ber away their time, as they usually do, but the calls of nature often rouse the poor, and force them to their studies. Hunger is a most powerful spur to genius. Magister artis ingenîque largitor venter. It is this, Skelton used to remark, that chiefly stimulates the Scotch professors to distinguish themselves in literature. Accustomed, he said, to encounter poverty in their youth, and living in a barren country, and keen sharp air, like that of Attica, they easily overcome many literary difficulties, which appear invincible to those who have been bred up in sloth, softness, and plenty.

Baldwin, who was, if possible, still more enraged at Skelton for obtaining a scholarship, strove to vex him by all means in his power. In a short time he found it necessary to call him before him, on a very different occasion from the former.

On the death of Coghil, the great civilian, there was a vacancy for a member of parliament to represent the university. Two candidates were proposed, one of them Dr. Helsham, the noted fellow, and a tory; the other Mr. Palliseer, a moderate man, whose father, the Archbishop of Cashel, had built Palliseer's building in the college, and made a present of a large collection of books for the library. Provost Baldwin, who required humble submission in every thing, being averse to Helsham on account of his principles, sent for the scholars of the house (who with the fellows are the electors), and ordered them to vote for Mr. Palliseer.

Skelton promised, as the rest did, to obey his command. Helsham's party finding now that their candidate would be unable to succeed, set up in his room Dr. Elwood, a senior fellow and a whig, who, on account of his principles, and by making large offers and promises, brought over the provost to his side. He then sent for the scholars again, and bade them not vote for Mr. Palliseer, but for Dr. Elwood. When he delivered his injunctions to Skelton,* he replied thus, "Sir, you ordered me to support Mr. Palliseer, and in obedience to your command, I waited on him, and told

Dr. Palliseer of Rathsarnam told me, that Dr. Baldwin assured him he was not an enemy to Mr. Palliseer on that election. On the contrary, Mr. Skelton assured me that the provost, on summoning him the second time, positively ordered him to vote for Dr. Elwood.

him I would vote for him; how then can I, consistently with honour, retract my promise ?"-" Skelton," said the provost," you must do as I desire you, or mark the consequence."-" Let it be as it may," he rejoined, "I will not break my word, but I will vote for Mr. Palliseer."-"Sirrah," he replied in a passion, "you are an obstinate impudent fellow, and I never can get any good of you; but I'll make you repent of it yet." On the day of the election, Mr. Palliseer found himself deserted by the majority of his friends, who, through fear of the provost, whose power it was dangerous to oppose, were forced to declare against him. Skelton previously to the election, received an injury on his leg, which lamed him, and made him use a staff. On account of this accident, he came limping into the hall with a huge club in his hand, and a gown about his shoulders; a figure somewhat odd and terrific; for he was a large-sized man, of a majestic appearance. When the provost, who was returning officer, asked him whom he would vote for? he replied, with an intrepid countenance, that he would vote for Mr. Palliseer, and said openly before them all, that it was very ungrateful in them to reject the son of a man, who had done so much for the college; yet the father's liberality to it could not secure for the son the honour of being one of its representatives. The provost's interest inclining to the opposite side, was sufficient to turn the scale against him.

Skelton's conduct at this election was most honourable. No threats of a tyrannical superior could prevail on him to break his word, and desert, at the hour of trial, the man to whom he had promised support. He would not follow a multitude to do evil. The whole tenor of his life was exactly consistent with the instance I have given, as he was always too strict an observer of virtue to yield to the fashionable current of the times.

It appears from Dr. Baldwin's influence at the election, that the university in those times was a mere borough of the provost. If the candidate secured his favour, he was chosen; if not, he was surely rejected. For the honour of modern times, we can boast, that the case is quite altered, and that the freedom of election is fully restored. He that is acquainted with the nature of college politics for these

VOL. I.

some years past, must be fully convinced of this. But the subject is too delicate for me to handle with safety. Yet Mr. Skelton's remarks to me, with respect to the college election, though they savoured somewhat of the courtier, may, I hope, be introduced, without giving offence. He said, that the college should always choose men of consequence, and high authority with government to represent them. "Such persons," he observed, "would be able to obtain for them favours from government, which young hot-headed men of narrow connexions could not possibly procure. The fellows of the college," he continued, "have often complained to me that government never make bishops of any of them now, as they used in former times; but how can they expect this, when they choose representatives to oppose them in parliament?"

A part of the college, while he was there, being accidentally set on fire, he exerted himself in carrying water to quench it, which could not be effected till three buildings were consumed. He fatigued himself almost to death, while many of his fellow-students quietly looked on. His brother Thomas was once while a school-boy in imminent danger from an accident of this nature; being confined by a fever in a room in Lisburn when it was on fire; but he was luckily carried out to the fields before the flames reached the place where he lay.

Skelton, finding it impossible for him to gain the provost's favour, resolved to take his degree as soon as the proper time arrived, and quit the college. He accordingly took due care to prepare himself for the examination, which it was necessary to undergo, and he succeeded as well as he could wish; but still there was an impediment in his way. The provost strove to plague him once more before they parted. Being well assured he would be glad to get free of the college, where he was subject to his power, which he had made him too sensibly feel; he at the commencement,* for some idle pretence, stopped him of his degree. He was thus all at once disappointed in his hopes. His only remedy now was to wait with patience till the next commencement, which would take place in about

Commencements signify the ceremony of taking degrees, which is held twice in the year, via on Shrove-Tuesday, and the Tuesday next after the 8th of July.

half a year. When the time began to approach, he considered how he might play a trick on the provost, and get his degree. Accordingly, a few days before it arrived, he waited on him, and, after paying his humble submission, said to him," Mr. Provost, I am extremely obliged to you for stopping me of my degree last time, because it was what I wished for above all things, and I beg and beseech you may also stop me now, as my friends are forcing me to take it, and quit the college, contrary to my desire." "Ah, you dog," he replied, "what do you mean, do you wish to stay here contrary to your friends' consent? Take your degree, sirrah, and quit the college, or I'll make you smart for it." Skelton began to lament, saying how greatly distreessd he was at getting this unfavourable answer. "Don't be growling here, sir," he said, "but go about your business; I'll not agree to your request, you shall take your degree in spite of you, sirrah." Upon this Skelton with sorrowful countenance, though with joy at his heart, walked grumbling out of the room. "My scheme," he told me, "happily succeeded, so I took my degree, and quitted the college; and a fig for the provost." He commenced Bachelor of Arts in July, 1728, and had his name taken off the college books on the 31st of May following, two years before the natural expiration of his scholarship.

Though Dr. Baldwin treated him with such severity, yet he always spoke of him with respect, and indeed justly, for he was on the whole an excellent provost. He possessed, Skelton said, a kind of solemn gravity suitable to his station. His person and external behaviour were dignified and striking. He required a strict adherence to academic discipline, and set the example himself. He attendedchapel twice every day, at ten in the morning, and four in the afternoon. He was also unmarried and a clergyman, an austerity enjoined by the letter of the statutes. Yet he could not entirely overcome the propensities of human nature. His partiality for a certain fair one afforded subject for some scandal, and at length roused the indignation of the students, who rose up against her and turned her out of the college.

Baldwin, it is owned, had most of the qualities requisite for the station he possessed; but their effect was often de

stroyed by his imperious conduct. His violent expulsion of Dr. Hughes, a senior fellow, for some disrespectful expressions against him in his absence, strongly marks the character of the man. In his political opinions he could bear no opposition. He had an utter aversion to Dean Swift, because he was a tory, and used to say scornfully of him, that he was remarkable for nothing else, while in the college, except for making a good fire. He would not allow his college-woman, he said, to do it, but took that trouble on himself. Baldwin died, when he was above ninety, in 1758, having enjoyed the provostship forty-three years.

Skelton related the following story of his prowess. The students were formerly obliged by the statutes to go to Patrick's Cathedral every Sunday in Lent, which produced violent quarrels between them and the butchers of Patrick's market. At one of these conflicts, the provost ran out before them, and said, “ Follow me, my lads, and I'll head you. I am appointed by your parents and friends to take care of you, and I'll fight for you till I die."-" He would have done so too," said Skelton, " for he was as brave as a lion." It was at length found necessary, on account of these quarrels, to pass an act of parliament dispensing with their attendance at St. Patrick's.

I have been so much taken up with his academic scuffles with Dr. Baldwin, that I inadvertently omitted a few of his juvenile exploits, which may, not improperly, be introduced here. Among his other accomplishments, he was a most excellent dancer; he could both dance gracefully, and dance long, two rare qualities united. During the college long-vacations, he amused himself with various exercises at Derriaghy, such as throwing the stone, the sledge, and the like. But long-bullets* was his favourite exercise, in which there was no match for him in the whole parish. Yet, though he excelled the generality of others in every exercise, he owned, he was beat shamefully by individuals in them all.

He went once during vacation on a visit to Mourne, and

Long-bullets is an exercise, wherein a metal ball of two or three pounds weight is thrown along a public road. He whose ball, in an equal number of throws, goes farthest beyond a fixed point, is victorious.