gave a similar course to the Duke of Edinburgh,
when both were resident in the city.
On his removal to London in 1866 he was
succeeded as Rector by James Donaldson, LL.D.,
one of the ablest preceptors that Scotland has produced,
Dr. Donaldson was born at Aberdeen on
the 26th of April, 1831, and was educated at the
Grammar School and Marischal College and University
of his native city, and the University of
BURNS'S MONUMENT, CALTON HILL.
ship and liberal views. Particularly has he distinguished
himself by his exhaustive study of the
early Christian Fathers, and his "Critical History
of Christian Literature and Doctrine from the
Death of the Apostles to the Nicene Council "
(3 vols.), is a standard work on the important subject
with which it deals; while the " Ante-Nicene
Christian. Library," of which he is joint-editor,
affords further proof of the great and permanent
Edinburgh University, Rector of the High School
of Stirling in 1854, classical master in the High
School of Edinburgh in 1856, and Rector of the
same school in 1866, in succession, as has been
seen, to Dr. Leonhard Schmitz. During his rectorship
the High School conspicuously sustained
the world-wide reputation which it has always enjoyed
for the all-round excellence of its education.
Though Dr. Donaldson devoted himself to the
watchful guidance of the great institution over
which he presided with rare zeal and affectionate
solicitude for its interests and those of the scholars
entrusted to his care, .he found time to enrich
the classical and educational stores of his country
by various works exhibiting alike profound scholardepartment
of Christian history and theology. Dr.
Donaldson was elected Fellow of the Royal Society
of Edinburgh, and received the degree of LL.D.
from -4berdeen University; he has edited at different
times various periodical journals, and has
contributed several articles to the " Encyclopzdia
Britannia.." In 1881 he was appointed professor
of Humanity in the University of Aberdeen.
Among other eminent classical masters in the
new High School were John Macmillan, a native
of Dumfries-shire, and John Carmichael, a native
of Inverness, who was succeeded in 1848 by his
nephew, also named John Carmichael, who had
won classical distinction both in the Edinburgh
Academy and at the University, and who was one
of the most brilliant conversationalists and the
kindest-hearted of men in Edinburgh.
Among the prizes competed for are the gold
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
medal was first awarded." The appendix to
Stevens's history of the famous school contains a
most interesting list of 180 boys, medallists or
city for Greek in the Rector's class ; the Ritchie
gold medal, presented in 1824, by Mr. William
Ritchie, for twenty-three years a master of the
school; the Macdonald, a third class medal,
given by Colonel John Macdonald, of the regiment
of Clan Alpine, son of the celebrated Flora
Macdonald, and presented for the first time in
1824.
The College Bailie silver medal for writing, the
personal gift of the gentleman holding that office
for the year, was first presented in 1814, and for
the last time in 1834.
"The head boy or dux of the school, at the yearly
examination, till about the close of the eighteenth
century," says Dr. Steven, '( usuallyreceived from the
city, as a prize, a copy of the best edition of one of
the classics. This was prior to I 794, when a gold
63
a gold medal given by Lieut.-Colonel Peter
Murray, Adjutant-General in Bengal in 1794, and
the name of which was changed to the Macgregor.
institution in the kingdom has ever sent forth SO
many pupils who have added fresh laurels to the
glory of their country.
In it is still preserved as a relic the carved
stone which was over the principal entrance of the
first school from'1578 to 1777. It bears within a
panel the triple castle of the city, with the initials
I. S., and, under the thistle, the date and legend :-
MVSIS : RESPUBLICA
FLORET. 1578.
Above t6is in a pediment is an imperial cronm,
with two thistles and the initials I. R. 6.
The High School Club, composed of old
scholars, was first instituted in 1849.
At a great entertainment given in the city to Mr.
(afterwards Lord) Brougham, on the 25th of April,
1825, presided over by Henry (afterwards Lord)
Of the distinguished men in every department of
life who conned their studies in the class-rooms, even
of the new High School, it is impossible to attempt
