The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-01 00:00:00

: Ncrws FAvAyit
--f7-.7.-.7.1,7f
,14.7/ ---.7.-.7;:k.i'''t!'::,',•ll,-zt
wag not yet blessed with the rays of ChritstiWON no! -7,--'''' \-e\`44
need not point out to you, for that task et..4",-S , '
-, 1,g4
)
men who can speak with far greater wei liii -fa-...•":4F sl'imi
rity—l need not refer to the fact—for yop - e sr'''.-1.,,,5c
have a source of consolation that Qeintilian nevtiekne
—that you, in the hour of bereavement, may roal foM' S
Nar to a happy reunion, which the blessed truths of
Revelation have pointed out to you. Sill, while belling
fast by this, by far the most important aid in sorrow, do
not, at the same time, in a lower sphere, despise that aid
which study and literature can supply. (Applause.)
What I have said of sorrow may also be applied with
equal truth to periods of sickness. The differecca in this
case may be observed in all ranks and conditions of so-
clay. We often see a labourer barred by sickness from
his usual labour. How great the difference between
man and man here ! The illiterate labourer will turn
aside if you offer him a book, and will tell you he is no
scholar ; and he will sit day by day, till his strength
re turn, gazing listlessly into the fire, or wondering at
the state of the weather outside his cottage ; while the
intelligent mechanic or labourer to whom you may have
the pl-asure of lending some agreeabho book will End in
it a source of consolation, and it will wile away the time
till health and strength are restored. And in those of
higher education, how often do we find their sentiments
expressed in vivid terms of the inestimable advantage
thus supplied by subjects of study when heilth admits,
and by lighter literature when the mind is incapacitated
for that. I feel tempted on this subject to read some
sentences to you from an American author of the
highest genius—Washington Irving—(cheers)—who
says this in praise of one of whom you are justly
iiroud in Scotland, I mean Sir Walter Scott.
(Cheers.) See how Washington Irving sums up
his visit to Abbotsford :—"For my own part, in
periods of dej,ction, when everything round me was
joyless, I have hailed the announcement of a new work
row his pen as an earnest of certain pleasure in store for
me, and have looked forward to it as a traveller on a
waste looks to a green spot at a distance, where he feels
assured of solace and refreshment. When I consider
how much he has thus contributed to the better hours
of my past existence, and how independent his works
mill aiake me, at times, of all the world for my evjoy-
meet, I bless my stars that cast my lot in his days, to
be thus cheesed and gladdened by the outpourings of his
genius." (Applause.) That, gentlemen, is a tribute
that any American may be proud to offer, and that any
Seen:Anan, may be proud to hear. (Cheers.) Gentle-
men in the scenes of active life tlat are opening before
you, the choice of study is, in a great measure, indicated
by the nature of the profession you may choose. It is
clear you need no admonition to show that your first ef-
forts must be directed to those studies upon which your
professional skill and success depend. That, of course,
must be your first aim, but I think that you will find it
no unprofitable counsel if I advise you, so far as leisure
admits, to take some subject of study subordinate to
your professional studies—some other subject to which
taste may incline you, and to devote to the acquisition
of information on that favourite subject whatever hours
of isuscro you can command. I am inclined to think
that you will find this in the long run more interesting
than general reading—that is reading which passes in
succession from one subject to anether. Those who pur-
sue such a course will be apt to find themselves
"In wandering msz,:'s lost."
I am inclined to think you will find more real pleasure
and improvement if—subordinate to your professional
studies, as I said before—you select some point of fur-
ther study to which your fancy leads, and then read upon
that subject, so that everything that comes forth upon it
will be an addition to your own knowledge, and you will
know precisely how much is known upon it, and how
much remains unknown. (Cheers.) I am inclined to think
by a more vagi ant style of reading—if I may so call it—
reading so many subjects you will feet interest in none.
By concentrating your attention upon one, you will se•
cure by that greater interest and pleasure to your future
than you can attain by any other means. (Cheers.) In
fact, gentlemen, when we look around us, and see the
multiplicity of subjects to which attention may be drawn,
you will feel that even, as I have now put the question,
the choice before you is vast indeed. See how the field
of human knowledge is extended. Within the last 50
years there is scarce s branch of knowledge, even is
those which have been explored for hundreds of years—
classical learning, for example—which has not received
some new and important additions. But not only this :
e may be said that new sciences have been discovered.
Who, 70 or 80 years ago, thought or heard of the name
of Geology I or of men like Cuvier, who by their genius
have brought back to us the forms of long extinct aei.•
male, and the state of the earth as it might have existed
thousands of years ego. (Cheers.) Who could have
imagined that in art such vast resources should have
been opened up to us, as, for instance, the now familiar
science of photography supplies ! Who would have
imagined that railways, which have enabled us at so
quick a rate to have communication with all parts of the.
country, would become a study of well-regulated curio-
sity, or that the instantaneous power of transmission
which we possess in the electric telegraph should be im
parted to the whole of the people who now crowd those
busy shores ? (Applause.) Therefore, gentlemen, you
have reason to congratulate yourselves upon the advance
of human knowledge in the present age. Yet let me
advise you not to look back to the age which preceded
this with feelings of scorn. That age contained men
who—though many of their opinions were erroneous,
had that zeal and energy, and that faith in their own
opinions which entitle them to your lasting respect.
When, therefore, you think in your own day of the
eminent philosophers who have done so much to
raise the scientific character, and extend the scien-
tific powers of England and Scotland, remember
that in the last age—much as we may differ
from their erroneous opinions, we are not to speak
without respect of the gallantry and devotion which
glowed in the heartsof a Glengarry and a Lochiel. (Loud
applause.) Depend upon it, many of your own country
men in the last century deserve respect for their ardour
and perseverance in carrying out these opinions, even
though erroneous—in suffering exile, imprisonment, and
death, rather than relinquish them. And, in saying
this, I cannot but remember that the name of the col-
lege in which I have the honour to address you suggests
that of the last Earl Marshal. (Applause.) That ac-
complished man—the kinsman of your founder—rather
than renounce his opinions, or be unfaithful to them,
endured 40 years exile, and the confiscation of his pro-
perty ; cheer,d at last by the friendship of the King of
Prussia, and with the returning respect of his country-
men at a later time (Applause.) Therefore, in admit-
Cog hew much scientific progress has been made, I yet
warn you against uudervaluiug that spirit of your coun-
trymen which, though it flowed in a wrong direction,
was yet directed to a high, and noble, and chivalrous
object, such as Scotchaaen, though they may differ from
it, must acknowledge to be worthy of esteem and vene-
ration. (Applause.) And I have often thought that, in
referring to those times, it is not merely the great chief-
tain that deserves especial recollection ; but that a
greater 'need of pity still is due to those followers who
found no favour and no patrimony abroad to cheer them,
but only an unfriendly exile. In the words of one of
them—

" Now all is done that man could do,
And all is done in vain."
With that melancholy feeling many of them left these
shores. How happy are we in these days when no such
causes of difference exist—when all join in one cordial
feeling of respect, reverence, and allegiance towards the
il:ustrious lady who now fills the throne of these reaoluiinsg.
(Loud cheer,,)
,Gentlemen, you are now, or soon,egt:
.ng
forth into active life. There is always se h
thoughtful—something that disposes to
bearneststeen those
reflec-
tion—in the communion cf mind,
and one who
hwhoas aalrreeaednyterpi It is natural
say sadly—than at
shall be looked at
natural at my age that many t
ansgsedthietsvemrgeerido
iftahnmi
nagpans: hiracoooe.c7
-0 estimating your future pro-
yours. Yet I confess that,ril
view them as hopefully and as
spec;s, I am disposed
more seriously—l might almost
to
oewhen I see around me so many
confidently as you can
stalwart frames and ardent spirits—so many young men
trained with somoth care for the commonweal—for the
service
in after years of their Sovereign and country.
may, in these future endeavours, all success attend you I
May the name of Scotchmen, in your keeping, continue
to be held in high honour amidst all the nations of the
world, as up to this time it has been ! And if, in the days
of your matured success, your thoughts ever wander
back to this day, and to him who, through your favour,
fills the principal place in it, think of him—by that time
perhaps passed away from this mortal scene—as of one
who, while he lived, never ceased to entertain a warm
sense of your kindness, and a lively interest in your
prosperity and welfare ! (Loud applause.)
Principal DEWAR having pronounced the benediction,
the assembly gradually dispersed.
In the afternoon the studenls entertained Lord Stan-
hope at a banquet in the County-room, which was largely
attended.

On Friday his lordship was presented with the freedom
of the city.

HOLIDAYS AT THEI LAW OFFICES.—To-day, (Thurs-
day), on tke closing of the Judges' Chambers and other
law offices of the Common Law Courts, the holidays
commence, The offices will reopen on Wednesday next.