who should have a seat and voice in the parliament of Great Britain to establish
a freedom of legislation and internal government, comprehending every privilege
short of a total separation of interest, or consistent with that union of force in
which the safety of the common religion and liberty depends.
"These papers, when laid before the Congress, were read with astonishment and regret, but from the declaration of INDEPENDENCE, they had neither the will, nor the power to recede. An answer, therefore, brief but conclusive, was returned by the president, Henry Laurens, declaring, 'that nothing but an earnest desire to spare the farther effusion of human blood could have induced them to read a paper containing expressions so disrespectful to his most Christian majesty, their ally, or to consider of propositions so derogatory to the honour of an independent nation. The commission under which they act, supposes the people of America to be still subject to the crown of Great Britain, which is an idea utterly inadmissible.' 'The president added, 'that he was directed to inform their excellencies of the inclination of the congress to peace, notwithstanding the unjust claims from which this war originated, and the savage manner in which it had been conducted. They will, therefore, be ready to enter upon the consideration of a treaty of peace and commerce, not inconsistent with treaties already subsisting, when the king of Great Britain shall demonstrate a sincere disposition for that purpose; and the only solid proof of this disposition, will be an explicit acknowledgment of the independence of the United States, or the withdrawing his fleets and armies.' Conduct so haughty on the part of the Americans, necessarily put a stop to all farther negotiation, and the commissioners having, in a valedictory manifesto, appealed to the people, returned home.
On his return to Scotland, Dr Ferguson resumed the charge of his class and continued the preparation of the Roman History. That work made its appearance in the year 1783 ; and two years afterwards, he resigned the chair of moral philosophy in favour of Mr Dugald Stewart; while he was himself permitted to retire on the salary of the mathematical class which Mr Stewart had held. Dr Ferguson then took up his residence at Manor, in the county of Peebles, where he passed his time in literary ease and in farming; an occupation for which he had a peculiar taste, but which he ultimately found so unprofitable, that he was glad to relinquish it He seems also to have devoted his attention to the correction of his lectures, which he published in 1793.
While exempt from all cares and in the enjoyment of good health, and of a competent fortune, Dr Ferguson, in his old age, conceived the extraordinary project of visiting Rome. He accordingly repaired once more to the continent, visiting the cities of Berlin and Vienna, where he was received with great attention. His progress southward was, however, stopped by the convulsions consequent on the French revolution. To this great political phenomenon, Dr Ferguson's attention had been earnestly directed, and it is curious to know, that he had drawn up (although he did not publish it) a memorial, pointing out the dangers to which the liberties of Europe were exposed, and proposing a congress with objects similar to those which occupied the congress of Vienna, in 1814.
On his return home, Dr Ferguson retired for the remainder of his life to St Andrews, a place endeared to him by early habits and admirably fitted for the retreat of a literary man in easy circumstances. There, in addition to the professors of that ancient university, he enjoyed the society of the patriotic George Dempster, of Dunnichen; and having had almost uninterrupted good health up to the patriarchal age of ninety-three, he died on the 22d of February, 1816. "He was," to use the words of an intimate friend of the family, "the last great man of the preceding century, whose writings did honour to the age in which
