MEMOIR XV11
packed, and in four months’ time he received the offer
to become minister of the parish of Old Aberdeen.
He himself attributed the returning desire of
study and theological research, not only to the quiet
ensuing upon a more regular and compassable sphere
of duty, but to the associations of learning connected
with Old Aberdeen, the seat of the ancient University.
Perhaps it was also in part due to the inspiration of
home influence that, resuming once more his old
favourite pursuits, he now devoted himself largely to
literature. His studies, ardently pursued far into the
night, soon began to produce appreciable results. His
first book was a translation into English of Chalybaus’
‘ History of Speculative Philosophy,’ to which the late
Sir William Hamilton wrote an introduction. Dr.
Chalybaus was decanus of the philosophical faculty at
Kiel, and that University acknowledged this work, to-
gether with various other contributions which Mr.
Edersheim had made to the better knowledge of
German philosophy in England, by conferring upon
him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The transla-
tion of the ‘ History of Speculative Philosophy’ was
speedily followed by that of Kurtz’s ‘ History of the Old
Covenant,’ vol.1., together with a condensed abstract of
a