email fractions which, though of inconsiderable amount, would exceedingly embarrass our computations; so, in geometry, it is sometimes necessary to reject those small quantities, which would add little to the accuracy, and much to
the difficulty of the investigation. In both cases, however, the same thing may happen ; though each quantity thrown out may be inconsiderable in itself, yet
(lie amount of them altogether, and their effect on the last result, may be
greater than is apprehended. This was just what had happened in the present
case. The problem to be resolved, is, in its nature, so complex, and involves
the estimation of so many causes, that, to avoid inextricable difficulties, it is
necessary to reject some quantities, as being small in comparison of the rest,
and tc reason as if they had no existence." Soon after the publication of this
essay, Dr Stewart's health began to decline; and in 1772, he retired to the
country, leaving the care of his class to his eminent son, Dugald Stewart, who
was elected joint professor with him in 1775. He died on the 23d January,
1785, at the age of sixty-eight. Besides the works above mentioned, he published "Propositiones Geometricae more veterum Demonstrate ad Geometriam Antiquam Illustrandam et Promovendam Idoneae," 1763.
STEWART, (Major-General,) David, author of the well-known "Sketches" of the Highlanders and Highland Regiments, was the second son of Robert Stewart, Esq. of Garth, in Perthshire, and was born in the year 1772. In the seventeenth year of his age, he entered the 42nd regiment as an ensign, and soon became distinguished for that steadiness and firmness of conduct, joined to benignity of nature and amenity of manners, which marked him through life. He served in the campaigns of the duke of York in Flanders, and was present at the siege of Nieuport and the defence of Nimeguen. In 1796, be accompanied the regiment, which formed part of the expedition under Sir Ralph Abercromby, to the West Indies, and was for several years actively employed in a variety of operations against the enemy's settlements in that quarter of the world; particularly in the capture of St Lucia, and the harassing and desperate contest which was carried on with the Caribbs in St Vincent and other islands. In the landing near Pigeon Island, he was among the first who jumped ashore, under a heavy fire of round and grape shot from a battery so posted as almost to sweep the beach. "A cannon-ball," says he, in a letter addressed to Sir John Sinclair, "passed lord Hopetouivs left shoulder, and over my head. He bserved that a miss was as good as a mile, to which I cordially agreed; and added, that it was fortunate for me that I was only five feet six inches; as if I were, like him, six feet five inches, I would have been a head shorter." In the year just mentioned, he was promoted to the rank of captain-lieutenant, and, after serving in the West Indies for a year and a half, he returned to England, but not to enjoy repose, for he was almost immediately ordered to join the head-quarters of the regiment at Gibraltar, and the following year accompanied it, when ordered to assist in the expedition against the island of Minorca. He was afterwards taken prisoner at sea, and detained for five months in Spain, when he had the fortune to be exchanged.
At the close of 1800, he was promoted to the rank of captain; a step which like all others he subsequently obtained, was given him for his services alone; and, in 1801, his regiment received orders to join Sir Ralph Abercromby, iu the memorable expedition to Egypt. At the landing effected in the bay of Aboukir, in the face of the enemy, on the morning of the 8th of March, 1801, captain Stewart was one of the first to leap on shore from the boats; and when the four regiments destined for the attack of the enemy's position on the sand hills the 40th, 23rd, 28th, and 42nd had formed, and received orders to charge up the hill and dislodge the enemy at the point of the bayonet,
