CHAPTER III.

SUCH were the views with which, in Michaelmas term 1791, Mr. Buchanan was admitted a member of Queen's college, Cambridge. "The day of my leaving London," he observes in a letter to his brother, "was very solemn. It ❝ was on Monday the 24th of October, exactly four years "and two months since my entering that city. But with "what a different spirit did I leave it, compared with that " with which I had entered it! Had I seen at that time, in "the book of Providence, all that I was about to do and to "suffer in that city, I suppose I should hardly have dared to "approach it but God wisely conceals from us a knowledge "of the future.

"On the morning and evening preceding my leaving Lon"don, I was earnest in prayer for a blessing on my inten❝ded journey and its consequences. One request in parti❝cular was, that I might be favoured with the acquaintance "of some pious companions in my studies. To this prayer "I had an early answer. A gentleman set out with me "from London in the same coach for Cambridge. He studied "two seasons at Glasgow, as I did; then, like me, passed ❝some years in vanity; and now comes to the University "to qualify himself for preaching Christ, as I hope I do. "This singular similarity in our circumstances occasioned "a happiness of which none but ourselves could partake.”

With a modesty and regard to frugality which reflect upon him much credit, Mr. Buchanan was at first disposed to enter as a Sizer; but upon the representations of the tutors, and of the friends to whom he had been recommended, he determined on being admitted as a Pensioner. In a letter to Mr. Newton, written soon after his arrival at Cambridge, he very feelingly describes the perplexity which he had anticipated from the contrariety of the studies to which he was called, to the prevailing dispositions of his mind. Until he was actually at college he cherished the hope of being per

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mitted to devote his chief attention to divinity, and to the mathematics only secondarily. But he found that the reverse was expected from him; and that the excellent friends, to whom his patron had introduced him, were quite as strenuous as his tutors in representing to him the necessity of complying with the established course of study in the University. Independently of the repugnance which Mr. Buchanan felt to this plan from the peculiarly serious frame of his mind at this period, he feared that by yielding to it he should disappoint the expectations of the friends who had sent him to Cambridge, and eventually frustrate the great object which he and they mutually had in view. The comparatively advanced age, too, at which he had entered the University, would naturally tend to strengthen this apprehension, and to dispose him to dedicate his time exclusively to theological pursuits. The state of doubt and uneasiness produced by these circumstances affected both his spirits and his health; but after stating the reasonings of his Cambridge friends, and his own feelings and inclinations, he expressed to his respected correspondent his resolution to follow that course of conduct, which after mature deliberation should appear to him to be the path of duty.

In the case of students in general, entering at the usual period at either University with a view to holy orders, however religiously they may be disposed, there can be no doubt either as to the duty or the wisdom of devoting their chief attention to the prescribed studies of the place. A competent acquaintance with the learned languages, and with the stores of historical and ethical knowledge which they contain; the principles of sound reasoning, and the elements, at least, of general science, are essential to the formation of an enlightened and able theologian. The basis of such a character must, indeed, be deeply laid in an experimental acquaintance with real religion; and it were devoutly to be wished, that this were more generally considered as an indispensable qualification in every candidate for the ministry, and that more effectual encouragements and facilities were afforded in our Universities for its at

tainment. But if to the spirit of piety be not added the advantages which are to be derived from the wise and temperate pursuit of human learning, there is great danger that religion itself will suffer in the hands of those who are thus unprepared to teach, to defend, and to adorn it. In the present instance, Mr. Buchanan was already possessed of such a share of learning as might have been sufficient to qualify him for the discharge of the ordinary duties of a Christian minister; but it was obviously desirable that this should be strengthened and enlarged by fresh accessions at the seat of science, to which the providence of God had so remarkably conducted him. Nor was it long before his judgment was convinced by the arguments of his friends, that the very honour of religion required his acquiescence in such a measure; and that, however the appointed studies of the University might appear to be foreign to the important purpose for which he had entered it, they would ultimately tend in the most effectual manner to promote it. Among those who concurred in this salutary advice was Mr. Newton himself; and to him Mr. Buchanan early in the following year announced his disposition to yield to their suggestions.

"I think," he observes, "that my way is clearer than it ❝ was, and I hope soon to have little doubt of my path of duty "at college. Your letter helped to pave the way for me. "I have now taken up the study of the mathematics ex ani"mo, that is, from a persuasion that God wills it. And for "them I have made a sacrifice of some other studies truly

dear to me. I tried for a time to continue them both, but "I found it impossible; so that now, that portion of the day which I have set apart for divine things is extremely short, "compared with what I once thought it would be; and yet "I dare not tell some of my friends here that it is so long."

It will be readily imagined, that Mr. Buchanan had various difficulties to encounter on commencing his academical course. He had indeed been received by the Vice-President, in the absence of Dr. Milner, and by the tutors, with much attention and kindness; but having been entirely unacquainted with the mathematics before his entrance at col

lege, it was only by hard study that he could contrive to keep pace with the lectures. "I once thought," he says, "that "I should have been obliged to acknowledge my inability, "and to have fallen behind, and was wishing for the last "day of term as eagerly as ever truant did for a holiday. "However I was enabled to keep my ground, and my diffi"culties were never known, even to my tutor. This vaca❝tion will give me room to have some little beforehand; so "that I hope to pass with more ease and credit through the "succeeding terms."

From the time of his coming to college, according to the information of a contemporary friend, Mr. Buchanan was exceedingly regular and studious, keeping but little company, for the sake, he supposes, of economy both as to expense and time.

His situation, too, was at first peculiarly unpleasant, from finding scarcely a single companion, whose sentiments and habits were congenial with his own. His indisposition to general visits even rendered him the subject of much animadversion. But from this trial he was shortly relieved by the praise which he received from his tutor for a Latin theme, the composition of which, though he had written nothing in that language for some years, was pronounced to be superior to that of any other student. He was in consequence treated with much additional respect by his fellow collegians, was allowed to visit them upon his own terms, and even received several applications to assist them in their studies, which served as a stimulus to his own exertions.

No sooner, however, had Mr. Buchanan determined on the diligent pursuit of his academical studies, than the wakeful spirit of piety, by which he was animated, made him anxious to guard against the possible dangers to which such a plan might expose him. For this purpose he cultivated the acquaintance of the more serious students at different colleges; and at his solicitation they agreed to meet regularly for the purpose of reading the New Testament, and conversing practically upon some chapter which had been selected. Their meetings were begun and ended with

prayer. It is well known that such proceedings are regarded in our Universities, to say the least, with much jealousy, and are generally discouraged. Why meetings for religious improvement, when conducted as this at Cambridge appears by Mr. Buchanan's letters to his correspondents to have been, should be disapproved, more than debating, or other academical societies, for the purposes of conversation or even of festivity, it is not easy to discover. Young men, is said, are incompetent to conduct with advantage discussions of a religious nature. But is their judgment at all better qualified to determine moral, or political questions; and is not the danger, whatever it may be, in the one case equal to that of the other? Both, it may be replied, are inexpedient. And if meetings of either kind are intended for the mere purpose of display, it is readily admitted, that the time consumed in them might be much more profitably employed. But in the case in question, the society met not so much for the purpose of discussion, as of raising a barrier against the undue influence of secular learning on the minds of those who were almost exclusively employed in its pursuit; and of cherishing that spirit of piety and devotion, the cultivation of which in themselves and others was to form the one great business of their lives. Meetings such as these may, indeed, and ever will be, objected to by those who perceive greater danger in the warmth of zeal, than in the coldness of indifference: but it may be permitted to those who, like Mr. Buchanan, have experienced not only their safety but their benefit, to vindicate, if not, under the regulation of that judgment which is seldom altogether wanting in our academical students, and in submission to academic discipline, to recommend them.

In addition to the society which has been just mentioned, Mr. Buchanan was invited to spend an hour on Sunday evenings at the rooms of one excellent person, who has been distinguished during many years for his active and zealous support of religion in Cambridge, and to whom a numerous body of clerical and other students have been successively indebted, for the most important instruction and encourage