them with the introduction of a new philosophical test in the room of the old religious one which has been abolished. I repeat that accusation. I impute to them no paltry or corrupt motives; but I impute to them a grave and unauthorised innovation. I do not charge them with having acted unconscientiously, but I charge them with having acted unconstitutionally.
It is on this account that the doings of the Edinburgh Town Council are memorable. Such a test as they have established, in which an adherence to the standards of our antecedent philosophy is virtually proclaimed to be essential in the occupant of a metaphysical chair, must have the effect pro tanto of obstructing the advancement of science. It is the worst of all encroachments—an encroachment on the liberties of speculative opinion. And just consider what the effect would be if this same test were laid down in all scientific departments! Would any man devote himself to the active prosecution of science, if he knew that by doing so he must inevitably forfeit what to him may be an object of desire or ambition? A few might—a few with whom the pure love of truth is greater than the love of worldly place, and who are willing to suffer the penalty incident to superior insight. But we may depend upon it, that it is a bad social symptom, when a man's labours and proficiency in any particular line of business, are quoted against him as positive disqualifications for the office. In the long run, it will be found, that the opposite system affords fully more encouragement to science.
Looked at from a more limited point of view, these proceedings are memorable, as marking a crisis in the fortunes of the new philosophy. It is on this account that they are interesting to me—not as a citizen, but as a philosopher—as I believe they will be also interesting to many a metaphysical student. It is on this account that I have thought it worth while to put them on record. They have now, and they will have hereafter, some small historical value. A particular test was devised and used by the patrons of the University of Edinburgh, for the express purpose of excluding the new philosophy from its precincts. Whether this may be regarded as a compliment to the new
