In speaking of deductive evidence, he distinguishes between scientific and moral.(1) "The subject of the one is abstract, in dependent truth, or the unchangeable and necessary relation of ideas; that of the other, the real but often changeable and contingent connections that subsist among things actually existing." (2).Moral evidence admits degrees, demonstration doth not.(3) In the one there never can be any contrariety of proofs; in the other, there not only may be, but almost always is.(4) The one is simple, consisting of only one coherent series; whereas moral evidence is generally complicated, being in reality a bundle of independent proofs.Under moral reasoning he treats of experience, analogy, testimony, calculation of chances, &c.
He discusses the nature and use of the scholastic art of syllogizing.He has no idea of the syllogism being merely an analysis of the process which passes through the mind in all ratiocination.His objections have been satisfactorily answered by Whately.
He has a very interesting chapter on the cause of that pleasure which we receive from objects or representations that excite pity and other painful feelings, criticising the explanations by others, and unfolding one of his own, which is rather complicated.We are not concerned to follow him when he enters {244} on style and elocution.Speaking of his philosophic ability, I am inclined to place him next to Reid in the Aberdeen school.
When minister at Banchory, he married Miss Farquharson, of Whitehouse, of whom "I can say with truth that I never knew a more pious, more humane woman, or a woman of better sense.She had an enlargement of sentiment not often to be found in man (who have many advantages by education), and very unlike the contracted notions of the party among whom she had been bred.You will not mistake me, my dear; it is not those of the Church of England I mean, -- a society for which I have a great respect, -- but our Scotch nonjurors, who, though they concur pretty much with the other in the ceremonial part, differ widely in the spirit they infuse."This is an extract from letters to his niece, Annie Richardson, who bad gone to a boarding-school at Durham.
These letters are preserved in the Farquharson manuscripts, and are very kindly."You may depend upon it we do not forget our dear little niece who has been so long with us, and whom we do and cannot help considering as one of ourselves, -- as an essential part of our little family."The advices given, though rather commonplace, are not on that account the less useful." Let it be an invariable maxim with you, my dear, that no art will continue long to have influence but what is founded on truth.Deceit and falsehood may sometimes serve a present turn, but never fail sooner or later to be detected.An injury is done to the integrity of one's own mind by doing what is wrong, though it should never be discovered; the discovery which commonly follows injures one's character." His religious counsels are characteristic: " In regard to religion, you are now at the time of life when it specially claims your attention; and Ishall at present only observe to you that you ought to study to be possessed of the spirit of it, which consists truly in fearing God and working righteousness; in other words, in loving God and your neighbor; but avoid carefully an excessive attachment to any particular form or mode of worship.The two extremes to be guarded against are libertinism and bigotry.The former consists in the want of a proper sense of religion; and the latter in an inordinate attachment to forms, or to any of the distinguishing badges of a particular sect or party." {245}
In the Farquharson manuscripts there are letters from Dr.Douglas, of Windsor, from which we gather some glimpses of the times." It appears that in Oxford and Cambridge the number of students had greatly decreased in consequence of the little attention which many of the bishops of late years had paid to their degrees." He goes on to say: The very great influx of young men from Scotland offering themselves as candidates for orders has been generally remarked.This did not use to be the case, and nothing perhaps will check it but a strictness which, in particular cases, will, I have no doubt, be dispensed with."It appears from these letters that he is in London in July, 1787, along with Dr.Beattie and his son, and that he is making arrangements about the publication of his "Dissertations." He spends a week with Dr.Douglas; and had the honor of a little conversation with his Majesty no less than three different times, and once, which is still more, with the Queen." It is not to be questioned, that, after such distinction, I feel myself a much greater man than when you knew me at Aberdeen."In person he was below the middle size, with a mild and delicate expression.In conversation he was pleasant and agreeable, though at times falling into fits of absence.He resigned his professorship in I 795, and soon after his principalship.He died April 1, 1796.