the army of the Decan, which he was appointed to command.-28. At Buxur, in the East Indies, Major John Lindesay, second son of the late William Lindesay, Esq. of Feddinch.-29. Mr William Hector, surgeon, R. N. in the 30th year of his age. He was on his passage from Quebec, on board the Autumn of Dundee, which vessel was wrecked on the coast of Iceland, and all on board, to the number of twenty, perished.

Jan. 16, 1818. At St Vincent's, Robert Manners, Esq. one of the oldest inhabitants of the island.-29. At his house, James Aitken, Esq. of Springfield, St Anns, Jamaica.- -31. At Demerara, Mr Coutts Trotter, third son of Alexander Dalzell, Esq.

Feb. 15. Suddenly, in Westmoreland, Jamaica, Robert Blair, fourth son of the late Mr John Blair, merchant in Glasgow.-16. In the parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, William Nicoll, Esq. of Elgin Plantation. 24. At Newfoundland, Admiral Pickmore, commander-in-chief on that station.

March 1. In the 78th year of his age, at the island of Gozo, Malta, Arch. Dalyell, Esq. collector of his Majesty's revenues and chief magistrate there, many years governor-in-chief of Cape Coast Castle, and the British settlements on the Gold Coast of Africa.-7. At Vivay, in Switzerland, Jane Jamima Ainslie, eldest daughter of Mr Rob. Ainslie, W. S.-11. At New Strelitz, her Serene Highness the Princess Maria Louisa Albertine, widow of the Landgrave George of Hesse Dramstadt. She was a Countess of Leiningen, Dachsberg, and Broich; was born on the 16th of March 1729, and had nearly completed her 89th year.-16. At her house at Greenwich, in the 88th year of her age, Ann, widow of Lieutenant-general Forbes Macbean, of the royal artillery.-17. At the Manse of Biggar, Mr William Watson, youngest son of the Rev. Mr Watson.-18. At Fasuch, Skye, Mrs McLeod, wife of Olaus M'Leod, Esq. of Unish, and third daughter of Alexander Macalister, Esq. of Strathaird.-At Edinburgh, Henry D. Goodsir, Esq. late surgeon of the 89th foot.-At Killichonare, in the 70th year of his age, Mr John Macdonell, commonly called John Dow, Aberarder. His remains were attended to the grave by 459 brave Highlandmen, as a mark of their respect for the memory of a genuine Highlander.-20. At Bristol, Lieut.-colonel Henry Balfour of the East India Company's service, Bengal establishment.-21. At Howard Place, Helenor, aged seven, youngest daughter of the late James Campbell, Esq. paymaster 2d battalion 72d regiment. At her house in Pitt Street, Edinburgh, Mrs Margaret Buchanan, relict of John Crawford, Esq. merchant in Glasgow. At Glasgow, Dame Frances Shaw Stewart, widow of Sir John Shaw Stewart, Bart. of Greenock and Blackhall.

-22. At Glasgow, Mrs Muir, relict of James Muir, Esq. surgeon.-At Renfrew, Mrs Mary Glen, wife of the Rev. Thomas Burns.--At Kilmarnock, aged 87, Mr Thomas Gilmore, merchant there.-At Anstruther, in the 81st year of his age, after 13 years' illness, which he bore with great resignation, Mr Daniel Conolly, late treasurer of Crail, and formerly a serjeant in the 28th regiment of foot.-23. At Forfar, Bailie David Adam, merchant, aged 86 years.-24. At Dublin, in the 25th year of his age, J. James, Esq. son of Sir W. James of Langley Hall, county of Berks.25. In York, aged 34, Henry Weber, Esq. late of Edinburgh, editor of Metrical Romances and a variety of other literary works. -26. At his house, No 5, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, Mr William Slider, merchanttailor. At Edinburgh, Mr Geo. Wardlaw, surgeon, R. N. in the 32d year of his age. -In Lincolnshire, Sir Thomas Moncrieffe of Moncrieffe, Bart.-At Dundee, Mrs Agnes Pinkerton, wife of the Rev. Malcolm Colquhoun.-27. At St Andrews, in the 41st year of his age, after a severe and tedious illness, Mr Thomas Paton, pastor of the congregational church there.-At Stirling, Dr Thomas Rind, aged 56.-At Wonersh, in Surrey, the seat of Lord Grantley, General the Honourable Chapple Norton, colonel of the 56th regiment, and governor of Charlemont.-At Dunblane, Miss Ann Rob, daughter of the late John Rob, Esq. sheriff-clerk, Dunblane.—At Edinburgh, Captain Alex. Grant Clugston, R. N.-At Edinburgh, Mr James Cochran of the Royal Bank.-28. At Edinburgh, in the 20th year of his age, Robert Rolland, son of William Rolland of Burnside.-At her mother's house, Edinburgh, Mrs Euphemia Young, wife of John Your g, Esq. younger of Bellwood, and daughter of the late Neil Magvicar, Esq.-At his seat, Hollydale, near Bromley, Kent, Col. James Kirkpatrick, formerly in the East India Company's service, aged 80.—At Edinburgh, Miss Margaret Wright, eldest daughter of Dr Peter Wright of Erskine Place. On the 7th, Frances, and on the 29th, Williamina, infant daughters of Mr Nathaniel Gow, 2, Hanover Street, Edinburgh.-29. In Baker Street, Portman Square, London, Lieutenant-general William St Leger, aged 58, late of the 24th light dragoons.-30. At Leith Links, Mrs Martha Cleghorn, spouse of Mr Andrew Sceales, senior, merchant, Leith.31. At Higham, Fifeshire, Mr Robert Walker, farmer there.-At Edinburgh, after a few days' illness, Mrs Elizabeth Buchanan, aged 32, wife of Mr P. G. Buchanan, bookseller, St Andrew Street.At Kirkcaldy, Matthew Crawford, youngest son of the late Hugh Crawford of Brownmuir and Hillend, Esq. writer, Greenock. -At Edinburgh, Miss Jane Little Gilmour, youngest daughter of the late William

Charles Little Gilmour, of Craigmillar and Libberton.- -At Edinburgh, Mr Robert Hunter, brewer.

April 1. At the Nursery, Leith Walk, James Niven Shanklie, youngest son of Mr J. Shanklie, seedsman, East Register Street, Edinburgh. At his house in Dean Street, London, William Preston, Esq. in the 77th year of his age, a gentleman who may properly be designated a pioneer in literature, having conducted, through the press of the house of Messrs Strahan, the most celebrated works of the last century.-At Edinburgh, Miss Margaret Baird, eldest daughter of Thomas Walker Baird, Esq. advocate, at the age of 17 years.-At Chester le street, in the county of Durham, at a very advanced age, Mrs Catherine Oswald, sister of the late Mr James Oswald, the celebrated composer of Scottish music.-2. At Haddington, Mrs Susanna Stewart, wife of Mr Robt Stewart, there.-At Glasgow, Claud Hamilton, Esq. collector of his Majesty's Customs.-3. At her house in St John Street, Edinburgh, Mrs Tod, widow of Lt.-col. C. Tod of Dryburgh.-Lieut.-colonel Colville, in the 71st year of his age, commandant of the Royal Hibernian Military School, Phonix Park, Dublin.-4. At Castlehill, Lanark, in her 85th year, Martha French, spouse of Mr Thomas Carmichael.-At London, Mrs Robert M'Brair, second daughter of the Reverend Dr Johnston, North Leith. At Fife Place, Leith Walk, Isabella, infant and only daughter of Robt Watson, Esq. merchant, Leith.-In Audley Square, London, the Hon. Gen. Henry St John, aged 80, brother to the late Viscount Bolingbroke, and colonel of the 36th regiment, having been 63 years in his Majesty's service.-5. At Jedburgh, Margaret Neil, at the advanced age of 100. She retained her senses and faculties to the last. At the manse of Alves, the reverend Wm Macbean, minister of Alves.-Mrs Elizabeth Abernethie, wife of Mr Patrick Riddell, Craiglockhart.-At Grangehill, Ayrshire, Robert Beresford, the infant son of R. Patrick, Esq. of Trearne.-At his father's house, 20, Dundas Street, Edinburgh, Jas Colquhoun Thomson, student of medicine, aged 20 years a victim to typhus fever, caught in the ardour of his profession. At Ayr, Daniel M'Carter, printer, son of Mr David M'Carter, printer, there.-6. At Glasgow, Miss Euph. Watson, daughter of the late David Watson, Esq. of Stobcross. At Glasgow, John Robertson, Esq. long a distinguished member of the society of Friends.-7. At her brother's house, Pilrig Street, Edinburgh, Agnes, youngest daughter of Mr Wm Rhind, Inverlochty. At Inverness, A. Fraser, Esq. merchant.At Dildawn, Archibald, only son of Arch. M'Dougald, Esq. of Dildawn.-8. At his house, Heriot's Bridge, Mr John Pearson, merchant, Edinburgh.-9. At Glasgow, Margaret, sixth daughter of the late Robert Dennistoun, Esq.-Of typhus fever, aged

19, Patrick, youngest son of Lieut. Gen Sinclair of Lybster.-At London, James Lawson, Esq. F. R. S. director of the machinery of his Majesty's mint. He was a son of the late reverend Archibald Lawson, minister of Kirkmahoe.-At Edinburgh, Miss Helen Renny, daughter of the late Robert Renny, Esq. of Borrowfield, Forfarshire.-10. At Bonnington Park, James Paterson, jun. Esq. merchant, Leith.-At North Berwick, Mr James Dickson, student of divinity, a native of Carlaverock, near Dumfries.-At Arbroath, after a long and severe illness, Mr Alexander Hay, youngest son of the late Alexander Hay, Esq. of Letham, in the 15th year of his age.-At Glasgow, Mrs Elizabeth Gilmour, widow of Hugh Morton, Esq. of Greenbank.Aged 90, Henry Duncombe, Esq. of Copgrove, near Knaresborough, many years representative of the county of York.-The Rev. James Oliphant, minister of Dumbarton, in the 84th year of his age.-11. At Morton Bank, John Thomson, Esq. aged 77.-At Glasgow, Mary, third daughter of the late Captain John Goldie, Ayr.At her house, 51, Fountain Bridge, Miss Catharine Wardrobe, daughter of the late David Wardrobe, Esq. surgeon in Edinburgh.-At the manse of Wemyss, the Reverend George Gibb, minister of that parish, in the 68th year of his age and 34th of his ministry.-12. At Gask House, Miss Tarleton, daughter of General Sir Banastre Tarleton, Bart.-Mr James Gardner, apothecary, George Street, Edinburgh.-13. At Dundee, Mrs Margaret G. Young, spouse to Mr David Cobb, writer there.-At Paisley, Mr Peter Lyall, aged 37, much regretted.-At Castlebarns, Mr Richard Porteous, Lochrin Distillery.-At the Grove, Fountain Bridge, Andrew Bell Bonar, second son of the late Thomson Bonar, Esq. merchant in Edinburgh.-At her house, New Street, Canongate, Miss Elizabeth Spence.-14. At her house, Leith Walk, Mrs Ann Ogilvy, relict of Mr David Stevenson, shipmaster, Leith.-15. At Edinburgh, Miss Mary Ann Hay, youngest daughter of the late Lewis Hay, Esq. banker in Edinburgh.-At Netherbyres, Miss Elizabeth Crow, daughter of the deceased William Crow, Esq. of Netherbyres-At St James's Square, Edinburgh, Mr John Muir, merchant.-At Edinburgh, Miss Elizabeth M. Ross, daughter of the late Lord Ankerville.-18. Of a water in the head, Thomas, third and only son of Mr Smith, tailor, College Street, aged ten years and seven months.-18. At Edinburgh, Miss Watson, eldest daughter of the late Dr Watson, principal of the United College of St Andrews.-At Edinburgh, in the 19th year of his age, Mr Robert C. Forbes, second son of the late Duncan Forbes, Esq. general examiner of excise.-20. At Buccleuch Place, Mrs May Clark, relict of William Thomson, Esq. of the Island of St Kitt's.-At Edinburgh, at an advan

ced age, Mrs Penelope Watt, relict of Mr D. Campbell, surgeon in Fort William.21. At the Vice Regal Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin, the Honourable Walter Chetwyn Talbot, son of their Excellencies the Lord Lieutenant and Countess of Talbot, in the 6th year of his age.-At Richmond, Surrey, Captain Edward Cumming, formerly of the Honourable the East India Company's service, and brother to the late Sir A. P. Cumming Gordon of Altyre, Bart.-In Bolton Street, London, Harriet Elizabeth, only child of Charles M'Vicar, Esq.-At Edinburgh, Mrs Margaret Duncan, wife of Mr Campbell Gemble, perfumer, George Street. -22. At Muirhall, Mr James Black, farmer.-At Southfod, John Stenhouse, Esq. younger of Southfod.-23. In the Old Assembly Close, Edinburgh, Mrs Isobel Tay lor, aged 105. She was born in the parish of Crieff, county of Perth, on the 4th of March 1713, in the reign of Queen Anne. Her memory remained nearly unimpaired, and she would converse on the events of 100 years since with surprising correctness.Her hearing and sight were good to the last day of her life, and her recollection continued till within an hour of her death.-At Edinburgh, Eliza, daughter of Mr James Burness, writer.-In his 8th year, William, son of Dr Beilby, George Street.-24. At Westfield, near Cupar Fife, Henry Walker, Esq. of Pittencrieff.-25. At Edinburgh, Mr Andrew Bell, late farmer at Hillhead, county of Edinburgh, aged 78. This gentleman was one of the few survivors who fought under the banners of the 25th, or Edinburgh regiment of foot, at the battle of Minden, where six battalions of British troops, and two of Hanoverians, beat 15,000 French. At Surinam, Robert, fourth son of the late Mr Robert Ramsay, writer, Dumfries. Having occasion to go on board a merchant ship lying in the river there, he fell from an open boat and unfortunately perished.-26. At Balcarras, Mrs Ann Murray Keith, daughter of the deceased Robert Keith, Esq. sometime his Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the court of Russia.-27. At Edinburgh, Mr Jonathan Pew, late farmer at Drylaw. -29. At Hawthorn Bank, Selkirk, Mrs Wilhelmina Anderson, wife of Mr John Anderson.

Lately-At Delnies, near Nairn, in the 104th year of his age, John Reid, supposed to be the oldest soldier in his Majesty's dominions, having entered the service in the 2d battalion of the royal Scots, 85 years ago. His first encounter with the enemy was in 1743, at Dettingen, where the British, under the command of that gallant and true Scotsman, the Earl of Stair, defeated the French with immense slaughter. In 1745 he fought at Fontenoy. In 1746 he fought with his regiment at Culloden. In 1749 he was one of the storming party at

the murderous encounter at Waal in Holland, where his regiment was nearly annihilated. His last appearance on the field of honour was in 1759, on the heights of Abraham, where the immortal Wolfe breathed his mighty soul in the arms of victory. His strength was such, considering his great age, that he scarcely passed a day without walking three or four miles; and, to the day of his death, was able, without the aid of glasses, to read his Bible, which afforded him exquisite delight through a long course of years.-At London, Lieut.-general Sir A. Gladstanes.-At Penzance, the Countess of Bellamont, daughter of James, Duke of Leinster.-At Madeira, the Hon. John Perceval, eldest son of Lord Arden.-At Upper Canada, Captain Sir Robert Hall, K. C. B. commander-in-chief of his Majesty's naval forces on that station.-At London, Mr Hill Darley, a gentleman well known in the sporting world. He was killed in the Haymarket, by a horse in a break taking fright.-In Charterhouse Square, London, Mrs Tait, wife of Mr William Tait of St Paul's Church Yard, and daughter of Dr John Hunter, Professor of Humanity in the University of St Andrews.At Ladyfield Place, Edinburgh, aged 19, Margaret, second daughter of Alexander Fergusson, Esq. of Baledmund.-At Rhinsdale, Andrew Aitchison, Esq. formerly surveyor of taxes, and late clerk to the commissioners of property tax, Lanarkshire.— At Spanish Town, Jamaica, David, son of the late Robert Milligan, Esq. of Rosslyn. -At New York, Archibald Bruce, M. D. Professor of Mineralogy in the Medical Institution of that city.-At Dumfries, Wm Babington, D. D. in the 70th year of his age. At Limehouse, John Macgeorge, Esq. captain in the royal navy. His death was occasioned by a fall consequent upon a paralytic affection, brought on by his length of services in the West Indies. He served at the reduction of the West India Islands, and commanded his Majesty's ship Wellington, at the surrender of Guadaloupe.At Peterhead, the Reverend Dr Geo. Moir, 55 years minister of that parish.-The Rev. James M'Auley, minister of the seceding congregation of Castleblaney, aged 80. He had been minister of that congregation 53 years. At his house in Katharine Street, Edinburgh, Mr John Grant, aged 83.-At Dublin, Sir R. Musgrave, Bart. collector of excise in the port of Dublin, author of the History of the Irish Rebellion, &c.-At Aberdeen, the Rev. Adam Annand, Episcopal clergyman, St John's Chapel.-At Seaforth House, near Arbroath, James Arrott, Esq. of Edinburgh, surgeon, R. N. aged 76.-At Keith, Miss Grant, eldest daughter of the late John Grant of Gallovie, Esq.-At Mapperton House, Miss Grant, daughter of John Francis Grant, Esq. late of the island of St Vincent.

No XV.

VOL. III.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE WRITINGS OF

GEORGE BUCHANAN.

16th Conf

It is very far from being our intention to enter upon any thing like a formal lamentation over the decay of classical learning in Scotland. And yet we are persuaded that, to an enlightened German, Italian, or Englishman, it must appear an almost inexplicable anomalé in the constitution and appearance of such a country as ours, that those authors whose works, in every other part of civilized Europe, are venerated and studied as the best fountains of philosophy, and the only perfect models of taste, should be almost entirely overlooked among a people whose habits and conversation are tinged, to an elsewhere unequalled degree, with the spirit of literature. The truth is, that we believe the unparalleled diffusion of education among all classes of our countrymen, however it may be entitled to our gratitude for having elevated and ennobled the spirits of our peasants and artizans, has, neverthe less, been the means, in no inconsiderable degree, of degrading the literary habits of those among us, whose business and ambition it is to be not only the subjects, but the instruments, of cultivation. When all men read, authors soon find it to be their best policy to write for all men. Those elegancies of allusion and of expression, and those labours of patient research, whose merits can be estimated by a very few only among any people, are gradually dropt; and modes of excitement, whose stimulus is of a more universal application, come very naturally to be adopted in their stead. The tone of literature becomes every day more vulgar (we do not use the

word entirely in its primary sense); its professors seek and obtain popularity by sacrificing, after the example of some other privileged orders, not a few of the most imposing, and therefore most obnoxious, of their distinctions. We doubt, however, whether this method of proceeding be, upon the whole, either a wise or a just one. It may throw a deal of ready money into the hands of the present incumbents; but does it not very manifestly tend to maim and enfeeble the resources of their successors? Nay, a democratic government is the most thankless of all masters; and may perhaps repay only with contempt or exile, those who have sacrificed the most, in order to purchase its capricious and transitory favour.

The first race of authors who adopt this mode of courting popular applause, although they may, bona fide, wish and endeavour to follow it to its full extent, are seldom able to do so. The habits and prejudices of their earlier views and opinions cling to them, and fetter them, in spite of all their efforts to discard them.

Quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem, Testa diu.

A certain tinge and flavour adheres, and betrays the old liquor in the midst of all the drugs and adulterations to which its receptacle has been exposed. Besides, those who set the dangerous example are sometimes not unwilling that their followers should go farther than themselves; or, it may be, do not scruple privately to take the advantage of old guides and steppingstones, which they affect to consider as useless, and advise their pupils utterly to despise. We strongly suspect that somewhat of this kind has occur

red in Scotland. No man has done more by the tone of his writings to discourage classical learning, and erudition as it is called, than David Hume; and yet we think it would be difficult to point out any English author, whose works, above all in respect to language, bear stronger marks of a mind imbued and penetrated with the very spirit of antiquity. The authors of the next age have had no occasion for so much duplicity. Their contempt of Greek and Latin rests not upon policy, but on the more stable foundation of ignorance. It is fair, however, to say one word in regard to the Edinburgh Review. The greater part of these ingenious Journalists, in addition to being the perpetual enemies of the government and religion of their country, have waged a warfare, equally inveterate and equally insidious, against the old supremacy and worship of the classics. A few excellent papers on classical criticism have been furnished to them by some of the best English scholars; but these are technical, so to speak, in appearance, and their influence, whatever it might otherwise have been, has been neutralized or annihilated by the gross and blundering ignorance of other articles, but most of all, by the general tone and character of the work in which they were inserted.-But we introduced the subject in order to pay a compliment; we shall do so, without, we hope, incurring any suspicion either of partiality or of flattery. Mr Jeffrey, we venture to assert, belongs, in this matter, to the class of his predecessors rather than to that of his contemporaries. His papers have, even when he affects to deride scholarship, a scholarlike air about them, which it is impossible to mistake. He is in many respects a wiser man than he wishes to seem. After all his abuse of the Lake Poets, it turns out that his favourite pocket-companion is the "Lyrical Ballads;" and we are satisfied, from internal evidence, that he has, in

We have heard, we cannot recollect where, or upon what sort of authority, that among Hume's books there was found, after his death, a copy of Thomas Aquinas, completely covered with the marks of patient study. How much greater must have been the labour he bestowed on those great masters of ancient wisdom, whose works he commonly affected to talk of as if they were scarcely worthy of being read.

like manner, bestowed more time on the study of the classics than is confessed by himself, or suspected by the greater part of his admirers. A complete disguise is a matter of very great difficulty. We discover the classical touch of Mr Jeffrey amidst the rude daubings of his disciples, as we should a gentleman clothed in a waggoner's frock, among a whole barn of genuine rustics. A single look, or gesture, or tone, is sufficient in the one case, and a single parenthesis, nay, a single word, may furnish evidence equally convincing in the other.

The violent national partiality of the Scots, unlike most of their alleged peculiarities, is confessed by themselves, almost as much as it is derided by their neighbours. The Scots authors have, in general, been under no inconsiderable obligations to this propensity of their countrymen. Their fame has generally begun, as it ought to have done, at home; and their works have gone forth among strangers, backed by the zealous commendations of a multitude of admirers at home. If, in many instances, the voice of domestic praise has died into a faint expiring echo abroad, the misfortune of the author has been caused by himself, not by his countrymen; nor are these easily to be shaken from the favourable opinion they have once formed, even although they see that the critics of most other countries are obstinate in refusing to second their applauses. We know of one great Scots author only, whose writings are neglected by his countrymen, while they are studied and admired by the literati of every other district of Europe. There needs no other proof to a foreign scholar of the shameful extent to which our aversion for classical learning is carried, than the simple fact, that we, a people devoted to literature, and filled with prejudices eminently and vehemently national, neglect one of the greatest, and withal, one of the most national authors our country has ever produced, for no other reason than because his works are written in Latin.

when poets and historians shall be in If any time shall ever again appear, danger of falling into a fashion of composing in a dead or foreign language, the most effectual of all warnings will be that which is addressed to their vanity. By those who have any of the noblest ambition with which great authors are animated-the ambi