It was a large class, ultimately reaching 353 and breaking the record of the Edinburgh classes without having recourse to the factitious assistance proposed in the letter of May 16.

His inaugural lecture was delivered under what ought to have been rather trying circumstances.  On the way from London he stopped a night with his old friends, John Bruce and his wife (one of the Fannings), at their home, Barmoor Castle, near Beal.  He had to leave at 6 next morning, reaching Edinburgh at 10, and lecturing at 2.] “Nothing,” [he writes,] “could be much worse, but I am going through it with all the cheerfulness of a Christian martyr.”

[On May 3 he writes to his wife from the Bruce’s Edinburgh house, which they had lent him.]

I know that you will be dying to hear how my lecture went off to-day—­so I sit down to send you a line, though you did hear from me to-day.

The theatre was crammed.  I am told there were 600 auditors, and I could not have wished for more thorough attention.  But I had to lecture in gown and Doctor’s hood and the heat was awful.  The Principal and the chief professors were present, and altogether it was a state affair.  I was in great force, although I did get up at six this morning and travelled all the way from Barmoor.  But I won’t do that sort of thing again, it’s tempting Providence.

May 5.

Fanny and her sisters and the Governess flit to Barmoor to-day and I shall be alone in my glory.  I shall be very comfortable and well cared for, so make your mind easy, and if I fall ill I am to send for Clark.  He expressly told me to do so as I left him!

I gave my second lecture yesterday to an audience filling the theatre.  The reason of this is that everybody who likes—­comes for the first week and then only those who have tickets are admitted.  How many will become regular students I don’t know yet, but there is promise of a big class.  The Lord send three extra—­to make up for...[(a sudden claim upon his purse before he left home.)

And he writes of this custom to Professor Baynes on June 12:—­]

My class is over 350 and I find some good working material among them.  Parsons mustered strong in the first week, but I fear they came to curse and didn’t remain to pay.

[He was still Lord Rector of Aberdeen University, and on May 10 writes how he attended a business meeting there:—­]

I have had my run to Aberdeen and back—­got up at 5, started from Edinburgh at 6.25, attended the meeting of the Court at 1.  Then drove out with Webster to Edgehill in a great storm of rain and was received with their usual kindness.  I did not get back till near 8 o’clock last night and, thanks to “The Virginians” and a good deal of Virginia, I passed the time pleasantly enough...There are 270 tickets gone up to this date, so I suppose I may expect a class of 300 men. 300 x 4 = 1200.  Hooray.

To his eldest daughter:—­]