moved to incarcerate her lodger. When the fact of the would-be traitor's imprisonment became known, his friends lost no time in liquidating the score for which he was confined, but when the turnkey intimated that he was at liberty to choose another domicile, he point blank refused to budge an inch. "It had cost hin a sair fecht," he said, "to get into the "heart o' Mid Lothian, and Deil tak' him if he would leave it in sic a hurry!" day afternoon, he wandered into the Secession meeting-house in Nicholson street, of which the learned Adam Gib was pastor, and enthroned himself in one of the front seats of the gallery. Overcome by the heat of the weather, an unusu ally large per centage of the congregation made a temporary emigration into the land of Nod, and so great did the defection at length become, that the preacher deemed it necessary to take In this predicament the prison authorities were special notice thereof. Arousing the slumberers forced to resort to stratagem, in order to get by some energetic blows upon the boards of the quit of their ludicrously obtrusive guest. One pulpit Bible, the irate theologian expatiated upon morning two soldiers of the Town Guard entered the backsliding of which the delinquents had the Laird's cell, and told him that they were combeen guilty. "Is it not," he said in conclusion; missioned to convey him to the High Court of "Is it not a black and a blistering shame, that Justiciary, where the Judges were assembled in you have all been snoring for the last ten min order to try him for the crime of high treason.- utes, with the exception of that poor idiot?" With all the alacrity of a bridegroom summoned Nettled at this somewhat pointed reference to to lead his fair one to the altar, the devoted Rob himself, the Laird started up, and brandishing his ertson sallied forth in custody of his escort.- cane, exclaimed with an oath, "If I hadna' been Alas! his hopes of obtaining the crown of politi-a puir idiot, I wud hae been snoring wi' the cal martyrdom, were doomed to be bitterly laive!" quenched! No sooner had he reached the door of the jail, than he was pushed out with an emphasis which precipitated him into the centre of the causeway, and his beloved bastile was closed against him forever! Abandoning the Utopian dream of getting himself hanged, the Laird betook himself to the solacement of carving in wood, for which, as it would appear, he had a natural aptitude. Being of a philanthropic disposition, he manufactured large quantities of "tee-totums," and such-like juvenile toys, which he freely dispensed to the rising generation, by a numerous train of whom he was usually followed when he made his appearance in public. Robertson's cherished occupation, however, was carving likenesses of his favourites, and caricatures of parties he deemed his enemies, which he stuck on the top of his cane, and exhibited to the public as he walked along. These effigies had generally a sufficient resemblance to the originals to enable them to be recognised without much difficulty. When any one seemed at a loss to make out the portrait of the day, the Laird used to hold it close to his eye, and exclaim, "Div ye no ken- -ye doited, blin' gowk?" It was of the Laird of Kincraigie that a story was originally told which has been often repeated, without his being named as the hero thereof. In the same picture which contains the likeness of Mr. Robertson, Kay has introduced a brace of other personages, viz., Doctors Glen and Graham. ་་ The latter was a notorious charlatan, who made himself conspicuous by a novel method of treating the various ills to which human flesh is heir. His system consisted in burying his patients up to the chin in earth which he called, giving them a suck of their mother." To demonstrate his faith in the remedy which he preached, Graham was in the habit of "planting" himself in a public garden, and whilst in that position lecturing for several consecutive hours to a select audience of disciples and admirers. Dr. Glen was an Edinburgh medico, more renowned for his avarice than professional skill. When at the age of seventy, he felt inclined to become a benedict, and paid his addresses to a young maiden who had not parted company with her "teens." The damsel, as might have been anticipated, was not over-eager to grant the suit of her antiquated swain, and only consented to make him happy on his stipulating to provide her with a carriage. The Doctor religiously kept his word, but kept it somewhat too literally to the letter. When the knot was tied he presented his better-half with a chariot, according to paction, but no solicitation could persuade him to add hor ses. The quadrupeds were "not in the bond," and consequently never were forthcoming. Though as an uncompromising Jacobite, he belonged to the Scottish Episcopal Church, James occasionally found his way into a "crap-lugged It so happened that the Doctor being troubled conventicle," as he uniformly designated every with sore eyes, put himself under the care of Gra non-prelatic place of worship. One sultry Sun-ham, who had the chance to effect a cure. Glen being at a loss how to remunerate his professional brother for his services, consulted some of the junior members of the faculty as to the most genteel way of doing so. The waggish sons of Galenus advised him to invite the "earth physician" and a few of his own friends to dinner at a fashionable tavern, and then and there offer him a purse of thirty guineas. This donative, they assured him, Graham would, as a matter of course, decline to accept, and thus he would gain all the credit of doing a handsome thing at little cost. Glen followed their counsel, but to his measureless astonishment and chagrin, Graham, when tendered the purse coolly pocketed the same as a matter of course. In the engraving to which I am referring, the Laird with a sardonic chuckle takes off his bonnet and holds up a carved head of Graham as he passes Glen, who looks most pertinaciously in another direction, clenching his fist all the while. Before leaving Laird Robertson I may mention a smart saying of his which was narrated to me by Mr. Dirlton. The Hon. Henry Erskine one day as he was entering the Parliament House, where the Scottish Supreme Law Courts are held, chanced to fall in with Kincraigie who like "poor Peter Peebles" was a great frequenter of that litigious locality. Erskine, who was well acquainted with the original, inquired how he was. "Oo, no that ill,' was the response-"but I hae a sma' favour to ask you, this braw saft morning, Just tak' in Justice wi you, (pointing to one of the statues over the old porch of the Parliament House,) She has lang been standing on the ootside, Harry, and it wad be a treat for her to see the inside, like other strangers!" By this time a goodly number of the brethren of the Haggis Club had developed themselves, and to all of them I was introduced by my friend in due form. With comparatively few exceptions, they pertained to the old school, and consequently their reminiscenses had mainly reference to men and things which had become matter of history and tradition. Many of them had been clerks to judges and lawyers who had long ceased to figure upon this mundane stage, and some of their notices of these worthies struck me as being worthy of preservation. From Mr. Cuthbert Keelevine, in particular, I gleaned one or two sappy and appetizing items. Mr. Keelevine had attained the age of eighty years, and yet was still as "straight as a rush," to use a common saying. Being a Tory to the back-bone (that wishy-washy non-descript called Conservatism, had not then been kittled!) he scorned to give way to the degeneracies of modern costume, and sported his hair powder and tie as he had been wont to do half a century before. The rest of his outfit was of corresponding antiquity, and altogether he had hugely the flavour of a venerable family-portrait which, becoming animated, had stepped forth from its canvas, in order to see how the world did wag! Observing that my attention was taken up by the pictorial adornments of the club room, Mr. Keelevine observed, "Ay Mr. Powhead, mony o' the personages that puir Kay drew, and like him now under the mools, were weel known to me, when this auld coat was new! "There for instance-is Hugo Arnot, the Advocate, and historian of Edinburgh, just drawn to the very life! The exact man is before you! There he was as a stuffed eel, which made Erskine remark when he once met him eating a dried spelding (Hugo was unco' fond o' speldings!) I am glad to see you, looking so like your meat!' "With all his oddities and eccentricities Arnot was the the very soul o' honour and integrity, and would nae mair think o' taking a dirty cause in hand, than he would of picking a pocket. Indeed there is but scanty difference between the twa things! "On one occasion a case was submitted to his consideration which was very far removed from the confines o' equity and fair dealing. When the client had told his story Hugo looked at him with a grave and stern countenance and asked, Pray sir, what do you take me to be? Why! answered the intending litigant-"I understand you to be a lawyer!' The wrathful advocate opened the door of his consulting chamber, and pointing to the stair exclaimed, 'I thought sir, you took me for a scoundrel?"" Directing my notice to another figure in the same sketch Mr. Cuthbert continued: "You see here an excellent likeness o' Henry Home, Lord Kames one o' the greatest masters o' jurispru dence that ever adorned the Scottish Bench. Like the majority o' his judicial and forensic brethren, he possessed a strong unction o' originality, tinctured wi' what the milk sops o' the present day would characterise as coarseness. "Brawly do I mind the manner in which he took leave o' his fellow-judges, and professional friends, when retiring frae the station which he had adorned sae lang. Wi' a power and pathos which brought tears into the eyes o' a' that heard him, he dwelt upon his advanced years, his declining faculties, and the momentous appearance which he was sae soon to mak before the tribunal o' the Almighty. Ye wad hae thought baith purse and body were the better in conse that it was some grand auld Roman that was rolling out the magnificent and classic sentences. Having concluded his address, which was listened to in breathless silence; the abdicating judge retired and divested himself o' the silken robe which he was never mair to wear. Before finally leaving the Parliament House, however, he could not resist once again taking a look at the scene where he had spent sae mony happy hours. Opening the door which communicated with the Bench, occupied by his quondam associates who still sat absorbed in the solemnity o' the occasion, he glanced at the mournful group and exclaimed in his broad, ringing Scotch dialect-'Fare ye a' weel ye!' Puir Kames! he was dead and buried within ten days frae that date." Just as Mr. Keelevine had concluded the above recital, one of the younger members took his departure, observing, by way of excuse for flitting so prematurely that he was engaged to be present at an evening party in the New Town. This intimation was receved with a shaking of heads by the Seniors, several of whom scrupled not to declare that the idea of going to a ladies gathering when it was close upon the "chap" of eleven, was preposterous in the extreme. "It was widely different in my younger days" -observed one of the convocation who had been introduced to me as McSkriech of Skire, a Fifeshire Laird, rendered a trifle misanthropical by the gout in his senectitude-"It was different entirely when I was in the habit of mixing in fashionable society! At orra times, I grant, a wheen young birkies, who took a pride in suffering the maut to get aboon the meal, used to keep up their jinks frae sunset to cock craw, but the womenkind seldom transgressed cannie elders hours! Mony a tea party, for instance, have I attended when a Laddie, given by the mother of the late Sir William Forbes, the great banker. Lady Forbes, I need hardly say, had the best blood of Scotland in her veins, being a member of the ancient Monimusk family, and moved in the very first circles. She inhabited a small house in Forester's Wynd, consisting of a single floor, and which I will be bound to say would be considered vulgar by the tailors and pawnbrokers of this upsetting generation! Her routes, as they were termed, generally assembled at five o'clock in the afternoon, and by nine, or may be half an hour later, the langest tarrying of the guests had taken their departure. Of course young, whatshis-name, that has just left us would turn up his nose at such hours, as being pestilently ungenteel, but ae thing is clear beyond dubitation that quence. Nerves and consumptions were then far frae being such aristocratic ailments as they have now become, and the number of bankrupt. cies likewise proportionably small." A hearty amen was epilogued to this commendation of primitive times, by the sympathetic Cuthbert Keelevine, who craved permission from the Club to read certain verses by Alexander Boswell of Auchinleck, bearing upon the matter in hand. They formed part of a kind of town eclogue in which a farmer who knew Edinburgh in a past age, is supposed to commune regarding its modern changes with a city acquaintance. Thus they ran! "Hech! what a change hae we now in this town. A'now are braw lads, the lassies a' glancin'; Folk maun be dizzy gaun aye in this roun', For deil a hae't's done now but feastin' and dancin'. "Gowd's no that scanty in ilk siller poch, When ilka bit laddie maun hae his bit staigie ; But I kent the day when there was na' a Jock, But trotted about upon honest shank's naigie. "Little was stoun then and less gaed to waste, Barely a moollin for mice or for rattens; The thrifty gude wife to the fleshmarket paced, Her equipage a'-just a gude pair o' pattens. "Folk were as good then, and friends were as leal Though coaches were scant, wi' their cattle a' cantrin': Right aire we were tell't by the housemaid or chiel, Sir, an ye please, here's yer lass and a lantern'. "The town may be cloutit and pieced till it meets, A' neebors benorth and besouth without haltin' Brigs may be biggit ower lums and ower streets, The Nor Loch itsel' heap'd as high as the Calton. "But whar is true friendship and whar will you see A' that is gude, honest', modest, and thrifty? Tak gray hairs and wrinkles, and hirple wi' me, And think on the seenteen-hundred and fifty!" 7 At the close of this lyrical homily the landlord THOUGHTS ON THE PRESENT POSITION and his napkin-bearing tail entered for the pur- OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. pose of laying the table for the supper. A description of this banquet, and the communing which gave zest to the same will be forthcoming Here's to dark eyes-pearls of jet, Sky-born beauty! eye of blue, Trustful, melting hazel eyes, PIERRE. Meeting an old schoolfellow on one of ANGELI NA'S "cleaning" days, and rashly inviting him to take pot-luck with you.-Note. The tax in this case consists in a pacificatory trip to SISLEY'S the next morning. THE influence of the tone of mind of the better educated portion of the community in directing public opinion is well known to every student of history, and consequently to all enlightened governments; the foresight of statesmen has ever been directed to the protection of science and literature, it being well known that in the reciprocating support of these, they have the strongest guarantee of the stability of the government itself. This arises less from the fact that scholars as a class are necessarily shrewd politicians, or even sagacious observers, than from their acquired habits of study and analysis which give them great advantages over any other portion of the community. Hence they are less liable to be led away by sudden impulse, look more to ultimate consequences, are more free from the benumbing influence of party, and have a higher standard of political morality than those who without such training and preparation are brought into public life. In a word, while in despotic governments they form the advanced guard of the defenders of the liberties of the people, in free governments they have always a conservative tendency, arising more or less in each case from the patriotism and love of country excited by the development of young and generous minds, illuminated by the light of history. That the want of some Colonial institution, in which the higher branches of a sound and liberal education could be obtained, would soon be felt in this prosperous country, was early perceived by those who had the chief influence in the management of the affairs of the colony, and how-much-soever individuals may differ in their estimate of the means taken to supply such a want, no lover of his country can deny the wisdom and patriotism of the effort. While our population was composed principally of emigrants, and the great natural wealth and resources of the land were as yet undeveloped, Canada might well be dependent on the mother country for legislators, divines, lawyers, physicians and teachers of public schools. But now, when the greater portion of the population is native, when comparative affluence has succeeded the struggle for existence, and when the future gives promise of a high and glorious destiny, it well behoves every Canadian to look around and see if we have not among ourselves the material to fill the highest offices of honor, trust and emolument in our native land. That we have such the bar affords a striking example, but who can doubt that the time is at hand when native preeminence had a vote in convocation, passed graces for adin all the learned professions will not be the exception but the rule. Of all means to attain such a desideratum, the maintenance of an institution of high standard in the faculties of arts, law and medicine, seems to be the most direct, and to be the most deserving of the guardian care of the government of the country. Especially should the immunities and privileges of the members of such an institution be jealously guarded and made the rewards of superior attainments. Thus protected have Oxford and Cambridge in England flourished for centuries, supplying, with men of enlarged views, acute minds and cultivated intellect, the legislature, the bar, and the pulpit. Under a like liberal and enlightened policy, the elms of New Haven and Hartford in the adjoining States, at each succeeding anniversary, overshadow as well the octogenarian as the sophomore of sixteen, united by a common love and veneration for their Alma Mater. mission to degrees, and elected their officers.— Thus wherever through the length and breadth of the Province, the alumni of the University might settle down, they still felt an interest in their Alma Mater, and cherished among themselves an esprit de corps. Doubtless, they would under a proper consti. tution have proved, [as suggested in the North British Review for February last] had they been permitted to exert their proper influence, a check to the selfish views of professors, and a means of infusing vigor and freshness into the government of the institution. Mr. Baldwin, however, in his Bill of 1849, probably considering their numbers as yet too small, and imitating the constitutions of the University of Oxford, introduced a new governing body called the Senate, which, however, was after the year 1860, to be entirely composed of the graduates of the University. This was the most unfortunate feature in his Bill, and although Compared with these, what a tale is that of evidently framed with considerable care, the proour Canadian University! Endowed with regal fessorial influence was far too great, and a gene munificence, how little has it been allowed to ac- ral levelling or equalization of the salaries was complish! In its short period of active exis- the consequence. Besides, subjects of dispute tence, what changes has it not witnessed! Each were continually arising as to the intention of the succeeding session has been marked by a new Bill, and with regard to the respective powers of statute, by a new chapter of vicissitude. First the Senate and the House of Convocation. The Kings College is transformed into the University introduction by Mr. Baldwin's successors in office of Toronto, and then the fair proportions of a of persons absolutely disqualified by the proUniversity are dwarfed into the present high-visions of the Bill for the office of Senators, and school, and to render the ruin complete, the site and grounds beautified by years of care, are ruthlessly confiscated. The allowance of a valuation for the grounds renders it no less a confiscation. No monied value can atone for the loss of stability in the institution and what guarantee is there that the same proceeding may not be repeated with regard to any site which hereafter may be decided upon? The taking the management of the funds from the University, when in such a flourishing condition, and transferring it back into the hands of the government, if not for the private ends of those in power, rather points to such a contingency. Reasons will never be wanting to give for change, when the interests or whims of an unscrupulous ministry are to be served. To be successful every institution must have a character of permanency, be rooted in the affections, and interwoven with the pleasant associations, of its members. This was well effected by the original charter, by which the masters and scholars were an integral part of the corporation, and the graduates of the degree of Master of Arts and of any degree in Law and Medicine, who were generally the representatives of the different religious sects, led to the worst results. The Senate Chamber became a scene of personal attack and recrimination, and of the most sordid and grasping efforts on the part of those who had been loudest in their reprehension of the former government of the University; to share, now they had the opportunity, in the spoils of the endowment. In removing this incubus on the fair prospects of the institution, the Bill of last session is commendable. But what necessity for such a sweeping measure? the appointment of persons properly qualified was all that was required to work the desired change. Why such indecent haste in bringing in and passing the measure? No previous warning was given, no change was sought by the country, none solicited by the University itself. The sole reason seems to have been to place the endowment in the hands of the government, and to gratifiy the selfish views of the enemies of the professors of the faculties of Law and Medicine. The proposed adoption of these very discarded faculties into Cambridge and Oxford showed the |