MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 659 



less, made proposals in form to the man of business here. And beg the favour 

 that, if you should see the Duke of Queensberry, you will try to incline his Grace 

 not to forbid any transaction with me. And I undertake to satisfy you that the 

 scheme I propose is the best for my family as well as myself. I am, your most 

 affectionate humble servant, Adam Ferguson."* 



It was in the month of May that Ferguson had removed his household gods to 

 Neidpath, and during the summer the old Castle was found to be a most desirable 

 residence. " The woods, the hills, and the river, are Elysian, and the atmosphere 

 all composed of vital air." These were his expressions in September ; but when 

 the cold blasts of winter approached, the Castle was anything but an enviable 

 residence in its existing condition. The following letter to Sir John M'Pherson 

 gives a glimpse of his situation in the winter season there : — 



" Nydpath, 9th January 1796. 

 " My Dear Friend, — I have just now received your affectionate letter, with 

 the inclosed commission of business for Adam the Writer to the Signet, and write 

 merely to get out my breath on this plaguy situation into which I have got, 

 without the accommodation of either town or country. ... I now see the 

 mistake of having thrust myself into this situation before it was cleared for me 

 one way or another ; but I reasoned that I must either occupy the Castle before 

 winter to keep it in repair, or lay aside thoughts of it altogether, to the last of 

 which I was extremely reluctant. I am sensible what I should do now is to wait 

 the chapter of accidents, but patience, the great virtue for succeeding in any- 

 thing, has been but very scantily dealt to me. Old as I am, I had rather be 

 doing anything, than wait doing nothing, of which this very letter is a suffi- 

 cient proof ; for it certainly will do you no good, nor me any other than employ- 

 ing some minutes of this woful time. I have to wait for some instruction to his 

 man of business from the Duke of Q. So much for one Duke ; if ever I have to 

 do with another, I will give them leave to duck me in the first horse-pond. I 

 am, most affectionately yours, Adam Ferguson."* 



It has been remarked, that no Stoic philosopher more completely subjected 

 his passions and his feelings to his reason than did Ferguson ; but the discom- 

 forts attendant upon his residence at Neidpath were a sore trial for his philosophy. 

 Writing about them, in February, he says, " if any body think me a philosopher, 

 he is grievously mistaken. I have done nothing but yeste and scold inwardly for 

 three or four weeks, not to say months." 



The arrangements necessary to get quit of the lease of the Castle were, how- 

 ever, easily made ; and he took up his residence at Hallyards, a farm in the 



* MSS. University of Edinburgh. 

 VOL. XXIII. PART III. 8 P 



