APPENDIX. 57 



III. ACCOUNT of MATTHEW STEWART, D. D. 

 [Read by Mr JOHN PLATFAIR, April 3. 1786.] 



THE Reverend Dr MATTHEW STEWART, late Pro- 

 feflbr of Mathematics in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, 

 was the fon of the Reverend Mr DUGALD STEWART, Minifter 

 of Rothfay in the Ifle of Bute, and was born at that place in 

 the year 1717. After having finifhed his courfe at the gram- 

 mar-fchool, being intended by his father for the Church, he 

 was fent to the Univerfity of Glafgow, and was entered there 

 as a ftudent in 1734. His academical ftudies were profecuted 

 with diligence and fuccefs ; and he was fo happy as to be par- 

 ticularly diftinguilhed by the friendfhip of Dr HUTCHESON 

 and Dr SIM SON. With the latter, indeed, he foon became very 

 intimately connected ; for though it is faid, that his predilection 

 for the Mathematics did not inftantly appear on his application 

 to the fludy of that fcience, yet the particular direction of his 

 talents was probably obferved by his mafter before it was per- 

 ceived by himfelf. Accordingly, after being the pupil of Dr 

 SIMSON, he became his friertd ; and during all the time that 

 he remained at the Univerfity of Glafgow, purfuing the ftudies 

 of Philofophy and Theology/ he lived in the clofeft intimacy 

 with that excellent Mathematician, and was inftructed by him 

 in, what might not improperly be called, the arcana of the an- 

 cient Geometry. That fcience was yet involved in fbme de- 

 gree of myftery ; for though the extent of its difcoveries was 

 nearly afcertained, its analyfis, or method of inveftigation, was 

 but imperfectly underftood, and feemed inadequate to the dif- 



(H) coverics 



