MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 613 



On the whole, this Essay must be regarded rather as an exposition of general 

 principles, than an application of these principles to particular instances. It is 

 defective in so far as the subject of religion, which in every age has had so con- 

 siderable an influence on society, has been omitted. But, notwithstanding its 

 defects, it must be admitted that the disquisitions which it embraces have as 

 much interest at the present time as they had one hundred years ago, because 

 they trace the same affinities between man and man, generation and generation, 

 in the delineation of common passions, affections, and desires. To say that 

 human society is modified by our present circumstances, and affected by the pro- 

 gress of modern civilisation, is only to render it still more amenable to those laws 

 of moral and intellectual symmetry which regulate the destinies of our species, 

 and which Ferguson has with much ingenuity attempted to evolve. 



The fame which Ferguson had now acquired, and the connection he had 

 formed with many persons of influence, led to suggestions of higher preferment. 

 The following letter from his friend Colonel (afterwards General; Clerk, brother 

 of Sir James Clerk of Pennicuik, shows that at this time he was regarded as a 

 suitable person to fill some political office. The Colonel had pressed him to dedi- 

 cate his Essay to Lord Shelburne, but this was declined, and the book appeared 

 without any dedication : — 



" To Adam Ferguson, Esq. — r. clerk." " London, October I0^A,1766. 



" I have not wrote you for some time. I suppose that your book is printing. 

 Lord Shelburne told me one day that he supposed Governor Johnson would not 

 perhaps return to West Florida, as he is coming home, and sayd, that he saw no 

 reason why he should not offer the government of it to you. I answered that I 

 should write to you of his kindness for you long before it should be an object of 

 deliberation, but that I thought you would be happier in your present situation, 

 and more independent, for the other was uncertain, though, in the common way 

 of thinking in the world, it was a great favour. Besides, I thought that you was 

 of more service to mankind where you was. He laughed at me. We shall have 

 time to consider of this. However, it shows Lord Shelburne' s kindness for you, 

 and good opinion of you. You asked my opinion upon a subject which I shall 

 give you when at leisure. — Yours affectionately." 



In 1766, Ferguson revisited Logierait, and delighted the villagers by his re- 

 j collections of themselves and their kindred, while they, in their turn, were no 

 ' less proud of the distinction attained by the son of their former pastor. This was 

 , also the year of his marriage to Miss Katherine Burnet of Aberdeenshire, the 

 amiable niece of Professor Joseph Black. This union was one of unmingled hap- 

 piness to both, till it was broken by the death of Mrs Ferguson in 1795. 



Among the many allusions to Ferguson, contained in the Diary of his friend 

 Dr Carlyle, we learn that he and Ferguson had, about ten years before this. 



