27 DECEMBER 1834, Page 6

SCOTLAND.

Lord Stanley was inaugurated, as Lord Rector of Glasgow Univer- sity, on Wednesday week. His Lordship's speech was of a very com- monplace description—infinitely inferior to that of Mr. Jeffrey, or even the Marquis of Lansdowne, and not to be compared with those of Sir James Alackintosh or Mr. Brougham. Yet it is praised beyond measure by one set of flatterers for its composition, by another for its praise of Lord Grey's Government, erewhile, in Stanley's classical dic- tion, denounced as the Thimblerig.

" In me you will find one ready to assist in removing all blemishes and de- formities from the hest and holiest institutions of the country with the most un- compromising zeal; while, at the same time, I will oppose, with all the might and energy of which I am capable, those whose measures, whose objects, and whose intentions are not to reform, but to destroy. It is on these grounds that I feel the highest gratification to see, more especially when the period for life of those who surround tne is taken into consideration, and when the error of a hasty judgment might be expected, that temper of moderation ; and while you press forward to remedy existing abuses, extending a fostering care and rallying around the institutions of the country, which in a moment of pod might he de- stroyed under the pretext of reform. I should, perhaps, apologize to niy au- dience for touching upon such points, but in these times, the din and turmoil of political warfare are heard even within the walls of the college, while the great movements abroad are taking deep hold on our social system. . . . It ought to be the first ditty of a Government to extend religious knowledge, and see that the people by means of establishments had the power of obtaining instruction and religious comfort. These institutions are respected, and ought to be mains tained and upheld in the love anti affection of the country. But while! say this, I am not blind to the defects which at present exist, and which I am anxious to see removed ; for by such means do I wish to disarm our enemies, conciliate our opponents, and increase our friends. But it is not our sacred institutions alone I wish to see reformed: it is the whole range of civic institutions which I desire to see amended, but not altered for the purpose of destructiou. On these principles it was that I acted with, the Government of Earl Grey in favour of a reform which gave to the loyalty, the intelligence, and the wealth of Scotland, a power and an influence which they did not before possess, These powers and privileges were intrusted to the People themselves, because it was known they loved the institutions of their country, and would prove their best de- fenders. Would to God that that great man, whose name I can never mention but with the profoundest respect and reverence, had been enabled to remain in office to guide the helm of Government by his steady and skilful baud, unmoved by the praise of his friends or the spleen of his opponents. That Mall was the true patriot, the strenuous defender of the privileges of the Crown, the rights of the People, and the Aristocracy. Lord Stanley dined on Wednesday with the Principal and Profes- sors of the College, and on Thursday with a party at Sir Daniel Sand- ford's. On the same day, says the Glasgow Courier, "he received deputations from Various public bodies in Glasgow ; and amongst others, from the Ministers and Elders of the Presbytery of Glasgow, who presented him with an address expressive of their approbation of the sound Protestant principles he lately avowed, and on which Le separated from the late Administration. Deputations from the Church and Education Societies also had interviews with him, and laid before him the present state of Scotland in regard to her churches and schools; and were highly gratified by the intelligent questions which he put, and the cordial interest he seemed to feel in these topics."