a fourth on February 20th, 1766. The subject of both is the same ; the question concerning the comparative advantages of public and private education. The execution is such as might be expected from the abilities of the Author, exerted on a topic on which he was so eminently fitted to decide, not only by his professional situation and habits, but by an extensive and discriminating knowledge of the world. These annual discourses (which never failed to produce a strong and happy impression on the minds of his young hearers) he was compelled, after this period, to discontinue by his avocations as an Author, and by other engagements which he conceived to be of still greater importance. It is indeed astonishing that he was able to devote so much time as he did to his academical duties; particularly when we consider that all his works were at first committed to writing in his own hand, and that he seldom, if ever, attempted to dictate to an amanuensis. It may be gratifying to those to whom the literary habits of authors are an object of curiosity, to add, that his practice in composition was (according to his own statement in a letter to Mr Strahan,) " to finish as near perfection as he was able, " so that his subsequent alterations were inconsiderable." 1 ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THOMAS REID, D. D. F. R.S. EDIN. LATE PROFESSOR OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW. [Read at different Meetings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in the year 1802.] |