Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Honourable Henry Home of Kames (Volume 2 ); One of the Senators of the College of Justice, and One of the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary in Scotland Containing Sketches of the Progress of Literature and Genera (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1814 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. Indefatigable activity of Lord Kames's mind.--Letter from Mrs Montagu on that subject.--Elucidations on the Law of Scotland.--Select Decisions of the Court of Session.--Loose Hints on Education.--Former Writers on that subject; Locke, Sfc.--Rousseau's Emile.--Other systems of Education.--Lord Kames's views on that subject.--Religion a main object of attention. At the advanced period of life to which 1--Lord Kames had now attained, his consti-gaweactitution had suffered nothing from the attacks Karnes's of old age. When now upwards of fourscore, there was no sensible decay of his mental powers, or, what is yet more extraordinary, of the flow of his animal spirits, which had all the gaiety and vivacity of his early years. Indefatigable in the pursuit of lv; knowledge; ever looking forward to some new object of attainment; one literary task was no sooner accomplished than another was entered upon with equal ardour and unabated perseverance. It seems in fact, to be the natural consequence of a steady engagement in the pursuits of science or of literature, and is more particularly the result of the habit of composition, that the mind, once accustomed to a regular train of thought, and to the examination of a subject under all its different aspects and relations, cannot be satisfied with a desultory exercise of its powers; and feels not its wonted self-enjoyment, without a determinate object of study or investigation. Moreover, one literary labour is often the parent of another. In the course of investigating one particular subject, another is started, which invites to a separate discussion; and hints are treasured up for a future inquiry: like the prospect gained by the traveller of a new and beautiful country, which cannot be explored at the time, w...