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



like a philosopher from Lapland. His palsy ought to have killed him in his 

 fiftieth year, but rigid care enabled him to live, uncrippled either in body or 

 mind, nearly fifty years more. Wine and animal food besought his appetite in 

 vain, but huge messes of milk and vegetables disappeared before him, always in 

 the never-failing cloth and fur. I never heard of his dining out, except at his 

 relation, Joseph Black's, where his son. Sir Adajsi (the friend of Scott), used to 

 say it was delightful to see the two philosophers rioting over a boiled turnip. 

 Domestically he was kind, but anxious and peppery. His temperature was regu- 

 lated by Fahrenheit ; and often, when sitting quite comfortably, he would start 

 up, and put his wife and daughters into commotion, because his eye had fallen 

 on the instrument, and discovered that he was a degree too hot or too cold. He 

 always locked the door of his study when he left it, and took the key in his 

 pocket; and no housemaid got in till the accumulation of dust and rubbish made 

 it impossible to put the evil day off* any longer, and then woe on the family. 

 He shook hands with us boys one day in summer, 1793, on setting off", in a 

 strange sort of carriage, and with no companion except his servant James, to 

 visit Italy for a new edition of his History. He was then about seventy-two, 

 and had to pass through a good deal of war, but returned in about a year younger 

 than ever." * 



In 17y5, Ferguson received a severe blow to his domestic happiness by 

 the death of his wife, who had been his faithful partner for nearly thirty years. 

 Being now well advanced in years, and taking but little pleasure in society, 

 he began to look about for a spot where he could spend the rest of his days in 

 peaceful seclusion. It happened at this time that the old castle of Neidpath, over- 

 hanging the Tweed, near Peebles, was left untenanted by the Duke of Queens - 

 BERRY, and Ferguson, charmed by the beauty of its situation, interested himself 

 to procure a lease of the old castle, and a few acres of ground, from the Duke. 

 The following letter fully shows the eagerness with which this new arrangement 

 was entered into by the veteran philosopher : — 



" Edinburgh, 20th May 1795. 

 " My Dear Friend, — Tho' the time is now approaching at which I have for 

 some time past flattered myself with the hopes of seeing you here, I take my 

 chance of overtaking you at Brompton with a few lines. The scheme of a country 

 life, which you proposed to dispute, still remains with me, and I have been look- 

 ing out for some place at which to settle. Among others, I have seen the castle 

 of Nydpath, on the Tweed, belonging to the Duke of Queensberry. It has been 

 lately dismantled, or stript of its furniture, and so far destined to become the 

 habitation of bats and owls, or what is little better, such a tenant as I am. The 

 servant who showed the place told me that his Grace has been asked to let it, 

 but declined, which makes my prospect somewhat desperate. I have, neverthe- 



* Memorials of his Time, p. 48. 



