*

*

sixteenth of November, 1776, having struggled with a constitution naturally infirm longer than could have been reasonably expected. * Some manuscript tables, diagrams, and a philosophical correspondence of this heaven-taught philosopher are in my hands, which were given by him to my EUDOSIA before our marriage; nor can I reprove myself for the pride which I often feel in reading over his letters to Miss Emblin, written to her before our marriage." 337

SIR DAVID BREWSTER ON FERGUSON." Mr. Ferguson may in some degree be regarded as the first elementary writer on Natural Philosophy, and to his labours we must attribute that general diffusion of scientific knowledge among the practical mechanics of this country, which has in a great measure banished those antiquated prejudices and erroneous manners of construction that perpetually misled the unlettered artist. But it is not merely to the praise of a popular writer that Mr. Ferguson is entitled; while he is illustrating the discoveries of others, and accommodating them to the capacities of his readers, we are frequently introduced to inventions and improvements of his own; many of these are well known to the public; and while some of them have been of great service to experimental philosophy, they all evince a considerable share of mechanical genius. To a still higher commendation, however, our author may justly lay claim; it has long been fashionable with a certain class of philosophers to keep the Creator totally out of view when describing the noblest of his works. But Mr. Ferguson has not imbibed those gloomy principles which steel the heart against its earliest and strongest impressions, and prompt to suppress those feelings of devotion and gratitude which the structure and harmony of the universe are so fitted to inspire. When benevolence and design are particularly exhibited in the works or in the phenomena of nature, he dwells with delight upon the goodness and wisdom of their Author; and never fails to impress upon the reader, what is apt to escape his notice, that the wonders of creation, and the various changes which the material world displays, are the result of that unerring wisdom and boundless goodness which are unceasingly exerted for the comfort and happiness of man."-Brewster's Preface to his Edition of Ferguson's "Lectures on Select Subjects." 338

"FERGUSON'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE."-The following remarks on Ferguson's personal appearance were obligingly sent in a letter of date June 7th, 1833, by Mr. Andrew Reid-so often referred to. He was well acquainted with Ferguson; and as previously noted, died in 1834, aged 84 years.

"Personal appearance and Dress of Mr. Ferguson about the year 1774."- "Mr. Ferguson had a very sedate appearance, face and

337 The author of Eudosia, or a Poem on the Universe, so frequently alluded to. 338 The name of this philosopher is universally known. He, in 1805, edited an edition of Ferguson's Mechanics; in 1811, an edition of Ferguson's Astronomy; and in 1823 collected and published Ferguson's other works under the title of "Ferguson's Essays."

brow a little wrinkled; he wore a large full stuff wig, which gave him a venerable look, and made him to appear older than he really was. He usually wore a white neckerchief, especially when delivering his lectures. His coat had no neck, was of large dimensions, reaching down below the knee, and coming full round in front; was decorated with large buttons, and of course had the usual huge pockets and double folded-up sleeves fenced with shirt wrist ruffles. His waistcoat was also large; had likewise no neck; large pockets; and reached down to near his thighs. He wore knee breeches, generally of black velvet, or plush, and fastened at the knee with silver buckles; generally wore black stockings, full shoes with buckles. When walking about he wore the cocked hat of that day slightly trimmed with lace; and, in these, the latter days of his life, he walked about with the aid of a staff."

LIKENESSES OF FERGUSON.-There are at least four original and large likenesses of Ferguson extant; from two of which miniatures have been taken ::

THE BEATSON LIKENESS, No. 1.—The earliest likeness of Ferguson extant, is now in the possession of Mrs. Thomson of Nether Cluny, Dufftown, by Craigellachie, Banffshire :-It is on canvas 23 inches by 19, and on the back is the painter's name and date, viz., "JOHN BEATSON, 1756." Mrs. Thomson has very kindly sent us a photograph from the original, in an oval 64 by 5 inches. This is a very plain likeness-the plainest of any we have seen-almost rustic. The face, with its fine high and massive brow, looks to the left; the part of the coat and vest shown represent garments of a very common description. This bears not the slightest resemblance to any of the other likenesses. As it is dated in 1756, it is likely that it was painted shortly after Ferguson published his great work, "Astronomy Explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles," which was first issued about midsummer 1756. The publication of this work greatly increased Ferguson's fame and popularity, and might have induced Beatson, and perhaps other painters, to take portraits of "the rising man." In 1756 Ferguson was about 46 years old. (See also date 1756.)

THE CASBORNE LIKENESS, No. 2.-Is a likeness of Ferguson done in chalk, within an oval of 22 inches by 17. This likeness was by him given to a lady of title at Windsor, who, in her turn, presented it to Mr. Emblin of Windsor, the father of Miss Emblin, the Eudosia of Ferguson's "Young Gentlemen and Ladies' Astronomy," and is now in the possession of Mrs. Casborne of New House, Pakenham, Bury St. Edmunds, the daughter of Ferguson's "Eudosia." As this one belonged to Ferguson, it is extremely probable that he esteemed it a good likeness, and worthy of being presented to a titled friend. Mrs. Casborne remarks that it is so faded that a photograph cannot be taken from it. There is neither name, initials, nor date attached to this likeness.

THE NORTHCOTE LIKENESS, No. 3.—is a large engraved likeness of Ferguson, from Northcote, engraved in March 1776, about 8 months before his death, as mentioned in note 319, p. 445. This is a three-quarter face likeness; is too youthful, both in the face and in the dress, for one of 66 years. It is singular that the publishers of the "Library of Entertaining Knowledge" should have selected it for one of their embellishments, when Ferguson's own publisher rejected it. For particulars of this likeness, see p. 445.

THE TOWNSEND LIKENESS, No. 4.-This is esteemed the best of all the likenesses of Ferguson; the appearance in every way is quite in keeping with his age at the time it was done. From this one his publisher, Mr. Cadell, had a reduced engraving for the frontispiece of the second edition of "Select Mechanical Exercises," published on January 1st, 1778, the only difference being, that instead of looking to the right as in the original, the face looks to the left. It is a front likeness (very nearly); the head is covered with a large and full bag-wig, the face careworn and venerable; part of the body is visible, enveloped in the huge dress-coat and vest of last century. The right hand rests on a celestial globe. Underneath is in scribed,

John Townsend, pinxt.

Published Dec. 7th 1776.

JAMES FERGUSON, F.R.S.

Printed for Robert Stewart, Engraver and Modeller of Portraits in
Wax. No. 15 Millman Street, Bedford-row, Holborn.

This likeness is very scarce; we have a copy framed and glazed. Size of the engraving, the oblong part of the ground, 143 by 10 inches; the oval upon the ground, and within which the likeness is engraved, 134 by 10 inches. Partington has a frontispiece from this likeness in his edition of Ferguson's Lectures on Select Subjects,' published in 1825.

We may notice that a likeness, apparently from either the Townsend or Cadell one, was published by "W. Bent, London, Dec. 21st, 1785." We have another, within an oval, quite a caricature, beneath which is the surface of a table on which are representations of an armillary sphere, a meridian instrument, diagram of a Solar Eclipse, and a book entitled "Lectures on Astronomy," and over the top are "James Ferguson, F.R.S." This engraving is from some magazine. It has no indication to show what book it had embellished, neither has it a date.

FAMILY OF FERGUSON'S PARENTS.-As far as can now be ascertained, the family consisted of six children,-two sons and four daughters. John appears to have been the eldest son, and Margaret the eldest daughter. We shall write down the sons' names first, and then give the names of the daughters, following each other, as Ferguson has them in his WILL, which is most likely in the order of time of their ages. Before tabling the children's names, it may be mentioned that it is not known

when Ferguson's parents were born, consequently their ages at their marriage and deaths are a blank. It is, however, very probable that they were both born sometime about the years 1666 or 1667. They were both alive in 1736, as Ferguson in his own Memoir tells us that he about this period, when in Edinburgh, had saved a little money: out of which he was enabled to spare, he says, "what was sufficient to help to supply my father and mother in their old age." At this period his parents would be about 70 years old; and it appears they were both dead before 1742. They died respected by all who knew them. It is not known where the parents were buried; probably at Rothiemay.

Ferguson's father's name was JOHN FERGUSON, his mother's name was ELSPETH LOBBAN-and, as far as is now known, had the following children :-

John Ferguson, the eldest son, born 12th March, 1708. 339
James, (the subject of this memoir,) born 25th April, 1710. 340
Margaret,341

Elspeth, 342
Elizabeth,343
Janet, 344

Not known when born nor where interred; probably
at Rothiemay.

The following is extracted from the fly leaf of a pocket Bible which belonged to Mr. Ferguson about 1758-the entries are in his autograph. This Bible, so often referred to, is now in the possession of Doctor George at Keith. We may here note, that Ferguson gave this Bible to his son James about the year 1758; that James gave it to his sister; that she presented it to her aunt Janet, after whose death in 1773 it came into the possession of the late Miss Wilson of Keith --who gave it in a present to her physician, Dr George of Keith. (See note 121, p. 72).

339 A daughter of John Ferguson, named Isabella, was married to Alexander Humphrey, in Pitlurg, a few miles south of Keith. John Ferguson's farm, or croft, in his latter days, was at Relashes, about 1 mile north of Rothiemay. He was long an elder of the parish of Rothiemay. After a life of toil, he died at Relashes, 1796, aged 88, and was buried in Rothiemay churchyard.

340 James died in Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London, 16 Nov., 1776, aged 66 years.

341 Margaret Ferguson:-The Rev. Mr. James Mackie, minister of Alves, near Elgin, informs us, that Margaret Ferguson was his great-grandmother, and that she was the eldest daughter of the family. When she died is not known; probably before 1776, as Ferguson, in his WILL, names his other sisters Elspeth, Elizabeth, and Janet, but no notice is there taken of Margaret. Margaret died at Rothiemay, and was buried there.

342 Nothing is known of Elspeth Ferguson. It will be remembered that Ferguson, in his letter to the Rev. Mr. Cooper of Glass, sent a present to her of two guineas, and also a guinea to her daughter "Jensy."

343 Of Elizabeth Ferguson nothing is known.

344 Dr. Cruickshanks, University of Aberdeen, informs us that Janet Ferguson was married to James Brown, a small crofter at Barnhills, near Rothiemay, that he knew both Janet and her husband, and that she died suddenly in 1798, leaving three daughters, named Margaret, Isabella, and Janet. This sister appears to have been a favourite of Ferguson's. He left her more money than any of his other

What follows, refers to the family of Ferguson's father-in-law, George Wilson of Cantley, near Keith. 345

George Wilson, Cantley, married to Elspeth Grant, daughter of Arch Grant of Edin Valley, the 28th of August 1712;346 of which marriage there were

George, the father, died 22d March, 1742, at years 6 months. Elspeth Grant, the mother, 1771."

past 9 P.M., aged 63 died 29th January,

On the fly leaf of the Bible, are the following entries in Ferguson's autograph:

"The present of James Ferguson to his sister, Agnes Ferguson, Friday, April 7th, 1758;" and underneath this is written, (also in Ferguson's hand):

"This Bible is the present of Agnes Ferguson, to her uncle James Wilson, 19th April, 1760."

On the back of the title page of the New Testament of the Bible, are the following entries, (also in Ferguson's autograph):

"FERGUSON'S FAMILY.-James Ferguson and Isabella Wilson were married on Thursday, May the 31st, 1739, and had the following children :" 348

sisters, besides household property. She resided with Ferguson for the last three years of his life, and was with him when he died on 16 Nov., 1776, after which she appears to have returned to Rothiemay, Banffshire.

345 As mentioned in a former note, the Wilson family were interred in the churchyard of GRANGE. On the monumental stone of the family there, we find "Sacrum Memoria, George Wilson, nuper in Cantly, qui mortem obit 22d die Martis, A.D. 1742, ætatis suæ 64to. Hoc amoris et doloris monumentum Uxor superstes et moerens posuit.' For this extract, we are indebted to the kindness of the Rev. James Allan, present minister of Grange.

346 The Archibald Grant here mentioned was an ancestor of the present Grants of Arndilly, about 10 miles from Keith.

347 As recorded in a former note, "Isobel," the second daughter and third child of this marriage, became in 1739 the wife of Ferguson.

348 As noted elsewhere, James Ferguson the father, was born at the Core of Mayen, near Rothiemay in Banffshire, on 25th April 1710; died in No. 4 Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London, on 16th Nov. 1776, and was interred in Old St. Mary-le-Bone churchyard, London:-His wife, Isabella Wilson, was born at Grange, near Keith, Banffshire, on 21st Dec. 1720; died in 4 Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London, on 3d Sept. 1773, aged 53, and was interred also in the churchyard of Old St. Mary-le-Bone, London; beside their oldest son James.