course in Scotland, the testing classes are those of Logic and Moral Philosophy-Moral Philosophy implying at Glasgow a complete course of Metaphysics. Whoever obtains the first prize in that class, is pretty safe to carry the honours of the Divinity classes. The work of these classes demands the same kind of ability; and, with the exception of importations from other universities, which are rarely of first-class students, the competition in these classes will be with the same men.

Among the most coveted distinctions of the University are the prizes for the University Essays.' These prizes are eight or nine in number annually, and the competition for them is extensive. Two gold medals, given on alternate years, are open to the competition of all students attending any class in the University; one of these is given for an essay in history, the other for an essay in political economy. Then there are one or two prizes open to the competition of all students of theology; two or three to all students of philosophy; one to all students of medicine. The following, from the published prize-list, will give an idea of the kind of subjects prescribed.

In 1842, the Gartmore gold medal was given for the best essay on 'The Expediency or Inexpediency of Capital Punishments.' In 1844, for the best essay on Secondary Punishments.' In 1848, for the best essay on Under what Circumstances, and

in what Mode, should a Constitutional State encourage Emigration?' In 1843, the Ewing gold medal was given for the best account of 'The Circumstances which led to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, with the Results of that Treaty.' In 1845, the subject was, 'An Account of the First Partition of Poland in 1772.', In 1847, 'An Account of the Establishment and Progress of the British Empire in India, to the termination of the Government of Warren Hastings.' Among the subjects to be written on in different years by students of Philosophy, we find 'An Analysis of the Faculty of Judging;' Poetic Diction, its Use and Abuse by the Orators;' "The Nature and Influence of Motives in Moral Action;' 'The Historical Episode and its Conditions, Critically Considered, Illustrated by Examples; A Classification and Analysis of the Passions.' Among the subjects for students of Theology, we have, The Analogy of the Mosaic and Christian Dispensations;' 'The Extent of the Atonement of Christ;' Baptismal Regeneration;' 'Apostolical Succession;' 'Auricular Confession.' And in Physics, 'The Principles and Practicability of Atmospheric Railways;' The Form and Construction of Arches;' The Methods of Supplying Large Towns with Water.'

These essays are very laboriously written. They are often complete works on the subjects proposed, extending to some hundreds of pages, and the result

of original research and protracted thought. We have reason to know that the prize essays written by one very successful student in one year extended to nearly two thousand pages. There are generally two or three of the University essay prizes open to the competition of each student each year; and besides the prizes for general eminence voted by the students, there is usually, in each class, a prize for an essay, which is adjudicated by the professor. A student of extraordinary energy may thus compete for five or six essay prizes in one session. times a man who has carried all the honours which belong to his own department, makes an excursion into another field, to find a fresh subject and new competitors. An amusing instance of this is recorded in the Life of Halley:

:

Some

In the summer of 1834 he enrolled as a student in the botanical class. This was done chiefly with a view to benefit his health. The garden in which the lecture-room was situated lay at a distance of about two miles from his place of residence, and the hour of lecture was from eight to nine in the morning. This secured for three months a system of early and regular exercise. It happened that during that session a gentleman, whose name was not given, empowered Dr. (now Sir William) Hooker to offer a gold medal for the best on 'The Natural History and Uses of the Potato.'

essay

Halley had not paid much attention to the study of botany, and the prescribed subject of the essay did not at all lie in his way, yet he determined to write by way of amusement, and, as he said, 'to beat the medicals.' The result was a treatise of 172 closely written quarto pages. It was pronounced the best; and the interloper carried off the medal, fairly won from the medical students on their own proper field. Whether this achievement had found its way into the Farmer's Magazine, we cannot tell, but it had nearly procured for him a repu

tation of which he was not desirous. One day a stranger was ushered into his room, announcing himself as an Irish agriculturist, who had devoted considerable attention to the failure of the potato crop. Having heard that Mr. Halley had been studying the same subject, he had waited upon him to hear the result of his researches. Mr. Halley received his visitor with due politeness and gravity; laid aside his folios, and entered, with all becoming solemnity, into the comparative merits of late and early planting-of whole sets and single eyes, and after a long consultation dismissed his visitor, highly delighted with the interview.*

The subjects of the University prize essays are announced on the first of May in each year; the essays are taken into the Principal's house in December following. Each essay bears two mottoes, and is accompanied by a sealed letter bearing the same mottoes, and containing the name of the author, with a declaration that the essay is of his unaided composition. The successful essay is announced at the distribution of prizes in the Common Hall on the first of May, and the letter containing the author's name is opened in the presence of the assembled Comitia. The other letters are destroyed unopened. The prize essay is placed in the library, where, however, it is accessible only to the professors. A proof how fairly the students vote the highest prizes, is furnished by the fact that these prizes for essays, adjudicated by the professors in utter ignorance of their authorship, are given in nineteen cases out of twenty to students who have taken' (such is the college phrase) the first prize in their

* Halley's Life, pp. 23-24

respective classes by the students' votes. We have examined the prize-list for a number of years, and we find that the honours awarded by students and professors almost invariably fall to the same men

The distribution of prizes on May-day is a gay scene. Students and professors alike are in high spirits in the anticipation of their holiday time. Tickets of admission to the ceremony are in great request. Our readers may perhaps remember that the first poetical composition of the author of the Pleasures of Hope, was A Description of the Distribution of Prizes in the Common Hall of the University of Glasgow, on the 1st of May, 1793. All old Glasgow students have many pleasant associations with this day of the year.

The first of May is the day fixed by immemorial usage in the University for the distribution of the prizes, a day looked forward to with 'hopes, and fears that kindle hope,' by many youthful and ardent spirits. The Great Hall of the college on that day certainly presents a very pleasing and animated spectacle. The academical distinctions are bestowed with much of ceremonial pomp, in the presence of a vast concourse of spectators, and it is not uninteresting to mark the flush of bashful triumph on the cheek of the victor; the sparkling of his downcast eye as the hall is rent with loud applause, when he advances to receive the badge of honour assigned him by the voice of his fellow-students. It is altogether a sight to stir the spirit in the youthful bosom, and stimulate into healthy action faculties which, but for such excitement, might have continued in unbroken slumber.*

The Common Hall is a plain square apartment with a gallery at each end. It is capable of con

*Cyril Thornton. Vol. i. pp. 215, 216.