MR SMALL S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 625 



The endeavours of the Americans to throw off the yoke of the British Govern- 

 ment, and to assert their independence, were warmly defended by Dr Richard 

 Price, a dissenting clergyman in London, well known as the ingenious author 

 of a ' Review of the Principal Question in Morals,' and of some works relating 

 to the theory of annuities, and the finances of the country. Price had, in 1775, 

 published his ' Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of 

 Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War Avith America.' 



This work took up the ground, that from the nature of civil liberty one 

 country could have no power over the property or legislation of another which 

 was* not incorporated with it by a just and adequate representation. It drew, in 

 contrast to this country, the most flattering picture of America, where, as its 

 author observes, " we see a number of rising states, in the vigour of youth, 

 inspired by the noblest of all sentiments, the passion for being free, and animated 

 by piety — Iler-e we see an old state, great indeed, but inflated and irreligious, 

 enervated by luxury, encumbered with debts, and hanging by a thread. Can 

 any one look without pain to the issue ? May we not expect . calamities that 

 shall recover to reflection (perhaps to devotion) our libertines and atheists?"*^ 

 It concluded by prophesying ruin to England, through the addition of many 

 millions to the national debt, unless some plan of reconciliation were speedily to 

 be carried out. 



The publication of these views, which had the greater weight from their author's 

 reputation as a sound financial writer, created an immense sensation both in 

 England and America. In the course of a few months 60,000 copies of this book 

 were disposed of; and while Price was lauded by the friends of American free- 

 dom, he was subjected to abuse and misrepresentation by those who supported 

 measures of repression. 



Along with other writers of note, Ferguson sympathised in his views with 

 Government, and he communicated his objections to the pamphlet of Price in a 

 letter to Mr Grey Cooper, one of the Secretaries of the Treasury. 



Mr Cooper was so much pleased with the observations of Ferguson, that he 

 sent the following letter in acknowledgment : — 



" Parliament Street^ March 23, 1776. 



" Sir,— It was my duty to have thanked you sooner for your letter, and the 

 very masterly and judicious paper which accompanied it, and which I have read 



political changes whicli were taking place at this period. The following extract from a letter 

 addressed by General Clerk to him when he was at Geneva, in 1775, with Lord Chesterfield, is 

 interesting in connection with recent events in America. The General says : " When I saw you 

 at Paris, you said that the American Colonies would end in military governments. You astonished 

 me, and though I contradicted you, I had not patience to discuss it at that time, as it required the 

 . clearing up of so many points of which you and I had different opinions. However, I never 

 doubted of its being a very disagreeable affair for us, and I think now that it has the appearance of 

 being as bad as ever I imagined it.'' — MSS. University of Edinburgh, 

 * 4th ed. p. 98. 



