MK small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 615 



but the emoluments from his Chair were at that time so small, and the terms 

 offered by the Earl, — an allowance of L.400 a-year during the Earl's minority, 

 and an annuity of L.200 for life — were so tempting, that Ferguson, not without 

 some hesitation, undertook the responsibility. His reasons are fully given in the 

 following letter to his friend Adam Smith : — 



" Edinburgh^ January 2dd, 1774. 



" My Dear Friend, — It has given me great pleasure that you have avoided 

 doing anything that might tend to urge Lord Stanhope farther than he has 

 already gone in the proposal respecting Lord Chesterfield. If I had known the 

 part he took in that business, I should certainly at first have either frankly 

 accepted of the offer made me, or declined it in a way that could not imply an 

 intention to raise the terms. This is certainly the only alternative that is now 

 left me. I have revolved the subject all night and this morning, and the possi- 

 bility of my becoming a burden on Lord Stanhope's family weighs much, but the 

 odds on Lord Chesterfield's life is so great as very much to reduce that consi- 

 deration. My place here, a few years ago, was worth about L.300 a-year, but 

 this and the preceding year it has fallen considerably short ; and while the pre- 

 sent alarm of the scarcity of money, and the expense of education at Edinburgh, 

 continues, it may not rise again to its former value. To this I must add, that in 

 case of debility or old age, 1 shall probably be reduced to my salary, which is no 

 more than L.lOO a-year. For these reasons I think that I can fully justify myself 

 to my family in accepting of L.200 a-year certain, with the privilege of choosing 

 my place and my occupations ; and if my Lord Chesterfield's guardians should 

 be of opinion that he ought, when he comes of age, not only to relieve my Lord 

 Stanhope of his engagement, but likewise, in case I shall have acquitted myself 

 faithfully and properly, to make some such addition to my annuit}?" as I men- 

 tioned, I shall then likewise think that I can justify my conduct to the world, 

 who rate men commonly as they do horses, by the price that is put upon them. 

 But of this I would not have the least hint to my Lord Chesterfield at present. 

 I have so far proceeded without consulting anybody, and have formed an opinion 

 subject to correction. I mean to read jouy letters, and this I am writing to one 

 or two of my friends. If they approve, it shall go to you ; and if you agree with 

 me, be so good as intimate my resolution to the guardians of my Lord Chester- 

 field ; or, if you have any objections of moment, delay it till I shall have heard 

 from you. My own present feeling is, that I should be to blame if I omitted 

 putting myself and family under the protection of persons so worthy and so 

 respectable, when I have an opportunity of doing it without any real hazard to 

 my interest But I shall not enter on this subject, my heart, indeed, being too 

 ,full, especially with respect to Lord Stanhope. I am, &c., Adam Ferguson."* 



Having, through Adam Smith, arranged satisfactorily the terms of his engage- 



* MSS. University of Edinburgh. 

 VOL. xxiii. PART in. 8 D 



