463 
of Edinhnrgh, Session 1883 - 84 . 
in the Society, although he only contributed one paper of importance, 
on “ The Hot Springs of Iceland.” But no man has left a greater 
reputation behind him. I have said that Black was a relative of 
Adam Smith, who was on terms of the greatest intimacy with him 
and Hutton, and loved nothing so much as to get the philosophers 
together at what he called an Oyster Club, and listen to their talk. 
He appointed Black and Hutton as his joint-executors. Ferguson 
was also a relative, and Cockburn sketches what he recollects of 
each. He says of Ferguson— “ I never heard of his dining out 
except at his relative Joseph Black’s, where his son. Sir Adam (the 
friend of Scott) used to say it was delightful to see the two philo- 
sophers rioting over a boiled turnip.” Cockburn used to watch 
Joseph Black from his father’s house in George Square, and thus 
describes him ; — 
“ He was a striking and beautiful person ; tall, very thin, and 
cadaverously pale ; his hair carefully powdered, although there was 
little of it, excepting what was collected into a long thin queue ; 
his eyes dark, clear, and large, like deep pools of pure water. He 
wore black speckless clothes, silk stockings, silver buckles, and either 
a slim green silk umbrella or a genteel brown cane. The general 
air and frame were feeble and slender. The wildest boy respected 
Black. No boy could be irreverent towards a man so pale, so ele- 
gant, and so illustrious. So he glided like a spirit through our 
rather mischievous sportivencss unharmed.” 
The two others I have mentioned were too famous in their day, 
and are so still, to require to be, or to admit of being, described 
here. John Playfair and Dugald Stewart were men who by them- 
selves could have raised to distinction any circle to which they 
belonged. Both of them were men of great versatility, and within 
the walls of the Eoyal Society capable of filling a foremost place, 
whether in the fields of exact science or in those of literature or 
mental philosophy. 
Dugald Stewart’s contributions to the Transactions are not so 
numerous as those of Playfair, but no man had more influence in 
moulding the tone and cast of thought prevalent amongst the culti- 
vated class of his countrymen than that most popular and most 
eloquent instructor of youth. 
