This practice of combining reading with lectures was followed by his successors in the moral chair in Glasgow, and is vastly superior to the plan of the Edinburgh professors of a later date, who instructed their pupils only by reading lectures.His prelections were at first, after the manner of the times, in Latin; but he had the courage to break off from the ancient custom, and to speak in the English tongue, no doubt to the great joy and benefit of the students, who might lose somewhat in not being familiarized with the ancient learned language; but would gain vastly more in being brought into close sympathy with the {60}
speaker, in listening from day to day to elegant English, and in the mastery which they would thereby acquire over their own tongue.Dr.Carlyle has left us a picture of the lecturer: "I attended Hutcheson's class this year (I 743-44)with great satisfaction and improvement.He was a good-looking man, of engaging countenance.He delivered his lectures without notes, walking backwards and forwards in the area of his room.As his elocution was good, and his voice and manner pleasing, he raised the attention of his hearers at all times; and when the subject led him to explain and enforce the moral virtues, he displayed a fervent and persuasive eloquence which was irresistible." Alike account is given of him by his professed biographer Leechman: "A stature above middle size, a gesture and manner negligent and easy, but decent and manly, gave a dignity to his appearance.His complexion was fair and sanguine, and his features regular.His countenance and look bespoke sense, spirit, kindness and joy of heart," It may be added that this is the very impression left as we gaze on his portrait, with wig and gown, with florid face, and easy but dignified air, in the common hall of Glasgow College.
Leechman represents him as dwelling in his lectures in a more diffuse manner on such moral considerations as are suited to touch the heart, and excite a relish for what is truthful and noble; and by his vivacity of thought, and sensibility of temper, commanding the attention of his students, and leaving strong impressions on their minds.
In the college he had an eminent colleague in Mr.
Robert Simson (nephew of the theological professor), and a congenial one in Mr.Alexander Dunlop, the professor of Greek.Mr.Simson was an eccentric man, who spent his time between severe geometrical studies in the morning, and social meetings in the tavern at which he lived, or in his club, in the evening.Hutcheson and Dunlop -- who was a man of strong sense and capacity for business -- got the credit of managing all the affairs of the university, and both exerted themselves to maintain the discipline of the college and foster its literary tastes.In particular, Hutcheson had great success in reviving the study of ancient literature, particularly the Greek, which had been much neglected in the university before his time.At a later date, he had associates of a kindred spirit in the elegant {61} and grave Dr.Leechman, professor of theology (afterwards principal);in the lively and learned Dr.Moor, first the librarian of the college, and in 1746 made professor of Greek; and in the two eminent printers, Robert and Andrew Foulis, who published a multitude of learned works, including many of Hutcheson's.With such a spirit reigning in the college, and a great thirst for education on the part of the Scottish youth, fostered by the parish and burgh schools, the class-rooms were filled with students.Carlyle, who had just come in 1743 to Glasgow, after having been at Edinburgh College, describes the spirit that reigned among the youths:
"Although at the time there appeared to be a marked superiority in the best scholars and most diligent students of Edinburgh, yet in Glasgow learning seemed to be an object of more importance, and the habit of application was much more general," -- a description which applies equally to Glasgow in after years.He mentions that among the students there were sundry young gentlemen from Ireland, with their tutors; and he names, among young men of station attending, Walter Lord Blantyre, Sir -- Kennedy and his brother David, afterwards Lord Cassilis.Walter Scott of Harden, James Murray of Broughton, and Dunbar Hamilton, afterwards Earl of Selkirk.The Scotch colleges were quite competent at that time to educate the nobility of the country, who had not yet fallen into the way of going to the great English schools and colleges, there to lose their national predilections and become separated, as they did in succeeding ages, from the sympathies, social, political, and religious, of the middle classes and common people of Scotland, to the great injury of the church and the nation generally.
Hutcheson exercised a special influence in drawing students, Scottish, Irish Presbyterian, and English Non-conformist, to the college.His own class was so large that he had to employ an assistant.The Calvinistic creed of the south-west of Scotland, the theological preaching of the old-school ministers, and the training of the young in the Shorter Catechism, all inclined the students to mental philosophy; and in Hutcheson they had much to attract, and little to offend.When he set before them wide fields of knowledge; when, in his lectures on natural theology, he pointed out evidences of the wisest contrivance and {62}
