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



Burns, who rewarded me with a look and a word, which, though of mere civility, 

 I then received and still recollect with very great pleasure." * 



In 1792, Ferguson published his lectures, under the title of Principles of 

 Moral and Political Science, being chiefly a Retrospect of Lectures delivered in the 

 College of Edhiburgh. This work was the first extensive contribution to mental 

 philosophy which emanated from the University of Edinburgh. Hutchesox in 

 the University of Glasgow, Reid and Beattie in that of Aberdeen, had previously 

 laid the foundation of the Scottish school ; and Ferguson has the merit of having 

 introduced its doctrines into a new sphere, where they were destined to attain 

 a further development. He also had the advantage of bringing to his specula- 

 tions a greater amount of historical knowledge, and a much more extended 

 acquaintance with human character. 



He divides his subject into two parts, the first of which states historically the 

 most general appearances in the nature and state of man ; embracing his descrip- 

 tion and place in the scale of being, mind or the characteristics of intelligence, 



* Life of Scott, vol. i. p. 136. 



Some interesting reminiscences of Fergtjson's son, Sir Adam, who Tvas the life-long friend of 

 Scott, printed in Chambers's Journal, No. 60, 1855, supply one or two particulars which Scott's 

 modesty suppressed. " The large black eyes of Burns, which literally glowed when he spoke with 

 feeling or interest, overflowed as he read the above lines, and he turned with an agitated voice to 

 the company, asking if any one knew who wrote them. The philosophers sat mute ; and after an 

 interval, young Walter said half aloud and very carelessly, ' The're written by one Langhorne.' 

 Burns caught the response, and seeming, both surprised and amused that a boy should know 

 what all those eminent men were ignorant of, he said to Scott, ' You'll be a man yet, sir.' Rather 

 oddly, we have found on an inspection of the print, that the name ' Langhorne' is inscribed below 

 the lines, though in so small a character, that where the picture hung on a wall, it might well have 

 escaped the notice both of Burns and Scott." 



In the same interesting article, an amusing anecdote is recorded of Principal Robertson, 

 when dining one day at Ferguson's house : — 



" Ferguson, while devotedly attached to Dr Robertson, and a great admirer of his works, 

 found reason to complain of the manner in which he conducted himself in private society, particu- 

 larly at dinner parties. It was the worthy Principal's custom, as soon as the cloth had been re- 

 moved, to settle himself in his chair, and throwing out a subject, commence lecturing upon it to the 

 destruction of conversation, and the no small weariness of the company. By way of giving him a 

 check, Dr Ferguson took his friend Dr Carlyle of Inveresk into counsel ; and it was speedily 

 arranged between them that, immediately after dinner, Dr Carlyle should anticipate the ordinary 

 lecture of Dr Robertson, by commencing a long tirade, in an enthusiastic manner, on the virtues 

 of an article then in the course of being pufted in the newspaper advertisements, namely, patent 

 mustard ! Ferguson, in the meantime, had a private conversation with the Principal, in wliich he 

 took occasion to remark, that he had lately begun to fear there was something wrong with Carlyle s 

 mind ; he was getting so addicted to speak loudly in praise of trivial things, — for example, he was 

 unable for the present to converse about anything but patent mustard ! Robertson expressed his 

 concern for the case, but hoped it was only a passing whim. The dinner party accordingly assembled 

 at Dr Ferguson'Sj and Robertson was about to commence as usual with one of his long-winded for- 

 mal palavers, when all at once Dr Carlyle broke in, — ' This was,' he said, ' an age most notable 

 for its inventions and discoveries. Human ingenuity was exerted on the noblest and the meanest 

 things, and often with the most admirable effects on the meanest. There was, for instance, an article 

 of a humble kind which had lately been wonderfully improved by a particular mode of preparation, 

 and he for his part was inclined to say, that patent mustard was the thing above all others which 

 gave a distinguishing glory to this age. In the first place,' — it is needless, however, to pursue his 

 discourse further ; suffice it, that Dr Robertson sat paralysed, and could not afterwards, during tl:e 

 whole night, muster power or spirits to utter more than an occasional sentence." 



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