1828.) 
sophy. To the study,of mathematics he 
paid no more attention than was necessary 
to avoid the censure of negligence; yet, in 
the nineteenth year of his age, his father 
having been seized with an indisposition 
which incapacitated him from continuing his 
professional labours for the benefit of his 
family, he was deputed, as his substitute, 
to read the mathematical lectures. Such was 
his ability, that he not only taught his 
scholars the customary and prescribed les- 
sons of mathematics, but inspired them with 
a love for the science. About this time, 
Mr. Stewart, in addition to his intimacy 
with Mr. Robert Thomson, became ac- 
quainted with Mr. John Scott, Mr. Thomas 
Stewart, Mr. John Playfair, and Dr. Wil- 
liam Thomson. 
Haying taught the mathematical class for 
about seven years, he was called to the per- 
formance of a duty more congenial. to his 
own taste. When Dr. Fergusson was sent 
to North America ona mission, Mr. Stew- 
art undertcok to teach his class in moral 
philosophy until his return—a task which 
he performed with ability. and reputation. 
_ Mr. Stewart, by the death of his father, 
‘was now sole professor of mathematics. Dr. 
Fergusson had resigned his professorship of 
moral philosophy. Mr. Stewart was allowed 
to be the fittest man for succeeding Dr, 
Fergusson, and Mr. Playfair for succeeding 
‘Dr. Stewart. It was, therefore, arranged 
that Dr. Fergusson and Mr. Stewart should 
‘exchange: consequently, Mr. Stewart be- 
came sole professor of moral philosophy, and 
Dr. Fergusson emeritus professor of mathe- 
matics, with Mr. Playfair for his acting de- 
puty and eventual successor, Mr. Stewart 
was now extremely intimate with the learned 
and profound Dr. Reid, to whose talents we 
are indebted for many valuable additions to 
our knowledge of the human mind. 
Mr. Stewart having devoted much of his at- 
tention tosimilar pursuits, he, in the year 1792, 
published the first volume of his Elements 
of the Philosophy of the Human Mind, the 
second volume of which did not appear’till 
1613, and the third not till 1827. He 
published Outlines of Moral Philosophy for 
the use of Students, in 1793; Dr. Adam 
Smith’s Essays on Philosophical Subjects, 
with an Account of the Life and Writings 
of the Author, in 1801; an Account of 
the Life and Writings of Dr. Robertson, 
1803; an Account of the Life and Writ- 
‘ings of Dr. Reid; a Statement of Facts 
relative to the Election of a Mathematical 
Professor of the University of Edinburgh, 
1805 ; Philosophical Essays, 1818. Since 
the last-mentioned period, he wrote a part 
of the Dissertations prefixed to the Supple- 
ment to the Encyclopedia Britannica. 
- After the peace of Amiens, Mr. Stewart 
accompanied Lord Lauderdale upon his mis- 
sion to France. This was the means of ob- 
taining for him a sinecure appointment, 
which rendered him independent for life. 
The Marquis of Lansdowne, when Chan- 
Biographical Memoirs of Eminent Persons. 
211 
cellor of the Exchequer, made him gazettes 
writer for Scotland. 
Mr. Stewart’s writings procured for him 
the honour of being elected a member of 
the Academy of St. Petersburgh, and also 
of the Academy of Philadelphia. We have 
heard the style of his compositions termed 
heavy and prolix, confused and obscures 
This opinion is not in accordance with ours. 
On the contrary, we think, with one of his 
earlier biographers, that ‘the Elements of the 
Philosophy of the Human Mind will trans- 
mit the author to posterity as a man who 
united most profound metaphysical genius 
with elegance and taste; whose learning, 
with the whole circle of philosophy, included 
agreeable and light literature; who knew 
the human understanding and affections in 
their anatomy and their active force ; who 
comprehended the human character in its 
genuine nature and operations, as modified 
by different circumstances, and exhibited in 
the existing manners of modern society.” 
Mr. Stewart possessed the manners of a 
gentleman, as well as the science and genius 
of a philosopher. He closed a long, meri- 
torious, and amiable life at Edinburgh, on 
the 1]th of June. 
THE REV. WILLIAM COXE, A. My . 
F.R.S., &e. 
The Rey. William Coxe was bor in 
Dover-street, Piccadilly, in the year 1747. 
His father was a physician, and originally 
intended him also for the medical profession. 
After about eight years’ instruction from 
the Rev. William Fountaine, whose son 
became a canon of St. David’s, he was sent 
to Eton, and subsequently to King’s Col- 
lege, Cambridge, where he was matriculated 
in 1764. In the year following, he obtained 
the scholarship founded by Mr. William 
Battie, M.D., who assigned an estate of 
£30. per annum, chiefly as an encourages 
ment to those who were intended for the 
study of medicine. In 1770, then a middle 
bachelor of arts, he obtained one of the 
annual prizes given, for. Latin prose compo- 
sition, by the two representatives of the 
university, in parliament; and, in 1771; 
having become a senior bachelor, he was 
equally successful. He afterwards obtained 
the degree of M.A.—the highest he ever 
took—and a fellowship in King’s College, 
In 1772 he took priest’s orders, and, for 
some time, officiated as curate of the parish 
of Denham, in Essex—a situation which 
he relinquished to superintend the education 
of the Marquess of Blandford, now Duke 
of Marlborough. The latter appointment 
he held two years; and, subsequently, he 
was engaged as travelling tutor to the late 
Earl of Pembroke, the late Samuel Whit. 
bread,. Esq., Mr. Portman, and the late 
Marquess of Comwallis. With the Earl 
of Pembroke, he visited France, Germany, 
and Italy ; and, with Mr. Whitbread, his 
tour was yet more extensive. Thus herens 
dered himself acquainted with the men and 
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