4 Biographical Memoir uf Sir John Leslie. 



though he ever held * that the learned languages were suffered 

 to engross too much attention in our system of education, 

 and was by no means sparing of reprehension upon this subject, 

 his own scholarship had become considerable ; and indeed his 

 writings manifest a more than ordinary degree of fondness for 

 embellishing the conclusions of science with illustrations from 

 the Greek and Latin Classics. He continued to the last to read 

 them occasionally, particularly Lucretius, whose bold and 

 imaginative philosophy, and splendid descriptions, were pecu- 

 liarly adapted to his taste. He came also to be well versed in 

 the theory of grammar ; and his observations upon languages 

 often evinced learning as well as ingenuity. 



His health, at the period above alluded to, was still so deli- 

 cate that it became necessary to moderate and regulate his 

 studious habits; but he succeeded, during his second session, in 

 acquiring additional honours ; and in attracting in a more mark- 

 ed degree the flattering attentions of the Chancellor, who kindly 

 invited him to Dupplin Castle, where, notwithstanding the bash- 

 fulness of his manners, he contrived to impress the other visitors 

 Avith a high opinion of his powers. About the same time, he 

 became known to IMr Playfair, on occasion of a visit which the 

 latter, alongst with the Reverend Dr Small, made to St An- 

 drews. Dr Small's son was a fellow-student and companion of 

 young Leslie, and hence his introduction to both these mathe- 

 maticians. Mr Playfair was at this time parish Minister of 

 Liff, in Forfarshire. Here he was afterwards visited by his 

 young acquaintance, neither of them then dreaming of that lot 

 which was to place both, in succession, in two conspicuous Chairs 

 of the LTniversity of Edinburgh, destined to derive from their 

 talents additional lustre and recommendations. His visits to Mr 

 Playfair were continued after the latter, in 1782, resigned his 

 clerical charge, in order to superintend the education of the pre- 

 sent Robert Ferguson, Esq. of Raith, and his brother General 

 Sir Ronald Ferguson. It was in this way, we believe, that he 

 first became known to these excellent and distinguished men, 



• " The great error in modern education consists in the undue attention 

 paid to the dead languages, which consumes the precious time that should be 

 devoted, during the freshness of youth, to the higher intellectual pursuits.'' 

 Preface io'^Hudments of Geometry, publish ed in 1828- 



