The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-24 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY OP' EDINBURGH.

A public meeting of the University was held on
Monday for the purpose of conferring degrees in
law and arts—Sir David Brewster, Principal and
Vice-Chancellor, presided. Professor Swinton, as
Public Orator, successively presented to the Vice-
Chancellor the Right Hon. Sir John APNeill and
Mr. John Muir, D.C.L., Oxford, as persons deemed
worthy by the Senatus Academicus to receive the
honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D). In
presenting Sir John he said that, having
graduated in medicine at the University of Edin-
burgh at the early age of 19, he sought in the East
a field for his professional attainments, but ulti-
mately exchanged the practice of the physician's
art for the diplomatic service of the State, and dur-
ing long years of perilous adventure, fitly crowned
by his appointment as British Envoy at the
Court of Persia, his zeal, ability, and discretion had
(rained the confidence of the country and the spe-
cial, favour of the Crown. Of the fidelity with
which he had since brought his administrative
talents to the rlisehar^.o
all were aware, andlistory would tell of the dis-
interested devotion to the call of duty with which
he undertook a mission to the camp before Sebas-
topol, and lent the aid of his tried wisdom and ex-
tensive experience in retrieving the disasters of a
suffering army and restoring the confidence of an
anxious nation. (Loud applause.) In presenting
Dr. John Muir, Professor Swinton said that to the
faithful and able discharge of important judicial
functions in India Dr. Muir had added laborious
study of the languages of the East, and that, while
his writings stamped him as one of the first San-
scrit scholars of the age, they were no less com-
mendable as endeavours to overthrow Hindoo myth-
ology and to indoctrinate the native mind with the
truths of Christianity. The degrees having been
conferred by Sir David Brewster, Professor Swin-
ton said he had hoped to present on this occasion
Mr. Stirling, of Kier, M.P., a gentleman widely
known for his successful prosecution of interesting
historical researches, and for the taste and discri-
mination with which he had illustrated an impor-
tant period in the progress of art. His genius and
learning had twice recommended him to the office
of a public commissioner for the improvement of
the academic institutions of Scotland, and the same
Iqualities had made him a fit exponent of the unani-
mous opinibn of the educated classes of Scotland in
favour of the extension of Parliamentary represen-
tation to the members of the Scotch universities.
Devotion to this question having prevented Mr.
Stirling's presence, the Senatus Academicus had
unanimously agreed to confer on him, by special
diploma, the degree which he could not personally
receive at their hands. (Applause.) The next cere-
mony was the graduation in arts of 62 young gen-
tlemen, the largest number of candidates for degree
that have offered themselves for a century and a-
half. Twenty-eight took the degree of Master of
Arts, and 34 the degree of Bachelor. They were
addressed by Professor Frazer, who adverted
to the circumstance that this was a revival of the
scenes that took place in the early history of the
university when from 50 to 100 graduates were
often received in a single year, when the number of
students was less than a half of what it now was.
In the 18th century and up to the passing of the
recent act the privilege of graduation almost ceased
to be sought after, owing no doubt to the want of
that self-governing power which the Scottish uni-
versities had since secured, and owing to the cir-
cumstance that hitherto graduation possessed no
privileges, whereas now the graduates were orga-
nised in a body as a general council to consult on
the affairs of the university, and hoped soon to
obtain the further privilege of a representative in
Parliament, which the Scotch universities could no
longer remain destitute of if this part of the United
Kingdom was to have its share in the intellectual
influence which the universities possessed in the
Legislature.

THIS BAY'S MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

The supply of English wheat on sale here to-day was on
the usual small scale, but the samples on the whole were
in tolerably dry condition. Good and' fine qualities moved
off steadily at full quotations; otherwise the trade ruled
heavy at about previous rates.
We have to report a large arrival of foreign wheat, and
sales progressed slowly in all descriptions at Monday's
currency. _ .

Floating cargoes of grain were much neglected, yet there
is no quotable change to notice in their value.

Fine malting barley met a steady sale at quite previous
rates, but all other kinds were much neglected.
Malt changed hands to a limited extent, on former terms.
The oat trade was very firm, and the quotations lied an
upward tendency.

Beaus and grey peas fully supported Monday's advance
of is per qr.
White peas ruled dull.

Both English and foreign flour was in limited request at
[ate rates.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Who It. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
mrlish.• ••• • • • 580 ( 330 1,230 , 13W
Irish — j 130 , •
F0reign........ 20,620 j 7,340 I,KO sack