CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY PERIOD-BOYHOOD: 1788-1807.

Birth-Parentage-Glasgow of last century-The College-The Hamiltons of

Airdrie-Dr Robert Hamilton-His grandfather, Dr Thomas Hamilton-

His father, Dr William Hamilton-His mother-Boyhood and earliest edu-

cation-His brother, Thomas Hamilton-Dr Dean and school at Bromley

-Enters the College of Glasgow-Dr Sommers of Midcalder-Character at

this period-Notice of his brother-Pursues his arts studies at Glasgow-

Professors of the period-Letters of Dr Sommers-Attends medical classes

-Taste for collecting books-Goes to Edinburgh to pursue his medical

studies-Letters to his mother,

PAGE

1-27

CHAPTER II.

OXFORD PERIOD: 1807-1811.

Goes to Oxford as Snell Exhibitioner-Letters to his mother-Oxford friends

and associates-Alexander Scott-John Gibson Lockhart-Letters of Lock-

hart about Hamilton-Impressions he made at Oxford-Mr Christie's remi-

niscences-Mr Traill's reminiscences-Catches the tutor eavesdropping-

The mulberry-tree exploit-His Oxford life and studies-What influence

the place had upon him-The list of books given up by him for the final

examination-Character of his examination-As given by Dr Jenkyns, Mr

Villers, Rev. Alexander Nicoll-His own reference to it,

28-61

CHAPTER III.

EDINBURGH PERIOD-AT THE BAR: 1811-1820.

Abandons medicine for the law-Visits to Oxford-Illness and death of his

friend A. Scott-Notice of Scott-Researches into his own connection with

the family of Preston-Passes advocate-Assumes the baronetcy of Preston

-Sketch of the House of Preston-His experience at the bar-Knowledge

of law-Amount of employment-Literary tastes-The Advocates' Library

-Political views-State of Scotch politics- Edinburgh Review'-His re-

lations to the political parties of the times a barrier to professional advance-

ment Edinburgh society in 1812 and subsequent years-The old and the

new literary impulses-Sir Walter Scott-Francis Jeffrey-His relations

with Jeffrey Dr Thomas Brown-Sketch of Hamilton's appearance at this

time by De Quincey-His intercourse with strangers-Intimacy with Lock-

hart-Blackwood's Magazine'-His brother, Captain Thomas Hamilton-

First visit to Germany, 1817-The noted poodle Hermann-Second visit to

Germany, 1820-Systematic study of German commenced-Zeal for the in-

terests of the Advocates' Library-Letter on the subject to the Members

of the Faculty,

62-95

CHAPTER IV.

AT THE BAR, AND IN THE UNIVERSITY: 1820-1829.

Sir William a candidate for Moral Philosophy Chair-Supported by Mr Dugald

Stewart-His testimonials-Election turns on political considerations-

Letter of Lord A. Hamilton-Probable character of his ethical teaching-

Letter of Dr Parr-Chair of Civil History vacant-Appointment of Hamil-

ton-Subjects of his lectures-At St Andrews in summer of 1823-Small

commonplace-book-His studies at this period-Modern Latin poets, Buch-

anan, Balde, and others-Papers read before Royal Society on Greek verb-

Phrenology-His investigation of its pretensions-Conclusions regarding the

cerebellum-Animal magnetism and mesmerism-His friends-R. P. Gillies

---Thomas Carlyle's reminiscences-Captain Hamilton-Sir William's repu-

tation for reading, and readiness to impart information-Death of his mother

-His marriage,

96-137

Period after marriage-Friends-Personal and social characteristics- Edin-

burgh Review' and its new editor-First article contributed to the 'Review,'

on the Cours de Philosophie' of M. Cousin-General aim and character of

the contribution-M. Cousin's interest in the author-Correspondence be-

tween Cousin and Hamilton-Article on Perception-Letter of the author

regarding it to M. Cousin-Articles on Logic-On the 'Epistolæ Obscuro-

rum Virorum '-On the State of the English Universities in 1831-Subse-

quent articles-On Oxford-On Right of Dissenters to Admission into the

English Universities-On Patronage and Superintendence of Universities

generally-Influence on public opinion of articles on Oxford-Lord Radnor

and his Bill in the House of Lords-Oxford Commission of 1850-Testi-

monies of Rev. S. H. Johnson, Rev. A. P. Stanley, Rev. F. D. Maurice-

Article on the Patronage and Superintendence of Universities-Its influence

-Further contributions to the Review'-Review of Cousin on German

schools-On the Study of Mathematics-Letter of Mr Napier-Made Soli-

citor to Teind Court-Letter from Professor Mylne - Physiological experi-

ments,

138-182

CHAPTER VI.

APPOINTMENT TO LOGIC CHAIR, AND COMPOSITION OF LECTURES: 1836-1839.

Resignation of Dr Ritchie-University patronage in Edinburgh-Candidates

for the Logic Chair--Correspondence between Professor Pillans and M.

Cousin-Letter of Sir William to M. Cousin--Reply and testimonial-

Opposition to Sir William-His declinature to canvass-Alleged obscurity

of his writings-Theological objection-Result of the election-Preparation

of lectures-Introductory lecture-Lectures of first session on Metaphysics

-How composed-Commencement of edition of Reid-Lectures of second

session on Logic-Place of the lectures as an exposition of the author's

philosophical doctrines--Their general characteristics and influence-Tes-

timony of Rev. Dr Cairns-Correspondence with M. Cousin-Controversy

with Town Council about fees and senior class, .

183-246

CHAPTER VII.

IN THE LOGIC CHAIR: 1839-1844.

Work of the class-Record of honours-Mechanical contrivances in connection

with the class-Relations with his colleagues-Graduation in arts-Exa-

mination for honours-Reid Fund-Elected Member of the Institute of

France-Letters to Lord Melbourne and Lord Advocate Rutherfurd-His

brother's death-Pamphlet on the Disruption controversy-Theological in-

terest-Dr Cairns's reminiscences of intercourse with Sir William-Corre-

spondence with Cousin,

247-277

CHAPTER VIII.

ILLNESS, AND LAST YEARS OF LIFE 1844-1856.

Illness-Dr Maclagan's notes-Effect on his health-Mind unimpaired-Soli-

citude of his friends-Conduct under his illness-Application for a pension-

And result-Completion of Reid's Works-Contemplated Works on Logic

and Luther-Correspondence with Dr Cairns-Domestic life and habits-

Mr Baynes's reminiscences of conversations-Letters to Lieutenant Hamil-

ton in India-Researches in connection with Luther-The 'Discussions'-

Letters relative to them-Tests in the Scottish universities-Visits of

strangers-Editing of Stewart's Works-Letters from home-Last illness-

General remarks,

278-374

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

READING, COMMONPLACE-BOOK, AND LIBRARY.

Importance attached to reading by Hamilton-Reading and non-reading phi-

losophers-Leibnitz and Hamilton-Relation between his reading and

thinking-Value of historical knowledge in his time-Characteristics of his

reading-The Large Commonplace-Book-Works of reference-Bibliogra-

phies-Formation of library-Mechanical skill-Sizing-Contents of library

-Acute dicta-General remarks-Fellowship-Bust,

375-430

APPENDIX.

NOTE A.

ON THE REVIEW OF COUSIN, AND ALLEGED CONTRADICTION IN SIR W.

HAMILTON'S PHILOSOPHY,

404-420

NOTE B.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF SIR W. HAMILTON'S WRITINGS IN AMERICA,

421-428

UNIVERSITY

CF

CALIFORNIA

MEMOIR

OF

SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY PERIOD-BOYHOOD: 1788-1807.

BIRTH-PARENTAGE-GLASGOW OF LAST CENTURY-THE COLLEGE-THE HAMILTONS OF AIRDRIE-DR ROBERT HAMILTON-HIS GRANDFATHER, DR THOMAS HAMILTON- HIS FATHER, DR WILLIAM HAMILTON HIS MOTHER-BOYHOOD AND EARLIEST EDUCATION-HIS BROTHER, THOMAS HAMILTON-DR DEAN AND SCHOOL AT BROMLEY-ENTERS THE COLLEGE OF GLASGOW-DR SOMMERS OF MIDCALDER -CHARACTER AT THIS PERIOD-NOTICE OF HIS BROTHER-PURSUES HIS ART STUDIES AT GLASGOW PROFESSORS OF THE PERIOD LETTERS OF DR SOMMERS ATTENDS MEDICAL CLASSES TASTE FOR COLLECTING BOOKS -GOES TO EDINBURGH TO PURSUE HIS MEDICAL STUDIES-LETTERS TO HIS MOTHER.

WILLIAM HAMILTON was born on the 8th of March 1788, in the College of Glasgow. His father was Dr William Hamilton, Professor of Anatomy and Botany in the University. Of him we shall presently have occasion to speak at length.

His mother was/Elizabeth, daughter of Mr William Stirling, merchant, whose family had for several generations been settled in Glasgow, where they occupied an influential position. They traced their descent from the Stirlings of Bankeir and Lettyr, and through them claimed to represent the distinguished house of Cadder, oldest of the name of Stirling.

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