an author, had it not been repressed by the still more pleasing idea, that I am indebted for them chiefly to the partiality of your friendship. Permit me, Sir, to inscribe to you the following Essays, in testimony of my respect and attachment; and as a slight but sincere acknowledgment of the obligations you have laid me under by your long-continued kindness, as well as of the instruction and pleasure I have derived from your philosophical writings. DUGALD STEWART June 1810. ADVERTISEMENT. THE state of my health having interrupted, for many months past, the continuation of my work on the Human Mind, I was induced to attempt, in the mean time, the easier task of preparing for the press a volume of Essays. I have not, however, abandoned the design which I ventured to announce eighteen years ago; and in the execution of which I have already made considerable progress. After thirty-eight years devoted to the various pursuits connected with my different academical situations, I now indulge the hope of enjoying, in a more retired scene, a short period of private study; and feel myself sufficiently warned by the approaching infirmities of age, not to delay any longer 3 my best exertions for the accomplishment of an undertaking, which I have hitherto prosecuted only at accidental and often distant intervals; but which I have always fondly imagined (whether justly or not others must determine) might, if carried into complete effect, be of some utility to the public. Kinneil-House, 15th June 1810. ESSAY FIRST.-On Locke's Account of the sources of Human Know- ledge, and its influence on the doctrines of some of his successors, CHAPTER I.—Introductory Observations, CHAPTER II.-Inconsistency of our conclusions in the foregoing chapter, with Locke's account of the origin of our knowledge, CHAPTER III.-Influence of Locke's account of the origin of our knowledge on the speculations of various eminent writers since his CHAPTER II.-Section 1.—On the foundation of our belief of the existence of the material world, according to the statement of Section 2.-Continuation of the subject.-Indistinctness of the line drawn by Reid, as well as by Des Cartes and Locke, between the primary and the secondary qualities of matter.---Distinction between the primary qualities of matter, and its mathematical (b) ESSAY THIRD.-On the influence of Locke's authority upon the Philo- sophical systems which prevailed in France during the latter part of the CHAPTER I.-General observations on the subject of inquiry, and on the plan upon which it is proposed to examine it, CHAPTER II.-Progressive Generalizations of the word Beauty, re- sulting from the natural progress of the mind.-Beauty of colours- of forms-of motion.-Combinations of these.-Uniformity in works CHAPTER III.-Remarks on some of Mr Burke's principles which do not agree with the foregoing conclusions, CHAPTER IV.-Continuation of the critical strictures on Mr Burke's fundamental principles concerning Beauty.-Influence of these prin- |