447 
of Edinburgh, Session 1874-75. 
tive, and had often the effect of leading his hearers to larger and 
deeper views than their teacher entertained. 
It has been stated in a very able and kindly notice of Lord 
Colonsay, ascribed to Mr Campbell Smith, that about this period, 
or shortly afterwards, M‘Neill formed the intention of publishing 
the philosophical works of David Hume, of which at that time no 
good collective edition existed. I am not able to confirm this 
statement by my own testimony, but I know well that he was 
always a great admirer of our greatest Scottish philosopher. He 
was not likely to be led away into those sceptical speculations which 
Hume propounded from his attempting to introduce metaphysics 
into a region which lies above their reach, nor was he likely to 
follow Hume in the perverse preference which he seemed to feel 
for French literature over English, and which may be traced partly 
to the influence of prejudice, and partly to a feeling that he was less 
appreciated in England than on the other side of the channel. But 
in other respects the mind and style of Hume were well calculated 
to please and influence M‘Neill in matters of reasoning and of 
philosophy. The simplicity and brevity with which he wrote, the 
caution and moderation with which he stated his opinions, and the 
calmness with which he dealt with his adversaries, were all con- 
genial to the tastes and feelings with which McNeill was wont to 
approach questions of evidence and reasoning. It is not to be sup- 
posed that he was destitute of feelings and energies to which Hume 
was a stranger. His Highland or Island blood was more fervid 
than any that circulated in Hume’s veins, and his early life and 
athletic frame were a strong contrast to the indolent and somewhat 
obese form of the philosopher of the Merse. 
With a view to a professional life, M‘Neill entered on an appren- 
ticeship in the chambers of Mr Michael Linning, W.S., and dis- 
charged with regularity and diligence the duties that there devolved 
upon him. 
I am not sure whether it was originally intended by his friends 
that M‘Neill should come to the bar, or whether the remarkable 
talents which he soon displayed led to his adopting that profession 
instead of that of a writer to the Signet, to which his initiation 
at Mr Linning’s would naturally have led. But it cannot be 
doubted that the time passed and the instruction received by him 
3 M 
VOL. VIII. 
