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coming to Philadelphia, in the autumn of 1795 or 6, I think, to deliver bis first course of Lectures, (afterwards printed,) the Unitarians of Philadelphia, who were lately from England, set on foot and concluded a negociation with the Universalists for the use, on Sunday forenoons, of a place of worship then building by them in Lombard Street, wherein Dr. Priestley might preach.

The four walls were raised and the roof on, but the internal fittings up had not been commenced: however, our friends made an advance of some hundreds of dollars, and employed great activity and energy, so that very soon the house was completely benched, and a pulpit erected, and though not quite finished, it was opened for divine service, The congregations that attended were so numerous that the house could not contain them, so that as many were obliged to stand as sit, and even the door-ways were crowded with people. Mr. VicePresident Adams was among the regular attendants, and to the best of my recollection, Mr. Winchester was never absent, and he constantly gave out the hymns when that excellent man Dr. P. did not read them himself.

On the floor, directly in front of the pulpit, and close to it, was placed a long seat, with back and arms, and a table before it on this seat, which was gene rally occupied by elderly men, members of the Universalist society, Mr. Winchester would take his place, unless he went into the pulpit with the Doctor, it being large enough to hold several : this 1 need not say was a strong mark of friendly-heartedness and liberality, and, in fact, gave umbrage, together with his acting as the Doctor's clerk, to some of his own people, many of whom were Antinomians. Well, thus did Mr. Winchester use to sit, placing himself so as to have the eye constantly directed to the preacher, the attention riveted to the subject, and a face beaming with heavenly love.

At the close of the course Dr. Priestley gave notice that, on the Sunday following, he intended to preach directly on the person of Christ, explaining the Unitarians' view of the subject, and that the Lord's Supper would be celebrated at the conclusion of that service: this intimation produced a sensation indeed, among the Philadelphians; they were puzzled, not being able to conceive what Unitarians or Deists, as they termed them, had to do with it. One exclaims with surprise, they receive the Lord's Supper! Another, what have they to do with Christ? Whilst others asserted, they do

not believe in Christ, they are Deists. The idea was, that an Unitarian and a Deist meant, on the whole, the same thing; so concluding the former to belong as little to Christ as the latter, it naturally enough followed, in their way of reasoning, that Unitarians not being Christians, it was truly absurd for them to commemorate the death of Christ by receiving the Lord's Supper: however, the Unitarians were glad to assemble round the table of their Lord, especially with such a ministering servant of their profession; and I greatly mistake if Mr. Winchester did not give an indisputable and unambiguous testimony of Christian love and forbearance in partaking with them; unhappily too, as by so doing he increased the offence before given to some of his more rigid adherents in his friendly demeanour to Dr. Priestley. Afternoons and evenings Mr. Winchester resumed his ministerial labours in his own pulpit, and afternoons Dr. Priestley was as attentive a hearer as in the morning he had been an excellent speaker.

On the same day that Dr. Priestley gave out his next Sunday's subject to be Unitarianism; after their own service it was notified that Mr. Winchester would, by desire, on that evening, defend the doctrine of the Trinity. He did preach about it to the dissatisfaction of many of his friends, and many more thought he had been peculiarly unhappy that evening in wielding the weapons of Trinitarianism. His general preaching was on the love of God, earnestly endeavouring to persuade men to obedience to the laws of their Heavenly Father, on account of his great love and goodness to them. He himself appeared to be deeply imbued with the principle of gratitude: he was very fond of psalmody, and used to delight in pacing his room for a long time together, singing the following hymn :

This God is the God we adore,

Our faithful, unchangeable friend, Whose fove is as great as his power, And neither knows measure nor end. "Tis He is the first and the last, Whose hand shall conduet us safe home;

We'll praise him for all that is past,

And trust him for all that's to come.

Your affectionate Sister,

SARAH HART.

Installation of Sir James Mackintosh as Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow.

and afterwards subscribed his name to the rules and orders of the University. Every breath was now held

in suspense, and amid the mute and (From The Glasgow Free Press, Wed- anxious attention of the immense assembly

nesday, January 8.)

On N Friday last, this distinguished statesman and philanthropist was installed into his high honorary of fice. In the early part of the day the forthcoming scene was the general topic of conversation. At the newsrooms, in the shops, and throughout the streets, scarcely any other subject was talked about. A great number of gentlemen assembled in the College Court a full hour before the proceedings commenced. At half-past two the doors were opened for the admission of the students, and in the junior classes rushed, bounding, cheering, and exulting.

"Gay hope was theirs, by fancy fed."

It was a fine sight, All seemed to be alike; joyous even to rapture. The senior classes followed, and, although the expression of their feelings was not so exuberant, it was evident they participated equally in the delights of the occasion. If there were any-and there must have been a few -who would have preferred another and more poetical Rector, their partiality was for the moment forgotten. Every face appeared clad with the same smiles, and the same expression of expectation. At three, strangers were admitted. The rush was tremendous, and in a minute the hall and galleries were crowded to excess. Repeated attempts to force themselves in, by individuals at the outer-doors, occasionally, according to the impetus, gave the dense mass the appearance of a single undulating wave. Shortly after three, Mr. Jeffrey appeared, escorting two ladies; he was received with considerable cheering. Sir James in a few minutes followed, accompanied by Lords Belhaven, Gillies and Alloway, Admiral Fleming, Mr. Finlay of Castle Toward, Mr. Campbell of Blythswood, Messrs. Cranstoun, Cockburn, Murray, Moncrieff, Sandford and Thomson; they were hailed with loud and long-continued plaudits. The oath was read over in Latin to the new Lord Rector, which he took,

SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH rose, and

commenced his speech by expressing his sincere and hearty thanks for the high, unmerited and unexpected ho the suffrages of this University. So nour to which he had been raised by unexpected was the honour, that the he was a candidate. In addressing election was completed before he knew tion of great difficulty and delicacy. his hearers, he was placed in a situa

The tone of those calm and mild

studies to which this University was consecrated, would not permit politics voice had for a long time been raised to intrude herself upon them, and his in political contention. Universities are of value only for the production of those purposes which all good men of all ages, and sects and parties, equally esteem and equally cherish. Nothing is to be studied and contemplated here, but that which is to ren der men good subjects of a just government. (Great applause.) He felt himself honoured by the consideration of the illustrious competitor to whom he was opposed (Sir Walter Scott). He would with great pleasure have taken this opportunity of saying of him in public, what he had uniformly said of him in private, if so much praise and admiration had not already been paid him by his friend and predecessor, (Mr. Jeffrey,)-the effect of whose encomium he would not mar by attempting to repeat it in less skil ful phrase. Speaking of his own feelings, he would have considered it no loss of honour to have been vanquished by such a competitor. The presence of his excellent friend the late Lord Rector restrained him from saying all he could wish to say respecting him, "but I am sure," said he, no man who knows me will think that I un derrate my own feelings, in the general assertion, that he is a man at least as much beloved as he is admired by his readers and his hearers. He is as much the darling of those societies of which he is an individual member, as he is almost a solitary instance of a long and brilliant literary reputation,

joined to a professional career of equal length and brilliancy." He would be careful that there should not escape him a single expression which might create the least irritation. He would do his utmost to preserve concord and good-will within the University. If his own character was not sufficient security, that he would not depart from these rules, he had then beside him two of the dearest friends of his youth, (Lords Gillies and Alloway,) who had raised themselves to the highest judicial situations in the country, and he was sure, that even their friendship for him would not sanction party politics.

In reverting to the honour done him, he remarked that this was one of the most flattering distinctions that could have been conferred upon him, for it is peculiarly gratifying to those immersed in political affairs, that any part of their conduct should receive the calm approbation of those devoted to study. He greatly prized any literary honour from a Scottish University, and more especially from so distinguished a seminary, where he had received his own education. It reminded him of that period of life, and of those scenes where he derived that tone of literature which has been the never failing, and steady enjoyment, and consolation of his life, and to which he could now add, the testimony of a great Latin orator, as proved from his own experience: "Hæc studia, adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugium ac solatium præbent." He was verging on those years in which he was almost entitled to confirm by experience that which he felt not to be a panegyric on letters, but a testimony by him who was most eminently qualified to estimate their value. He felt in a more sensible manner the honour done him in this that the youth of the University have been principally instrumental in the election. "I must confess there is something in this feeling of approbation of youth, (which must of necessity be pure,) which is extremely gratifying, especially to those who pass through a long and varied life. I recur to the early period of my existence; and I now feel a renovation of the pleasure I enjoyed when I was

one of a similar class. I feel a sort of renovation of the pursuits and friends of my youth-my sympathy rises with your expressions of approbation; and I cannot but acknowledge that I feel as if I were sensible that were I in your situation, I should long to have done just as you have acted. (Loud and continued applause.) It can be no great infatuation in me, therefore, to say that I warmly value the approbation and support of youth, like the poet who revisits the scenes of his early life:

I feel the gales that from ye blow,
A momentary bliss bestow;
As waving fresh their gladsome wing,
My weary soul they seem to sooth;
And, redolent of joy and youth,
To breathe a second spring.'

But, Gentlemen, no delight or gratification could recommend to me an Institution in which such privileges were granted to youth, as you enjoy, unless my reason and experience were satisfied of their utility. I am satisfied that the privileges of the Academic youth of this University, which have been enjoyed for so many ages, are most beneficial to your academical institutions. They serve to promote industry-to lighten obedience-to enforce discipline-and to attach the students to the University. It seems to me that all great seminaries should serve but as means of preparation for the active duties of life. I am satisfied that the original institutions of this seminary, which conferred upon the youth the election of their first magistrate, have been wisely contrived, for they have never exercised that valuable privilege without doing honour to themselves and the University. In looking over the list of names of those who have been raised to that distinguished eminence by their suffrages, I observe no name that I would wish to be expunged. They have always used this privilege wisely and honourably. Their minds are not yet influenced by venal or interested motives, and their voices are more to be valued than if they had been moved by considerations which influence persons of riper years, but of less disinterested feelings. Besides, the calculations of probability are in this respect confirmed by experience; the holders

of this office have uniformly been such as were recommended to the youthful minds of the students by some eminent claims to distinction in rank and station, or in science and literature, in legislation, in the useful arts, in the science of government, or in some department of public business beneficial to the country. Is it nothing that the youths of this University should be trained in their earlier years to exercise those functions of duty which they may in maturer years be called on to practise, in the election of the magistracy of the country, or of the framers of the laws, which it is the peculiar blessing of our happy constitution that the people are supposed to be privileged to exercise? This early acquaintance with the rights of freemen qualifies them to use them without any tumultuary or disorderly feelings, as habitual rights which lead to no disorder in their future exercise, whenever they have opportunities of using the elective franchise in any of the various forms which our constitution provides. It has ever appeared to me, that by this excellent Institution, the youth who are thus graciously entrusted with the choice of their academical magistrates, are consoled for their subjection to the academical laws, and are more submissive to the necessary discipline of the University, than in other situations where they are deprived of every power of electing their magistracy. So wisely had this election been managed by the youths of the University, that he was almost overwhelmed by the talents and worth of his celebrated predecessors. The youth of Glasgow had shewn the highest veneration for the productions of genius; he, too, could revere the philosopher, and admire the poet, and yet he still thought that due applause should not be withheld from those whose lives had been spent in studying the nature and utility of Government. In the year 1784, when, from the state of political affairs, it would have seemed peculiarly delicate for any literary body to have distinguished a person so strongly opposed to the administration of the day, this University elected to be Lord Rector, Edmund Burke, who had been called the most philosophical orator of his day, but whom I would rather describe

as the most eloquent political philosopher of modern times.

"I am well aware that I have no claim to engage your attention, but that of a countryman engaged in laborious public pursuits. I am well aware that I have no other pretensions than the love of letters. My life has been variegated, and has left little for the prosecution of projects that were formed in my early life, and the age of repose has been converted into an age of anxiety. I would advise those who are masters of their own time, that they would confine their life to one object, and not be distracted by diversity of pursuit. I would observe, Gentlemen, that the national partiality which we in Scotland feel for one another, may have had some share in this election. This has been considered by some as a reproach. But it is a singular circumstance, that one of the greatest writers of antiquity represents this quality as predominating among the inhabitants of the mountainous regions of Italy. It is designated as fautrix suorum regio,' to which some in modern times have made an approach.

"I should think myself culpable, Gentlemen, were I to pass over a few of the extraordinary honours that have distinguished this University in former times. It was founded by the Roman Catholic establishment-was coeval with the art of printing-with a period when a few mechanics, by finding out the means of inventing a new copying machine, changed in some measure the whole system of letters, and almost of civil society. It is a curious fact, that this discovery was made at the period of the evacuation of France by the English troops. This was an event that was expected to work out a wonderful change on Continental politics. The other event was hardly known. Yet, in the course of so short a period, we now find it a difficult matter to settle the precise time of their leaving France-it is involved in obscurity, and interests no one.

But this mechanical art has been extending and improving the condition of mankind-has been performing its part with silence, rapidity and security-and will never perish so long as man exists to be benefited by it.

"This University might seem to have been deprived of its chief prop and stay by the Reformation: but it is not the course of reformation to sweep away the sciences-it only fixes them on a firmer foundation. The Reformation the emancipation of the human understanding, gave a new vigour to the University. Under the government of Melville, the able law giver of the Presbyterian Church, this University acquired a new impulse, which led it directly forward to that prosperity at which it was soon to arrive. In a brighter period, Dr. Gil bert Burnet, to whom England owes the history of her Reformation, and the exposition of her Creed, and to whom the liberties of England are deeply indebted, and whose language is elegant and his sentiments liberal, -he came from amongst you, and honoured the Divinity Chair of this University by his virtues and his genius. To me it seems fortunate that the sciences have not retired here, as elsewhere, to a hermitage, but have come and planted themselves in the heart of a great and populous city, which has risen to be the second in the island and the third in the empire, and in the very midst of this great city this University has been planted. It was owing to this that the two most important new sciences discovered in the eighteenth century-the sciences of chemistry and political economy-were both laid, at the same time, within these walls where I now address you. They are both of such a nature as to unite the active with the speculative duties of life. About the same time the discovery of the steam engine was made by Mr. Watt, a person connected with this University-one of the most important discoveries in modern times. This great increase of scien tific knowledge was the result of the union of recluse speculation with the active business of life, and of the inti mate connexion which Dr. Smith and Dr. Black maintained with the practi cal business of this great city. This shows the advantage of men of scientific skill mixing with the various in dividuals who exert themselves in perfecting the arts, compared with those who dose away life in dreams of science, without applying them to the practical benefit of mankind. Give

me leave to say, that, in other branches of science, this University has been not less distinguished than in these. I hold in my hand an old edition of Ptolemy, printed in 1530, in which is given a character of the various nations in the world. The character assigned to the Scots is, that they are

1st, prompt to revenge-2d, full of the pride of birth, so that they boast of royal descent, though in a state of beggary-and 3rd, they are much addicted to logical and metaphysical subtleties. Now, happily, the reign of law and regulated government had restrained this love of revenge within reasonable bounds; and the progress of commerce and the arts had introduced a feeling of equality among persons of birth and merit. But it is curious that, even up to our own times, no change has been wrought upon the other part of our character. The disposition to abstract science still adheres to the Scottish nation. But the study of metaphysics has no where been more rationally or more success+ fully cultivated than amongst you, and while it has been stripped of its subtilties, has retained all its vigour and its usefulness. There is now, Gentlemen, none of that spirit of hos tility to our countrymen of other per suasions, that formerly was said to distinguish the people of this country. This spirit of intolerance is fast wearing away from every country. Catholic chapels are now erected at Amsterdam and Geneva; I have seen a Catholic Bishop at Boston; and, even in Glasgow, is a Catholic Chapel, probably the most beautiful in the island." (Partial disapprobation.) When si lence was restored, Sir James, in continuation, observed with great animation and effect, those who had manifested symptoms of disapprobation would probably have withheld them, had they waited for the following sentence: "Far be it from me ever to assert any sentiment inconsistent with my original convictions of the doctrines of a sincere Protestant, or with the most determined opposition to the arbitrary doctrines and dominant and intolerant spirit of the Church of Rome. On the contrary, the reason that I rejoice in the existence of such a Catholic edifice, is, that it proves that the stain of intolerance has been

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