Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Education, Universities, Chemistry, Cultural Geography

    Discusses a statement made by Lyon Playfair during one of his first lectures as the newly-appointed professor of chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. Playfair had expressed his intention to make 'considerable alterations' in the modes of chemistry teaching at the university and stressed that he had sacrificed a more lucrative position in London for his present one. Punch praises Playfair's 'magnanimity', and draws attention to his chemical work, and the excitement that his 'example' has produced 'on the part of those who will probably not imitate it'. Points out that the last time the English-Scottish border was crossed was by the 'hindmost of a party of "blue-bonnets"' who had English cattle in front of them, and English yeomen and constables after them. Expects that the Scots will 'make the most' of Playfair.