The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-14

almost the verge of the known world. [Hear, hear
Here however, Nicholas the Fifth determined to found
university and he declared that this university should
possess the same privileges those which belonged 10
the University of Bologna. Gentlemen, | can conceive
that passing smile frightened over The Pontlns lace as
he named, in uxtaposton, Bologna and Glasgow
I[Cheers and laughterl AT Bologna he himself had
studied No part OF Europe owed more either 10 nature
of corn fields and vineyards, lying beneath the
sun of the south 1t governed by the great house of
Pentivoglio, which Wed with the great house of the
NIedics-which enriched the seat Of its power with tenn
pies and palaces and munhceniy paronlzed letters and
the arts.
II was what he would have called obscure and
town. and he would perhaps, have added that it would
never become anything else IT lay upon soil sterile
| and under sky SO incemen-a soil and a sky which
would have made an Italian shudder. laugh But
it is not upon the soil the atmosphere that the great
ness and prosperity of nations depend [Cheers Slavery
and superstition make the country OF the Campagna
land OF beggars [Cheersl But is not beyond the
power of human intelligence and energy, developed by
pestlenta marshes into busy cities and smiling gardens
lCheersl Enlightened your founder was he little
knew that he himself the chief agent in great
luton, moral and physical, political and relgious-n
revolution which destined to make the first last and
the last hrst~n revolution which was destined com
Petely to nver the relative position OF Glasgow and Bo
lOgna. [Hear.1 do not know that we can better
poy few moments than in tracing the progress of that
revolution to which country and your university
SO much. That review shall be very short; indeed
do better than pass rapidly from centenary
period to another Look at the world one hundred years
after the seal of Nicholas had been aft ed to that nstru-
ment which called your university into existence We
find Europe and Scotland going through the agones OF
that great revolution which we emphatcally call the
Reformation [Hear, hear The maniticent patronage
on learning-and of which the creation of this seat of
education is not one of the least remarkable proofshad
produced effect of which they never dreamed Igno-
rance had been the tasman of their power and that tai
isman they themselves had broken Hear. hear They
had called up knowledge handmade to decorate
superstition and the event was such as it has always
| bapn anda he LENS min rpfra ahat hV tho
best literature of Greece and Rome grew strong for
the trammels of scholastic theology need not, of
learning, and of Greek learning particular the Human
lists, they called, bore in the great struggle for
spiritual freedom. They the great leaders Of the
movement Need mention, in a Scottish University.
the names of Knox, of Buchanan, of Melville and,
may say, of Maitland, of Lething,on' That, in truth,
every great Reformer Humanst, and every great
Humanst in the north of Europe was according to the
measure of his courage and uprightness, Reformer.
Cheers Their influence not as it might have
been in early ages confined to the highly educated class
TO which they themselves belonged; for printing had
brough books within the reach of every ploughman and
every artisan Thus there was, from the Mediterranean
to the Frozen Sea, general agitation in the public mind
Of Europe; and this agitation nowhere greater and
stronger than it was here. twas in the midst of
yrdoms and proscriptons-in the thick of the of
truth against power that the first century of your unver
sy's existence closed [Cheersl Pass another centu-
ry and you are in the midst of another revolution The
mated by the victory of Professionalism, but the result had
given birth TO warthat between Prelacy and Puri.
tanism [Hear] Each Of the hostile religious sects be.
came allied to- ntermingled with. COMPOUNDED WITH po-
hca party. The monarchcal element of the constitution
was NEST warmly espoused by the Preatist the popular
element OF the constitution regarded with especial
ondness by the Puritan. Then appeal to the sword
took place Puritanism triumphed but it divi-
ded against itself Independents and republicans ranged
themselves side, Presb and Limited Mon
archy men embraced the other.
1t was at the very darkest moment OF that dark time
IN the midst OF battles seges and executions when all
Europe still standing aghast the recent spectacle
of British King standing before the judgment seat and
laying bs neck upon block-it when the man
gled remains of the Dake of Hamilton had just been laid
Montrose had just been placed over the Tobooth of Edn
burgh-hat the second century of your university exist
enee terminated hs Hear hsar Another hundred
OF happier days The price with which civil and
islous Liberties had been paid was fearful price; but
these liberties had been actually bought-the price had
been actually paid. The last British rebellion was over
the last battle had been fought British ground-the
asst black scafold had been set up on Tower hill. The
evil days were over and bright and Tranquil century
century OF oleatlon, OF domestic peacea century of
temperate freedom and of equal justice was beginning
That century closes this year; and when welook back
on IT, and compare 1t with any equally long period in the
history OF any other great nation, shall find abundant
cause for gratitude to the Gver of all Good. [Hear,
hear And nowhere gentlemen, should that feeling be
stronger than here for the whole kingdom doubt
whether there be any regisn which has shared large
y IN the blessing of that progress has Clydeslale
prosperity OF your city and your neighborhood. The
same tranquility and security which have been proptious
10 OF the merchant oil the
have been less propous the industry of the scholar
TO the last century belong ALL but the greater part of
those names which constitute the boast of The Universe
ty. Time would fail me to recount every one of
the eminent who within that period, had taught or
heard wisdom within these ancient walls. They were
natural philosophers moral philosophers metaphy
Jurlsts, pholOglsts poets. There Simpson and
Miller Young and Reid Stewart and Black, whose dis
coveries constituted in chemical science Adam
Smith, whose doctrines constituted in political
science, and James Watt-[oud cheers].-who, per.
haps, did more than any Bacon wrote the New
Atlantis, to accomplish the glorious prophecy contained
IN that wonderful volume. Loud cheers] | may add
another hame-a final nane-that of Thomas Campbell.
Cheers was one OF those who, not long ago. follow
ed ms COLIN to the grave, that ilustrious ransept
where me ashes OF Chaucer of Spenser and of Dryden
laid. lHear, hear. and sensaton.l will not carry the
enumeration further. | think [ have said enough to
justify boast that Glasgow need fear no comparison
even with Bologna Hear and laugh
Another century Is now about to commence-it is
about to commence, many will tell you under melan-
choly auspcesbut from me you must expect no such
gloomy representations | have heard them too long
and too constantly to be scared by them. Since first
began to observe the state of my country, have been
seeing nothing but growth and hearing of nothing but
decay Loud cheers.1 But the more and the longer
contemplate our institutions, the firm becomes my
conviction that they sound heart, and that they
have nothing OF age-save lis dignity. [Cheers Their
strength is still the strength of youth We still see them
politics lie in heaps Of ruin around [Cheers The
hurricane which has recently overthrown so much which
great, and which seemed durable has only proved
their soldy. and doubt that by pursu-
ing good, and wise, and temperate pocy-a policy of
which the principle shall be preserve what is good by