The craft in danger

The accompanying text in the volume begins as follows: "This print affords a partial view of the Old College of Edinburgh and its entrance. The skeleton of the elephant was prepared by Sir George Ballingall while serving as assistant-surgeon with the second battalion of the royals in India; was subsequently presented by him to his old master, Dr Barclay; and ultimately bequeathed by the Doctor, along with the rest of his collection, to the Royal College of surgeons, in whose valuable Museum it forms a conspicuous object. The plate refers to the proposed institution of a Professorship of Comparative Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh, in 1817, for which Dr Barclay was at the time considered to be an eligable candidate. He is represented as riding in at the College gate on the skeleton of the elephant, supported by the late Dr Gregory, and welcomed by his friend, the late Robert Johnston, Esq., who were supposed to be favourable to the proposed Professorship, and to Dr Barclay's pretensions to the Chair. He is opposed by Dr Hope, who fixes his anchor in the strontian, and resists the entrance of the elephant by means of the cable passed round its forelegs. He is also opposed with characteristic weapons, by Dr Monro and Professor Jameson, on whose respective departments the intended Professorship was supposed to be an encroachment."