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occupation involving literary work. I thought it worth while to make a journey to Edinburgh before the session was concluded, to ascertain what was really meant by this proposal. Provided with his introductions, I saw in Edinburgh Candlish, Dunlop, and Welsh, while taking up my abode with Masson, then a student in the Divinity Hall. My reception was most courteous and flattering; nevertheless, I saw plainly enough that any work that might be carved out in that quarter would not be likely to fit in with my special aptitudes and aspirations. Dunlop and Candlish kept up their friendly interest, and were ready to serve me on subsequent occasions in matters unconnected with their own particular walk.

During this visit, I heard a lecture from Chalmers in the Divinity Hall. I also attended a sitting of Hamilton's class, which, however, was occupied with the exercises of students, read by themselves. It was so far interesting from the topic-namely, the laws of associationand from the manner of treatment, which was abstract and formal to a degree: there was not a single concrete example in any one of the papers. I likewise heard a lecture from Professor Wilson. His subject seemed to be the criteria of moral virtue or merit; and the lecture concluded with a high-flown panegyric on our own King Alfred.

Summer Recess, 1841.

The close of the session found me very much out of sorts. A severe cold kept hold of me for some weeks: influenza was then in one of

its epidemics. The essay on Matter being accepted, although not yet published, I was thinking over other topics for composition. I had given to the Theological Society, in March, the essay "On the Limits of the Human Faculties," and now prepared a dissertation, entitled, "On the Acquisition of a Knowledge of Human Nature," read on 15th May. The essay was purposely confined to the collection of facts regarding our moral nature; the intellect being left over, and never, apparently, taken up. There is a blank of information as to the occupations of the summer, until the outcome of my proposal, made in the autumn to Hickson, for a third article. In some interesting correspondence I had with Masson, he made special reference to his readings in Bacon's Advancement of Learning, such as his Philosophia Prima, etc., all which he considered on the track of my proposals for inductive discovery. This was quite true, and very much in point. Bacon had even a more exaggerated view than I entertained of

the possibilities of invention by force of good

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methods. Masson also adverted to Carlyle's book on Heroes, which he had just procured. He had himself written and delivered essays on greatness and great men, and had the opportunity of comparing his handling with Carlyle's. My own acquaintance with the book came some time later.

During the recent session, Dr. Glennie's class had been conducted by Mr. Duirs, as substitute, who had acted in the same capacity in the previous session, in the middle of which Dr. Glennie had broken down. Duirs having obtained another appointment, could no longer continue to conduct the Moral Philosophy Class. Dr. Glennie applied, in the first instance, to John Shier, who had served as substitute in the Natural History Class for two sessions, and was set free by the appointment of a successor to Dr. Davidson. Shier declined the task, as not being in his line, and suggested me instead. Glennie said no more, but let it be understood that he would apply to me later on. Meantime, Shier was bound to confidence with regard to what had passed. As a matter of course, he mentioned the thing to myself, and the communication went no further.

The probability of my being appointed Glennie's assistant, must have had some effect

It

in determining the plans for the summer. was in the autumn months that the most important incidents occurred. Towards the end of August, Glennie made his distinct proposal that I should become his assistant; and the agreement was concluded, accordingly.

On the 6th of August, my father died, at the age of fifty-six. His ailment was sheer exhaustion, the digestive organs having been utterly worn out. He had a fine natural constitution, but his hard life, first in the army in Ireland and then as a toiling artisan at home with very indifferent fare, more than accounted for his premature end. At the time of his death, I was in possession of the secret that I was to be offered by Dr. Glennie the post of his substitute in the Moral Philosophy Class, but I did not communicate the fact to my dying father. This was in keeping with the stiffness of the relationship between us, all through life.

Soon after this event, my elder brother was married, and took up house for himself. Although I continued to find sleeping accommodation in the rooms occupied by the family when all together, and still kept on by those that remained, I boarded at my brother's house during all the winters of my teaching connexion with Marischal College.

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It was in the end of August that Robertson came north, and took rooms in Aberdeen for a stay of many weeks. I saw him very frequently, indeed, almost daily, during that time, and Masson joined us for the whole of what part of his holiday he gave to Aberdeen. The natural consequence of this opportunity was to hear a very great deal about London literary and political life, as well as to discuss every variety of topic coming within the compass of our minds. It was then that the project was hatched of my paying a visit to London in the spring following. Robertson showed me the letters that he received from Mill, which, of course, were full of interest. One that he allowed me to peruse is dated 7th September, and contained, among other things, this sentence, "I am doing and thinking of nothing but my Logic, which I shall soon have re-written the first half of, ready for press". Robertson had encouraged me to address a letter to Mill on my own account; and to it I received an answer on the 21st September, expressing great interest in my views and pursuits, and speaking in favourable terms of the recent article in the Westminster. He specially called my attention to Herschel's article in the Quarterly, on Whewell's books, of which he afterwards made good use in his own contention with Whewell.