dary where the half of the globe at any time enlightened by the sun was parted from the other half in the shade; the enlightened parts of the terrestrial globe answering to the like enlightened parts of the earth at all times. So that, whenever the sun shone on the globe, one might see to what places it was setting, and all the places where it was then day or night throughout the earth." Having been introduced to Sir James's sister, Lady Dipple, he was induced at her suggestion to attempt the drawing of patterns for ladies' dresses, in which he soon became quite an adept. "On this," says he," I was sent for by other ladies in the country, and began to think myself growing very rich by the money I got for such drawings; out of which I had the pleasure of occasionally supplying the wants of my poor father." He still continued, however, his astronomical studies, making observations on the stars, as usual, with his beaded threads, and delineating on paper the apparent paths of the planets as thus ascertained. So excited would he become while thus engaged, that he often conceived, he says, that he saw the ecliptic lying like a broad highway across the firmament, and the planets making their way in "paths like the narrow ruts made by cart-wheels, sometimes on one side of a plane road, and sometimes on the other, crossing the road at small angles, but never going far from either side of it."

He does not appear to have ever given his heart to painting, and notwithstanding his success, he even made various attempts to escape from it as a profession altogether. When he had only been about two years in Edinburgh, he was seized with so violent a passion for the study, or at least the practice, of medicine, that he actually returned to his father's, carrying with him a quantity of pills, plasters, and other preparations, with the intention of setting up as the Esculapius of the village. But it would not do. Of those who took his medicines very few paid him for them, and still fewer, he acknowledges, were benefitted by them. So he applied again to his pencil; but, instead of returning immediately to Edinburgh, fixed his residence for a few months at Inverness. Here he employed his leisure in pursuing his old and favorite study of astronomy; and having discovered by himself the cause of eclipses, drew scheme

up a

for showing the motions and places of the sun and moon in the ecliptic on each day of the year, perpetually. This he transmitted to the celebrated Maclaurin, who found it to be very nearly correct, and was so much pleased with it that he had it engraved. It sold very well, and Ferguson was induced once more to return to Edinburgh. He had now a zealous patron in Maclaurin, and one extremely disposed to assist him in his philosophical studies.

His mind was now becoming every day more attached to philosophical pursuits; and, quite tired, as he says, of drawing pictures, in which he never strove to excel, he resolved to go to London, in the hope of finding employment as a teacher of mechanics and astronomy. Having written out a proof of a new astronomical truth which had occurred to him, namely, that the moon must move always in a path concave to the sun, he showed his proposition and its demonstration to Mr. Folkes, the President of the Royal Society, who thereupon took him the same evening to the meeting of that learned body. This had the effect of bringing him immediately into notice.

In 1763 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society; the usual fees being remitted, as had been done in the cases of Newton and Thomas Simpson. He died in 1776, having for many years enjoyed a distinguished reputation both at home and abroad; for several of his works had been translated into foreign languages, and were admired throughout Europe for the simplicity and ingenuity of their elucidations. Of his Dialogues on Astronomy, Madame de Genlis says, "This book is written with so much clearness, that a child of ten years old may understand it perfectly from one end to the other,"

The faculties of distinct apprehension and luminous exposition belonged, indeed, to Ferguson in a pre-eminent degree. He doubtless owed his superiority here in a great measure to the peculiar manner in which he had been obliged to acquire his knowledge. Nothing that he had learned had been set him as a task. He had applied himself to whatever subject of study engaged his attention, simply from the desire and with the view of understanding it. All that he knew, therefore, he knew

thoroughly, and not by rote merely, as many things are learned by those who have no higher object than to master the task of the day.

It was, as has been stated, the accident of the roof of his father's cottage coming down, while he was a child, that first turned Ferguson's attention to mechanical contrivance. Such are the chances which often develope genius, and probably even give it in part its direction and peculiar character.

EDUCATION

From an Address of the Rev. W. C. Larrabee. EDUCATION is a very comprehensive term. It includes the whole course of physical, moral, religious, and scientific instruction and discipline. Its power is exerted both on the body and the mind. Physical education consists in that system of corporeal discipline, by which the powers of the body are brought to perfection, and its faculties fully developed, and by which we acquire vigor and health, with a constitution suited to the active business of life. This is best promoted in early life, by free indulgence in the unrestrained sports, and innocent amusements of childhood, The constitution is much injured by restraint, and especially by want of exercise in the open air.

Moral education must be commenced in early life. That system of instruction and discipline, which gives us a sensitive knowledge of the distinction between right and wrong; which fixes in the mind a sacred regard for the immutable principles of truth, justice, and moral integrity, and which erects in the soul a strong fortification against irregular and vicious habits, can never be successfully commenced, after an individual is old enough to be brought under the influence of our higher seminaries. The foundation of the moral character must be laid under the inspection of the watchful parent. The affectionate, yet keen eye of the mother must detect in the cradle the propensities which need restraint, and discover the various developements of the disposition. It is too late to reform a child when he is old enough to enter an academy or college. The moral character has, by this time, become so firmly established, ed, that material changes in the habits cannot be expected.

The first great object of a scientific and literary education is, to expand and strengthen the intellect to cultivate and improve the mind. This object is not always kept in view. Many, in a course of instruction, have respect only to those studies, which give a superficial knowledge of a few subjects connected with some particular business or profession. Many a student is satisfied with a mechanical knowledge of those sciences indispensably necessary to transact the ordinary business of life. If we would encourage him to follow up the stream of science to its fountain head, and from thence trace, through all their meandering courses, the thousand rivulets which issue from it, he meets us with the question, What use will it be to me? Is it of no importance to you, by a course of studious discipline, to acquire command over your own mind, so as to bring it to bear on any subject you please? Will it be of no use to you to develope the resources of the mind, to bring its powers to maturity, and to make it what it was designed to be, the greatest, the noblest work of God? Who has measured the extent of the powers of the human mind? Who knows the force and enery of its operations? Follow it in its bold and daring flights: see it bringing the heavens down to the earth, and subjecting to its examination planets, and suns, and systems of worlds of endless variety. Escaping from its earthly home, it darts away beyond the borders of our own world, to the distant regions of space, where Saturn, the exiled monarch, reigns over his attendant moons, or far distant Herschel pursues his tedious and solitary way, or the fixed stars from age to age pour their brilliant rays upon the worlds which revolve about them. The powerful mind of Newton extends its irrevocable laws over the earth, the sun, and wandering comet. The dominion of mind is more extensive and lasting over the world of men, and often more effective and powerful in its control, than ever was the sceptre of the mightiest monarch. Alexander conquered the world; but no sooner was he dead, than the subdued nations returned to their former state. But Aristotle, his preceptor, by the mere energy of his mind, exercised unlimited control over the opinions of men for sixteen centuries. All the projects and plans of conquest of Charles the Fifth, terminated at his retire

ment from power; but in his time, Luther, a man in the common rank of life, but of a giant mind, commenced the Reformation. At his word, as if by magic touch, the world arose from its long sleep of a thousand years. The impress of his mind was stamped on the reformation, and his influence will be felt, till the glories of the millennial day shall consummate his labors.

The works of human art and grandeur perish. The trophies and monuments of victory, the splendid domes and edifices of antiquity have crumbled to dust; but the imperishable works of mind still remain. The land of Eneas, with its Xanthus and Ida, would have been hidden in oblivion, and the heroes who fought on the plains of Troy would have been forgotten, had not their fame and fate been rendered imperishable by the powerful genius of the Grecian bard. Greece, with her Parnassian hills, Tempean vales, and Arcadian groves, her warlike cities and brave souls, would scarcely have been known to us, but for the eagle genius of her poets, the acute investigations of her philosophers, and the thrilling energy of her orators. Virgil, Cicero, and Tacitus, by their mental efforts, have done more to make their country remembered, than Cæsar, with all his conquests, and Augustus, with all his power. When in future ages the British empire shall have become what the Roman is now, and Cromwell forgotten, and the conqueror of Waterloo scarcely named, Milton and Scott will continue to be read and admired, and to recall the fast fading images of other times. And the time may come, when the monument on Bunker's Hill shall have crumbled to dust, and even the "Father of his country" be all but forgotten, while the philosophical trophies of Franklin, and the intellectual monuments of those, whose powerful minds have been devoted to the interests of science and literature, shall still remain, more imperishable than marble or granite, to tell future generations what we have been.

It would be well for us occasionally to cast our eyes on the monuments and trophies of the human intellect, in order to show us what may be done, and to stimulate us to enterprise. It is said of Themistocles, that after the celebrated battle of Marathon, being asked by his friends the reason of his apparent solicitude, he answered, "the trophy of Miltiades will not let me sleep or be