Chapter VIII: Part 8

It is almost unnecessary to remark that Mr. Gordon enjoys in a high degree the confidence and esteem of the political party with whom he acts. We happen to know that the present Earl of Derby values his counsel and co-operation very highly, and as for Mr. Disraeli he has long made it a principle to consult Mr. Gordon on questions specially affecting Scotland. He is regarded as a decidedly safe man. Prudent and unassuming, he never seeks to catch the eye of the Speaker unless he has something of importance to say, and hence he is listened to by both his own and the opposite parties with attention and deference. In the discussions that have taken place during the present session on the Scotch Education Bill, he has proposed several amendments all tending in the same direction--namely, that of preserving the element of religious teaching in our national schools. He is also strongly in favour of maintaining a high curriculum, and, as far as possible, improving the status and efficiency of the teachers.

We may add, in conclusion, that Mr. Gordon is a Queen's Counsel, and he has been rewarded for his splendid legal and literary acquirements with the degree of LL.D. by Edinburgh University. He is likewise Chancellor's Assessor for Edinburgh University, an office of considerable honour, and in virtue of which he is a member of the University Court. Mr. Gordon has taken a lively interest in the Volunteer movement, and at the present time he holds the commission of Lieut.-Colonel in the Queen's City of Edinburgh Rifle Volunteer Brigade.

[Transcriber's Note: The text has been regularised so that "Mr", "Dr" and "Mrs" always have a period after. Other errors in the original that have been corrected are listed below:

Page 13: savans changed to savants - 'listened to by the savants'

Page 20: Pall Mall Gazeite changed to Pall Mall Gazette - 'about which the _Pall Mall Gazette_'

Page 24: a priori changed to a priori

Page 25: missing quotation mark added - 'Non incompatibles;"' gout changed to gout

Page 26: Bysche changed to Bysshe - 'Percy Bysshe Shelley'

Page 27: the the changed to the - 'on the banks of Lake Windermere.'

Page 28: 'early party of the nineteeth century' changed to 'early part of the nineteenth century'

Page 29: elite to elite

Page 31: mor changed to more - 'more than a match'

Page 32: improssed changed to impressed - 'favourably impressed' act changed to acting - 'while acting as'

Page 33: suavitor changed to suaviter

Page 34: jurisprodence changed to jurisprudence

Page 40: transcendant changed to transcendent

Page 43: eldst changed to eldest

Page 46: requsition changed to requisition

Page 55: furtheir changed to further

Page 64: In coure changed to In course

Page 74: Halfax changed to Halifax

Page 75: couse changed to course

Page 85: practitical changed to practical

Page 89: Philsophy changed to Philosophy

Page 106: parcular changed to particular

Page 113: formally changed to formerly

Page 114: phreno-magetism changed to phreno-magnetism

Page 120: missing quotation mark added - 'flowed like eloquence."'

Page 126: be be acknowledged changed to be acknowledged

Page 133: ready!' changed to ready!" glimses changed to glimpses

Page 135: prelininary changed to preliminary

Page 136: aggregtae changed to aggregate

Page 139: herefore changed to therefore

Page 141: confrere changed to confrere

Page 142: an an author changed to an author been been published changed to been published

Page 143: Blanehard changed to Blanchard

Page 148: Transatlanque changed to Transatlantique Brittannia changed to Britannia

Page 160: causus belli changed to casus belli

Page 170: knew changed to know

Page 172: M Ewen changed to M'Ewen

Page 176: Collosians changed to Colossians

Page 179: but the changed to but they

Page 181: Academy' changed to Academy's

Page 184: Depot changed to Depot depot changed to depot

Page 187: depot changed to depot

Page 188: depot changed to depot

Page 191: discoved changed to discovered

Page 192: rotton changed to rotten

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