SCOTLAND.
A correspondent of the Times gives the following account of some- thing very like a jub, connected with the University of Edinburgh.
1, When the Whigs were in office in 1805 (?) they made a new Professorship in Edinburgh for Dr. J. Thomson,—namely, that of Military Surgery. After having held this appointment for some years, he resigned it in favour of his partner, the late Mr. Turner. Soon after the return of the saute political party to office, it being convenient for Dr. Thomson to become a Professor again, and there being no chair vacant, the former expedient was adopted. and a new une again created,—namely, that of Pathology. Now, this new creation trenched soclosely on the departments of the other Professors, that, in fict, it could only 'be patched up by stealing a little from each ; the teacher of Anatomy neces- sarily teaches pathology, showing the morbid changes of structure ; the lec- turer on Physic, in explaining disease, exhibits the changes of stn ucture to which it gives rise; the Surgeon does the same as to his department; so that Pa- thology constitutes an integral part of three separate courses, and one which cannot possibly he omitted, if these be efficiently taught. 'the only purpose served, therefore, by the new Professorship, was to benefit an individual, at the expense of the public, ou whom an additioual burden was laid iu medical education in Edinburgh. " Dr. Thomson is unable to hold his Professorship any longer, on account of his health; and has retired from it, with an allowance of 30N.1. per annum, to be levied on his successor. The successor he proposes is, it is alleged, his own son; and they are both now in London making arrangements for this purpose ; Dr. Thomson being the intimate friend of Mr. Allen, of Holland House, who was a college friend ofhis in Edinburgh many years ago. "The opinion of the profession generally is strongly against the new Profes- sorship; and the other medical Professors of the University of Edinburgh have unanimously signed a memorial, binding themselves to pay the annuity to 1)r. Thomson, if this unnecessary, and what might be called supernumerary, choir be abolished. The Town Council of Edinburgh have also taken this view of the subject, and memorialized the Government to have the Professorship discon. tinned,"
But Dr. Thomson is strong in his influence at Hulland House, and expects to beat the Professors and the Council.
Her Majesty has been good enough to order that the people of Kirk- caldy shall fill up the vacancy in the church, which is in the Queen's gift, and has given the right to choose their pastor to all heads of f limn. lies in communion with the Kirk.—Edinburgh Advertiser. [ We hope her :Majesty will be advised to adopt a similar course in Englund.]
While the crowd was dispersing from the race-course at Mussel- burgh, on Thursday week, a private of the Fourteenth Dragoons, now stationed in Piershill Barracks, gave offence to it young man, who in return challenged the soldier ; and in the course of the quarrel, the latter drew his sword, and in the most reckless and dangerous mariner swept it around him, to the great alarm and danger of a dense crowd who witnessed the proceeding ; and it was not without trouble and risk that he was caught and overpowered, and the weapon tat en front and sent, as we heard, to the NIusselteirgh authorities, arid himself con- veyed to his barracks.—Caledonian Mercury.
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