LORD BROUGHAM'S INSTALLATION ADDRESS.

INSTALLATION ADDRESS

Of the Right Honorable Henry Lord Brougham, etc., etc., Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh. Delivered on the 18th May, 1860. With Notes.

of

GREAT as is the pleasure of meeting you on this occasion-great beyond my power expression-there are unavoidably mingled with these feelings others of a painful nature. All that surrounds us recalls the mem

the face of science, laying the deep and broad
foundations of his imperishable renown.

But there are other sad recollections that
now force themselves on the mind-recollec-
tions of the fellow-students who, under the
same masters, gained those accomplishments
which made themselves the ornaments of so-

tions, improving her literature, and taking
their station among the best friends of man-
kind, the fearless, the consistent apostles of
now passed away, leaving their memory for
piety, humanity, and freedom-and all have
our comfort, their example for our encour-
pies, Thompsons, Birbeck, Reeve, Camp-
agement; the Duncans,1 Lundies, Gilles-
bell, Leyden, Graham, Mackenzie, Scott,11
Cranstoun,12 Moncreiff,13 Erskine,11 Reddie,15
Grant,19
Kinnaird, Ward,17 Seymour,18
Cockburn,23 Brown,21 Horner, Jeffrey, and
latest, not least of our losses, Murray,24—

16

8

2

19

23

ciety, the solid learning and practical knowledge which made them its benefactors, ministering at the altars of their country, adory of those whom we have lost-the teach-ministering her laws, amending her instituers of other days: Dalzell, whose learned and useful labors contributed so much to revive the taste for Greek literature, which he was wont, in somewhat irreverent terms, to charge the Solemn League and Covenant with having extinguished, at least with having banished prosody from the native country of Buchanan; Dunbar, who most ably and effectually improved upon his master; Playfair, deeply imbued with mathematical and physical science, possessing in the highest degree the talent so often wanting in its cultivators, of conveying instruction to others; Robison, master of the same science in all its branches, teaching it by his invaluable writings, and whose errors on subjects into which he made digressions, those who most differed with him were prone to excuse, almost to admire, from his perfect sincerity and purity of purpose; Stewart, illustrating the great geometrician's name which he inherited with his genius, by a delicacy of taste and a bewitching eloquence so rarely found in alliance with such severe studies, and en-ily of the Taylors. abling him powerfully to inculcate the truths of the moral and political science which he bore so ample a part in founding. While the voice of these men seems yet to fill my ear, the form of one yet more illustrious rises before me in all the grace of his venerable aspect, the Father of Modern Chemistry, to whom we owe our acquaintance with the nature of the bodies that compose 15 J. Reddie, a great lawyer, whose early retireour planet nearly as much as from Newton we derive our knowledge of its relations to ment to a provincial judicial cffice alone prevented the universe. Yes! within these walls I en-him from rising to the highest place on the bench. joyed the happiness of sitting with his numerous class in breathless silence, and riveted attention, while Black recounted the history of his immortal discoveries, and with his own hands performed the experiments by which they had been made, perhaps with the instruments he had used, acting over again before our eyes the same part which had changed

Claudite! plus justo jam domus ista patet!" - OVID. Cons.

I can dwell no longer in the retrospect. It is our duty, instead of indulging in unavailing regrets over the past, to cast our eye forwards, and bestir ourselves that we may become the worthy successors of those who have gone before us. My reverend kinsman, our great principal (Robertson), the last time the silver tones of that voice were heard on a public occasion, when the foundation of the new building was laid, justly extolled the University as attracting students, not only from all parts of the British dominions, but from almost every country in Europe, and from every State in America. Long may this intercourse continue, so advantageous to all parties! While we gather hints for our improvement from others, we greatly benefit them; and the interests, the blessed

ordinary action of the law. Above all, our
American friends may reflect with satisfac-
tion
upon having been educated in a city
famed for being the first to declare, by its
judges, the great law, that a slave's fetters

fall from him the moment he touches British
ground. [Note 1.] The natives of southern
Europe, Sicily, Naples-but none such will
be suffered by their despot to resort hither,
and they must learn without our instruction,
if experience has not already taught them,
the nature of a tyrant—“Non ullum mon-
strum nec fœdius, nec tetrius, neque dis hom-
inibusque magis invisum terra genuit; qui
quanquam formâ hominis tamen immanitate
morum vastissimas vincit belluas.”—CIC. de
Repub.

But even our English neighbors may profit not only by our teaching, but by the ed. The subject of extramural instruction principles upon which our system is found(on which, however, I entirely agree with our Lord Rector) may be left untouched; and the vexed question between the tutorial and the professorial method, may also be put on one side; it is subject, however, to an observation, which, whoever considers the matter without the exclusive partiality arising from local prejudice, is pretty sure to make, that the blending together of the two methods is preferable to the adoption of either alone. But the great benefits that attend our plan of home instead of college residence can hardly be doubted; and it should always be kept in mind that the English plan originated entirely in the accidental circumstance of Oxford and Cambridge being mere villages when the universities were founded [Note 2], and all the pupils being strangers come from remote districts. It can hardly

interests, of peace are promoted, not only by the interchange of benefits, but by the natural tendency of men's feelings to look back with satisfaction, even with tenderness, upon the residence of their early years, and to cherish the remembrance of the lessons then taught. Thus, upon the memory of our nearest neighbors in Europe, there will remain impressed the great truth that popular rights can exist, and be respected without the tyranny of the populace; that liberty does not necessarily degenerate into licentiousness; and that abject slavery is not the only refuge from anarchy. Our kinsfolk of the new world may, in after life, recollect having known a community, in which a church is established without the existence of a single civil disqualification attached to religious belief, a community in which the most enlightened and respectable citizens be doubted that had either been founded in do not abstain from taking their share in a great town, that plan would not have been public proceedings, in which the interference followed. In a small place good reasons of the multitude with the administration of may certainly be given for it; but in such justice is a thing unheard of, nay, regarded cities as Edinburgh and Glasgow, the resias incredible, and in which the irresponsible dence of students under the paternal roof is mob-tyrant, the instant that one of his many a great benefit accessible to, at least, the heads appears, is at once put down by the whole inhabitants. When the London Uni21 T. Brown, afterwards Professor of Moral Phi-versity was established (now called Univerlosophy, and known by his metaphysical writings. sity College), this important consideration Florner, eminent in Parliament and for his writings on political economy.

23 F. Jeffrey, afterwards Lord Jeffrey, founder of the Edinburgh Review," and a great advocate and judge.

24 J. A. Murray, afterwards Lord Murray, an eminent judge and inan of letters.

entered into our views quite as much as the bringing the advantages of an academical education within the reach of those who could not afford the expense of the old universities.

Taught in this school, and trained to the of our study. That object is of engrossing capacity, whether for speculation or for the though not exclusive interest; it does no pursuits of active life, strangers from other preclude a moderate attention to others; but lands, as well as our fellow-subjects, have this selection, this singleness of entire abmade our university worthily known by its sorption, is absolutely necessary to avoid fruits; nor can there be a doubt that it will the dispersion of the faculties, caused by continue, under its new constitution, to pre- intemperate devotion to several subjects, fer the same claims to general respect and whereof the certain tendency is to produce gratitude. But I should not discharge the mediocrity in all, making ordinary capacity, duties of the high office to which the kind- even when united to great industry, yield ness of your body has raised me, if I did not but little return of value; and from the avail myself of this occasion for offering such rarest endowments, which, temperately and suggestions and advice as I deem of a useful judiciously used, might render the most imtendency, to those by whom I have the honor portant service, only obtaining the exhibition of being surrounded. They may be of little of varieties more wonderful than useful, like value, and may possess no other merit than the displays of the mocking-bird, which can that they result from the reflection of many warble all the notes that make the grove long years, and of a somewhat various experi- vocal, but has no song of her own. [Note ence; but they are delivered with feelings of 14.] respect, only surpassed by those of affectionate kindness.

That genius is of universal application cannot be denied; but the interests of science, First of all, it is to be observed, that and generally, of mankind as well as of the though the acquisition of general knowledge individual, require that it should not be so is a primary duty, and the confining our at- applied. The great lights of the world afford tention within the narrow limits of one or few if any exceptions to this rule. Had Bartwo branches enfeebles the mind, impairing row's [Note 3] professional studies, and his its powers, and even prevents our entire attention to the eloquence of the pulpit, not mastery of the selected branches, yet it is on interfered with his mathematical pursuits, every account highly expedient, indeed, all he would probably-Fermat [Note 3], but but absolutely necessary, to single out one for his official duties and his general specubranch as the main object of attention. This lations, would certainly-have made the disselection is required by the impossibility of covery of the calculus, to which both had so thoroughly mastering different unconnected nearly approached. What might not have kinds of knowledge, and the risk of distrac- been expected from the bold and happy contion, which, passing from one subject to an- jectures of Franklin, under the guidance of other occasions, the danger even of the great- the inductive method so familiar to him in est evil occurring, that of superficial learning, all its rigor, had he not devoted his life to -the rule being inflexible, that no one sub- the more important cause of his country and ject, or part of a subject, must be studied her liberties. Priestley's discoveries, all but without going to the very bottom, fully and accidental, however important, were confined accurately, of what we would learn; not pro- in their extent, and perversely misappreposing to ourselves, it may be, to go beyond hended in their results, by the controversies, a certain length, but as far as we profess and religious and political, which engrossed his propose to go, becoming thoroughly master attention through life. Descartes, instead of the subject. There is, however, another of the one great step which the mathematics reason for selecting one special branch. We owe him, was destined to make vast progress thus draw, as it were, a meridian line, to in physical science, and not to leave his name which all our steps in other directions may chiefly known by a mere baseless hypothesis, be referred. The acquisitions thus made de- had he not been seduced by metaphysical rive additional interest from their connection speculation; and Leibnitz [Note 4], but for with the principal and prevailing pursuit: the same seduction, joined to his legal labors, the attention to these is kept awake, and the would assuredly have come near the Newmemory in proportion retentive, of the ac- tonian system in Dynamics, as he had precessory or subordinate matters, while they ferred a just claim to share in its analytical lend help and illustration to the main object renown. On the other hand, mark the happy

neglected by the teachers, but that I would earnestly join my voice to theirs, and inculcate the closest attention to them. The study of too strongly pressed upon the pupil; that of Attic oratory is one matter which cannot be the ancient analysis is another. The tendency of mathematical studies in the present day is to disregard the Greek geometry; that of classical studies is well to cultivate Greek learning, but rather to exalt the poets above the orators-Pace Rectoris Magnifici dicendi consecutus, scriptis vero potius 'quno dixerim, qui in rostris omnes veneres Attice

results of concentrated powers in Bacon not that I can suppose these subjects to be wisely abstaining [Note 5] from the application of his own philosophy when he found that previous study had not fitted him for physical inquiries; Newton, avoiding all distraction, save when he deemed that his highest duties required some intermission of his habitual labors. Nay, had Leonardo da Vinci [Note 3] indulged in the investigations of natural science for which he possessed so remarkable a talent, and has left such felicitous anticipations in them, his name as one of the first of artists would have been un-phos videtur. The immeasurable superiority known; and had Voltaire prosecuted [Note 3] the study of chemistry, in which he was so near making two of the greatest discoveries, we should never have had the tragedies, the romances, and the general history-the

foundations of his fame.

of the Greek to the Roman oratory is not only evinced by the devotion of the greatest master of the latter to the Attic models, by his constant study of them, by his never ceasing, even in advanced life, to practise Greek declamation, by his imitating, nay, translating from them in his finest passages; But the same principle applies to active but one consideration is decisive on this life as to the pursuits of science and letters. head. The Greek oratory is incomparably Every one should have a special occupation, better adapted to our modern debating, busithe main object of his attention, to which all ness-like habits; and while it may be truly others are subordinate, and all more or less affirmed, that, with all their excellence, referable. With most men this is inevitable, hardly one of Cicero's orations could even in because they are engaged in professional the forum in our times, there is hardly one part ever be borne either by the senate or employment; but all ought to single out of the Greek which might not, in circumsome pursuit, whether speculative or active, stances like those for which they were comas the chief occupation of life. Nothing posed, with a few alterations, be delivered conduces more to comfort and happiness; before our tribunals and our public assemnothing is a greater safeguard against the blies. Some of Demosthenes' very finest seductions of indolence, or of less innocent, orations were those in private causes (the perhaps not less hurtful, indulgences; noth-TIKO), and composed to be delivered by ing gives a greater relish and zest to the subordinate pursuits. He who has professional duties, has no right to call any time that is not earned by the discharge of those duties his own, for other occupations, whether of relaxation, or even of mental improve ment. His business is the master; but where there is no such servitude, I strongly recommend the voluntary forming of the re-deed, we have his own account of it, and of lation between master and slave, by the choice of a pursuit, and submitting to its claims upon our time and our attention as paramount.

the parties, one of them by himself. They are very little studied now, but they well deserve ample attention both for the matter and the composition.

The example of the ancient masters is ever to be kept before you in one important partheir speeches. Of this the clearest proofs ticular, their excessive care in preparing remain. Cicero's having a book of passages, to be used on occasions, is well known; in

the mistake he once made in using it (Ad. Att. xvi.); but the book of Proemia which Demosthenes kept has come down to us, the only doubt being raised (though I hardly After the very general advice which I have like Cicero's passages, kept ready for use, or think there can be any) whether they were, offered, it may be thought that there are prepared passages of speeches, the preparamany particular subjects deserving consider- tion of which in the whole he had not time ation; but these may safely be left to the care to finish. One thing is certain, that he was of the learned and excellent persons who, in very averse to extempore speaking, and various departments, are charged with the most reluctantly, as he expressed it, "trusted duties of this University. On one or two his success to fortune;" and his orations matters I would ask their and your permis-sages, again and again used by him with such abound in passages, and even parts of passion to dwell, and but for a few minutes; improvements as their reception on delivery,