to approve or restrict, as they shall see cause, and shall give warrant to the Treasurer for payment of such a sum, in satisfaction thereof, as they shall see just. The deed next provides for the election of the Clerk of the Hospital. He is chosen by the Governors, and continues in office during their pleasure only. His office is fairly and faithfully to keep in order all the evidents and other papers whatsoever belonging to the Hospital, and to attend the Governors at their meetings, to draw all orders and resolutions made by them, and to keep a clear and distinct record or digest of all their proceedings, marking down upon the margin of each sederunt the material thing transacted that day, and to make up an alphabetical index pointing to the particular sederunt or statute where every matter concerning the Hospital is treated of. He shall, likewise, have the sole benefit of drawing and composing of all manner of evidents, securities, and writings, which shall be made betwixt the Hospital and any person. "It being also expressly provided, That, in case it shall please God, that any of the boys, one, or more, shall at any time, after their departure out of the said Hospital, attain or succeed to any considerable fortune or stock in the world, that each boy attaining to such a condition shall be obliged to pay back to the Hospital what was laid out and expended on them during the time they were in the Hospital, and putting them to a trade, or otherwise; and the Governors are hereby required to pursue for, uplift, and receive the same from them, according to the following rule, viz.—If they acquire and succeed to two thousand merks Scots money, of free stock, they are to pay back one half; and if they acquire and succeed to four thousand merks money foresaid, of free stock, then they are to pay back the haill that was bestowed on them." In the appendix to the deed we find this clause referred to, with the following addendum "I hereby declare, and will and ordain, that such sums to be recovered, shall be added to the capital stock of the said mortification.” It might reasonably be expected that feelings of gratitude would induce those who were brought up in the Hospital to endeavour to make some return to an institution which had been the means of enabling them to acquire a competency in life. It will be seen, however, by the above extract, that the matter is not left to their better option, but that it is their imperative obligation. The Governors are empowered to pursue for reimbursement of the expenses of the maintenance in the Hospital of such as may afterwards acquire or succeed to certain specific sums. Such strong measures have never been resorted to by the Governors, although instances, not a few, have occurred which might have justified such procedure. Of all those who have been educated in Gordon's Hospital, a considerable number have risen to comparative affluence in the world, and yet, to their shame be it told, only a few of its adopted sons have had the common gratitude to make a return for the benefits they there received. A good many years ago, a person, whose name we forbear to mention, died in Leith, worth £60,000; and, although he made bequests to almost every charitable institution in Aberdeen, yet to Gordon's Hospital, where he was brought up, he left not one farthing. What can be the cause of such unnatural conduct? Are those who get up in the world ashamed to bequeath anything to the Institution, lest they should thereby betray the lowliness of their origin? This were surely one of those cases— "Where 'tis a shame to be ashamed t' appear!" We suspect, however, that there is too much of this discreditable feeling among those whose circumstances in the world are such as to contrast rather strongly with the poor and friendless condition of a "Sillerton laddie." Nay, there are some so utterly destitute of common sense and common gratitude, that they are offended, forsooth! if you make even slight allusion to the circumstance of their having been brought up in the Hospital! If they feel the obligation irksome, let them forthwith partly rid themselves of it by paying back to the Institution the expenses of their education. But, even when they shall have found grace enough to do this, let them still remember that they owe that institution a debt of gratitude which they can never repay. We envy not the contemptible creatures who allow the better feelings of the soul to be stifled by poor pride-of all kinds of pride the most pitiful. In making these remarks, we mean nothing personal; but, if any should choose to take offence at their truth and appropriateness to their own particular cases, they are very welcome to do so. They need not whine about feelings, etc., until they have shown that they really do possess feelings entitled to respect. We suppose they would readily boast of their having been brought up in Gordon's Hospital if they could derive any advantage by the boast; but as long as they are ashamed of the circumstance, we would just hint, for their special edification, that they have more credit by the Hospital than the Hospital has by them! If there is no legal claim, there certainly is a moral one; yet up to this date twelve old scholars only have shown their respect to the wishes and request of Robert Gordon, by repaying the cost of their education to the Hospital. TO DESPAIR. BEGONE! begone! Not I thy prey! Seems more than fabled wizard's wand, |