Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland

difficulty in obtaining admission, till Mr. Boswell made himself known: His nam

and after a cessation of all intercourse for near twenty years met here professor of physic in the King’s C

any token of regard, being conducted wherever there was any thing which I desired to see,

rance of very frivolous ostentation; yet as Scotland is little known to the greater part of those who may read these observations, it is not superfluous to

he cathedral. It has the appearance of a town in decay, having been situated in times when

uses are large and lofty, and the streets spacious and clean. They build almost wholly with the granite used in the new pavement of

n, I have not inquired. The manufacture which forces itself upon a stranger’s eye i

in both there are professors of the same parts of learning, and the colleges hold the

ence upon ancient models, and wholly uninfected with monastic barbarity. His history is written with elegance and vigour, but his fabulousness and credulity are justly blamed. His fabulousness, if he was the author of the fictions, is a fault for which no apology can be made; but his credulity may be excused in an age, when all men were credulous. Learning was then rising on the world; but ages so long accustomed to darkness, wer

o raise the value of money, or so to diminish the demands of life, as to suppose four and forty shillings a year, an honourable stipend; yet it was probably equal, not only to the needs, but to the rank of Boethius. The wealth of Eng

hted. One of its ornaments is the picture of Arthur Johnston, who was principal of the coll

ssary, are not now to be found. This was one of the latest performances of the transcribers, for Aretinus died but about twenty years before typography was invented. This version has been printed, and may be found in libraries, but is little read; for the same books have bee

e professors black, which is, I believe, the academical dress in all the Scottish universities, except that of Edinburgh, where the scholars are not distinguished by any particular habit. In the King’s College

was for a considerable time bestowed only on physicians. The advocates are examined and approved by their own body; the ministers were not ambitious of titles, or were afraid of being censured for ambition; and the doctorate in every facul

on to merit, is more than human judgment or human integrity have given reason to expect. Perhaps degrees in universities cannot be better adjusted by any general rule than by the length of time passed in the public profession of learning. An English or Irish doctorate cannot

ar. That of St. Andrews continues eight months, that of Aberde

of England is in Scotland legally practised in licensed chapels served by clergymen of English or Irish ordination, and by tacit connivan

he city given me by the Lord Provost. The honour conferred had all the decorations that politeness could add, and wha

s, with the seal appending, fastened to a riband a

d we had the honour of an invitation to his seat, called Slanes Castle, as I am told,

red a very uncommon, and unexpected calamity. The sand of the shore was raised by a tempest in such quantities, and carried to such a distance, that an estate was overwhelmed