sometimes hanging over a dreadful hemisphere and just ready to drop down; sometimes pursued for my life and {196} stopped by a wall, or by a sudden loss of all strength; sometimes ready to be devoured by a wild beast.How long I was plagued with such dreams, I do not now recollect.I believe it was for a year or two at least; and I think they had quite left me before Iwas fifteen.In those days, I was much given to what Mr.Addison, in one of His "Spectators," calls castle building; and, in my evening solitary walk, which was generally all the exercise I took.my thoughts would hurry me into some active scene, where I generally acquitted myself much to my own satisfaction; and, in these scenes of imagination, I performed many a gallant exploit.At the same time, in my dreams, I found myself the most arrant coward that ever was.Not only my courage, but my strength, failed me in every danger;and I often rose from my bed in the morning in such a panic that it took some time to get the better of it.Iwished very much to be free of these uneasy dreams, which not only made me unhappy in sleep, but often left a disagreeable impression in my mind, for some part of the following day.I thought it was worth trying whether it was possible to recollect that it was all a dream, and that I was in no real danger.I often went to sleep with my mind as strongly impressed as I could with this thought, that I never in my lifetime was in any real danger, and that every fright I had was a dream.After many fruitless endeavors to recollect this when the danger appeared, I effected it at last, and have often, when I was sliding over a precipice into the abyss, recollected that it was all a dream, and boldly jumped down.The effect of this commonly was, that I immediately awoke.But I awoke calm and intrepid, which I thought a great acquisition.After this, my dreams were never very uneasy; and, in a short time, I dreamed not at all.During all this time I was in perfect health; but whether my ceasing to dream was the effect of the recollection above mentioned, or of any change in the habit of my body, which is usual about that period of life, I cannot tell.I think it may more probably be imputed to the last.How ever, the fact was that, for at least forty years after, Idreamed none, to the best of my remembrance; and, finding from the testimony of others that this is somewhat uncommon, I have often, as soon as I awoke, endeavored to recollect without being able to recollect any thing that passed in my sleep.For some years past, I can sometimes recollect some kind of dreaming thoughts, but so incoherent that I can make nothing of them.The only distinct dream I ever had since I was about sixteen, as far as I remember, was about two years ago.I had got my head blistered for a fall.Aplaster, which was put on it after the blister, pained me excessively for a whole night.In the morning Islept a little, and dreamed very distinctly that I had fallen into the bands of a party of Indians, and was scalped.I am apt to think that as there is a state of sleep and a state wherein we are awake, so there is an intermediate state which partakes of the other two.If a man peremptorily resolves to rise at an early hour for some interesting purpose, he will of himself awake at that hour.A sick-nurse gets the habit of sleeping in such a manner that she bears the least Whisper of the sick person, and yet is refreshed by this kind of half sleep.The same is the case of a nurse who sleeps with a child in her arms.I have slept on horseback, but so as to preserve my balance; and, if the horse stumbled, I {197} could make the exertion necessary for saving me from a fall, as if I was awake.I hope the sciences at your good university are not in this state.
Yet, from so many learned men so much at their ease, one would expect something more than we hear of."He graduated in 1726 at the age of sixteen.His college life was prolonged by his being appointed librarian to the university, which office he continued to hold till 1736.
Ever a student, and busied with solid work, he joined eagerly with his friend John Stewart, afterwards professor in Marischal College, in pursuing mathematical studies, specially the " Principia " of Newton.His life was varied by his taking with his friend Stewart an excursion into England, and visiting London, Oxford, and Cambridge.Through his relative David Gregory he got access to the house of Martin Folkes, where he met with " the most interesting objects which the metropolis had to offer to his curiosity.
At Cambridge he saw Dr.Bentley, -- who delighted him with his learning and amused him with his vanity,-and enjoyed repeatedly the conversation of the blind mathematician Saunderson, a phenomenon in the history of the human mind to which he has referred more than once in his philosophical speculations."In 1737, he was presented by King's College, Aberdeen, to the living of New Machar, -- a country parish about a dozen miles from Aberdeen, lying on the level agricultural land of the county, but with glorious views of the distant mountains towards the west.The circumstances connected with his settlement furnish a vivid picture of the age.By this time there was a keen antagonism between the Evangelical and the Moderate parties in the Church of Scotland and this was fiercely manifested on this occasion.In order to his being settled, the probationer or minister had not only to receive a presentation from the patron, but a "call " from the people, which, however, was by this time becoming a mere form, as the ecclesiastical courts falling under the influence of the patronage spirit contrived to avoid insisting on a <bona fide> concurrence from the members of the congregation.We have preserved "A Sermon preached before the Reverend the Presbytery of Aberdeen in the Church of New Machar, Feb.10, 1737, at the Moderation of a Call to a Minister for that vacant Church, by Mr.John Bisset, Minister of the Gospel at Aberdeen." Mr.Bisset had {198}
