608 MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 



siderable agitation in Edinburgh, and called forth several pamphlets, none of 

 which, except that of Ferguson, are now deserving of attention.* 



Ferguson and the other members of the Select Society, which had been insti- 

 tuted in 1754 for the promotion of philosophical discussion, but which was now 

 in a declining state, in 1762 revived it in a different form, as a means of agitating 

 the militia question, and keeping alive the flame of patriotic feeling. To this 

 new society was given, at the suggestion of Ferguson, the name of the " Poker 

 Club," which numbered among its members nearly all the literati of Edinburgh 

 and its neighbourhood.! 



This Club continued in existence till 1784, when from various causes it 

 dwindled away, without achieving the object for which it was instituted, — viz., 

 the extension of the Militia Bill to Scotland. It was not till 1 793 that the 

 Government agreed to place Scotland on the same footing as England in regard 

 to an establishment so essential for the safety of the country. 



As the salaries allowed at this time to the Professors in the University of 

 Edinburgh were very small, it was not uncommon for them to receive into their 

 families the sons of noblemen and gentlemen while they attended the University. 

 From the reputation which Ferguson had now obtained, he was, in 1763, en- 

 trusted with the education of the Honourable Charles and Robert Greville, the 

 sons of the Earl of Warwick, whose eldest son, Lord Greville, had been educated 

 under the care of Principal Robertson. These young gentlemen remained with 

 him for some years, and always retained a lively sense of the benefits they 

 received under his care. The connection thus formed was of great service to 

 Ferguson, as it brought him more immediately to the notice of many persons of 

 rank, and the fame he acquired shortly afterwards by his writings greatly ex- 

 tended his influence among his contemporaries. 



Whilst these young noblemen were residing with him, Ferguson employed 

 me of his most promising students, who afterwards became a very distinguished 

 nan, to aid him in superintending their studies. This was John, afterwards Sir 

 loHN M'Pherson, Governor-General of India, who always acknowledged that it 

 was to his intercourse and co-operation with Ferguson that he owed most of his 

 knowledge and success in life. 



Ferguson also took a warm interest in James M'Pherson, the translator of 

 Ossian, who, in 1760, had anonymously published his "Fragments of Ancient 

 Poetry, collected in the Highlands of Scotland."! A curious incident which 

 occurred about this time, with reference to the Ossianic Poems, will be subse- 

 quently noticed. 



* An account of the manner in ■wliich this singular work was written is given in Carlyle's 

 Diary, page 407 ; and an interesting letter of Hume, in which he avowed himself as its author, is 

 given in his Life, by .T. H. Burton, vol. ii. page 88. 



■j- See Carlyle's Diary, page 419. 



J Along with Patrick Lord Elibank, Principal Robertson, Dr Blair, and J. Home, Fergu- 



