liar department, enabling me to signalise, by another memorable example, how compatible is mathematical talent with philosophical inaptitude, nay, how adverse even, are mathematical habits of thought, to sound logical thinking. Mr De Morgan has long held highest rank as a British mathematician. Latterly, wishing to be more, he has ventured to speculate on the theory of reasoning: and the "Philosophical Society" of the mathematical University of Cambridge, giving his memoirs upon logic an imprimatur, have deemed them worthy of publication in their Transactions. Now the present paper, to say nothing of the others, exhibits, from first to last, only the blind confidence (shall I call it, or confident blindness?) with which a mathematical author can treat a logical subject; breaking down, though never conscious of his falls, in every, even the most rudimentary movement:-Author, Memoir, and Society (curiously) concurring to manifest anew the real value of the Cambridge crotchet,-that "Mathematics are a mean of forming logical habits, better than Logic itself." This crotchet is, however, a melancholy absurdity; for it is a crotchet which has confessedly turned that great seminary of education into "a slaughter-house of intellects,"-even of lives. It has been said of old,-"There is no royal road to Mathematics;" and we have again authority and demonstration, that Mathematics are not a road of any kind to Logic, whether to Logic speculative, or to Logic practical. A road to Logic, did I say? It is well, if Mathematics, from the inevitability of their process, and the consequent inertion, combined with rashness, which they induce, do not positively ruin the reasoning habits of their votary. Some knowledge of their object-matter and method is requisite to the philosopher; but their study should be followed out temperately and with due caution. A mathematician in contingent matter is like an owl in daylight. Here, the wren pecks at the bird of Pallas, without anxiety for beak or talon; and there, the feeblest reasoner feels no inferiority to the strongest calculator. It is true, no doubt, that a power of mathematical, and a power of philosophical-of general logic, may, sometimes, be combined; but the individual who unites both, reasons well out of necessary matter, from a still resisting vigour of intellect, and in spite, not in consequence, of his geometric or algebraic dexterity. He is naturally strong; not a mere cypherer-a mere demonstrator: and this is the explanation, why Mr De Morgan, among other mathematicians, so often argues right. Still, had Mr De Morgan been less of a Mathematician, he might have been more of a Philosopher. And be it remembered, that mathematics and dram-drinking tell, especially, in the long run. For a season, I admit, Toby Philpot may be the Champion of England: and Warburton testifies,-" It is a thing notorious, that the oldest mathematician of England is the worst reasoner in it." So much for Mathematical Logic; so much for Cambridge Philosophy. APPENDIX III. EDUCATIONAL. (A.) ACADEMICAL PATRONAGE AND REGULATION, OF EDINBURGH. THE following is an extract from the "General Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of Municipal Corporations in Scotland, presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of his Majesty;" 1835. Coinciding, as I do, with the recommendations of this Report, in so far as they go, and, in the prevalent unacquaintance with the subject, they perhaps could not go farther; I may premise, that the experience of the sixteen [eighteen] years which have since elapsed, tends strongly to confirm, not only the expedience, but the urgent necessity of a reform in the Patronage and Regulation of the University of Edinburgh. I add nothing to what has been said above (p. 358, sq.) as to the principles and mode of academical patronage, but a single observation :-that, whilst the removal of religious disabilities in the appointment to lay Professorships, may, in itself, be a measure both equitable and advantageous, yet, with a board of patrons like the Edinburgh Town-Council, nothing certainly could be anticipated more detrimental than its operation. In truth, so far from the chairs being thus thrown open to merit, apart from all sectarian considerations, sectarian considerations would prevail against merit, far more perniciously than heretofore. For, in that event, the various religious persuasions would strain every effort to secure an election to the Council of their correligionists; among these councillors coalitions would be formed and agreements concluded; so that, in the end, the academical body would shew nothing better than a heterogeneous collection of obscure sectarian nominees. A repeal of the pre sent tests would thus, either finish our civic patronage, or sink our University still lower.* In regard to the administration of this University I would remark.—The legislative and executive functions (legally or in fact) are here exercised by two bodies-the Town-Council and the Senatus Academicus. But these two bodies are, severally or together, incapable of any due performance of these functions.With honourable exceptions of individual members, the Senatus Academicus, as a body, is too numerous (32), and too ill chosen, too destitute of liberal erudition or of lofty views, and where not indifferent or hopeless, too generally beset with private interests counter to the scientific interests of the school and public,-to be able either rightly to legislate for the University, or (without intelligent controul) even rightly to administer its laws.-The Town-Council from its numbers (33), from its relative ignorance and incapacity, and from its exposure to all kinds of sinister influences, among which not the least dangerous is that of the party interests in the professorial body itself,—is not less incompetent to these functions, an incompetence of which, to its honour, it seems not altogether unconscious. The consequence of this is, that with the exception of occasional fits of spasmodic energy, from accidental stimuli, the professorial body is left virtually to make and to execute the academical laws. One result, of many, is shewn in the present state of the Degrees; which, if they certify attendance on certain classes, certify, assuredly, little or no proficiency in the graduate. To complain of such abuse, or to suggest any means for its correction, would, in the absence of an intelligent controuling body, be at present wholly idle. To those professors, therefore, who are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Senatus Academicus, and not content to co-operate in what they feel obliged to condemn; no other alternative is, in my opinion, left, than to retire from any parti (1853.) Since the above was printed, more than two years have elapsed; and the anticipation in the text has been unexpectedly verified by the most obtrusive experience. Sects, presuming that the religious test, itself an evil, would in this University under no circumstances be applied, even to obviate one far greater, have ventured openly to develope the nuisance of sectarian influence in academical appointments by the Town-Council; and accordingly, the sectarian majority of electors in that body have, especially in the last professorial election, voted by sect, and in manifest conformity with sectarian views. The Edinburgh academical patronage has now reached its lowest point of subsidation; religious parties now co-operate with secular corruption in seducing the incompetent elector to violate his duties. cipation in university proceedings. The Commissioners thus report: "The opinion that the Edinburgh system of university patronage has worked well arises, we conceive, from the want of any tolerable standard or example in this country from which to form an estimate of the manner in which the duty of patrons of an university ought to be discharged.+ The Town-Council of Edinburgh, consisting of thirty-three members, is, in our opinion, too large a body to discharge, with advantage, the duties of patrons of literary and scientific offices. So great a number cannot possess that unity of purpose which would enable them to anticipate a canvass, and at once fix on the most eligible person to fill each vacancy. Such we consider to be the duty of university patrons, and we esteem the allowance of a canvass for an office in the university, however conducted, to be in itself an evil. In a body so numerous, divisions are apt to arise which cannot fail to obstruct the fair estimate of the merits of rival candidates. But, above all, the feeling of individual responsibility is destroyed, where a good appointment can reflect little honour, and a bad one is not felt to throw disgrace upon any one elector. Under the former constitution of the Town-Council, a great majority of the members were usually merchants and tradesmen, but little qualified, by education, to be themselves very competent judges of the literary or scientific qualifications of others. From that cause also, as well as from their number, they were peculiarly open to the influence of personal solicitation, and of local prejudice and prepossession. Even under the present constitution of the Council, the qualifications which are likely to recommend individuals to the choice of their fellow-citizens as Town-Councillors are, in most cases, rather those which would fit them for taking an active part in the ordinary business of life than such as are calculated to render them suitable patrons of an university, and, indeed, their competency for the discharge of that particular duty will probably be little regarded. The fluctuating nature of the body is besides very unfavourable to the steady and consistent administration of this important trust; and the political feelings which are so apt to influence their own appointment are but too likely to affect the course of their conduct in matters which ought, of all others, to be exempted from their operation. Notwithstanding the manifest defects and vices of the system, it must be admitted that many men of distinguished eminence have been placed in the chairs of this university, and that it has acquired, and hitherto preserved, a respectable character as a seminary of learning and science. This, however, must not be attributed to any excellence in the existing system of patronage and administration; but is partly owing to the state of medical education in the great universities of England, partly to the exclusion of Dissenters from *On the vices of our civic patronage in Edinburgh, see also above, pp. 382-386. + (1853.) The Report of the Burgh Commissioners was drawn up by the late Mr Thomas Thomson. To those who knew him, his name is a pledge for the caution, moderation, and accuracy of its statements. |