Althorp, in the bosom of his family -the pursuits of his early life had lost no part of their charm, and his active benevolence found employment in promoting those local institutions which have for their object to relieve the distress of the industrious poor. It was his pride to see his tenantry prosperous and comfortable; and it is only a few years since that they presented him, as a token of their gratitude and respect, with a piece of plate, which is one of the ornaments of Althorp, and which this kind-hearted and excellent nobleman always regarded with peculiar satisfaction. For many years Lord Spencer had suffered severely from the gout, and as his strength declined these attacks became more frequent and more dangerous. The prospect of death never for a moment disturbed the serenity of his mind: his religion was Christianity in the truest sense of the word entire reliance on his Redeemer, and charity to all mankind.

The Earl married, in 1781, the Honourable Lavinia Bingham, eldest daughter of Charles, first Lord Lucan, and by her had issue John Charles, Lord Viscount Althorp (now Earl Spencer); Lady Sarah, married to Lord Lyttleton; the Honourable Sir R. Cavendish Spencer of the royal navy, and K. C. H., who died in 1830; Lady Georgiana Charlotte, married to Lord George Quin; the Honourable Frederick Spencer, M. P., and captain in the royal navy; and the Honourable George Spencer, in holy orders in the church of Rome.

Surrounded by a family affectionately devoted to him, this venerable nobleman, after a short but severe illness, expired at Althorp, on Monday, the 10th of November, 1834.

"Lord Spencer," says one of his biographers, describing his character, "possessed a sound, vigorous, and reflecting mind; though enfeebled by age, and suffering from disease, he retained till his last illness the same clearness of intellect and soundness of judgment which distinguished him in the more active and brighter period of his life. Firm in his opinions, yet mild in asserting them, his opposition was never tinctured with acrimony, nor debased by personal invective.

Deliberate, but prompt, he was never wanting in decision and energy, when duty and principle demanded the exertion of these qualities; and his administration of the naval affairs of this country received the commendation even of his political opponents." coinlet baf

Though he took a decided line in politics, differed from many of his friends, and accepted office with his former opponents, yet such were his high character and stainless honour that the probity of his motives was never questioned by those who condemned his decision. In person Lord Spencer was tall; in his deportment eminently courteous, affable, and kind. His countenance was thoughtful, and could be severe; but in the circle of his family and friends it was lighted up with a benignity of expression which truly bespoke the benevolence of his heart. His habitual temper was in the highest degree cheerful, enjoying every thing—eager in all his pursuits, and delighted with witnessing the happiness of others.

He lived honoured and respected by all men, even in a country where the violence of party too often embitters the intercourse of private life. His memory will be revered by those who value the union of public principle and private worth; and the poor, the lowly, and the unfortunate will mourn the loss of a kind and generous benefactor.

As the projector of the periodical work which bore, and which still bears, his name, Mr. Blackwood may well be considered a distinguished public character, under whose auspices the fame of Scottish genius has been carried to the remotest corners of the earth as a man and a Christian, the memory of his many virtues will ever be cherished by all who enjoyed his private friendship.

2

William Blackwood was born in Edinburgh, on the 20th of November, 1776. Although his respectable parents were in a much humbler station of life than that which he himself ultimately occupied, he received an excellent early education; and it was his boyish devotion to literature which determined the choice of his calling. In 1790, when he was fourteen years of age, he entered on his apprenticeship with the wellknown house of Bell and Bradfute; and, before quitting their roof, largely stored his mind with reading of all sorts, but -dong especially Scottish history and antiquities.

When he had been six years with Messrs. Bell and Braddt fute he went to Glasgow to be manager for Mr. Mundell, then in extensive business as a bookseller and university Head bak printer. Mr. Blackwood had the sole superintendence of the bookselling department; and he always spoke of the time he spent in Glasgow as having been of the greatest service to him in after-life. Being thrown entirely on his own resources, he then formed those habits of decision and promptitude for which he was was subsequently so remarkable. He also corresponded regularly with Mr. Mundell and his friends at home, ausage from which he derived great benefit in the form

ation of that style of letter-writing, which, in the opinion of many competent judges, has seldom been surpassed.

Mr. Mundell, however, gave up business in Glasgow; and, at the expiration of a year, Mr. Blackwood returned to Messrs. Bell and Bradfute. In 1799 he entered into partnership with a Mr. Ross, which connection was, however, dissolved in a few years. He then went to London; and, in the shop of Mr. Cuthell, perfected himself in the knowledge of old books.

In 1804 Mr. Blackwood returned to Edinburgh, and commenced business on his own account, on the South Bridge, as a dealer in old books, in the knowledge of which he had by that time few equals. He soon after became agent for Murray, Baldwin, and Cadell, and also published on his own account; among other works "Grahame's Sabbath," "Kerr's Voyages," the "Edinburgh Encyclopædia," &c. In 1812 appeared his famous catalogue, consisting of upwards of fifteen thousand books in various languages, all classified.

For many years Mr. Blackwood confined his attention principally to the classical and antiquarian branches of his trade, and was regarded as one of the best-informed booksellers of that class in the kingdom; but on removing to the New Town of Edinburgh, in 1816, he disposed of his stock, and thenceforth applied himself, with characteristic ardour, to general literature, and the business of a popular

Publisher. In April, 1817, he put forth the first number of " Blackwood's Magazine," the most important feature of his fessional career. He had long before contemplated the possibility of once more raising magazine literature to a rank not altogether unworthy of the great names which had been enlisted in its service in a preceding age: it was no sudden or fortuitous suggestion which prompted him to take up the enterprise in which he was afterwards so pre-eminently suc cessful as to command many honourable imitators. From an early period of its progress, his magazine engrossed a very large share of his time; and though he scarcely ever wrote for its pages himself, the general management and arrange

ment of it, with the very extensive literary correspondence which that involved, and the constant superintendence of the press, would have been more than enough to occupy entirely any man but one of first-rate energies.

No man ever conducted business of all sorts in a more

direct and manly manner. His opinion was on all occasions distinctly expressed; his questions were ever explicit; his answers conclusive. His sincerity might sometimes be considered rough: but no human being ever accused him either of flattering or of shuffling; and those men of letters who. were in frequent communication with him soon conceived a respect for and confidence in him, which, save in a very few instances, ripened into cordial regard and friendship. The masculine steadiness and imperturbable resolution of his character were impressed on all his proceedings; and it will be allowed by those who watched him through his career, as the publisher of a literary and political miscellany, that those qualities were more than once very severely tested. He dealt by parties exactly as he did by individuals. Whether his principles were right or wrong, they were his, and he never compromised or complimented away one tittle of them. No changes, either of men or of measures, ever dimmed his eye, or checked his courage.

To youthful merit he was a ready and a generous friend; and to literary persons of good moral character, when involved in pecuniary distress, he delighted to extend a bountiful hand. He was in all respects a man of large and liberal heart and temper.

During some of the best years of his life he found time, in the midst of his own pressing business, to take rather a prominent part in the affairs of the city of Edinburgh, as a magistrate; and it must be admitted by those who most closely observed, and even by those who most constantly opposed, him in that capacity, that he exhibited, on all occasions, perfect fairness of purpose, and often, in the conduct of debate, and the management of less vigorous minds, a very rare degree of tact and sagacity. His complete personal