Note 367 — MISCELLANEOUS RECOLLECTIONS A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER BEGUN IN 1826

It would be uncharitable to attribute the selection of Glasgow to any persuasion in the testator’s mind that the Northern University had fewer scruples than its neighbours, when anything was to be got by concealing or overruling them. There is, however, a story current that a Mr. Zachary Boyd once left a valuable collection of MSS. to that Learned Body, on condition that a Bible in doggerel verse of his composition should always lie on the table of the library. The translation was not, indeed, in intention a travesty, but it had all the effect of one. The University was sorely perplexed between a due reverence for the sacred writings and an unwillingness to forego a valuable legacy. At length they hit upon an expedient by which they hoped to secure the bequest, spare their students and visitors the scandal of seeing the scripture in so unbecoming a garb, and yet adhere to the letter of the conditions. They nailed the book to the table, enclosed it in a heavy wooden binding with ponderous clasps; and if they did not prohibit, discouraged all examination of it, as well as resorted to every artifice to prevent its attracting any notice whatever.—V.H.