A frank veracity is in him, truth and courage, as the basis of all; and of wild gifts and graces there is abundance.

I figure him a brilliant, swift, voluble, affectionate and pleasant creature; out of whom, if it were not that symptoms of delicate health already show themselves, great things might be made.

Promotions at least, especially in this country and epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers, are surely very possible for such a one! Being now turned of sixteen, and the family economics getting yearly more propitious and flourishing, he, as his brother had already been, was sent to Glasgow University, in which city their Mother had connections.

His brother and he were now all that remained of the young family; much attached to one another in their College years as afterwards.

Glasgow, however, was not properly their College scene: here, except that they had some tuition from Mr.Jacobson, then a senior fellow-student, now (1851) the learned editor of St.Basil, and Regius Professor of Divinity in Oxford, who continued ever afterwards a valued intimate of John's, I find nothing special recorded of them.