[vi] 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 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 Knowledge, and its influence on the doctrines CHAPTER I.-Introductory Observations, CHAPTER II.-Inconsistency of our conclusions in the foregoing chapter, with Locke's account of CHAPTER III.-Influence of Locke's account of the origin of our knowledge on the speculations of various eminent writers since his time, more par- ESSAY SECOND.-On the Idealism of Berkeley, CHAPTER I.-On some prevailing mistakes with respect to the import and aim of the Berkeleian system, CHAPTER II.-Section I.-On the foundation of our belief of the existence of the material 1 ib. Section 2.-Continuation of the subject.-Indis- tinctness of the line drawn by Reid, as well as by Descartes and Locke, between the pri- mary and the secondary qualities of matter.- ESSAY THIRD.-On the influence of Locke's authority upon the Philosophical systems which prevailed in France during the latter part of the eighteenth century, 159 CHAPTER I.-General observations on the sub- ject of inquiry, and on the plan upon which it is CHAPTER II.-Progressive Generalizations of the word Beauty, resulting from the natural progress of the mind.-Beauty of Colours-of Forms-of Motion. Combinations of these.-Uniformity in works of art.-Beauty of Nature, CHAPTER III.-Remarks on some of Mr Burke's |