“But how did this Assembly, and those which followed, fulfil their purposes with respect to the Universities? They not only appointed visitations, but they prevailed on the Government greatly to enlarge the provision for the maintenance of the Universities, so that they were enabled to increase the number of Professors, and to augment their incomes; thus making it practicable to admit the youth to the benefit of their instructions on the easiest terms. They did not despise or discourage the most elegant accomplishments. On the contrary, the Assembly of 1645, following out the views of preceding assemblies, deplored the great decay of poesy, and the ignorance of prosody, and ordained that, in the trial of Schoolmasters, for burghs or other considerable parishes, none should be admitted but such as after examination should be found skilful in the Latin tongue, not only for prose, but also for verse; and the same Assembly introduced other regulations for advancing the study, not only of Greek, but of all the branches of Philosophy. But the chief recommendation of the system, then prescribed and practised, was, that the nurture and admonition of academical youth was sanctified by the Word of God, and by prayer. The study of the Scriptures was a college exercise. The young were trained to habits of devotion. The catechisms, and other manuals of religious instruction, were translated into Latin, and carefully taught; and, by such provisions as these, the influence of piety was diffused over the paths of solid learning.” 1638.—November 22. 95. _Letter from the Bishop of Ross to Hamilton._ MY LORD, MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,