Shorter Notices
University of St. Anirrews. By R. G. Cant. (Oliver and Boyd. 8s. 6cl.) THIS history of Scotland's earliest university has been compiled almost entirely from published sources. Mr. Cant explains that since only sketches on St. Andrews exist, and since no one .has yet completed the " many mountains of labour " of investigating and editing all the original documents, he has produced a stop-gap by weaving scattered materials into " a continuous story." This very concise work—covering half a millennium in 15o pages—bears the mark of collation rather than original research. There should be plenty of liveliness in the history of St. Andrews—with its founda- tion in the early fifteenth century because Scottish students were not welcome elsewhere through Scotland's support of the Avignon Popes, with its divisions into " four nations " after the manner of Paris, its contact w:th the Scottish kings and other great figures, the gradual growth of its colleges, its reform last century. But Mr. Cant's account is efficient, flat and without a gleam of picturesque- ness or individuality. It should, however, be useful to members of the university, and it includes plans of the college buildings and a competent index.
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