198 Biographical Sketch of the late Dugald Stewart, Esq. 



In 1806, when an accidental circumstance led the English 

 and the French Governments into an amicable correspondence, 

 the Earl of Lauderdale was sent to Paris to adjust the preli- 

 minaries of a general peace. This nobleman requested Mr 

 Stewart to accompany him as a friend, and they accordingly 

 spent some time in the French metropolis. Here Mr Stewart 

 had an opportunity of seeing many of the eminent individuals 

 with whom he had formed an acquaintance previous to the 

 Revolution, and of being introduced to some of the great men 

 who then adorned the science and literature of France. 



While individuals of inferior talent, and of much inferior 

 claims, had received the most substantial rewards for their 

 services, it had been long felt that a philosopher like Mr Stew- 

 art, who derived so small an income from his professional oc- 

 cupations, should have been so long overlooked by his country. 

 It fell, therefore, to be the especial duty of the administration 

 of Mr Fox and Lord Grenville, to correct the oversight of their 

 predecessors. They created for Mr Stewart the office of Ga- 

 zette Writer for Scotland, a situation which, as it could be 

 performed by deputy, required no personal labour, and which 

 added largely to his income. The creation, or rather the 

 revival of this office excited a considerable difference of senti- 

 ment. It was agreed on all hands, that the distinguished in- 

 dividual on whom it was conferred, merited the highest re- 

 compense; but it was felt by the independent men of all par- 

 ties, that a liberal pension from the crown would have express- 

 ed in a more elegant manner the national gratitude ; and would 

 have placed Mr Stewart's name more conspicuously in the list 

 of those public servants, who are repaid in the evening of life 

 for the devotion of their early days to the honour and interests 

 of their country. 



In the year 1808, Mr Stewart sustained a severe domestic 

 calamity in the loss of his second and youngest son, who was 

 cut off by consumption in the 18th year of his age, while pur- 

 suing his academical studies. To divert his thoughts from 

 this deep affliction, Mr Stewart devoted himself to the compo- 

 sition of his Philosophical Essays, a work which appeared in 

 1810, went through three editions, and added greatly to his 

 reputation. As the first part of this work is a commentary on 



