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 nature. 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 their general principles. These he explains under the heads of ethics, jurisprudence, and politics. The success of his investigation has not been owing merely to the powers of his intellect; but the course in which it was exercised, and the objects towards which it was directed. As to his course, he followed the road discovered and shewn by Lord Bacon, observation leading through induction to general principle; and, con-, sequently, excluding hypothesis, as to the objects of his research, confining his enquiries into phenomena, and their general laws, instead of wasting time in fruitless enquiries after efficient causes.

The political principles and inculcations of this sage are such as naturally arise from the exercise of the understanding, deriving its materials from experience of particular governments combined with the knowledge of human nature; arguing from history, and not conjecturing from fancy. On the question whether all men have an equal right to govern, he

denies that any one has a right, but contends that it is useful and necessary for all, that there should be a government of which the end should be the general good, and its principal functions should be performed in those most qualified and disposed to promote that general good. "Prior to convention (he says) every one has a right to govern himself, but not to govern

any

one else. THE GOVERNMENT OF OTHERS, then, prior to convention, IS NÓT MATTER OF RIGHT TO ANY ONE, although TO HAVE GOVERNMENT, and this purged of every person incapable or unworthy of the trust, IS MATTER OF EXPEDIENCE TO EVERY ONE,"

Conceiving government to be intended for the general advantage, he, on the one hand, reprobated the old system of France, as framed, or rather jumbled together, in such a manner as to degrade human cha racter, and make its subjects in general the wretched slaves of capricious and tyrannical despots; but the new system he reprobates as doing much more mischief than that which offended him in the old. He has not, however, actively interfered in political questions of recent discussion.

His Treatise on Moral and Political Science was published in 1793. Since that time he made a tour to Italy, with a view of collecting, in the libraries of that country, materials that he expected would be useful in a new edition of his history. The second edition is now published with considerable enlargements; but, in the discussion of political principles, without any reference to present questions or affairs. Dr. Fergusson is not merely a speculative moral philosopher,

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philosopher, but a practical moralist. He is distinguished for integrity, benevolence, firmness, and those other qualities of the heart that can render the possessor amiable and estimable. Although the salaries of the Edinburgh professors are small, in order to stimulate exertions that may produce numerous and lucrative classes, the generosity of Fergusson often bestowed gratuitous admission. His own income was therefore less than it might have been; a pension from government, however, together with the returns of his works, and other emoluments, rendered him easy in his circumstances, though not opulent. His manners are those of an accomplished gentleman ; his conversation is pleasing and simple, though frequently discovering, seldom manifesting, much either of his capacious genius or extensive learning. In 'company common-place men, fond of figuring away by talking, might, if, as such often do, they rated ability by colloquial displays, flatter themselves that they were superior to Dr. Fergusson. Great as his credit is, at the bank of genius and knowledge, he suffers his cash to lie there, to be drawn for according to his occasions, without displaying his stores for the admiration of a company. He is far from carrying about his whole stock in a card-purse. In convivial parties, Dr. Fergusson, though temperate, is not abstinent; and used to enjoy an agreeable friend -with much heartiness. He is extremely hospitable. His place of residence is now Manor, near Peebles, about twenty miles from Edinburgh. He frequently visits that capital; where, and in its environs, he

spends

spends most agreeable hours with Mr. Home, Dr. Carlile, Dr. Blair, Dr. Black, and other nearly contemporary friends, of whom he himself is the youngest. He has several children; of these the eldest son is a respectable advocate, the other sons doing well in other employments; and the daughters very amiable young ladies, living with himself.

Dr. Fergusson was a well-formed, active, muscular man, with handsome features, a fair complexion, and a countenance, indicating the qualities of his head and heart. The expression of his light blue eyes is rather thoughtful than animated, the screne rays of intelligence fully overbalancing the want of the lustre that results from mere colour.

There are two sets of literary men in or from Scotland, who look up either to Dr. Blair or to Dr. Fergusson, as their models; the one consisting of those who have devoted their principal attention to rhetoric and fine composition; the other, without neglecting these, have devoted themselves chiefly to history, biography, philosophical criticism, and political enquiry.

R. B.

MR. WILLIAM HAYLEY.

THE favourite adage of antiquity, that "the qualifications of a poet are the peculiar gifts of Heaven," has been sanctioned by the opinion of the most eminent critics of modern times, though it has not been universally

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universally admitted as a position strictly conformable tɔ the result of philosophical investigation. Certain it is, that many have acquired a distinguished name, as poets, in the republic of letters, whose productions, when nicely scrutinized by those accustomed to argue from effects to causes, cannot be considered as the emanations of genius. Among writers of this description, the subject of the present sketch ranks in the first class. He did not, like Cowley, Milton, and Pope, afford any premature display of poetical excellence. He did not, in his early years, assert his claim to inspiration, and produce any proofs of divine origin; but before he entered upon the arduous task of composition, he read much and thought more. He stored his mind with many valuable treasures of ancient and modern literature; he had, in most instances, the merit of exploring the nature of the subject he was about to celebrate, and of establishing a design in his work, without which it is impossible to proceed with order, or to produce appropriate embellishment.

Mr. Hayley, son of Thomas Hayley, Esq. of the County of Sussex, and of Miss Yeates, daughter of Colonel Yeates, member for Chichester, was born in that city, in October, 1745. In his infancy he left his father, but he received from the tender care of. his mother, every attention which his situation required. He was placed, when very young, at Kingston school, but his progress in the first elements of knowledge was considerably retarded by sickness, which a constitution peculiarly delicate, was ill

formed