edinburgh for the support of the institution. This act, as exhibiting the only Institution which the college possesses, deserves particular notice. After detailing the establishment of the college, and the purposes for which it was instituted, the grants made for carrying these into effect, the expense incurred by the city in erecting the buildings, and various bequests made by well-disposed persons for the support of the professors, the act declares the anxious desire of the king for the increase of learning within the borough, his willingness to confirm the former grants made to the college, and to extend to it all the immunities enjoyed by any other college within the realm, and ratifies and approves the infestments previously granted by magistrates under his great seal, "together with the erection of the said gryt ludging, manses, and houes of the Kirk-of-Edin, in ane colledge for profession of theologie, philosophy, and humanitie." The ratification concludes by declaring that the college shall "in all tyme to cum be callit James College," and conferring on the magistrates as patrons, and the rectors, regents, bursars, and students, "all liberties, freedoms, immunities, and privileges, appertaining toane free colledge, and that in ais ample forme and large manner as any colledge hes or bruikis within this his majesty's realme." It is true that the term university is not applied to the seminary, either in this act or in the royal charter of 1582; but the clause which has just been quoted confers on it all the powers and privileges of a university, and these necessarily involve the name.

From the first institution of the college, the town council, with the advice of the ministers and some eminent lawyers, regulated the mode of teaching, the discipline, the fees, and accommodation of the students. Students were admitted on application to a magistrate, under whose authority they were enrolled; as in other universities, they were matriculated by the rector or principal. It was the intention of the founders that all the students should lodge within the walls of the college, and wear an academical dress. The annual rent of a chamber to a stranger student, having a bed to himself, was L4 Scots; for which sum the town furnished beds, tables, and shelves. Students whose parents were burgesses paid no rent, but furnished the rooms at their own expense. The increase of numbers gradually put an end to this practice. So lately, however, as the year 1610, the English dissenters offered to contribute L1,000 per ann. for the support of a hospital, on condition that their students might participate in the benefit.

The system of instruction originally pursued in the university did not differ materially from that of the other Scottish universities. Each of the four regents conducted his students, during the four years they remained under his care, over the entire curriculum of literature and philosophy, while the prelections of the principal were confined to theology. The following interesting account of the course of study and early discipline is given by Principal Lee:

"During the first year, about six months were spent chiefly in the study of Greek and Roman classics, accompanied by frequent exercises in translation and original composition. The remainder of the session was occupied in the study of the Dialectics, without however discarding the reading of Greek and Latin authors, and committing to memory and reciting large portions of the ancient poets and orators. In the second year, besides being exercised in Greek themes and versions, the students proceeded in the study of logic, rhetoric, and some part of mathematics. The philosophical works of Aristotle were not neglected; and in the later months of the session, the practice of oratory was enlarged by public declamations. The third session, carrying forward the public studies and classical learning, introduced the youth to the knowledge of some branches of natural history and philosophy, and gave every one an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the elements of the Hebrew tongue. In the fourth session, ethics, politics, and metaphysics formed the principal object of study; but great part of the time was occupied in the practice of disputation. The regent prescribed the subject, and every candidate was matched with an antagonist, with whom it was necessary to carry on a debate in presence of his teacher. The regents were required to exercise a habitual inspection of their charge, both in the public class and in the hours of recreation in the fields. The principal was bound to maintain a daily superintendence, presiding in the public devotions, and keeping a watchful eye over all the regents, students, and officers of the establishment, so that, when admonition or discipline was required, it might not be omitted or postponed till manifest imbecility and irregularity became inevitable or scandalous. Every Lord's day was partly employed in the religious instruction of the students in their private classes, and chiefly in the public solemnities of divine worship." This course of study, which must have obtained the sanction of the patrons, goes far to justify the powers which had been vested in them by the charter of erection; and when carried into effect by the energy of the regents, readily accounts for the celebrity which the metropolitan university early acquired. The practice of each regent teaching the same class during the whole period of the course was discontinued in 1708, in consequence of a regulation by the parliamentary commission of visitation appointed in 1690. Since that time every professor has been limited to one particular department.

"The most striking circumstance," say the royal commissioners, "in the establishment of the university of Edinburgh, consists in that it is not erected into an independent seminary, but is subjected, in all essential points, to the provost, magistrates, and council of the city. To them is committed the superintendence of it, the appointment of the professors, and the privilege of removing them when so strong a step seemed expedient. The whole body is enjoined to obey the regulations emanating from the council; and even the powers of the principal are limited by the same authority. In fact, to the college, as a college, nothing seems to be given but immunities and privileges common to the other universities, and which do not seem to have any reference to its internal administration. No senatus academicus, or college meeting, with special authority to regulate the course of education, is recognised. Everything specified is granted with a view to the magistrates and council; and in the only clause which may seem to imply that the college received a separate and independent jurisdiction, the mode in which it is introduced evinces that this could not have been the case."

Accordingly, the council have always claimed and exercised the privileges which are conferred on them by the charter.

The number of professors, which in 1630 was seven, including the principal, was raised in 1708 to fifteen, one of whom was professor of Greek, the study of that language being required of all students of arts after the reformation. The present number is thirty-three. The right of instituting new professorships is vested in the patrons; and the promptitude which they have shown in adopting the best measures for the advancement of academical instruction is deserving of great credit. Some years ago the clergy of the city put forward their claim to a voice in the election of professors, on the ground that, in the original charter, the right of appointment was to be exercised cum aviso mento ministrorum. The claim was for some time keenly agitated, and steps were taken to enforce it; but on application being made to the Court of Session in the case of a particular election, the court refused to grant an interdict, and the question was accordingly dropped. Eleven professorships have at various times been founded by the crown, of nine of which it has retained the patronage; but the exercise of this power is disputed by the council, as an infringement of their sole right of control, and a protest is regularly taken that it shall not hurt or prejudice their rights. In the case of some of the professorships, certain public bodies have been admitted to a share of the patronage, in consequence of contributing a part of the salaries of the professors. The professor of botany holds two commissions, one from the crown, and another from the town council.

The right of the patrons to interfere in regulating the course of study was of late years disputed by the principal and professors, and the subject was brought before the Edinburgh Court of Session for adjudication. The court decided that the sole government of the university in all points, even in regulating the conditions of graduation, the course of study, and method of instruction, is vested in the town council. The council however has the discretion to leave matters of discipline and ordinary detail to the principal and professors; and the regulations which are from time to time made by them, are considered valid unless they are disallowed by the patrons.

For a considerable period the college was limited to the faculty of arts; the other faculties were successively recognised, as the course of instruction was extended. The medical school, which has of late years become so famous, had its origin so recently as the end of the seventeenth century, there being no professor of medicine previously to the year 1685. The school of law is still more modern. The class of public law was instituted in 1707, of civil law in 1710, of Scottish law generally, in 1722, and that of the theory and practice of conveyancing in 1825.

Want of Public Officers. From what has already been stated, it will appear that the constitution of the university of Edinburgh differs essentially from that of other universities. Indeed it cannot be said to have any independent or well-defined constitution; the patrons being invested with the powers generally given to the universities themselves. No power is conferred upon it by the charter as an independent corporation, nor is any provision made for the appointment of public officers. There is no mention made of a chancellor; and although in early times the name was occasionally taken by the provost of the city, this must be regarded as an unauthorized assumption. For a long time there has been no chancellor of the university. The case in regard to the offices of rector and dean of faculty is nearly the same. "This important office," (the office of rector), say the commissioners, "has been much less efficient in Edinburgh than in the other universities; and the existence of the office itself has been, apparently at least, suspended." It was held by several persons, though with frequent intervals, till 1649, when the council appointed two electors a rector annually, with six assessors, four members of council, two ministers, and two professors. But in the beginning of last century the office of rector was permanently annexed to that of lord provost, who, as head of the council, already possessed all the authority which could be deputed to the rector, and consequently the office, till within these few years, had become obsolete even in name. "It is, accordingly, explicitly asserted that no chancellor or vice-chancellor, rector or dean of faculty, exercises any authority or jurisdiction over the principal, professors, or students in the university of Edinburgh."

The business of the college is managed by a section of the town council, under the name of the college committee, who take charge of the revenue, communicate with the senate, and exercise a general superintendence over the seminary.

Principal. The Principal occupies an anomalous position; he holds the same rank as the cognominal officers in the other universities, but apparently without any of the powers which the others exercise. Notwithstanding the stipulations made by the patrons to Reidock when he was promoted to the office, his authority seems to have been limited. The principal does not seem to teach a class, and he has not for a considerable period taken an active part in superintending the instruction of any of the classes. He presides in the meetings of the senate, and is the official organ of the university in communicating with the crown, the patrons, and the public. Beyond this he does not appear, so far as we have been able to ascertain, to possess any real power or authority. The present principal reads lectures on biblical criticism, and has revived the ancient practice of delivering an annual address to the students.

Senate. The Academic Senate is composed of the principal and professors, who, in right of their appointment, become constituent members. The principal presides, and has both a deliberative and a casting vote. The senate claims the right of instituting new faculties, and of fixing the privileges and immunities belonging to them. This court, however, is not mentioned in the charter, nor does it appear to have ever been recognised by the patrons, as possessing any independent powers. The meetings of the senate are called by the principal, or any member of the theological faculty.

Faculties. The university contains the four Faculties of divinity, law, medicine, and arts, each of which has a dean chosen by the faculty. The term Faculty was originally employed to denote the whole body of professors in their corporate capacity, but this application of it has long been supplanted by the designation of the senate. After the institution of a separate professorship of divinity, the two sets of professors were designated as the faculty of arts, and the faculty of divinity; but the precise time at which the distinct sections were recognised is nowhere recorded. It is to be borne in mind, however, that the four faculties merely perform certain duties under the senate, without whose sanction their proposals and regulations cannot be carried into effect. The faculty of arts comprehends the professors of languages and philosophy, with those of mathematics, rhetoric, practical astronomy, and universal history. The professor of natural history belongs to the faculty of arts, as do also the professors of agriculture and music have not yet been attached to any of the faculties.

The total Revenue of the university, derived from original property, from parliamentary enactments, from royal grants, and from the benefactions of individuals, amounted in 1835 to about L3770. In this sum was included the income of the burse, amounting to L420. Of the remainder, the principal part was made up of the royal grants, which then amounted to L145, and were given as salaries to certain professors. A large portion of the college funds, amounting to L13,119, having been under the management of the magistrates and town council, and being involved in the late embarrassment of the city's affairs, the act of settlement in 1838 provides an annual sum of L2990 for the maintenance and support of the college and schools of the said city, in full of all demands," &c.; and adds, that the said sum "shall be applied by the lord provost, magistrates, and council of the city, in defraying the obligations and payments incumbent upon them in relation to the debts due by the said city to the said college, in paying the salaries and house-rents due to or in connection with the professors, and repairing and maintaining the college buildings, and in the other necessary expenses thereof, and the remainder towards the schools and educational purposes of the city;" in consideration of which payment, the "college debt" of L13,119 is declared to be extinguished.

By the will of General Reid, dated 1806, a large bequest was made to the senate for endowing a professorship of music, adding to the library, and otherwise promoting the general interest of the university. This bequest, after being bequeathed by the testator's daughter, lately became available to the university. It amounted, after deduction of legacy-duty and expenses, to L6250. A professorship of music has since been established, and the series of annual concerts appointed by the will has been commenced.

The Bursaries attached to the university are thirty-four, the benefit of which is extended to eighty students; their aggregate value is L1172 a year. Three are of the annual value of L100; the others vary from L30 to L50 and under.

There are two Sessions. The winter session commences on the first Tuesday of November, and closes in the end of April. The summer session, during which a few classes of the medical faculty are taught, begins on the first Monday of May, and terminates at the end of July. The theological session is somewhat shorter. Each student pays a matriculation fee of L1. No certain order for the attendance of classes, is prescribed by the statutes. Attendance on certain classes, however, is requisite for those who are destined to particular professions, or who aspire to academical degrees. It is recommended to students who mean to follow out a regular course of study in the faculty of arts, and it is enjoined on those preparing for the church, or proceeding to degrees, that they commence with the classes of languages and mathematics.

Candidates for the degree of Master of Arts must be in the fourth year of their academical studies, and must have attended the classes of humanity, Greek, mathematics, logic, rhetoric, moral and natural philosophy. They are required to give in their names to the dean of faculty on or before the last day of March. The examinations take place in April, and continue for three days, from twelve to four each day. The candidates are required to give written answers to questions, and translations of passages from classical authors put into their hands. Those who are found entitled to the degree are classified in the order of their proficiency, as ascertained by the results of the examination; and the list of graduates so classified is affixed to the college gates, suspended in the library, and advertised in the newspapers. Students at the close of the third year of the regular curriculum of arts are admitted to the third part of the examination which relates to classical proficiency; and those who avail themselves of this permission are examined in mathematics and philosophy at the close of the fourth year of their studies. The examinations are conducted by the professors of the faculty.

Arrangements have lately been made by the theological faculty for reviving the degree of B.D. Students who have finished | Founded | Salary | Fees | |---------|--------|------| | Principal | 1535 | £151 2 2 | | Humanity | 1597 | £67 4 4 | | Divinity | 1620 | £196 2 2 | | Hebrew | 1642 | £115 0 0 | | Mathematics | 1674 | £148 6 8 | | Botany | 1676 | £127 15 6 | | Theory of physic | 1683 | None | | Practice of physic | 1683 | None | | Church history | 1695 | £200 0 0 | | Anatomy and physiology | 1705 | £50 0 0 | | Greek | 1708 | £87 4 4 | | Natural philosophy | 1708 | £52 4 4 | | Moral philosophy | 1708 | £102 4 4 | | Logic and metaphysics | 1708 | £52 4 4 | | Civil law | 1710 | £100 0 0 | | Chemistry | 1713 | None | | Universal history | 1719 | £100 0 0 | | Scottish law | 1722 | £100 0 0 | | Midwifery | 1726 | None | | Clinical medicine | 1741 | None | | Rhetoric | 1762 | £100 0 0 | | Natural history | 1767 | £100 0 0 | | Materia medica | 1768 | None | | Practical astronomy | 1786 | £120 0 0 | | Agriculture | 1790 | £50 0 0 | | Clinical surgery | 1803 | £100 0 0 | | Military surgery | 1806 | £100 0 0 | | Medical jurisprudence | 1807 | £100 0 0 | | Conveyancing | 1825 | £120 0 0 | | Surgery | 1831 | None | | General pathology | 1831 | None | | Music | 1839 | £300 0 0 | | Biblical criticism | 1841 | ... |

Patronage:

- Town Council - Lords of Session, Town Council, Faculty of Advocates, Writers to the Signet - Town Council - Ditto - Crown and Town Council - Town Council - Ditto - Crown - Town Council - Faculty of Advocates and Town Council - Town Council - Faculty of Advocates and Town Council - Ditto - Town Council - Crown - Ditto - Town Council - Crown - Lords of Session, Barons of Exchequer, Town Council, Senate - Crown - Ditto - Town Council, Dep. Keeper, and Writers to the Signet - Town Council - Crown - Senate - Crown

To the office of principal is attached one of the deaneries of chapel royal, the emoluments of which are said to be under £100. A deanship has also been assigned as an endowment for recently instituted professorship of biblical criticism.

In the year 1650, the lords of session contributed one thousand pounds Scots, and the faculty of advocates and the society writers to the signet one thousand pounds, to be added to a sum advanced by the town council; and in consequence of the formation of this joint stock, it was stipulated that a professorship of humanity or laws should be founded, and that two delegates from the lords, two from the advocates and writers, and two from the town council, should elect the professor. This contract continues to be acted upon to the present time.—Edin. Acad. Ann. p. xviii.

3. The professor of botany holds two commissions, one from the crown as regius professor of botany and keeper of the garden, and another from the town council as professor of medicine and botany. The six senior professors of the medical faculty have an addition to their emoluments, of about £200 a year each, arising from the fees paid at graduation.

5. The four professorships set down as founded in 1703 are evidently the four regentships which, along with the principalship, formed the original establishment of the college, but the holders of which were not confined to the teaching of separate departments to the date here given.

6. The professors of the civil law, universal history, and Scottish law are elected by the town council, from a list of two names in each case, submitted by the faculty of advocates; a form which, in effect, gives the appointment to the latter body.

7. The class of clinical medicine is taught in rotation by certain of the medical professors, according to an arrangement among themselves. The fees are divided among the lecturers. The fee for the summer course is £3.3s.