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The Works of Professor Wilson of the University of Edinburgh, Volume 10
Excerpt from The Works of Professor Wilson, Vol. 10: Of the University of Edinburgh
What! Shall we linger here within a little mile of the manse, wherein and among its pleasant bounds our boyish life glided murmuring away, like a stream that never, till it leaves its native hills, knows taint or pollution, and not hasten on to the dell, in which nest-like it is built, and guarded by some wonderful felicity Of situation equally against all the winds? No. Thither as yet have we not courage to direct our foot steps - for that venerable Man has long been dead - not one of his ancient household now remains on earth. There the change, though it was gradual and unpainful, according to the gentlest laws of nature, has been entire and complete. The old familiar faces we can dream Of, but never more shall see and the voices that are now heard within those walls, what can they ever be to us, when we would fain listen in the silence Of our spirit to the echoes Of departed years? It is an appalling trial to approach a place where once we have been happier - happier far than ever we can be on this earth again; and a worse evil doth it seem to our imagination to return to Paradise, with a changed and saddened heart, than at first to be driven from it into the outer world, if still per mitted to carry thither something of that spirit that had glorified our prime.
But yonder, we see, yet towers the Sycamore on the crown of the hill - the first great Tree in the parish that used to get green; for Stony as seems the hard glebe, constricted by its bare and gnarled roots, they draw sustenance from afar; and not another knoll on which the sun so delights to pour his beams. Weeks before any other Sycamore, and almost as early as the alder or the birch - the glory OF mount plea sant, for so we schoolboys called it, unfolded itself like a banner. You could then see only the low windows of the dwelling - for eaves, roof, and chimneys all disappeared - and then, when you stood beneath, was not the sound of the bees like the very sound of the sea itself, continuous, unabating, all day long unto evening, when, as if the tide of life had ebbed, there was a perfect silence!
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
What! Shall we linger here within a little mile of the manse, wherein and among its pleasant bounds our boyish life glided murmuring away, like a stream that never, till it leaves its native hills, knows taint or pollution, and not hasten on to the dell, in which nest-like it is built, and guarded by some wonderful felicity Of situation equally against all the winds? No. Thither as yet have we not courage to direct our foot steps - for that venerable Man has long been dead - not one of his ancient household now remains on earth. There the change, though it was gradual and unpainful, according to the gentlest laws of nature, has been entire and complete. The old familiar faces we can dream Of, but never more shall see and the voices that are now heard within those walls, what can they ever be to us, when we would fain listen in the silence Of our spirit to the echoes Of departed years? It is an appalling trial to approach a place where once we have been happier - happier far than ever we can be on this earth again; and a worse evil doth it seem to our imagination to return to Paradise, with a changed and saddened heart, than at first to be driven from it into the outer world, if still per mitted to carry thither something of that spirit that had glorified our prime.
But yonder, we see, yet towers the Sycamore on the crown of the hill - the first great Tree in the parish that used to get green; for Stony as seems the hard glebe, constricted by its bare and gnarled roots, they draw sustenance from afar; and not another knoll on which the sun so delights to pour his beams. Weeks before any other Sycamore, and almost as early as the alder or the birch - the glory OF mount plea sant, for so we schoolboys called it, unfolded itself like a banner. You could then see only the low windows of the dwelling - for eaves, roof, and chimneys all disappeared - and then, when you stood beneath, was not the sound of the bees like the very sound of the sea itself, continuous, unabating, all day long unto evening, when, as if the tide of life had ebbed, there was a perfect silence!
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
443 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2015
About the author
James Frederick Ferrier
88 books2 followersJames Frederick Ferrier was a Scottish metaphysical writer and philosopher. He introduced the word epistemology in philosophical English.
In 1842 he was appointed professor of civil history at Edinburgh University, and in 1845 professor of moral philosophy and political economy at the University of St Andrews. He was twice an unsuccessful candidate for chairs in Edinburgh, for that of moral philosophy on Wilson's resignation in 1852, and for that of logic and metaphysics in 1856, after Hamilton's death. He remained at St Andrews till his death.
In 1842 he was appointed professor of civil history at Edinburgh University, and in 1845 professor of moral philosophy and political economy at the University of St Andrews. He was twice an unsuccessful candidate for chairs in Edinburgh, for that of moral philosophy on Wilson's resignation in 1852, and for that of logic and metaphysics in 1856, after Hamilton's death. He remained at St Andrews till his death.
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