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TRACTS

RESPECTING

THE ELECTION OF MR. LESLIE

TO THE PROFESSORSHIP OF MATHEMATICS

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

A SHORT STATEMENT

OF

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS

RELATIVE TO

THE LATE ELECTION

OF

A MATHEMATICAL PROFESSOR

IN THE

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH;

ACCOMPANIED WITH

ORIGINAL PAPERS AND CRITICAL REMARKS.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

THE attempts which have lately been made, by an anonymous attack in the newspapers, and by a libellous memorial clandestinely circulated, both in Edinburgh and in different parts of the country,* to create a prejudice in the public mind against Mr. Leslie's character and principles, and more particularly to influence the opinions of individuals who are, in a few days, to sit as judges on a question in which his reputation and interests are deeply involved; rendered it indispensably necessary, previous to the meeting of the General Assembly, to correct the misrepresentations on this subject, which have already remained too long unnoticed. Having had the honor of being chosen to represent the University of Edinburgh in that Venerable House, I have felt it incumbent on me to take upon myself this ungrateful task; and I have accordingly endeavoured, in the following pages, to give such a statement, of the principal facts connected with Mr. Leslie's election, as may convey a sufficient idea of the great outlines of the business to those who had no opportunity of judging of it from their own observation. In the course of this statement, I have also introduced various original documents, which I was anxious to record, and of which I flatter myself, the greater part will be found not unworthy of general attention; and some critical remarks,

*For both the papers here alluded to, see Appendix.

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