Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/113

Rh GLASGOW. 105 GLASGOW. however, it was, owing to the establishment of episcopacy in Scotland, once more deprived of a considerable portion of its revenues, and it was not till 1693 that it ultimately recovered the various shocks it has received since its establishment, and was placed on a permanent footing. In that year all the Scotch universities received a grant of 300 per annum out of the bishop's rents, and this, added to gifts from the crown and benefactions from private individuals, assured its financial independence, and various statutes and laws for its government, enacted cither by public commission or the body corporate itself, have raised it to the present respectable position which it occupies among the educational establishments of the kingdom. The institution is in its nature somewhat of an imperittm in imperio, consisting of the University, which is that corporate body in which is vested the power of granting degrees, and the College, which is an incorporation within the university, endowed for the purpose of educating young men. The officers and governing body are a chancellor, whose functions are almost entirely nominal ; a lord rector, who acts, as it were, as the chief magistrate of the university, and is the guardian of all its rights and privileges ; a principal, who is the resident director of the college, and enforces the observance of a due attention to the rules enacted for the religious, moral, and educational training of the students. The appointment of this officer lies with the crown, and his position is one of very great responsi- bility. He presides at the meeting of the faculty, at which he only has a casting vote. The Dean of Faculties is elected by the Senate, his duty being to give direc- tions concerning the studies to be pursued in each faculty. The professors are divided into regius and college professors, according as they are appointed by the crown or the governing body of the university. Their powers are varied according to the posts which they occupy, and they teach and lecture in four distinct schools of theology, arts, law, and medicine. The students for some few years have averaged from 900 to 1,000 in number. Those who study in the Latin, Greek, ethical, logic, and natural philosophy classes, are called the togati, and wear a red gown, being regarded, as it were, upon the foundation. The non- togati are exempt from all discipline, except that of attendance at their classes, and the obligation of general good behaviour. They are divided into four classes, or "nations," according to the parts of the country from which their members come. Thus, those from Lanark- shire, Renfrew, and Dumbarton form the natio Glottiana, or Clydetdalus ; those from the N. of the Forth and foreigners, the natio Traneforthana, or Albania; those from the Lothians, Stirlingshire, the towns E. of the Urr, Eng- land, and the British colonies, the natio Lotidoniana, or Thevidalia ; those from Argyleshire, Ayrshire, Galloway, the Western Islands, Lennox, and Ireland, the natio Roth- tciana. These "nations" vote at the Comitia, or general meetings of the college for the election of the rector. Upon these occasions, which are annual, there is great excitement among the students when rival candidates f<jr the rectorship are equally, or nearly equally, distin- guished for their birth, talent, or any other circumstance which may give them a claim to hold this honourable office. Among the names of the eminent men who have filled the chair during the present century may be men- tioned those of Lord Jeffrey, Lord Brougham, Campbell, the poet, the Marquis of Lansdowno, Lord Cockburn, the Earl of Derby, Sir Robert Peel, Earl Russell, Lord Macaulay, Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., the Earl of Eglinton, the Duke of Argyll, the Earl of Elgin, and Viscount Palmerstpn. The most valuable exhibitions from Glasgow University are those founded by John Snell, for the purpose of upholding episcopacy in Scot- land. They are worth 132 a year each ; and from another exhibition, founded by John Warner, Bishop of Rochester (1637-1666), 15 is generally added, so that the Snell exhibitioners proceed to Balliol College, Ox- ford, with an allowance of about 150 per annum, tenable for ten years, and forfeited only in case of marriage, any very valuable preferment, or expulsion from the university of Oxford. There are also twenty- nine foundation bursaries, varying in value from about 5 to 50 per annum, and tenable from four to six years ; with valuable prizes, which are distributed annually at the comitia, for merit in the several classes. The university library contains upwards of 70,000 volumes, and additions are being constantly made to this already extensive and important collection. The college itself externally presents to the eye a sober and scholastic appearance. It consists of a long range of buildings on the E. side of the street. Upon entering at the prin- cipal gate, over which are the arms of Charles II., in the first of the five quadrangles or courts of which tho interior consists the visitor will notice a fine old stair- case, and at the northern extremity a gateway leading to an area, in which stands the houses of the professors. Although the buildings of the university are well adapted for their purposes, it cannot, as a whole, lay claim to architectural harmony or beauty, because as the older portions of the edifice have from time to time been necessarily replaced or restored, they have been recon- structed, eithei partially or wholly, in a style different from that of the original buildings, and even in some instances from each other. The genius loci, however, as far as the university is concerned, will soon disappear altogether from this part of the city, for the authorities have prudently purchased the magnificent site of Gilmore Hill for the sum of 65,000, and thither the college and all its belongings will be transferred at the earliest possible date. At the rear of the college stands the Hunterian museum and institution, founded in 1781 by Dr. William Hunter, of Kilbride, who bequeathed to the university his valuable artistic, literary, and anti- quarian collection, with a legacy of 8,000 for the purpose of erecting a repository for then. The money value of this collection is estimated at nearly 150,000, and the public are admitted to view it upon the payment of the fee of one shilling. Besides the college, Glasgow posesses another valuable educational institution in tho Andersonian University, situated in George-street. This was founded in 1796 by Dr. John Anderson, professor of natural philosophy in the college. It received a charter of incorporation from the city magistrates and council, and its functions were originally restricted to the teaching of physical science. In 1800 tho well-known Dr. Birk- beck, who was professor of natural philosophy here, instituted a class expressly for mechanics, and this it is generally thought was the origin of those " mechanics' institutions " which have since been so common through- out the kingdom. In the course of time a library, museum, and class-room were founded, and classes formed for morning and evening study in the various branches of a literary and scientific education, carried on under able and distinguished professors and teachers. The mechanics' institute, which is situated in Bath- street, was founded in 1823, and possesses a good library of about 6,000 books, a commodious reading- room, and a small but valuable collection of philosophical and mechanical tools and apparatus. On its pediment stands a colossal statue of the renowned James Watt. The most ancient educational establishment next to the university is the High school in Montrose-street. It is under the management of certain members of the town council, and education in classics, mathematics, the modern languages, and the various branches of a com- mercial or general education, are taught by competent masters at very moderate fees. Neither this nor any of the public schools in Glasgow are " boarding" schools, the pupils merely going there to attend their several classes, and living wherever they themselves or their friends may choose. Besides the High school there are several other seminaries, such as tho Normal Seminary for the Established Church in the Cowcaddens, and that for the Free Church in tho same district ; the collegiate school on Garnet Hill, and several others both for boys and girls, and the Free Church College, near the West End Park, for the training of students in theology. In fact, Glasgow abounds with educational establishment*, public and private, adapted to the various wants of the