A reply to the report of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh, upon Dr. Reid's Memorial to ... the patrons of the University / [D.B. Reid].

  • Reid, D. B. (David Boswell), 1805-1863
Date:
1833]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A reply to the report of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh, upon Dr. Reid's Memorial to ... the patrons of the University / [D.B. Reid]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nary report presented by the Senatus, after taking- three months to deliberate on his Memorial; and he may be allowed to premise that the Senatus have fallen into many misstatements which could never have appeared, had they compared Dr Hope’s evidence with Dr Reid’s, and given Dr Reid an opportunity of being heard. He may also be permitted to remark, that the question now before the Honourable the Patrons, is not whether a class for Practical Che¬ mistry would be useful or not, for such a class already exists, is nu¬ merously attended, and is considered as an indispensable branch of education ; but whether the patronage of that class, if it continue to be taught in the University, belongs to the Honourable the Patrons, or to Dr Hope ; and whether it can be taught most beneficially to the student, by a teacher having an independent appointment, or by one who must pay both time and money to the Professor who does not teach it. The Patronage of the University lias been vested, for the most obvi¬ ous reasons, not in the Senatus, but in the Honourable the Council; and however proper it may be to have the opinion of the Senatus upon any proposed University arrangements, the grounds on which they have formed that opinion must still come under the consideration of the Patrons. If Professors are to be allowed to institute new classes, and teach these themselves, or by deputy, for their own emolument, every Pro¬ fessor is then at liberty to attach any new and rising branch of education to his own class. But if new branches of education, brought into notice and efficiency by the exertions of private indi¬ viduals, who have risked every thing upon the attempt, are pro¬ moted to University classes when their utility is acknowledged by the public, then the public have security that ample justice will be done to the new class. The Report commences with a Statement conveying a most INCORRECT VIEW OF Dr Hope’s CONNEXION WITH Dr Reid's course of Practical Chemistry. This statement is as follows : « In giving their opinion on the proposal contained in this Memorial, the Medical and Surgical Professors need hardly remind the Senatus, in the first place, that Chemistry has been for many years taught by the present Profes¬ sor, not only with distinguished success, but with increasing efficiency, particu¬ larly in consequence of the establishment of the courses of Practical Chemistry, which have been taught under his directions, and by his different assistants, since the year 1823 ; i. e. since some years before the time when attendance on