(David), an elegant and learned writer of the present age, was professor of philosophy in the Marischal college, Aberdeen. He was originally designed for the ministry; to prepare himself for which was the whole aim of his ambition, and for a course of years the whole purpose of his studies. How well he was qualified to appear in that character, appears from his "Theodorus, a dialogue concerning the art of preaching." After having finished this work, he went abroad on his travels, in order to obtain fresh stores of knowledge; but after a successful tour through several parts of Europe, he was unfortunately cast away in a storm on the coast of Holland. Besides the above work, he wrote Dialogues on education, 8vo. and a Treatise of Moral Philosophy published in the Preceptor. The third edition of his Theodorus was published in London, after his untimely death, by his brother the Rev. Mr. James Fordyce, an eminent dissenting minister, in 1755.

FORECASTLE of a Ship, that part where the foremast stands. It is divided from the rest by a bulkhead.