The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-15 00:00:00

lN STA LLATION OF Slit it. PEEL AS
LORD RECTOR DI? GLASGOW UNIVERSITY.

( From Merning" Advertiser.)
GLASGOW, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JAN. 11

This ceremony took place this day in the Common
1-lall of the University, the doors of which were opened
at one o'clock ; the galleries were crowded with those
who were so fortunate as to procure tickets ; one of
them having been appropriated to ladies, and the other
to gentlemen. Shortly after one o'cicck the students
wereadmitted to the Hall, and they amused themselves
until the commencement of the ceremony by yain,
and pelting each other with peas ; this responsible
constituency appears to be composed of uncouth-look-
ing urchins, varying in age from 10 to about 15 year; ;
and, certainly, if we are to draw any conclusion
from the exhibition they made to-day, it must be that
propriety of demeanour does not farm any portion of
the University course of study. Shortly after two
o'clock, Sir Robert Peel entered the hall in his robes
of o'fice, preceded by the Chamberlain of the Univer-
sity, bearing the mace. Sir Robert took his seat at
the head of the table prepared for the occasion, which
was raised upon a stage. At his right sat Mr. Camp-
] ell, of Blytheswootr, the Dean of Faculty ; and on
h s left, Principal M'Farlane ; at each side of the
table were placed the Professors of the University. In
the gallery, generally occupied by the Professors, we
observed Lord Melville, Lord Meadowbank, Sir
William Rae, Sir George Clerk, Sir Archibald Camp-
bell, Lord Justice Clerk, Duncan iVFNeill, Esq.,
&c &c.

After the officers of the University were assembled
the Principal pronounced a prayer in Latin, and the
Clerk of the University, Professor Meickleham, read
the minute of the election of Sir Robert Peel, as Lord
Rector. Sir Robert then subscribed the usual oath,
and this portion of the ceremony having concluded
amidst loud cheers and partial disapprobation, the
Right Hon. Baronet rose, and spoke to the following,
effect

" Principal, Professors, and Students—l gladly avail
myself of this opportunity of personally and publicly ex-
pressing the gratification which I derived from my appoint-
ment to the office on the duties of which I have just en-
tered. I might have hesitated voluntarily to present myself
as a candidate for that office, not from unbecoming indif-
ference to the distinction which it confers, but partly from
disinclination to interfere with the pretensions of others,
and reluctance to add to the pressure of those duties which
in public and private life I am called upon to perform.—
(Cheers.) But when I received the unexpected intelli-
gence that my election had actually taken place—had
taken place under circumstances which had spared me the
painfulness of voluntary competition, and relieved me al-
together from the anxieties, and, perhaps, asperities, that
are incident to a contest, I required no advice—l asked
for no time to consider—l acted upon the impulse of feel-
ings that were better counsellors than doubt and delibera-
tion ; and I resolved at once to justify the generous con-
fidence which had tendered me this high trust, and which
must have anticipated my acceptance of it.—{Loud cheers.)
I do accept it, grateful for the kindness which has conferred
it—(Cheers)--proud of the relation in which I stand to this
venerable seat of learning—(Cheers)—anxious to discharge
with fidelity and zeal the duties which that relation
may involve—(Cheers)—and not merely those duties : if I
can extend the sphere of usefulness beyond the proper func-
tions of this office—if there be any other capacity in which
my services can be made available—they shall be freely
tendered—(Cheers)—for the promotion of every just and
useful privilege to which the University can lay claim, and
for the promotion and maintenance of its true and perma-
nent interests.—(Loud cheers.) The state of this Uni-
versity and of the other Universities of Scotland has re-
cently undergone visitation and inquiry by a Commission
which owed its appointment to advice humbly tendered by
me to the Crown.—(Cheers.) Various suggestions have
been offered in the report of that Commission concerning
the revenues, the government, and discipline of the Uni-
versity, and the intervention of Parliament will, I presume,
be requisite, in order to give effect to such of those
suggestions as it shall be thought fitting to adopt.—
(Cheers.) You will not expect from me at the very outset
of my connection with the University, the declaration of a
formed and positive opinion upon matters so intimately
affecting its welfare. I should not mark my respect for
you, I should not justify the confidence you have reposed
In me, were I to content myself with merely ascertaining
the prevailing or popular opinion of the day, promising a
blind subscription to it ; or were I to regard solely temporary
interests, and pledge myself to their exclusive protection.
I shall best maintain the dignity of this office—l shall best
consult your true interest—l shall most certainly secure
your lasting favour, by exercising an impartial independent
judgment—( Loud cheers)—by weighing maturely each sug-
gestion of improvement, and the evidence or reasoning by
which it is supported, not merely by regarding the abstract
merits of the isolated proposal, but viewing it by reference
to the whole scheme of academical education in Scotland,
its connection with the means of preliminary instruction
—its adaptation to the state of manners and society in
Scotland—its capacity for supplying those acquirements,
and that description of knowledge, which shall best ensure
the success and eminence of those for whom academical in-
struction is intended.—(Cheers.) Be assured, however,
that I shall enter upon the consideration of these important
matters with a strong prepossession that (speaking gene-
rilly) the scheme of academical education adopted in the
Universities of Scotland, modified as it gradually has
bean, according to the changes in the state of society, and
the new demands for knowledge, is admirably adapted
to the great ends for which it is designed,—(Loud cheers.)
I see in it a scheme in conformity with the suggestion of
Lord Bacon, that makes learning subservient to action—
that does not at all partake of a professional character—
that embraces all distinctions and classes of society—that
qualifies those of the highest rank for the public duties
they will have to perform—that offers to men engaged
in business, and even advanced in life, the opportunity
of ascertaining the progressive discoveries of science, and
the applicability of those discoveries to their respective
circumstances—that offers also to those whose pecuniary
means are the most restricted those benefits of an enlightened
education, and the rewards of literary distinction .—( Cheers.
Be assured that I shall also enter upon the consideration of
them with a firm conviction that the relation in which the
Universities stand towards the Established Church of Scot-
land, ought to be maintained with scrupulous fidelity. I
shall not be acting in conformity with established usage—l
should still be less acting in union with Env own feelings—if
I did not on this occasion address myself immediately to
those who are pursuing their studies within these walls.
Yes, let me, who have not survived my sympathies with the
feelings and aspirations of academic youth—who have drunk
from the same pure springs from which you are allaying the
thirst for knowledge—who have felt the glow of your emu-
lation, and have panted, like you, fir academic distinction—
At me, after being engaged in the active scenes of public life,
and buffeted by the storms and contentions of party—let me
bring the living testimony of practical experience to confirm
the truth of those precepts—to enforce those exhortations
which you hear from tho higher authority of the distinguished
men of whom your instruction is the immediate and peculiar
province.—(Cheers.) Let me assure you with all the earnest-
ness of the deepest conviction, founded on the opportunities
of observation which public life, and intercourse with the
world, have afforded, that your success, your eminence,
your happiness, are much more independent of the accidents
and caprices of fortune, infinitely more within your own
controul, than they appear to be to observers.—(Cheers.)
There lies before you a boundless field of exertion. What-
ever be your pursuit, whatever be the profession which you
may choose, the avenues to honourable fame are open to
you, or at least are obstructed by no barriers of which you
may not command the key —( Loud dicers.) Does the
study of theology engage your attention—is the office of
the sacred Ministry to be your destination—to what nobler
aim can you dedicate your faculties and acquirements than
to vindicate the great principles of our common faith—to
defend them from the assaults of infidelity—to establish
them on the only authority on which the spirit of free in-
quiry will allow them to rest—the authority of scriptural
truth ?—(Loud and continued cheering.) But be not
content with mediocrity. Aspire to that eminence which
has been attained by the great preachers, the honoured
champions, of the Protestant rertein. Why should you
despair of attaining it? Bring to your sacred functions
the spirit by which they were animated—lay in the same
stores of professional learning—make them available by the
same simplicity of style and energy of expression. Above
all, enforce the precept; you inculcate by the highest
argument, the pure example of your own lives, and de-
spair not of exercising a moral influence like that which
they exaicised, and founding a reputation lasting as theirs.
—(Loud cheering.) In the commanding authority of
your station, in the frequent opportunities for the pub-
lic exertion of your powers, in the eagerness with which men
will listen to truths that concern their eternal interests, if
they be not enforced, as they too frequently are not, with
the same measure of earnestness, of ability, and of elo-
quence with which their worldly interests are defended—in
these pursuits you will find all that can satis'y the highest
ambition for honourable fame.—(Cheers,.)—ls science
N our pursuit—the great ocean of truth, to quote the ex-

Pression of the illustrious Newton—the great ocean of

truth lies before you. "I do not know," said he, " what I
„ „riam.eißpear to the world, but to myself I seem to have
r :'_ileti-unky like a boy playing on the sea-shore, fiuding some-
times a brihter pebble or a smoother shell than ordinary,
while the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before