UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN.

The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1494 by a bull of Pope Alexander VI., issued on the representation of James IV., who was moved thereto by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen. The papal edict authorized the erection of a studium generale et universitas studii generalis in the city of Old Aberdeen, for teaching divinity, the canon and civil law, medicine and the liberal arts, with all the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the universities of Paris and Bologna. The corporate body, consisting of a Chancellor, who was bishop of Aberdeen, a Rector, and Doctors of Faculties, was empowered to confer degrees, which were made valid throughout Christendom. In 1496, the King granted a charter and certain ecclesiastical funds for its support, and all the rights, liberties, and advantages belonging to St. Andrew and Glasgow. These privileges were finally established and confirmed by a papal bull in 1500. In the original organization, the University of Paris, where Elphinstone read lectures on the civil law, was mainly followed.

Trinity or King's College.*

In 1505, Bishop Elphinstone founded, within the university, and endowed a College or Collegiate Church (in that portion of Aberdeen which was styled New), in honor of the Trinity and the Virgin Mary, to consist of 36 ordinary members, the chief of whom was to be a doctor, or licentiate of divinity, and to be styled principal, and all to be doctors or licentiates of the canon and civil law and medicine, and all except the doctor of medicine, were to be ecclesiastics, and were required to live within the college. The power of conferring degrees was bestowed on this college in 1506, and the whole establishment was modified by a new charter in 1531, projected by Elphinstone, and issued by his successor, Dunbar. The members were increased to 42, divided into four classes; the first to consist of doctors, of which the chief was to be principal; the second, of eight masters of arts, the first of whom was to be learned in philosophy, and was made sub-principal, the second to be skilled in poetry, grammar and rhetoric, and the rest to be students of divinity until they became doctors therein; the third class was formed of students of law, and were to study civil law, although they were to belong to the priesthood, and say mass for the founders; there were also 14 students of arts, who held their endowments for three years and a half, and 8 prebendaries who were to attend to sacred music, one of whom was styled canter, another sacrist, and six boys for the choir. The revenues were placed under the charge of a procurator, appointed by the principal officer of the college. The principal was elected by the rector of the university, the procurators, doctors, sub-principal, regents in arts, humanist, theological student, cantor, and sacrist. The regents were subject to the principal as to the time and subject of their lectures. The doctors were appointed for special lectureships. The sub-principal was to instruct the students in manners and virtue, inflict punishment for absence from divine service. The college was exempt from all civil burdens.

The original designation was Trinity College, but was early known as Kings. By charter of Charles I., the two colleges (Kings and Marischal) were called King Charles University of Aberdeen.

†The office of canter and canonist was abolished in 1639.

Marischal College.

Marischal College, in New Aberdeen, was founded as a college of arts by George Earl Marischal, under royal authority, and sanctioned by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1593. By the act of the Scottish Parliament granting all the privileges and jurisdiction to 'ane frie college,' its members were subjected to the jurisdiction of the magistrates of the city in all things done beyond the walls of the college. It was designated an Academy or Seminary of Learning (Academia-Publicum Gymnasium), and the corporation consisted of a chancellor, rector, dean of faculty, principal (Gymnasiarcha), three regents, six alumni, and two persons of inferior academical standing to manage the internal affairs of the seminary.

The principal was invested with the most extensive powers and duties. His superintendence extended over the whole establishment, and all its members. He could censure the regents, and even expel them from the college. He could confer degrees in the arts, and was to be qualified to teach in every department of learning. The regents had particular professions assigned to each-to the first, arithmetic and geometry; to the second, logic, and composition and declamation in Latin and Greek; to the third, the elements of these subjects. The rector was elected by the students, and had jurisdiction over the college, and presided at its meetings. The Dean of Faculty was elected by the Senate and the Minister of Aberdeen.

University of Aberdeen.

After various modifications in the duties of the several officers, and efforts at different times to unite the institution with that of Kings College, a union was effected in 1858, under the style and title of the University of Aberdeen, to take rank as from 1494, with all the funds, properties, and revenues belonging to the two. The classes in arts and divinity are fixed in Kings, and those of law and medicine in Marischal College.

After the death of the present incumbent, who was one of two in office at the date of the union of the two colleges, the chancellor is appointed by the General Council, which is composed of the Chancellor, members of the University Court, and all Masters of Arts of the University.

The rector is elected by the matriculated students voting in four nations, called Mar, Buchan, Moray, and Angus, by each of which a procurator is chosen, who together elect the rector, the chancellor giving the casting vote.

The University Court consists of the rector, the principal, four assessors (associates),-one nominated by the Chancellor, a second by the Rector, a third by the General Council, and a fourth by the Senatus Academicus, which last body consists of the principal and the regular professors.

The university possesses 77 foundations for bursaries, the benefits of which are extended to 287 students, and of these 142 are open to public competition. The curriculum in arts extend over four years, and all candidates for degrees must attend the branches in the prescribed order. The fees vary from one to three pounds. The term extends from November 1 to April 1.

The number of professors in 1870 was 22, and of matriculated students 713-416 in arts, 91 in divinity, 17 in law, 189 in medicine.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1582, by a Royal Charter granted by James VI. The Charter contemplates a University on a wide basis, with the conditions necessary for liberal study, and arrangements suited to the progressive state of modern science. In 1621, an act was passed by the Scottish Parliament, which ratified to the University, in ample form, all the rights, immunities, and privileges enjoyed by other universities in the kingdom. This ratification was renewed in the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland, and in the Act of Security. The privileges and efficiency of the University have been augmented by the Universities (Scotland) Act (1858), making provision for the better government and discipline of the Universities of Scotland, and for improving and regulating the course of study therein.

The University is a Corporation, consisting of a Chancellor, Rector, Principal, Professors, Registered Graduates and Alumni, and Matriculated Students; and including in its government the University Court, the Senatus Academicus, and the General Council.

The Chancellor is elected for life by the General Council. He is the head of the University. Changes in its internal arrangements, proposed by the University Court, must receive his sanction. It is through him, or his deputy the Vice-Chancellor, that Degrees are conferred. The Chancellor is President of the General Council.

The Vice-Chancellor is nominated by the Chancellor. He may, in the absence of the Chancellor, discharge the duties of his office in so far as regards conferring of degrees, but in no other respects. In his absence Degrees are conferred by the senior member of the Senatus present.

Upon the Vice-Chancellor is imposed the duty of acting as returning officer at parliamentary elections. If there be no Vice-Chancellor at the time of an election, the University Court may appoint one to act as returning officer.

The Rector is elected by the Matriculated Students on the second Saturday after the commencement of the winter session. The term of office is three years. The next election takes place in November, 1874. The Rector is President of the University Court.

In accordance with Clauses 27 to 41 of the 'Representation of the People (Scotland) Act,' 31st and 32d Vict., cap. 48, the Chancellors, Members of the University Court, Professors, and Members of the General Councils of the Universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, are entitled to elect a member to serve in Parliament for these universities.

The University Court has the following powers:

1. To review all decisions of the Senatus Academicus, and to be a Court of Appeal from the Senatus in every case, except as otherwise provided in the Universities' Act:

2. To effect improvements in the internal arrangements of the University, after due communication with the Senatus Academicus, and with the sanction of the Chancellor; provided that all such proposed improvements shall be submitted to the General Council for their consideration:

3. To require due attention on the part of the Professors to the regulations as to the mode of teaching and other duties imposed on the Professors:

4. To fix and regulate, from time to time, the fees in the several classes: 5. Upon sufficient cause shown, and after due investigation, to censure any member of the Senatus Academicus, or to suspend him from his office, and from the emoluments thereof, in whole or in part, for any period not exceeding one

year, or to require him to retire from his office on a retiring allowance, or to deprive him of his office; and during the suspension of any Professor, to make due provision for the teaching of his class: Provided always that no such sentence of censure, suspension, or deprivation, or requisition on a Professor to retire from office, shall have any effect until it has been approved by Her Majesty in Council:

6. To inquire into and control the administration by the Senatus Academicus, of the revenue, expenditure, and all the pecuniary concerns of the University, including funds mortified for bursaries and other purposes.

Any of the Rules, Statutes, or Ordinances enacted by the Universities' Commissioners may be altered or revoked by the University Court, but only with the consent, expressed in writing, of the Chancellor, and with the approval of Her Majesty in Council.

The University Court holds the patronage of the Chair of Music, and a share in that of the Chair of Agriculture. It appoints the non-professorial Examiners for Degrees in Arts and Medicine, the non-professorial Examiners for the Degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and the statutory Examiners of Burgh and Parochial Schoolmasters. The appointments of Assistants to Professors, provided for by the Universities' Commissioners, are subject to its approval.

The Court consists of the following members, viz.;-1, The Rector 2. The Principal. 3. An Assessor elected by the Chancellor. 4. The Lord Provost of Edinburgh for the time being. 5. An Assessor elected by the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of Edinburgh. 6. An Assessor elected by the Rector. 7. An Assessor elected by the General Council of the University. 8. An Assessor elected by the Senatus Academicus. No Principal or Professor of any University is eligible to the office of Rector or Assessor, except in the case of the Assessor elected by the Senatus Academicus. The Rector and his Assessor continue in office for three years, and the other Assessors for four years. Five members of the Court constitute a quorum. The Rector, who is the ordinary President, has a deliberative and a casting vote. In his absence, the Member of the Court present who is first mentioned in the enumeration of its Members in the Universities' Act presides, with a deliberative vote only; and in the event of an equality of votes, the consideration of the question must be adjourned to a day of which due notice must be given to the Rector and if the Rector does not then attend, the member presiding at such subsequent meeting has both a deliberative and a casting vote.

Stated meetings of the Court are held upon the first Mondays of February, April, July, and October.

By the Universities (Scotland) Act (1858), the patronage of the seventeen Chairs, previously in the gift of the Town Council, was transferred to seven Curators-three nominated by the University Court, and four by the Town Council. Besides these seventeen Chairs, the Curators have also a share in the patronage of those of Humanity, Agriculture, Civil Law, Law of Scotland, and Conveyancing, which was formerly possessed by the Town Council. The Curators hold office for three years.

In accordance with clause 4 of the Medical Act of 1858, the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen are entitled to elect a member of the 'General Council of Medical Education and Registration of the United Kingdom.'

The Principal is appointed by the Curators. The office is held for life. The Principal is the resident head of the College, and President of the Senatus Academicus.

The Principal and whole Professors constitute the Senatus Academicus or Senate. This body is intrusted with the superintendence and regulation of the teaching and discipline of the University, and with the administration of its revenues and property, including the Library, Museums, and University buildings. Degrees in Arts, Medicine, Law, and Theology are conferred, on the recommendation of the Senatus, by the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor. The Principal is President, with a deliberative and also a casting vote. In the absence of the Principal, the senior professor present acts as chairman, also with a double vote. The ordinary meetings of Senatus are held on the last Monday of October, the last Saturday of November, January, February, and March; on the Saturday immediately preceding Christmas day; on the last Friday of May, June, and July; on the 1st of August, not being a Sunday (for conferring Degrees in Medicine); and in April (for conferring Degrees in Arts, Law, and Theology), on a day fixed at the meeting in March. Extraordinary meetings may be summoned by the Principal or by three Professors. One-third of the Sanatus constitutes a quorum.

The business of the Senatus is conducted by the Secretary, who prepares the minutes, summons the meetings, intimates business assigned to the Principal, to the Dean of any Faculty, or to the Convener of any Committee, and draws up the return for the Widows' Fund. The Secretary also administers the Sponsio Academica to Graduates.

The Chairs of the University are comprehended in the four faculties. The affairs of each faculty are presided over by a Dean, who is elected from among professors of the faculty. Persons recommended for Degrees, in the different faculties, are presented to the Senatus by the Dean, to whom all communications regarding the Classes or Graduation should be addressed.

Faculty of Arts.

The Faculty of Arts, the most ancient in the University, comprehends the seven Chairs of Humanity (Latin), Mathematics, Greek, Logic and Metaphysics, Moral Philosophy, Natural Philosophy, and Rhetoric and English Literature. Attendance on these classes is required for the Degree of Master of Arts.

The Faculty of Arts also embraces the Professorships of History (in conjunction with the Faculty of Law), Practical Astronomy, Agriculture, Music, Sanskrit, Civil Engineering, Geology, and Political Economy.

Faculty of Theology.

This Faculty, the second in chronological order, comprehends the four Chairs of Divinity, Hebrew and Oriental Languages, Divinity and Ecclesiastical History, and Biblical Criticism and Antiquities.

Faculty of Law.

This Faculty comprehends the six Chairs of Public Law, Civil or Roman Law, Constitutional Law and History (in conjunction with the Faculty of Arts), Law of Scotland, Medical Jurisprudence (in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine), and Conveyancing. Attendance on these classes is required for the Degree of Bachelor of Laws.

Faculty of Medicine.

This Faculty comprehends the twelve Chairs of Botany, Institutes of Medicine, Practice of Physic, Anatomy, Chemistry, Midwifery, Natural History, Materia Medica, Clinical Surgery, Medical Jurisprudence (in conjunction with the Faculty of Law), Surgery, and General Pathology. Some of these Chairs