Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/330

 326 HUTCHESON. him generally known; and his society was courted by persons of a l l ranks, who had any taste for learning and science, o r knew how t o esteem learned men. Amongst others, Lord Molesworth took great pleasure i n his con versation, and assisted him with his observations and cri ticisms upon his “Enquiry into the Ideas o f Beauty and Virtue,” before i t was sent t o the press. He received the same favour from Dr. Synge, Bishop o f Elphin, with whom h e lived o n terms o f the most intimate friendship. The first edition o f this work was published i n 1725, with out the author's name; but i t s great merit would not allow the author t o b e long concealed. Its high reputation and excellence, induced Lord Granville, then lord-lieutenant o f Ireland, t o send his private secretary t o the bookseller, t o inquire the name; and when h e could not learn i t , h e left a letter t o b e conveyed t o him. I n consequence o f this, Mr. Hutcheson became known t o the noble peer, who, during the whole time o f his government, treated him with distinguished marks o f familiarity and kindness. Archbishop King held him i n high esteem; and the friendship o f that prelate was o f great use i n protecting him from two malicious attempts which were made t o prosecute him i n the archiepiscopal court, for undertaking the education o f youth, without having qualified himself, according t o the laws, then existing, by subscribing t o the ecclesiastical canons, and obtaining a licence from the bishop, Mr. Hutcheson, also, was highly esteemed b y Primate Boulter, who, through his influence, made a dona tion t o the university o f Glasgow o f a yearly fund, o r bursary, t o each student i n that college. I n 1728, h e published a “Treatise o n the Passions,” i n octavo, which, together with his former work, has often been republished, and has been admired for sentiment and language, even by those who have not coincided with the author i n his philosophical opinions. About this time, h e wrote some philosophical papers, accounting for laughter i n a way different from Hobbes, and more honourable t o human nature, which were published i n the collection called