ADVERTISEMENT TO PRESENT EDITION.

THE Memoirs by Mr. Stewart, contained in the present and concluding volume of his Collected Works, were read by him at different periods before the Royal Society of Edinburgh ; the first in order being the Account of Adam Smith, in 1793; the second, that of Principal Robertson, in 1796; and the third, that of Dr. Reid, in 1802. The Memoir of Smith was originally published in the third volume of the Transactions of the Society. Each of the others formed an independent publication. The whole were, however, collected and reprinted in one volume, in the year 1811.

These Memoirs, as here republished, were printed under Sir William Hamilton's revision and superintendence, from private copies belonging to the Author, which contained a few manuscript additions by him. Insertions from this source, given in the present edition, are marked by square brackets,

and with the words, Author's last addition; while the notes

of the Editor are distinguished by an asterisk, &c. The

Index to the Memoirs has been compiled from Sir William

Hamilton's copy, containing the references which he had made

with a view to its formation.

This Edition of Mr. Stewart's Works thus embraces every

thing published by him, with the exception of the two pam-

phlets in the Leslie Case, which it has been deemed unneces-

sary to republish in a connected form. The contents of these

pamphlets are, in great part, of a controversial nature, and of

purely temporary interest; while the philosophical matter,

original and historical, which they contain, appears, with little

difference of form, in other writings of the Author. The first,

and more important, is indeed principally made up of quota-

tions from authorities regarding the theory of Causation, in one

of its aspects. Such of these testimonies as are not comprised

in the First Volume of the Elements (Note C, with the rela-

tive text, chap. i. sect. ii.), and in the Second Volume (Note

O, with its relative text, chap. iv. sect. i.), will be found, with

some of Mr. Stewart's accompanying remarks, in a note entitled,

Art. iv. Causation, appended by Sir William Hamilton to the

latter of the volumes now mentioned (Elements, vol. ii. p. 417,

et seq.)

1 Referred to at p. lxxv., et seq., of Memoir of Dugald Stewart.

It is proposed to add a Supplementary Volume to those

already published, containing Translations of the Passages

from Ancient and Foreign Authors, quoted by Mr. Stewart in

the course of his Writings, and a General Index to the whole

Works. This will complete the Edition of Mr. Stewart's

Collected Works.

EDINBURGH, December 1857.

J. V.

PREFACE,

CONTENTS.

MEMOIR OF DUGALD STEWART.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

Birth-His father, Dr. Matthew Stewart-Attends High School of Edin-

burgh-Passes to the University-Studies under Stevenson, Ferguson,

and Russell-The teaching of Stevenson and Ferguson-Studies under

Reid in Glasgow-General sketch of Speculative Philosophy in Scot-

land before Reid,-Carmichael, Hutcheson, Baxter, Kames, Hume-

Reid's teaching-Stewart's first Philosophical Essay-Friendship with

Alison-Teaches the Mathematical Classes in Edinburgh for his

father-Acts as substitute for Adam Ferguson in the Chair of Moral

Philosophy-His brilliant success as a Lecturer on Morals,

vii

CHAPTER II.

Mr. Stewart appointed to the Chair of Moral Philosophy in Edinburgh-

The comprehension of his course of teaching-Its grounds-Stewart as

a lecturer-His personal appearance and manner in the Chair-His

general aim as a philosophical thinker and teacher-His view of the

nature and conditions of human perfection-Its importance-His char-

acteristics as a thinker, and special qualifications as a teacher of philo-

sophy-The nature and extent of his influence-His Lectures on

Politics proper and Political Economy-Comprehension of Political

Economy-His aim and influence as a political speculator-Students of

Political Economy,

xxxiii