the words of the late
Alexander Smith:--

"Mr. Gladstone demitted office, and then it behoved the students of
the University to cast about for a worthy successor. Two candidates
were proposed, Mr. Carlyle and Mr. Disraeli; and on the election day
Mr. Carlyle was returned by a large and enthusiastic majority. This
was all very well, but a doubt lingered in the minds of many whether
Mr. Carlyle would accept the office, or if accepting it, whether he
would deliver an address--said address being the sole apple which the
Rectorial tree is capable of bearing. The hare was indeed caught, but
it was doubtful somewhat whether the hare would allow itself to be
_cooked_ after the approved academical fashion. It was tolerably well
known that Mr. Carlyle had emerged from his long spell of work on
"Frederick," in a condition of health the reverse of robust; that
he had once or twice before declined similar honours from Scottish
Universities--from Glasgow some twelve or fourteen years ago, and from
Aberdeen some seven or eight; and that he was constitutionally opposed
to all varieties of popular displays, more especially those of the
oratorical sort.

"But all dispute was ended when it was officially announced that Mr.
Carlyle had accepted the office of Lord Rector, that he would conform
to all its requirements, and that the Rectorial address would be
delivered late in spring. And so when the days began to lengthen in
these northern latitudes, and crocuses to show their yellow and purple
heads, people began to talk about the visit of the great writer, and
to speculate on what manner and fashion of speech he would deliver.

"Edinburgh has no University Hall, and accordingly when speech-day
approached, the largest public room in the city was chartered by the
University authorities. This public room--the Music Hall in George
Street--will contain, under severe pressure, from eighteen hundred to
nineteen hundred persons, and tickets to that extent were secured by
the students and members of the General Council. Curious stories are
told of the eagerness on every side manifested to hear Mr. Carlyle.
Country clergymen from beyond Aberdeen came into Edinburgh for the
sole purpose of hearing and seeing. Gentlemen came down from London
by train the night before, and returned to London by train the night
after.

"In a very few minutes after the doors were opened the large hall was
filled in every part, and when up the central passage the Pri