Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/21

xiv {{hwe|inal|original} German he highly valued, as his dedication to the poems amply testifies.

Mr Ferrier's earliest public essay in metaphysical science consists of the papers, here republished, which, under the title " An Introduction to the Philosophy of Consciousness," he contributed to ' Blackwood's Magazine' in 1838 and 1839, "undertaking," as Sir William Hamilton said, "the solution of problems hitherto unattempted in the humbler speculation of this country." For some years after this he wrote occasional articles in that Magazine, and must have become in the meantime well known to many persons in Edinburgh as one who delighted in exploring questions that task powers of abstraction and subtle thought. In 1842 he was appointed Professor of Civil History in the University, an office at that time neither very laborious nor lucrative, and generally looked upon as likely to be a stepping-stone to some more important professorship. In session 1844-5, during Sir William Hamilton's severe illness, Mr Perrier acted as his substitute, and taught the class of logic and metaphysics for some time; his zeal and success in the discharge of this task are warmly acknowledged by Sir William in a testimonial given to Mr Perrier when applying for a chair in another university. In 1845 he was elected Professor of Moral Philosophy and Political Economy at St Andrews, and held that office till his death.

On two occasions he sought to obtain an appointment in Edinburgh; in 1852, on the resignation