Tor it is but the inflashing upon the conscience of the
nature and origin of the laws by which mankind are
governed laws which exist, whether we acknowledge them
or whether we deny them, and will have their way, to our
Aveal or woe, according to the attitude in which we please
to place ourselves towards them inherent, like the laws of
gravity, in the nature of things, not made by us, not to be
altered by us, but to be discerned and obeyed by us at our
everlasting peril.
Nay, rather the law of gravity is but a property of
material things, and matter and all that belongs to it may
one day fade away like a cloud and vanish. The moral law
is inherent in eternity. " Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but my word shall not pass away." The law is the
expression of the will of the Spirit of the Universe. The
spirit in man which corresponds to and perceives the
Eternal Spirit is part of its essence, and immortal as it is
immortal. The Calvinists called the eye within us the
JAMES ANTHONY FROUDE 153
Inspiration of the Almighty. Aristotle could see that it
was not of earth, or any creature of space and time :
o Se vovs eoinev eyyuyvio-dat ovcria tis ovcra koli ov <f>6eipe(rdai.
What the thing is which we call ourselves we know
not. It may be true I for one care not if it be that the
descent of our mortal bodies may be traced through an
ascending series to some glutinous jelly formed on the rocks
of the primeval ocean. It is nothing to me how the Maker
of me has been pleased to construct the organised substance
which I call my body. It is mine, but it is not me. The
vovs, the intellectual spirit, being an ovaia an essence
we believe to be an imperishable something which has been
engendered in us from another source. As Wordsworth
says :
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting :
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar :
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home.
LOKD NEAVES
Rector from 1872 to 1874
Address delivered on February 13, 1873
LORD NEAVES
The first and most pleasing duty which I have to perform at
this time is to thank the University and the Electors for the
honour they have done me in calling upon me to occupy this
chair. To be thus chosen to fill a high office in the most
ancient, and by no means the least distinguished of our
Scottish Universities, must be gratifying to the feelings of
any one to whom learning and Literature are dear, and might
be a just cause of some pride and self-satisfaction, if I were
not conscious that the choice is in a great measure due to
considerations independent of personal merit, arising from
my position and from my possible services being more
accessible than those of the much more eminent and accom-
plished men whose names were at the same time submitted
for your consideration. I shall only on this subject now
express my earnest wish and firm resolution to spare no
pains, and to leave no exertion untried, to maintain and
promote the reputation, usefulness, and welfare of the
University.
I trust, and indeed believe, that I speak the sentiments
of all here present, when I state my full concurrence with
the views lately announced and so ably advocated by your
Parliamentary representative, that our Universities should
continue to be maintained in their full efficiency as schools
of instruction, as well as in their character of examining and
degree-conferring institutions. I could add nothing either
of force or of authority to the arguments which Dr. Lyon
Playfair has advanced on that important question ; and I
shall merely add the expression of my confident hope that
158 RECTORIAL ADDRESSES
no change in this respect will be attempted, in opposition
to what I believe to be the unanimous feeling of Scotland.
The benefits derived from the assemblage in one place
of a variety of learned men to teach what they know, and
of a number of earnest students eager to acquire whatever
they can learn in each other's company, in the different
branches of a liberal education, are too obvious and have
too often been promulgated to need illustration from me at
this time. The proverb holds here, as in other operations
of social influence, "As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man
sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Even the fading
embers of a fire will gather strength and be kindled into a
flame by mutual contact, when they would grow cold and
lifeless if insulated from each other. The specialties of
one man supplement or rectify the peculiarities of his
neighbour ; the very faults of those thus associated tend to
act as a mutual check, and they all learn a degree of
sympathy and tolerance for diversities of opinion and of
pursuit, to which the solitary student never attains. Add to
this that the esprit de corps which prompts fellow-students
to maintain the honour and credit of their Alma Mater, is
always a high and a salutary motive to exertion.
If any country is peculiarly indebted to its Universities
for its position and prosperity, I think it is our own.
Let us look at the state of Scotland as it was at the
beginning of the fifteenth century.
The Scottish nation, from the earliest period of its
authentic history, was divided into two very different races
a Teutonic or low German population on the east and
south, and a congeries of Celtic tribes on the north and
west. I say nothing of the relative powers of these re-
spective nationalities in respect of mental or intellectual
capacity. Probably the combination of their differing
characteristics was necessary to complete the best pattern
that the nation, as a whole, was destined to exhibit. But
I suppose it will be generally allowed that in the Saxon
mind intellect predominated over the other powers, as
imagination did in the Gael. But in one important quality,
LORD NEA VES 159
having reference to social organisation, there was a very-
clear preponderance on the Saxon side I mean the aptitude
for observing order and constituting civil government. The
Celtic race, amidst many generous impulses and kindly
affections, have shown, among ourselves at least, a certain
antipathy to any extensive cohesion of component parts, and
have evinced a tendency to subdivide themselves into small
septs, which have too often been found at deadly feud with
each other, though, unlike what has been said of their Irish
kinsmen, they generally combined together against the
common foe. The defects to which I have referred form a
serious impediment to the advance of civilisation, and the
consequence in Scotland was, that for several centuries the
national unity and prosperity were disturbed by the dis-
unions and disorders of the Celtic mountaineers.
The Saxon population, on the other hand, without being-
deficient in military qualities when these were needed,
arranged themselves readily into Burghs and Cities, estab-
lished among them forms of municipal government, such as
were derived from traditions of Eoman organisation, and on
the east coast of Scotland availed themselves of their free and
extensive, though stormy, seaboard, to become mariners and
merchants, and to engage in a prosperous and profitable
trade with the seaports of France and the ports around the
North Sea, from which the most beneficial commercial and
social results were to be expected.
In the south of Scotland the inhabitants were by nature
as highly gifted with mental energy and powerful intellect
as any of their countrymen; but unfortunately along the
whole English frontier the frequent and irritating wars that
had occurred, and the national bitterness that had been
infused into these contests, by arrogant pretensions on one
or both sides, proved fatal to the pursuits of industry and
cultivation, and thus an extent of agricultural and pastoral
country, that might have been a region of peace and plenty
was given up to incessant aggressions and retaliations of
plunder and bloodshed that proved fatal to the arts and
habits of civilised life.
160 RECTORIAL ADDRESSES
This state of things was in the fullest development of its
injurious tendencies in the beginning of the fifteenth century,
when the devastation and disturbance of the eastern border were
brought to a height by the battle of Homildon Hill in 1402.
A few years afterwards a scene was enacted in the north
of Scotland of the most portentous and threatening descrip-
tion. This was exhibited in the invasion of the district
of Moray and Aberdeen by the hordes of Celtic Katerans
who acknowledged the supremacy of Donald of the Isles,
and who threatened to overrun and devastate the peaceful
and prosperous tract of lowland and maritime country on
our east coast. These invaders, though not decisively de-
feated at the memorable battle of Harlaw in 1411, were
yet by the results of that combat impeded in their further
progress, and the flourishing city of Aberdeen was thus
preserved from all the horrors that can befall a rich town
sacked by ruthless and insatiable barbarians.
The geography of this condition of things led to the
discouraging consequence, that at the beginning of the
fifteenth century the civilised part of Scotland was in truth
confined to a sort of irregular triangle, of which Aberdeen
was the apex on the north, while Edinburgh and Glasgow
were the two extremities at the base. To the south lay a
lovely and fertile territory that was little better than a
debatable land ; while the north and west districts were
surrendered to highland or island tribes, equally unwilling
and unable to be governed by law or order.
In such circumstances it was clear that the future welfare
of Scotland depended upon the question whether the in-
fluential men of this special and limited district could be
trained and disciplined so as to be able amidst all disturbing-
causes to govern and legislate for the country at large, and
thus maintain and advance its independence and prosperity.
This was the problem to be worked out, and earnestly did
the great and good men of that age set themselves to a task,
which they prosecuted with a degree of ability and success
that entitle them to the highest praise and to our per-
manent gratitude.
LORD NEA VES 161
I need not say that Churchmen must have been the
chief agents in accomplishing this great work, and they had
the sagacity to see that the establishment of native Uni-
versities was the most likely means of attaining their end.
Scotland was not without learning, but it had to seek its
education abroad ; and it was a great matter that neither its
learned men nor its students should be driven to the remedy
of even a temporary expatriation, in the prosecution of the
liberal pursuits to which they wished to devote themselves.
The fifteenth century came in this way to see the establish-
ment, within Scotland, of three Universities, that of St.
Andrews, in 1411, the very year of the battle of Harlaw ;
Glasgow, in 1450; and King's College of Aberdeen, in
1494. There was thus erected along the line of civilisation
that I before indicated, a chain of what may be called forts
or garrisons of learning, from which its protecting and
elevating influence might be diffused around, and placed
within easy reach of those who were most likely to wish
for, and to profit by its benefits.
It will be found, I think, that during that important and
critical century the great thinkers of Scotland, and its best
legislators, were intent on the prosecution of an object to
which in our own day, and in different circumstances, we
have been turning our attention. I mean, the establishment,
as far as feasible, of a compulsory education. But there was
this difference in the aspect in which that question then
presented itself. The prominent object nowadays is rather
to compel the poor to educate their children ; the object
then was directly or indirectly to compel the rich to be
educated. But in noticing this distinction, I would earnestly
deprecate the idea that the system then pursued was the
result of any feeling of favouritism for the rich as compared
with the poor. It arose, it is clear, from the best and
wisest principles of patriotism and social prudence.
I do not hesitate, indeed, to say that in almost any
country or state of society the education of rich young men
is of at least equal importance to that of the poor. Both
classes have their temptations as well as their needs. But,
162 RECTORIAL ADDRESSES
generally speaking, poverty, like adversity, is a school in
itself; and if a poor lad has common honesty, he will at
least be preserved from many deviations from other virtues.
He can't be idle he can't be slothful he can't be luxurious:
he will be trained in the discipline that nature establishes
by those motives and checks which the poets tell us were
introduced by Jupiter under his iron reign, " curis acuens
mortalia corda" But the rich man's son, with his bed
made for him by his predecessors, with no natural motive
for exertion with the power to be idle with impunity, and
to be as expensive as he chooses, he it is that more especially
needs education to furnish him with moral motives in-
tellectual enjoyments spiritual aspirations, to incite him to
what is good, and preserve him from what is evil. He has
infinitely more and greater temptations and seductions ; he
lias infinitely fewer and less restraints than the poor man ;
and if he is selfish or voluptuous, what endless mischief he
may diffuse by the influence of his example or encourage-
ment ! How many of his poorer associates may he ruin !
How many hearts and homes may he render wretched by
carrying his evil principles and influence into them ! An
ill-educated, or even an uneducated young man of station
and wealth may become one of the greatest curses of society,
and the general prevalence of that defect throughout u
nation may of itself seal its doom.
These considerations were peculiarly appropriate for
Scotland in the fifteenth century, though the form in which
the evil would operate might have its own peculiarities.
The government of Scotland was aristocratic. That was a
necessity of its nature, arising from the history of its de-
velopment out of the Teutonic elements that resulted in
Feudalism. The Crown was weak in any condition of things,
but special circumstances, including the captivity of James
L, gave peculiar power to the Scottish barons. And if
these men and their sons were to be brought up merely as
uncivilised tyrants, or ruthless leaders of a military following,
the prospects of the country were indeed sad. It was
essential, if Scotland was in any respect to prosper, that
LORD NEA VES 163
the rising generation of the Scottish nobility and better
landholders should possess as much knowledge as would
teach them to reverence learning, and as much law as would
fit them to do justice to their dependants under the ex-
tensive jurisdictions which were intrusted to their care ; and
further, it was essential that they and the larger freeholders
should be qualified to do their duty in Parliament by pro-
viding such enactments as would best remedy existing evils,
and best provide for the welfare of all classes.
The Act of Parliament passed in 1494, in the fifth
Parliament of James IV., c. 54, has been often referred to;
but I think it cannot be sufficiently dwelt upon as revealing
the spirit which was then seeking to develop itself ; nor has
it always been noticed that the benefits sought to be derived
from it were not partial or one-sided, but were designed for
the advantage of the whole community, rich and poor, high
and low.
That all Barronnes and Free-halders that ar of substance put
their eldest Sonnes and Aires to the Schules.
Item. It is statute and ordained throw all the Realme, that all
Barronnes and Free-halders, that ar of substance, put their eldest
Sonnes and Aires to the Schules, fra they be sex or nine zeires of age,
and till remaine at the Grammar Schules, quhill they be competentlie
founded and have perfite Latine. And thereafter to remaine three
zeirs at the Schules of Art and Jure. Swa that they may have knaw-
ledge and understanding of the Lawes. Throw the quhilks justice
may remaine universally throw all the Realme. Swa that they that
ar Schireffes or Judges Ordinares under the Kingis Hienesse, may have
knawledge to doe justice, that the puir people sulde have na neede to
seek our Soveraine Lordis principal Auditour, for ilk small injurie :
And (puhat Barronne or Free-halder of substance, that haldis not his
Sonne at the Schules as said is, havand na lauchful essoinzie, hot
failzies herein, fra knawledge may be gotten thereof, he sail pay to the
King, the summe of twentie pound.
I cannot help noticing that this admirable Act was
passed in the very year in which King's College of Aberdeen
was founded by the excellent Bishop Elphinstone.
Nothing can better show the humane and wise spirit
which, in the midst of many human errors, was at work in
164 RECTORIAL ADDRESSES
the Scottish Parliament during this century, than the re-
markable law passed in the very middle of it, during the
reign of James II., being the Act 1449, chapter 18, that
' The byer of Landes suld keepe the tackes set before the
bying." It is worth while to take some special notice of
this Act, although its nature and history must be well known
to many who now hear me.
According to strict rules of law, the contract of location
or lease is merely a personal agreement between the con-
tracting parties, so that the lessee of lands has no real or
proprietary right to keep possession of them in competition
with a true right of property. It follows, therefore, that if
the original lessor sells the lands, the buyer who thus
becomes proprietor can immediately oust the lessee or tenant,
who has no other remedy but a personal claim of reparation
against the lessor. This state of things, where it prevailed,
led necessarily to much hardship and to great uncertainty
in the position of the tenants of land, who could not rely
with any confidence on the continuance of their possessions.
Some of the Continental nations accordingly saw cause to
relax this rule, and to give to tenants a fixity of tenure
which they would not otherwise have enjoyed ; and this
more equitable and beneficial law was embodied by the
Scottish Parliament in the Act of 1449, which I have men-
tioned, which may be considered as the Palladium of Scottish
tenancy, and the main basis of Scottish Agriculture, by the
encouragement and protection which it gave to leases, when
they were granted, as the law required, on equitable terms.
There is little doubt that the progress of Scotland, both
in learning and general prosperity, would have advanced
more rapidly than it did in the sixteenth century, if it had
not been for that event, the most disastrous in Scottish
history, by which James IV. perished on the field of
Flodden, in the flower of his age. Such a contingency was
not beyond the reach of probability, from foregone indications ;
for in 1498 the Spanish envoy, Pedro de Ayala, in writing
to his master and mistress with an account of James's
character and accomplishments, states as one of his faults,
LORD NEA VES 165
" He loves war so much that I fear the peace with England
will not last long " ; and he explains at the same time that
he is courageous, " even more so than a king should be. I
have seen him often undertake most dangerous things in
the last wars. On such occasions he does not take the least
care of himself. He does not think it right to begin
any warlike undertaking without being himself the first in
danger."
It is, however, a strong proof of the courage and well-
organised position of Scotland at that time, that no invasion
of the kingdom was attempted, and under all her disasters
and disadvantages, the Scottish nation advanced in learning
and liberality of thought; and the Universities, while in-
strumental in promoting learning in all its forms, were
themselves, though of Popish origin, not slow to contribute
their part, in due time, to the great Information of religion
which was effected in the middle of the sixteenth century.
The progress of legislation in Scotland during the succeeding
period until the Union was in many respects most satisfactory,
and many enlightened laws were passed on the most im-
portant matters, which showed advanced views on social
subjects.
It would be unpardonable here to omit stating that,
while the Grammar Schools and Universities of Scotland
were designed, both to meet the demands of the Church and
to qualify the sons of barons and freeholders for discharging
their public and political duties, provision was also made for
enabling the humbler members of society to cultivate and
employ any talent and taste which they might exhibit for
the pursuits of learning. Helps were given them by which
they might rise from an obscure position to a respectable
and even a high eminence in the learned world, somewhat
in the way in which we see " salmon-ladders " now placed
in rivers to enable the fish to ascend the steepest fall and
reach the ground to which they are aspiring ; and it has
always been the characteristic of Scotland that the son of
the humblest peasant has the means of attaining a thorough
education, and of commanding all the advantages which
166 RECTORIAL ADDRESSES
education can give, provided he has the ability and perse-
verance to avail himself of the aids thus afforded.
Whether this state of things is to continue, or whether
there may not now be a gulf that is practically impassable
between our lower and higher schools, is a question involved
in some uncertainty, but which deeply concerns the future
character and welfare of the Scottish people, and which I
trust will in some way or other be solved, so as to maintain
the same fusion of ranks, and the same facilities that have
hitherto existed for low-born genius and merit to rise to
their due level.
To descant upon the studies which ought to be pursued
at a University would, in me, be both needless and officious.
You are better aware of them than I can be. I shall only
recall to your recollection a few general views which it is
important to keep in mind.
You do not come here to study insulated facts or par-
ticular details. It is said that " knowledge is power," and
perhaps all knowledge is some kind of power to somebody
or other. But it is not all knowledge that you are here in
pursuit of. It would do you little or no good that you knew
all the streets in Constantinople, though there might be some-
body on the spot, some water-carrier, for instance, to whom
it would be useful. A Welsh friend of mine used to attach
great interest to the inquiry whether there were more
Smiths or Joneses in the London Directory, for in his view
the one or the other state of things showed the preponderance
of the Saxon or Celtic element in the metropolitan popula-
tion. But it is not with such matters that you have here
to deal : you are in search of general principles and universal
truths. Above all, it is your business, and that of your
instructors, to develop the powers of your mind, so that no
important faculty shall remain uncultivated, and that no
essential and salutary feeling shall remain unexercised.
This kind of training, if it does not make you learned men
now, will enable you to become so hereafter, if that is your
destination ; or it will give you keys that will open the
door to the practice of any liberal profession which you may
LORD NEA VES 167
choose, and to the discharge of any public or social duty to
which you may be called. If in this place you learn the
art of learning whatever may claim your attention in after-
life, you will not have studied here in vain.
There is no purpose, perhaps, which the lessons of a
Studium generate can better serve than that of enabling us
to distinguish and compare the different processes by which
we arrive at truth.
Beyond all doubt, the mathematical sciences involve in
their propositions the most absolute, and, as some think, the
only complete certainty to which we can attain. They
depend upon no contingency, no hypothesis. Everything
rests on a solid, abstract basis, from the axioms with which
we begin, to the most intricate and complicated results into
which these are developed ; while the mind, as it proceeds
by degrees from a point to a line, from a line to a surface,
and from a surface to a solid, or while it follows out the
marvellous relations that lie hid in the intersection or