MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 617 



" But by a minute of the Town Council in the beginning of winter, Mr Bruce 

 was appointed to teach in Mr Ferguson's place. As this gave the sanction of 

 the Council to the substitute whom Mr Ferguson proposed, it was considered by 

 him and all his friends, as equivalent to giving him leave of absence for this 

 session, and he had not the smallest apprehension of any intention to deprive 

 him of his office, without at least giving him warning of his danger. 



" On Wednesday last, 5th April, just upon the close of the session, the Town 

 Council, upon a motion made by the Provost concerning the impropriety of pro- 

 fessors in the College strolling through the country as governours, found the office 

 of Professor of Moral Philosophy vacant, and were desired to have their thoughts 

 on a proper person for filling it up ; and this without any summons given to Mr 

 Ferguson to attend, or any intimation whatever made to him or any of his 

 friends. 



"The Professor of Moral Philosophy, by his Commission from the Town Council, 

 holds his office ad mtam aut culpam must not the culpa, therefore, be first pro- 

 perly found, and the Professor summoned to see what he can say in his defence, 

 before he can legally be deprived of his office ? 



" The words of King James' Charter respecting the power which he gives the 

 Magistrates over the Professors are, — ' cum potestate imponendi et removendi ipsos 

 sicuti expedive^^it ^'' Do these words authorise every arbitrary and wanton exer- 

 cise of power over the Professors ? Or does the clause sicuti eocpediverit restrain 

 it to what is profitable, and expedient, and fit ? 



" Do not the words in the charter which immediately precede these ' avisa- 

 mento tamen minist7^orum eorum^ connect with the words before quoted, and 

 was not the amsamentum necessary to have been taken on this occasion ? 



" Mr Ferguson has not only for many years, ever since he was elected Pro- 

 fessor, regularly discharged all the duties of his office, but in the session imme- 

 diately preceding this, when the Chair of Natural Philosophy became vacant in 

 the beginning of the session, taught both the classes of Natural and Moral 

 Philosophy. 



" Sir John Pringle, who was a predecessor of Mr Ferguson's in the same 

 Chair, went abroad when in that office as physician to the army, and for a year 

 (or for years, uncertain which) taught his class by a substitute without quarrel, 

 until he thought proper to demit. 



" The Professor of Mathematics has been absent for two years, and taught his 

 class by his son without quarrel. 



" Dr Drummond was elected two years ago by the Town Council, Professor of 

 the Theory of Medicine, and has never appeared to discharge any of the duties of 

 his office, which for two sessions have been discharged by substitutes without 

 quarrel, and no step taken for finding the office vacant. 



" When Mr Ferguson, after being absent only for five months, is suddenly 



