closet. Of modern writers, none occupied his attention so much as Montesquieu. He was peculiarly conversant with the study of human He investigated intellect and affection, carefully rejecting hypothesis, and adhering to phænomena.

In 1764 he was called to the professorship of the first importance in any University; and from that time taught what he had before so completely learned.

Fergusson's plans of lectures exhibited a complete view of intellect and will, in all their operations; and from a thorough investigation of the nature of man deduced his duty in the various relations of social, civil, and political life, with the sources and sanctions of the duty. But this subject we shall consider more particularly when we come to treat of his principles of moral and political science.

In 1767 he published his Essay on Civil Society. Whoever has made man his study, and has attentively considered him in the various situations wherein he has been placed, under different forms of government, in different countries, and at different periods, will peruse this Essay with pleasure. The subject is highly interesting, opens a wide field for reflection, naturally leads to the consideration of many curious and important points, and is equally instructive and entertaining. To accompany man through the several steps of his progress, from his first rude efforts in policy and arts; to see the human mind advancing gradually from the perceptions of sense to the general conclusions of science; from the operations of sentiment and reason to the heights of moral and political knowledge; to see barbarity refining into politeness, and the savage into the philosopher; must afford no small delight to every philosophic mind. He does not amuse his readers with fanciful conjectures or idle refinements on useless and uninteresting topics, but directs their attention to those great and useful points which have a tendency to enlarge the mind, and give it a liberal turn. His style is clear and nervous, and in many places sprightly and animated, and his manner easy and unaf fected.

The work is divided into six parts, and each part subdivided into sections. In the first part, our author considers the question relating to the state of nature, and the principles of self-preservation, of union among mankind, of war and dissention, intellectual powers, moral sentiments, happiness, and national felicity. The history of rude nations is the subject of the second part, and those of policy and arts of the third. In treating of arts and policy, he considers the influence of climate and situation, national objects in general, and establishments and manners relating to them, population and wealth,

national defence and conquest, and civil liberty; concluding with a short history of arts and literature. In the fourth part he considers the consequences that result from the advancement of civil and commercial arts. In the fifth he treats of the decline of nations; and in the sixth, of corruption and political slavery.

The execution of this grand and comprehensive plan for the attainment of the most important of objects, the knowledge of MAN, as he presents himself in all the varieties, progression, and declension of society, displays an extraordinary extent and accuracy of historical and philosophical knowledge, with a most penetrating and profound genius operating on such materials. Investigation and induction, the only sure guides to moral and political as well as to physical science, the author uniformly employs. Hypothesis he considers as mere fiction, and imputes the erroneous notions which have been entertained in all ages to the reception of supposition for truth. The following observations are of high moment to moral and political enquirers in all ages, but more especia ly in the present, when the wildest, most absurd, and most pernicious theories of social, civil, and political duty are prevalent. The desire of laying the foundation of a favourite system, or a fond expectation, perhaps, that we may be able to penetrate the secrets of nature to the very source of existence, have on this subject led to many fruitless enquiries, and given rise to many wild suppositions. Among the various qualities which mankind possess we select one of a few particulars on which to establish a theory; and in framing our account of what man was in some imaginary state of nature, we overlook what he has always appeared within the reach of our own observation, and in the records of history. In every other instance, however, the natural historian thinks himself obliged to collect facts, not to offer conjectures. When he treats of any particular species of animals, he supposes that their present dispositions and instincts. are the same they originaly had, and that their present manner of life Is a continuance of their first destination. He admits, that his knowledge of the material system of the world consists in a collection of facts, or, at most, in general tenets derived from particular observations and experiments. It is only in what relates to himself, and in matters the most important, and the most easily known, that he SUBSTITUTES

HYPOTHESIS INSTEAD OF REALITY, AND CONFOUNDS THE PROVINCES OF IMAGINATION AND REASON, OF POETRY AND SCIENCE.'

Had Mr. Fergusson perused the visionary theories of Price and Priestley, the still more extravagant and pernicious ravings of Holcroft and Godwin, the wild fancies and pernicious inculcations of that funnel of the heretical, deistical, and democratical doctrines and prin

ciples of the Dissenting tribe, Thomas Paine, he could not more accurately have exhibited the source of their errors: attempted deduction from a partial and imperfect knowledge of facts. The state of nature he demonstrates, from history and experience, to be society. Men have associated in every age and country that has reached our knowledge. We have no premises to justify a conclusion that man did not always associate. Every contrary supposition is nothing but poetry. To enter into a minute detail of a work so well known would be superfluous, even if compatible with the limits of our plan; we shall only make a general observation, that the accession to moral and political literature and science, from the exertion and direction of such powers and attainments in the production of the work in question, was allowed to equal that from any of the most learned works that the most learned age of Scotland had brought forward.

The Essay on the History of Civil Society established with the public a high opinion of the literary merit of its author.

He now became connected with all the men of consideration and talents about Edinburgh, and many of those in London. Of the young men of talents who most highly regarded our Professor was Mr. Henry Dundas, then an Advocate of very short standing but very high promise. Mr. Dundas has ever since maintained a great personal regard for Dr. Fergusson; and, as might be expected from his own discernment of excellence, has considered him as one of the first literary characters of the age. Mr. Dundas, indeed, in his youth manifested that penetration into the merits of Fergusson, Robertson, and other men of genius, older than himself, that he has since evinced concerning a man of very extraordinary genius, about as many years younger than himself. †

Soon after the publication of his work Dr. Fergusson visited his native village of Logierait, which future ages will know as the birthplace of Adam Fergusson. He felt very great delight in going over the various scenes of his puerile amusements and juvenile pursuits. He gratified the villagers by his perfect recollection of themselves, their families, their relations, direct and collateral. The Highlanders heard with pleasure and pride that their townsman was one of the most eminent men of his time; their pleasure was enhanced by the

* We request the reader to observe that the Dissenters whose notions and proceedings we censure, are those who have formed themselves on the models of Price and Priestley, or to descend lower in the scale of ability, Godwin, David Williams, and their imitators, agents, tools, and implicit followers.

+ Mr. Dundas is nearly eighteen years younger than Dr. Fergusson, and as much older than his illustrious friend.

consideration of those of his virtues, which they could themselves comprehend, his benevolence, his affability, his agreeable and condescending manners; and farther, by viewing in him the son of a clergyman, whose pastoral and parental care they, for more than forty years, experienced.

In 1767 Mr. Fergusson married Miss Burnet, an amiable and sensible young lady, of Aberdeenshire, a niece of Dr. Black.

The Moral Philosophy Chair of Edinburgh, was becoming every year more distinguished. The precepts and directions of Dr. Fergusson formed young men of talents to habits of investigation, research, and reasoning, and laid the foundation of that celebrity which many of them have since attained in general literature, philosophy, law, and politics. Perhaps no cause has so powerfully contributed to the distinction which Edinburgh students have attained in their respective departments and professions, as the moral and political philosophy of Dr. Adam Fergusson.

About 1773, his literary renown procured him an offer from the friends of Lord Chesterfield, of going abroad as tutor to his Lordship, on a settlement of 200l. a year for life. After an absence of a year and a half, he returned to the professional chair. He had some years before published his Institutes or Synopsis of Lectures. Useful as that compend was to young men as a text-book, it was also fitted for rendering important service to those advanced in years, who wished to have a series of general principles which they could themselves apply to particular cases.

Dr. Fergusson, in 1776, answered Dr, Price's pamphlet on Civil and Religious Liberty. Though a constitutional Whig, and consequently a friend to rational freedom, Dr. Fergusson reprobated visionary theories, the tendency of which his sagacity easily perceived to be hurtful.

Meanwhile the Doctor was preparing for the public a more laborious and greater work than any which he had before presented to the world. To an ordinary reader the Roman History would have appeared exhausted; the mind of Fergusson viewed it in a different light, and as replete with materials for moral and political instruction.

In 1778 his work underwent an interruption, as he was requested to become Secretary to the five Commissioners sent out for the purpose of offering terms of peace to the Americans. The result of this proposed negociation is too generally known to require particular notice. Returning home, he resumed the charge of his class, and continued his attention to the history of Rome. In 1782 he gave to the world that work, which may be well stiled the Philosophy of

Roman History. His object was the same as in the Essay on Civil Society, to present man as he was known from history to have always conducted himself.

Dr. Fergusson is endowed with every species of knowledge that could afford materials to so powerful a mind for displaying human nature in the various situations in which the Romans acted. He shewed himself nearly as thoroughly acquainted with the principles and detail of military tactics and their operation, as of civil and political transactions and conduct. Amidst the many excellent lessons of ethics and politics which we derive from Fergusson's Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic, the following are peculiarly important:-That while the government was administered by the combined talents, virtue, and property of the community, both the higher and lower ranks were, according to their capacities, happy; but that when mere number began to take the lead, without regard to talents, virtue, and property; when the near approach to universal suffrage rendered the populace paramount; and consequently factious demagogues, acting on their weakness and ignorance, became managers of the state; after many contests between general licentiousness and individual tyranny, the democracy terminated in despotism.

Dr. Fergusson, in the year 1784, resigned the Moral Philosophy chair, and retired on the salary of the Mathematical, which was now taught by Mr. John Playfair, one of the most profound scholars of the age. Mr. Dugald Stewart was, in his moral lectures, successor to Dr. Fergusson, and has taught the class ever since.

Dr. Fergusson had been very intimate with all the eminent philos sophical and literary characters. Difference of opinion on various important points, both religious and moral, did not prevent him from regarding, with just admiration, the profound genius and learning of David Hume. A considerable part of the Doctor's time was s, ent in preparing for the press his Lectures, which have since informed and instructed the public under the title of the Principles of Moral and Political Science. This work considers, first, historically, the most general appearances in the nature and state of man.' Under the historical head, he considers man's place and description in the scale of being; secondly, examines the characteristics of his intelligence; thirdly, traces the steps of his progressive naturg." Having established the fact of man's constitution and condition, he, secondly, examines the specific good incident to human nature;" treats of moral law, or the distinction of good and evil; applies