MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 66!P 



eldest son, Sir Adam, — one of the most genial and kind-hearted of men — was an 

 early friend of Sir Walter Scott, and is frequently alluded to, under the soubri- 

 quet of Linton, in Sir Walter's Life by Lockhart. His second son, Joseph, 

 entered the army, and died in India in 1800 as Captain in Lord Seaforth's regi- 

 ment. His other sons were, James, Colonel H.E.LC.S., and John, Rear-Admiral. 

 Royal Navy, who survived their father. 



His daughters, Isabella, Mary, and Margaret are frequently noticed in 

 Lockhart's Life of Scott, as having, when residing at Huntly Burn, formed part 

 of the delightful circle which Scott gathered around him at Abbotsford. 



In these Memorials of Adam Ferguson, which we now conclude, we renew 

 our converse with many persons of whom Scotland has every reason to be proud, 

 and amongst whom Ferguson deservedly holds a high place. Whether viewed 

 as a historian, a moralist, or a man, Ferguson was eminently distinguished by a 

 vigour and a simplicity of character which well entitle him, as the last survivor 

 of a galaxy of great contemporaries, to be designated Ultimus Romanorum ! 



On the monument erected to his memory by his family, within the grounds 

 of the old Cathedral of St Andrews, is the following elegant inscription, from the 

 pen of Sir Walter Scott : — 



HERE REST 



the mortal remains of ADAM FERGUSON, LL.D., 



PROFESSOR OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. 



HE WAS BORN AT LOGIERAIT, IN THE COUNTY OF PERTH, ON THE 20th OF JUNE 1723, 



AND DIED IN THIS CITY OF ST ANDREWS, ON THE 22d DAY OF FEBRUARY 1816. 



UNSEDUCED BY THE TEMPTATIONS OF PLEASURE, POWER, OR AMBITION, 



HE EMPLOYED THE INTERVAL BETWIXT HIS CRADLE AND THE GRAVE WITH 



UNOSTENTATIOUS AND STEADY PERSEVERANCE IN ACQUIRING 



AND DIFFUSING KNOWLEDGE, 



AND IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC AND OF DOMESTIC VIRTUE. 



TO HIS VENERATED MEMORY 



THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY HIS CHILDREN, 



THAT THEY MAY RECORD HIS PIETY TO GOD AND BENEVOLENCE TO MAN, 



AND COMMEMORATE THE ELOQUENCE AND ENERGY WITH WHICH HE INCULCATED 



THE PRECEPTS OF MORALITY, 



AND PREPARED THE YOUTHFUL MIND FOR VIRTUOUS ACTIONS. 



BUT A MORE IMPERISHABLE MEMORIAL OF HIS GENIUS EXISTS IN HIS 



PHILOSOPHICAL AND HISTORICAL WORKS, 



WHERE CLASSIC ELEGANCE, STRENGTH OF REASONING, AND CLEARNESS OF DETAIL 



SECURED THE APPLAUSE OF THE AGE IN WHICH HE LIVED, 



AND WILL LONG CONTINUE TO DESERVE THE GRATITUDE, AND COMMAND 



THE ADMIRATION OF POSTERITY. 



