University. 1 A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. ?3
one with a dark lantern ; but notwithstanding that
a pardon and zoo merks (about 6110 sterling)
were offered by the Privy Council to any who
would discover the perpetrators of this outrage,
they were never detected.
The gates of the college were ordered to be shut,
and the students to retire at least fifteen miles
distant from the city; but in ten days they were
permitted to return, upon their friends becoming
caution for their peaceable behaviour, and the
gates were again thrown open ; but all students
? above the Semi-class ? were ordered by the Privy
Council to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy,
and go regularly to the parish churches ;
but, says Fountainhall, ?? there were few or none
who gave thu conditions.?
-the seat of Sir Jarnes Dick, Lord Provost, the
family being in town-was deliberately set in flames
by fire-balls, and burned to the ground, with all
its furniture.
A barrel ha.Y full of combustible materials, and
bearing, it was said, the Castle mark, was found in
the adjacent park, and several people deposed
that on the night of the conflagration they saw
many young men going towards the house of
Priestfield with unlighted links in their hands, and
?
repress faction and panish disorder ; to correspond
with the other Scottish Universities, so that a uniformity
of discipline might be adopted; and to
report fully on all these matters before the 1st of
November, 1683. ?What the visitors did in
consequence of this appointment,? says Amot,
? we are not able to ascertain.?
As this visitation was to be for the suppression
of fanaticism, upon the accomplishment of the
Revolution a Parliamentary one was ordered of all
the universities in Scotland by an Act of William
and Mary, ?? with the purpose to remove and
? oppress such as continued attached to the hierarchy
or the House of Stuart. From such specimens
of their conduct in a visitorial capacity as we have
been able to discover, we are entitled to say,? re-
To prevent a recurrence of such outbreaks,
Charles 11. appointed a visitation of the university,
naming the great officers of state, the bishop, Lord
Provost, and magistrates of the city, and certain
others, of whom five, with the bishop and Lord
Provost should be a quorum, to inquire into the
condition of the college, its revenues, privileges, and
buildings; to examine if the laws of the realm, the
Church government, and the old rules of discipline
were observed j to arrange the methods of study; to
PART OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE saum SIDE OF THE QUADRANGLE OF THE OLD UNIVERSITY.
(From am Engraving ay W. H. Lienn of a Drawing ay Payfair.)
