MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 641 



The members of the Philosophical Society, which had long existed in Edin- 

 burgh, were at this time also anxious to be incorporated by Royal Charter. They, 

 however, adopted the views of the Senatus Academicus, and entered heartily into 

 the scheme for the establishment of a society, on the model of those at St Peters- 

 burg and Berlin, for the purpose of cultivating every branch of science, erudition, 

 and taste. 



The Royal Society was accordingly incorporated in June 1783. The following 

 is a list of the noblemen and gentlemen named in its Charter : — Henry, Duke of 

 Buccleuch ; Lord President Dundas ; James Montgomery, Lord Chief-Baron of 

 Exchequer ; Lord Justice-Clerk Miller ; John Grieve, Lord Provost ; Sir Alex- 

 ander Dick ; Sir George Clerk ; Principal Robertson ; Professors Cullen, 

 Monro, Blair, Walker, Ferguson, Dalzel, Robison, Maconochie ; Ilay Camp- 

 bell, Solicitor-General; J. Hunter Blair, and Adam Smith, Esqrs.; and J. 

 Maclaurin, W. Nairne, and Robert Cullen, Advocates. 



Ferguson took a warm interest in the progress of the infant society, and was 

 elected one of the Councillors. His only contribution, however, to its literary 

 labours was a sketch of the Life of his relative, Dr Joseph Black, published in 

 1801. 



them, that as they had the prospect of being in Edinburgh during the recess of Parliament, they had 

 not returned any answer to the letters which the Principal had written to them, in obedience to the 

 appointment of the meeting held on the second day of December last, but that they had laid the 

 Memorial transmitted to them before His Majesty's ministers, and had good reason to think that 

 what was requested in the aforesaid Memorial would be granted. That in order to obtain this, it 

 would be necessary that a petition from the Principal and Professors of the University, in respectful and 

 general terms, should be addressed to His Majesty, which the Lord Advocate undertook to present. ' 



" The Principal produced a scroll of such a petition, the tenor whereof follows :- — ' Unto the 

 King's most excellent Majesty, the Petition of the Principal and Professors of the University of Edin- 

 burgh, humbly sheweth — That literary societies having been found by experience to contribute 

 greatly towards promoting useful science and good taste in every country where they have been 

 established, many persons eminent in rank, or in learning, have long expressed an earnest desire that 

 a literary society, formed on the plan suited to the state of this part of the United Kingdom, 

 might be instituted in Edinburgh, being fully persuaded that its labours and researches will be of 

 considerable advantage to the nation. 



" ' We, therefore, deeply sensible of your Majesty's paternal attention to the welfare of your 

 people in every instance, and confiding in the gracious disposition of a Sovereign who has distin- 

 guished his reign by the splendour of his efforts to extend the knowledge of nature, and the liberality 

 of his institutions for encouraging the arts of elegance, are humble suitors to your Majesty, that 

 you may be graciously pleased to establish, by Charter, a literary society, to be denominated, The 

 Royal Society of Edinburgh, for the advancement of learning and useful knowledge, empowering the 

 Members of it to have, as the objects of their investigation and discussion, not only the Sciences of 

 Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Medicine, and Natural History, but those relating to 

 Antiquities, Philology, and Literature. 



" ' We humbly request that your Majesty will take our petition into your gracious consideration, 

 and be pleased, as Founder and Patron, to give a beginning and form to this Royal Society, in that 

 mode, and under those Regulations, which to your Royal wisdom shall seem most proper.' 



" Which being maturely considered by the Senatus Academicus, was approved of, and the Prin- 

 cipal empowered to sign it in their name, and to transmit it to the Lord Advocate and Mr Hunter 

 Blair, with thanks for their obliging attention to the former application of the Senatus Academicus, 

 and to request that they will still continue to attend to this business, until it be brought to the 

 desired issue." 



