Page:The British Controversialist - 1867.djvu/496

Rh George Skene, in 1842, Ferrier became again a candidate for the chair of history in Edinburgh University, and, only after a pretty keen canvass, succeeded. In this office which was "neither lucrative nor laborious," he delivered a few lectures annually on the philosophy of history and the history of philosophy, in their relations to each other, which are said to have been clear, well rounded, in striking, though be bearing the marks of task work, and delivered to small audiences.

In 1843 there came to the outrush of the disruption, as the exodus from of the Free Church is often called, and to this stirring topic Ferrier contributed a pamphlet which has been characterized as more ingenious than convincing—a lawyer-like endeavour to special plead for peace in the national Zion.

In the spring of 1844, Ferrier commenced a course of lectures on metaphysic. I have been favored by a highly intelligent student of philosophy, who enjoyed the privilege of hearing these, with some reminiscences of them, from which, as these lectures have been and a noted by others—even the editors of his Remains—I am happy to have permission to make the following extracts.

Curiosity was on tiptoe at the introductory lecture, and the hall was crowded; unusually enthusiastic applause greeted the lecturer, who was accompanied by Sir William Hamilton; and professor John Wilson. Ferriers aspect dwells in the memory at least as vividly as that of any one of his imminent contemporaries—and Chalmers was among them;—a man rather below the middle size, a frame slender but well knit; and in motion uncommon, even decisive. He advanced to the chair like one who knew his strength, whether others might recognize it or no. His physiognomy was still more marked and memorable; a finely formed head, features clearly cut and and regular, though somewhat approaching to sharpness; eyes which, disguised a little even as they were by spectacles, revealed in their swift and steadfast glances profundity, acuteness, genial sympathy, all in abundance, yet each predominating in turn, a complexion bordering on sallowness, but accompanied by a certain peculiar brightness or radiance, seemingly half physical, half the result of intellectual action, but which gave you the irresistible sense of the presence of genius. These were the elements of that new and most enlivening phenomenon which stood before us in the person of Professor Ferrier:—but how tedious and ineffective is description when it attempts to recall instantaneous vision!

"The lecturer swiftly and steadily reconnoitered the assembly, receiving back at once the sympathy which so visibly flowed out from himself; for this man possessed in no common measure that mysterious power of intense humanity, which returning as if diffuses itself, makes all that it influences gladsome and brotherly, cheering the desert of common life 'with sunny spots of greenery.' 'This full assurance given by looks' was followed up by words of force and frankness introducing with no hesitating preamble the