Lord Kames's various literary occupations.—Introduction to the Art of Thinking.-Correspondence with Dr B. Franklin. · · · · "Elements of Criticism."-Origin and Progress of Criticism.- Mr Harris's notions on that subject examined.—Aristotle's Cri- tical and Rhetorical Writings.-His Art of Poetry.-His Art of Rhetoric.-Demetrius Phalereus on Elocution.-Longinus. Lord Kames's plan original, but the way paved by former wri- ters.-Dr Hutcheson's Essay on Beauty and Virtue.—Aken- side's Pleasures of Imagination.-Other writers, Gerard, Burke, &c.-Scope and Object of "Elements of Criticism."-Advan- tages of such Disquisitions.-The Author's method of Discus- sion.-Examples.-Utility of the work, independent of the recti- tude of its theoretical Opinions.-Certain disadvantages of this sort of Criticism.-Nature of the Author's Taste.-Works pro- ceeding from the school of Lord Kames.-Campbell's Philosophy BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES of some SCOTSMEN, eminent in Classical Literature, who flourished in the period from the end of the Six- Letter to Lord Kames, from the Reverend Dr John Macfarlan, Minister of Canongate, Edinburgh, and Author of Inquiries concerning the State of the Poor, &c. Letter from Dr Thomas Reid, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow, to Lord Kames, on the Influence of 39 A List of the Members of the Rankenian Club, furnished by George Wallace, Esq; Advocate, one of the last surviving Mem- Letters from Thomas Reid, D. D. Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow, to Lord Kames.-On the Laws From Dr Reid to Lord Kames.-On the use of Conjectures and Hypotheses in Philosophical Investigation; and on the meaning of Cause when applied to Natural Philosophy.-The distinct Provinces of Physical and Metaphysical Reasoning pointed out. From Dr Reid to Lord Kames.-On the Laws of Motion.-Pres- On the Principles of Criminal Jurisprudence, as unfolded in Lord Kames's Essay on the History of the Criminal Law: with an Examination of the Theory of Montesquieu and Beccaria, rela- MEMOIRS MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF LORD KAMES. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Mr Home's birth-and education.-Classical learning little cultivated at that time.-Causes of its decline in Scotland.Mr Home's first professional views.-His ardour of study.— No regular institution at that time for the study of the Law.A more laborious course of study then pursued.—Importance of general erudition to the profession of the Law.Mr Home's attention turned to Metaphysics.-His correspondence with Baxter-and with Samuel Clarke. HENRY HOME, the son of George Home of Kames, in the county of Berwick, North Britain, was born at Kames, in the year 1696. He was descended from an ancient and honourable family; being, on his father's side, the great VOL. I. grandson A Mr Home's birth BOOK L grandson of Sir John Home of Renton, whose ancestor was a cadet of the family of the Earls of Home, and who held the office of Lord Justice-Clerk in the reign of King Charles II. His mother was a daughter of Mr Walkinshaw of Barrowfield *; and grandaughter of Mr Robert Baillie, Principal of the University of Glasgow, the author of a learned work on History and Chronology, and of a very curious Journal of his own Times, in a series of letters from 1637 to 1662 +. The father of Mr Home, a country gentleman of small fortune, though the heir of an estate which had once been considerable, had never been bred to any profession. He resided on his paternal lands, and discharged the duties of an active magistrate in the commission of the peace; but from the necessary expences of a numerous progeny, and the indulgence of a taste for living beyond his income, he had considerably reduced his fortune; SO * Another daughter of Mr Walkinshaw was married to Mr Campbell of Succoth, grandfather to the Right Honourable Ilay Campbell, Lord President of the Court of Session. Her brother, Mr Walkinshaw, having been engaged in both the rebellions 1715 and 1745, was confined for some time in the Castle of Stirling; from whence he escaped by the courage and address of his wife, a sister of Sir Hugh Paterson of Bannockburn, who exchanged clothes with him, and remained a prisoner in his stead. This remarkable woman, splendidè mendax, et in omne ævum nobilis, lived to the age of ninety, in the full possession of her faculties, and of the esteem of all who knew her. + For a further account of Principal Baillie, see Appendix, No. I., among the notices of Scotsmen eminent for literature, in the period from the end of the sixteenth to the beginning of the eighteenth century. |