KOBERTSON. 319 



plishccl ; and we consider it as a most auspicious circumstance 

 that the foundation stone of this new mansion of science is 

 laid by your Lordship, who, among your ancestors, reckon a 

 man whose original and inventive genius places him high 

 among the illustrious persons who have contributed most 

 eminently to enlarge the boundaries of human knowledge. 



"Permit me to add what I regard as my own peculiar feli- 

 city, that, by having remained in my present station much 

 longer than any of my predecessors, 1 have lived to witness 

 an event so beneficial to this University, the prosperity of 

 which is near to my heart, and has ever been the object of my 

 warmest wishes. 



" May the Almighty God, without the invocation of whom 

 no action of importance should be begun, bless this undertak- 

 ing, and enable us to carry it on with success : may He con- 

 tinue to protect our University, the object of whose insti- 

 tutions is to instil into the minds of youth principles of sound 

 knowledge, to inspire them with the love of religion and 

 virtue, and to prepare them for filling the various stations in 

 society with honour to themselves, and with benefit to their 

 country. All this we ask in the name of Christ ; and unto 

 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we ascribe the 

 kingdom, power, and glory. Amen." 



LETTER OF THE LATE PROFESSOR FERGUSON, THEN IN HIS 

 NINETY-SECOND YEAR, TO THE LATE LORD ROBERTSON, ON 

 THE SUBJECT OF HIS FATHER'S EPITAPH. 



MY DEAR LORD, " St. Andrew's, Nov. 24th, 1814. 



" I have received your letter, enclosing the two copies 

 of the inscription on your father's monument, one for Mr. 

 Dempster, which I have delivered, and know his sense of 

 your kind remembrance, as well as my own of the honour 

 you have done me. In these acknowledgments I am afraid 

 you will think me all too slow ; but this is now the mode of 

 my existence, and ill qualified to change it. 



