Leechman is well as he is, and happy, though preaching to a pack of horse-copers and smugglers of the rudest sort.He would do nothing hard or disagreeable to any worthy man, and has no desire of change.But if the field be clear, it were <peccare in publica commoda> not to force him out of that obscure hole where he is so much lost.He was the man Iwished in the first place to be our professor of theology..
..I have no news but that we expect immediately from Robert Simson a piece of amazing geometry, reinventing two books of Appollonius, and he has a third almost ready.He is the best geometer in the world, reinventing old books, of which Pappius preserves only a general account of the subjects.
<Glasgow, Sept.> 20, 1743.-- I had the favor of yours by Mr.Blow, but could not return an answer by him, being much employed in promoting the affair you wrote about.I had also very urgent letters from Messrs.Mairs and Duchals to the same purpose.`Tis very difficult to persuade a modest worthy man who is tolerably settled, to adventure upon a new scene of affairs among strangers.I shall use my utmost endeavors to prevail upon him as I have been doing for some time past.I am sorry I cannot give you great hopes of success , but I don't yet so despair as to quit solicitation, as he is exceedingly moved with the affection and generosity of that people.My most humble and hearty respects to your brethren of your presbytery, whom I shall always remember with the greatest esteem and affection.
<Glasgow, Feb.> 20, 1743-44 -- am not a little surprised that I have not heard from you these four months past, though there were some of my letters which any other person would have thought required an answer.I could tell you a good deal of news upon the unexpected election of a professor of divinity, and the furious indignation of our zealots; but you deserve no news from anybody.We have our own concern about the settlement in Belfast, but we are to expect no accounts from you of any thing.Pray tell Mrs.
Haliday her son is doing very well....I was never more honored than since our late professor's death.Our hearty respects to Mrs.Drennan, and sympathy on the loss of her boys.
Dicimus autem hos quoque felices qui ferre incommoda vtae Nec jactare jugum vita dedicere magistra <Glasgow, April> 16, 1746.-- Our public news of the 15th from Edinburgh was, that the duke had passed the Spey, that 2,000 rebels on the banks fled precipitately upon his pointing his cannon at them.They may reassemble, and, as they are very cunning, may have some artifice to surprise;but I cannot but hope they are dispersing, and their chiefs making their escape.You have heard no doubt of our taking from them the " Hazard " sloop they had taken at Montrose.
She returned from France with 150 men and arms and ammunition, and had landed them; but Lord Rea very boldly attacked them with a smaller number, and took {467} them all prisoners with 13,000L sterling.The same man-of-war took another of their ships, with arms and ammunitions, which had seized twelve small merchant.men in Orkneys for their use.
The duke has endeared himself to some of his very enemies by his good sense and humanity, void of all state or pride.
I had this day a letter from a presbytery of Pennsylvania, of a very good turn, regretting their want of proper ministers and books, expecting some assistance here;it was of a very old date of October last.I shall speak to some wise men here, but would as soon speak to the Roman conclave as our presbytery.The Pennsylvanians regret the want of true literature; that Whitfield has promoted a contempt of it among his followers, and bewailing some wretched contentions among themselves.The only help to be expected from you is sending some wise men if possible.Ishall send them my best advice about books and philosophy, and hope to be employed to buy them books cheaper here than they are to be got anywhere.I long for a.fuller letter about all your chat and news.I am in a great deal of private distresses about Jo Wilson and his sister, -- the latter in the utmost danger, the other scarce recovered from death, my wife too very tender; but by a set of most intricate business, upon which the soul of this college depends, and all may be ruined by the want of one vote, Icannot leave this till after the 26th of June, and we go to Dublin first.
ART.II.<Questions proposed in the Philosophical Society in Aberdeen> (<see p.> 227).
1.President.-- Whether the greatest part of the matter that composes the bodies of vegetables and animals is not air or some substance that is mixed with the air and floats in it Handled, Feb.8.
2.Dr.Skene.-What are the proper characters of enthusiasm and superstition, and their natural effects upon the human mind? Handled, Jan.25.
3.Mr.Trail.-- What are the proper methods of determining the sun's parallax by the transit of Venus over his disk in 1761? Handled, April 12.
4 Mr.Campbell.-- What is the cause of that pleasure we have from representations or objects which excite pity or other painful feelings? Handled, Feb.8.
5.What is the true cause of the ascent, suspension, and fall of vapors in the atmosphere? Mr.Stewart.Handled, Feb.22.
6.Mr.Reid.-- Whether some part of that food of plants which is contained in the air is not absorbed by the earth, and in the form a watery fluid conveyed into the vessels of plants.And whether any thing can enter into the vessels of plants that is not perfectly soluble in water.
Handled, March 8.
7 President.-- Is there a standard of taste in the fine arts and in polite writing; and how is that standard to be ascertained? Handled, March 22, and May to.
8.Dr.Skene.-- How far human actions are free or necessary.Handled, May 24, and June 14.
9.How far the motion of the earth and of light accounts for the aberration of the fixed stars.Mr.Trail.
Handled, April 12.
10.Mr.Campbell.-- Can the generation of worms in the bodies of animals be accounted for on the common principles of generation.Handled, June 28 {468}