a great proportion of them, as well instructed as those who adhere to the church."*

In 1770, Alexander Waugh entered the University of Edinburgh, where he continued four sessions prior to his theological studies. He attended the Latin class taught by Mr Stewart; the Greek, by Mr Hunter; the logic, by Mr Stevenson; the natural philosophy, by Mr Russell; the moral philosophy, by Dr Ferguson; and in a subsequent year, after he had entered on the study of divinity, he attended Dr James Robertson, professor of Hebrew.

It is to be regretted, that none of his papers of this period can be found, which might enable us to trace the gradual developement of his mind. We have seen that, during his attendance at the grammar-school, he was greatly distinguished for his proficiency in Latin; and this language appears to have been always with him a favourite study. He was familiarly acquainted with the Latin classics, and particularly with Virgil, whom he was accustomed to quote in a very appropriate and happy manner, and in the illustration of whose rich and glowing imagery, his extensive general knowledge and fine fancy shone eminently forth. When thus engaged in the presence of the young, there was an absence of ostentatious criticism, that removed all fear of the examiner, combined with an exuberance of striking anecdote from ancient and modern history, and of playful illustration of ancient manners by those of our own days, which gave an interest and a definite meaning to the text, that learned criticism alone generally fails to impart. To his intimate acquaintance with the Latin writers we are to ascribe, in no inconsiderable degree, his fine classical taste in composition, that copia fandi, that facility of expressing his sentiments in elegant and forcible language, which characterized him in future life. In regard to Greek, he appears to have restricted his study of that beautiful and copious language almost exclusively to the New Testament, which he read with great facility, at the same

* Life of Dr Erskine, by Sir Henry Moncrieff Wellwood, Bart. D.D. pp. 454, 455.

time analysing the words and phrases, so as to bring forth the meaning and beauty of the sacred writers, when expounding the Scriptures, in a manner which never failed to leave a deep impression on his hearers. In Hebrew literature he never attained to eminence. It is perhaps difficult to explain how the Hebrew language, in which so considerable a part of the Scriptures was originally written, has been but little studied in Britain; and how we should be so greatly inferior in this department to the Germans, who have devoted themselves to the diligent study of a language highly venerable, not merely for its great antiquity, but for being the first medium in which the God of heaven condescended to record the all-important discoveries of his covenant mercy to sinful men.

Mr Waugh discovered a strong predilection for moral philosophy, as it was then taught by Dr Ferguson; and it appears, from the college records, that he attended two courses of lectures under that celebrated person, whose vivid eloquence, and powerful reasoning on the important topics which came under his review, had raised the class to a high degree of celebrity. The great and leading fault of his prelections was, that he did not ground his arguments on Divine revelation; the only competent authority to which the appeal must ever be made in all moral discussions regarding the relations which subsist betwixt man and his Creator and Judge. By keeping the Scriptures entirely out of the view of his students, they were led to think too favourably of the capabilities of human nature, and less deeply to feel their obligations to that atoning blood which hath appeased the wrath of God for man's transgression, and to that sovereign and almighty grace which can alone change and renovate the faculties of our depraved and fallen nature. To his lectures, which were published after he had resigned his chair in the University, he prefixed the following advertisement:" It may be asked, perhaps, why the professor should restrict his argument as he has done, to the mere topics of natural religion and reason? This being the foundation of every superstructure, whether in morality or religion, and therefore to be separately

treated, he considered as that part of the work which was allotted to him. Farther institutions may improve, but cannot supersede, what the Almighty has revealed in his works, and in the suggestions of reason to man.

'When first we from the teeming womb were brought,
With inborn precepts then our souls were fraught.'

Rowe's Lucan, book ix. line 984."

It is difficult to comprehend how a person of Dr Ferguson's acknowledged candour should have satisfied his mind with such reasoning; as if the founders of a class of moral philosophy in a Christian university could have intended that the students should rest contented with the imperfect discoveries of natural reason regarding the perfections of the Deity, the immortality of the soul, the nature of virtue and true happiness, the most important discussions which can interest or agitate the human mind ;—as if the Scriptures had never been written, and students had been listening to the prelections of Socrates or Cicero,-men, it may be observed, who would have gratefully availed themselves, in illustrating such topics, of the superior light of Divine revelation, had that invaluable boon been communicated to them.

Dr Paley, in his preface to a course of lectures on moral and political philosophy, which he delivered in the University of Cambridge, nearly at the same time, justly reprobates those teachers who divide too much the law of nature from the precepts of revelation, and industriously decline the mention of Scripture authorities, as belonging to a different province. In support of this opinion, he quotes, with high approbation, the following sentiment of Dr Johnson's: "When the obligations of morality are taught," says a pious and celebrated writer," let the sanctions of Christianity never be forgotten, by which it will be shown that they give strength and lustre to each other; religion will appear to be the voice of reason, and morality will be the will of God."

About this period a confidential correspondence commenced betwixt Alexander Waugh and a young man of congenial

temper, who then belonged to a mercantile house in Berwick, and afterwards settled in the West Indies. He appears to have been animated by a spirit of fervent piety, and to have possessed mental accomplishments greatly superior to his station in life. We insert the two following letters as a specimen of the dispositions of mind which characterised both the writer and the individual to whom they are addressed :—

"TO MR ALEXANDER WAUGH, CALDRON-BRAE.

"Berwick, August 18, 1773.

"DEAR SIR,-As I have not had the pleasure of seeing you at Berwick, will you allow me to request of you, that an epistolary correspondence may take place during the intervals of seeing one another? It would of all things be very grateful to me.Mrs Johnstone acquaints me that you propose attending the University another season. I flatter myself it is not solely with a view of venerating the polite arts; but that you intend dedicating these jewels borrowed from the Egyptians, to the building of the house of the Lord. My dear Sir, see you get intimately acquainted with the Lord of the vineyard, previously to your entering as a labourer. It will sweeten the work vastly, both to yourself and others, and render it pleasant and profitable. Being in haste, I conclude with compliments to your father, mother, and brother, and am, dear Sir, your sincere wellwisher,

"GEORGE GRAHAM."

"TO MR ALEXANDER WAUGH, EDINBurgh.

Berwick, Jan. 1, 1774. "MY DEAR SIR,-May you enumerate many happy revolutions of this season! May you long be preserved an ornament to religion, a blessing to friends and connexions, a useful member of society, and, after a few pre-requisites, a faithful and successful labourer in the Christian church; and, at last, in a good old age, may you exchange a hoary head for an unfading crown of glory, books and symbols, faith and hope, for palms of victory, immediate vision, and full, satisfactory fruition! Unseasonable compliments these to our contemporary Lorenzos!—but what mean our wishing happy new years, unless most part of the

above be implied? Here is firm footing, here is solid rock; all is sea besides.' It would certainly be a laudable practice, were we to anticipate, in imagination, what Charles Emperor of Germany did really in every circumstance,-I mean the solemnizing of our own funeral while in life. We should thus make death familiar to our minds, although he be the king of terrors, and stimulate ourselves to converse with our past hours, and ask them what report they bore to heaven, and how they might have borne more welcome news. But, alas, how epidemical is this distemper!—all men think all men mortal but themselves.' I remember (for although very young at the time, I never could eradicate the presumptuous speech out of my mind) that a young gentlemen, when writing, Jan. 2, 1762,' thus addressed one Mr M'Donald of Leith, a surgeon, a young man more than six feet high, and stout in proportion, Tammy M'Donald, it is probable we shall be in our graves before 1772.' 'Shall we?' said the person addressed; it will be a grievous disappointment if we be!' Disappointed he was; but whether the event deserved the epithet he bestowed on it, is not my province to determine; for early in 1769 he gave up the ghost, leaving a young widow. Uncertain is life, and happy they that have nothing to do but to die; therefore, my dear friend, while others are murdering time in unlawful pastimes, let us be inquiring into our state before God, and asking ourselves what progress we have made in our Christian course. As another year, that lately smiled, is drowned in that great deep that nothing disembogues;' so let us remember, that the spirit walks of every day deceased, and smiles an angel, or a fury frowns.' I do not tender these as admonitions to you, since I have no doubt but your exercise in practice exceeds this theorem considerably. This is only a faint intimation that, for the future, I intend corresponding with you as a Christian, and not as a scholar; for while you are associated with men of learning and science, I, by reason of the imbecility of my understanding and circumvening mists of ignorance, must stand at the foot of Parnassus friendless."

After continuing four years at the University of Edinburgh, Mr Waugh was examined by the Presbytery regarding his proficiency in philosophy and the learned languages, in order to his admission to the study of divinity, which he