his mind apparently not possessing that aptitude for mastering small details, in which so much of scholarship, in its earliest stages, consists. About this time an attempt was made to teach him music, but his instructor soon abandoned him, with the declaration "that he had no ear."

After having been two years under the Rector of the High School, he was placed in the University of Edinburgh, October, 1783. It would appear that Sir Walter did not proceed regularly through the academical cours. He was matriculated or booked, in 1783, at once, for the Humanity or Latin class under professor Hill, and the Greek class under Professor Dalzel; and for the latter, once more, in 1784.But the only other class for which he seems to have matriculated at the college was that of logic, under professor Bruce, in 1785. Although he may, perhaps, have attended other classes without matriculation, there is reason to believe that his irregular health produced a corresponding irregularity in his academical studies. The result was that he entered life much in the condition of his illustrious prototype, the Bard of Avon, "with little Latin and less Greek."

His reading, about this time, was miscellaneous, and very extensive, especially in works of fiction. His taste resembled much that of Milton's early days. He soon commenced studying for the bar, to which he was called as an advocate in 1792. He began life in an elegant house, in the most fashionable part of the town, but it was not his lot to acquire either wealth or distinction at the bar. He had, perhaps, some little employment at the provincial sittings of the criminal court, and occasionally acted in unimportant causes as junior counsel, but the emolument derived from professional sources was very inconsiderable. At all events, his success was not so flattering as to draw him off from the pursuit in which his heart was more especially engaged. He had, while in school, "perpetrated" a poem of six lines, on a thunder storm; an unsparing criticism on which, by an apothecary's wife, drove rhymes so effectually out of his head, that he tells us, "for ten years he had not indulged the wish to couple so much as dove and love," when finding Lewis, the author of "Tales of Wonder," in possession of much reputation on account of his translations and imitations from the German, he was excited by the desire to imitate this style himself. In this circumstance originated his first work, "The Chase, and William

and Hellen," from the German, published in 1798. It was by no means successful; he tells us himself, “A great part of the edition was condemned to the service of the trunk-maker." His second publication was a tragedy, translated from the German of Goethe, entitled, "Goetz of Berlichingen." Ballad poetry was his favourite at the time, and his first original attempts are in this style"Glenfinlas," and the "Eve of St. John." Previous to this, in 1797, he had married Miss Carpenter, a young lady of the Isle of Jersey, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. Lady Scott died in 1826. In 1799 he was appointed Sheriff of Selkirkshire. In 1802, appeared "The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border," a work which laid the foundation of Sir Walter's fame. The materials for those volumes were collected by actual research amongst the inhabitants of the border, from whose lips many of the ballads were taken down.

In 1803, Sir Walter resolved upon abandoning his profession, of which, he says, in the words of Slender, "there was no great love between us at the beginning, and it pleased Heaven to decrease it on further acquaintance." This resolution gave birth to " The Lay of the Last Minstrel," which appeared in 1805. It was sold by him for 600. In 1806, he was made Principal Clerk of Session, a situation of which the profits were seldom much below 12001. a year. "Marmion" appeared in 1808, and obtained 1000, for its author. A new edition of" Dryden," "Saddler's State Papers," Somer's Tracts," "The Lady of the Lake," "Rokeby," "The Lord of the Isles," "The Bridal of Triermain," and "Harold the Dauntless," followed in rapid succession; all previous to the appearance of Waverley; which though partly written in 1805, was not published until 1814. To Waverley succeeded, in 1815, “Guy Mannering" in 1816," The Antiquary," and "The First Series of the Tales of my Landlord," containing the Black Dwarf, and Old Mortality; in 1818, "Rob Roy," and "The Second Series of the Tales of my Landlord," containing the Heart of Mid-Lothian; and in 1819, "The Third Series of the Tales of my Landlord," containing the Bride of Lammermoor, and A Legend of Montrose.In 1820 came "Ivanhoe;" then, in the same year, "The Monastery," and "The Abbott;" in the beginning of 1821," Kennelworth;" making twelve volumes published, if not written, in as many months. In 1822, he produced "The Pirate," and

"The Fortunes of Nigel;" in 1823, "Peveril of the Peak," and "Quentin Durward;" in 1824, "St. Ronan's Well," and "Red Gauntlet;" in 1825, " Tales of the Crusaders;" in 1826, "Woodstock;" in 1827, Chronicles of the Canongate, first series;" in 1828, "Chronicles of the Canongate, second series;" in 1829, Anne of Gierstein;" and in 1831, " A Fourth series of Tales of my Landlord," in four volumes, containing two tales, respective ly entitled Count Robert of Paris, and Castle Dangerous. These novels, with those formerly enumerated, make up the amount of his fictitious prose compositions to the enormous sum of seventy-four volumes.

Throughout the whole of his career, both as a poet and a novelist, Sir Walter was in the habit af turning aside occasionally to less important avocations of a literary character. He was a contributor to "The Edinburgh Review" during the first few years of its existence, though for the last twenty years, perhaps, he had not so much as opened the work. To" The Quarterly Review" he was a considerable contributor, especially for the last five or six years of his life; during which, that periodical was conducted by his son-inlaw, Mr. Lockhart. To "The Supplement of the Sixth Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica," he contributed the articles Chivalry, Romance, and the Drama. In 1814, he edited the Works of Swift, in nineteen volumes, with a Life of the Author, a heavy work, but which, nevertheless, required a reprint some years afterwards. In 1814, Sir Walter gave his name and an elaborate Introductory Essay to a work entitled "Border Antiquities," (two volumes quarto), which consisted of engravings of the principal antique object on both sides of the Border, accompanied by descriptive letter-press. In 1815, he made a tour through France and Belgium, visiting the scene of the recent victory over Napoleon. The result was a lively traveller's volume, under the title of "Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk," and a poem styled "The Field of Waterloo." In the same year, he joined with Mr. Robert Jameson and Mr. Henry Weber, in composing a quarto, " On Icelandic Antiquities.' In 1819, he published "An Account of the Regalia of Scotland," and undertook to furnish the letter-press to a second collection of engravings, under the title of "Provincial Antiquities, and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland."In 1822, appeared his dramatic poem of "Halidon Hill;" and in 1823, he contributed a smaller dramatic poem, under the

title of" Macduff's Cross," to a collection by Miss Joanna Bailie; and, to conclude the enumeration of his poetical works, "The Doom of Devergoil," and "The Auchendrane Tragedy," appeared in one volume, in 1830. As an Historian, Sir Walter is known by "The Life of Buonaparte," which appeared in 1827, and produced him, it is said, 12,000l., being at the rate of 331. a day for the time he had been engaged on it. He contributed also, to "The history of Scotland," in two volumes, to "Lardner's Cyclodædia;" nor must "The History of Scotland," in "The Tales of a Grandfather," be forgotHe on one occasion presented the world with a single "Sermon;" which, however, did no particular credit to his talents in theology. He was created a Baronet of the United Kingdom, in 1820, by George the Fourth.

ten.

In 1831, an indisposition, considered to have arisen from violent and protracted mental exertion, began to assume a settled character, and his physician recommended a residence in Italy as almost the only means of delaying the approach of a most dangerous illness. He in consequence, set sail for Italy on October 29, 1831; but, after an absence of nine months returned to England in a more unfavorable state of health than when he departed. He lingered on until the 21st of September, when he expired at half past one in the afternoon.

Sir Walter Scott possessed in an eminent degree, the power of imagination, with the gift of memory. If to this be added his strong tendency to venerate past things, we at once have the most obvious features of his intellectual character. A desultory course of reading had brought him into acquaintance with almost all the most fictitious literature that existed before his own day, as well as the minutest points of British, and more particularly Scottish history. His easy and familiar habits had, also, introduced him to an extensive observation of the varieties of human character. His immense memory retained the ideas thus acquired, and his splendid imagination gave them new shape and colour. Thus, his literary character rests almost exclusively upon his power of combining and embellishing past events, and his skill in delineating natural character. In early life, accident threw his exertions into the shape of verse

in latter life, into prose; but in whatever form they appear, the powers are not much different. The same magician is still at work, re-awaking the figures and events of history, or sketching the charac

ters which we every day see around us, and investing the whole with the light of a most extraordinary fancy. His versified writings, though replete with good feeling, display neither the high imaginings nor the profound sympathies, which are expected in poetry; their charm lies almost entirely in the re-creation of beings long sinc passed away, or the conception of others who might be supposed to have once existed. As some of the material elements of poetry were thus wanting, it was fortunate that he at last preferred prose as a vehicle for his ideas-a medium of communication in which no more was expected than what he was able or inclined to give, while it afforded a scope for the delineation of familiar character, which was nearly denied in poetry. As the discoverer and successful cultivator of this kind of fictitious writing, Sir Walter Scott must rank among the very highest names in British literature,-Shakspeare, Milton, and Byron, being the only others who can be said to stand on the same level.

Among the minor powers of his mind, humour was one of the most prominent. Both in his prose writings and in private conversation, he was perpetually making droll application of some ancient adage, of some snatch of popular literature, or some whimsical anecdote of real life, which he happened to think appropriate to the occasion. He was characterized to a degree uncommon in men of much less genius, by his worldly sagacity and common sense: the whole tone of his conversation was eminently rational-replete, no doubt, with benevolence, with humour, and with lively illustration, but never for a moment forsaking the walk of sound reflection and wisdom.

It is also to be remarked, as a still stronger proof of his possessing this enviable faculty, that throughout his whole life, even when engaged most deeply in abstracting studies and pursuits, he maintained his credit as a prudent man of the world. A strong feeling of nationality was another of the features of his character, though perhaps it ought, in some measure, to be identified with his tendency to admire whatever belonged to the past. He loved Scotland and Scotchmen, but, it may be remarked, fully as much with a view to what they were, and what they did long ago, as to their later or present condition. Of the common people, when they came individually before him, it cannot be said that he was a despiser; to them, as to all who came in his way, he was invariably kind and affable. Never

theless, from the highly aristocratic tone of his mind, he had no affection for the people as a body. He seems to have never conceived the idea of a manly and independent character in middle or humble life; and in his novels, where an individual of these classes are introduced, he is never invested with any virtue, unless obedience, or even servility to superiors, be of the number. Among the features of his character, it would be improper to omit noticing his passion for field sports, and for all the machinery by which they are carried on. He was so fond of a good horse, that he would turn the most serious conversation, in order to remark the strength and speed of one of these animals which he saw passing. He has also recorded his attachment to dogs, by being frequently drawn with one by his side. Considered simply as a writer of the English language, he does not rank high. His sentences are not only deformed to a great degree by the errors called Scotticisms, but are often constructed in a slovenly and defective manner. It is also obvious that, in his attempts to compose history, he neither takes the pains necessary for insuring correctness, nor can prevent his imagination from giving too much aid to the picture. It was not, perhaps, altogether without grounds, that General Gourgaud spoke of his Life of Napoleon as the last romance by the author of Waverley.

It is by far the greatest glory of Sir Walter Scott, that he shone equally as a good and virtuous man, as he did in his capacity of the first fictitious writer of the

age.

His behaviour through life was marked by undeviating integrity and purity, insomuch that no scandalous whisper was ever yet circulated against him. The traditionary recollection of his early life, is burdened with no stain of any sort. His character as a husband and a father is altogether irreproachable. Indeed, in no single relation of life does it appear that he ever incurred the least blame. His good sense, and good feeling united, appear to have guided him aright through all the difficulties and temptations of life: and even as a politician, though blamed by many for his exclusive sympathy in the cause of established rule, he was always acknowledged to be too benevolent and too unobtrusive to call for severe censure. Along with the most perfect uprightness of conduct, he was characterized by extraordinary simplicity of manners. He was invariably gracious and kind, and it was impossible ever to detect in his conversation a symptom of his grounding the

slightest title to consideration upon his literary fame, or of his even being conscious of it.

SIR JOHN LESLIE.

Novr. 3, 1832.-At his seat of Coates, Fifeshire, Professor Sir John Leslie.

This eminent philosopher was born in April, 1766, and was originally destined by his parents to follow the humble occupation connected with a small farm and mill. Before, however, he reached his twelfth year, his fondness for calculation and geometrical exercises introduced him to the late Professor John Robinson, and through him to Professors Playfair and Stuart. When they first saw him he was still a boy, and they were much struck with the extraordinary powers which he then displayed. After some previous education, his parents were induced, in consequence of strong recommendations, to enter him a student at the University of St. Andrews. Having passed some time in that ancient seminary, he removed to Edinburgh, and while a student in the university there, he was introduced to and employed by Dr. Adam Smith, to assist the studies of his nephew, Mr. Douglass, afterwards Lord Reston. Disliking the church, he proceeded to London, after completing the usual course of study in Edinburgh. He carried with him some recommendatory letters from Dr. Smith; and recollected that one of the most pressing injunctions by which he was honoured by that illustrious philosopher was, to be sure, if the person to whom he was to present himself was an author to read his book before approaching him, so as to be able to speak of it, if there should be a fit opportunity.

Mr. Leslie's first important undertaking was a translation of Buffon's Natural History of Birds, which was published in 1793, in 9 8vo. volumes.

The sum he received for it, laid the foundation of that pecuniary independence, which, unlike many other men of genius, his prudent habits, fortunately enabled him early to attain. The preface to this work, which was published anonymously, is characterized by all the peculiarities of his later style: but it also speaks a mind of great native vigour and lofty conceptions, strongly touched with admiration for the sublime and the grand in nature and science. Some time afterwards he proceeded to the United States of America, as a tutor to one of the Randolphs.

At what period Mr. Leslie first struck into that brilliant field of inquiry where he

became so conspicuous for his masterly experiments and striking discoveries, regarding radiant heat, and the connexion between light and heat, we are unable to say. His differential thermometer, one of the most beautiful and delicate instruments that inductive genius ever contrived as a help to experimental inquiry, and which rewarded its author by its happy ministry to the success of some of his finest experiments, was invented before the year 1800; as it was described in Nicholson's Philosophical Journal, some time during that year. The results of those fine inquiries, in which he was so much aided by this exquisite instrument, were published to the world in 1804, in his celebrated "Essay on the Nature and Propagation of Heat." The remarkable discoveries which distinguish this publication far more than atone for its great defects of method, its very questionable theories, and its transgressions against that simplicity of style which its aspiring author rather spurned than was enabled to exemplify, but which must be allowed to be a quality peculiarly indispensable to the communication of scientific knowledge. In 1805 Mr. Leslie was elected to fill the mathematical chair in the university of Edinburgh.

In the year 1810, he arrived, through the assistance of his hygrometer, at the discovery of that singularly beautiful process of artificial congelation, which enabled him to convert water and mercury into ice.

Mr. Leslie was removed to the chair of Natural Philosophy in 1819, on the death of Professor Playtair. He had previously published his "Elements of Geometry," and an account of experiments on instruments depending on the relation of air, heat and moisture. Of his "Elements of Natural Philosophy," afterwards compiled for the use of his class, only one volume has been published. He wrote, besides the works mentioned, some admirable articles in the

Edinburgh Review;" and several very valuable treatises on different branches of physics, in the supplement to the "Encyclopedia Britannica." His last, and certainly one of his best and most interesting compositions, was a "Discourse on the History of Mathematical and Physical Science," during the eighteenth century, prefixed to the seventh edition of that National Encyclopædia.

It would be impossible, we think, for any intelligent and well constituted mind to review the labours of this distinguished man, without a strong feeling of admiration for his inventive genius and vigorous powers, and of respect for that extensive knowledge which his active curiosity, his various

reading, and his happy memory, had enabled him to attain. Some few of his contemporaries, in the same walks of science, may have excelled him in profundity of understanding, in philosophical caution, and in logical accuracy: but we doubt if any surpassed him, whilst he must be allowed to have surpassed many, in that creative faculty, one of the highest and rarest of nature's gifts, which leads, and is necessary, to discovery, though not all-sufficient of itself for the formation of safe conclusions; or in that subtilty and reach of discernment, which seizes the finest and least obvious relations among the objects of science, which elicits the hidden secrets of nature, and ministers to the new combinations of her powers.

LETITIA BUONAPARTE.

At Rome, aged 82, Madame Letitia Buonaparte, mother of Napoleon.

It was in the midst of civil discord, fights, and skirmishes, that Carlo Buonaparte married Letitia Ramolini, one of the most beautiful young women in the Island of Corsica. She possessed a great firmness of character, and partook the dangers of her husband during the years of civil war. She is said to have accompanied him on horseback in some military expeditions, or perhaps hasty flights, shortly before the birth of the future emperor; and on the very day of that occurrence, having been induced to attend mass, (it being the festival of Assumption,) she was obliged to return home immediately, and, as there was no time to prepare a bed or bed-room, she was delivered of the future conqueror upon a temporary couch prepared for her accom modation, and covered with an ancient piece of tapestry representing the heroes of the Iliad.

Though left a widow in the prime of life, Feb. 24, 1785, she had already borne her husband thirteen children, of whom five sons and three daughters survived him. 1. Joseph, the eldest, who now bears the name of Count Survilliers, and is resident in this country; 2. Napoleon himself; 3. Lucien, now Prince of Cassino; 4. Louis, once king of Holland, now count de St. Leu, and resident in Italy; and 5. Jerome, once king of Westphalia, now duke of Montfort, in Wurtumburg; having married a sister of the king of Wurtumburg, and cousin to the emperor of Russia. His palace at Rome is the rendezvous for all the distinguished travellers from the north of Europe who visit Italy. The females were: 1. Maria-Anne, afterwards Elza, grand duchess

of Tuscany; she died at Trieste in 1820; 2. Pauline, Princess of Borghese; she died at Florence in 1825; and 3. Caroline, wife of Murat, king of Naples, and afterwards of Marshal Macdonald, now living in Austria as countess of Lipano.

BARON TENTERDEN.

Nov. 4, 1832.-At his house in London, aged 78, Charles Abbott, Baron Tenterden, of Hendron, Middlesex, Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench.

This eminent judge was born at Canterbury, Oct. 7, 1762. His father was a hair-dresser, whose house stood on the left hand side of the western entrance to the cathedral, and who has been described as a tall, erect, primitive looking man, with a large club-pigtail behind him, and the instruments of his business under one arm, attended frequently by his son (the Chief Justice) a youth as decent, grave, and primitive-looking as himself.”

Mr. Abbott was entered as a member Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in the year 1780 or 1781, about six years after Lord Eldon, and his brother, Lord Stowell, had become members of University College; the latter of these able men being the tutor of his college, whilst Mr. Abbott was at Oxford. Thus at the same period, there were three men at the university (one of them a scholar holding an exhibition not exceeding sixteen pounds per annum, the two others holding fellowships not exceeding one hundred and twenty pounds annually), who were destined to become the three heads of the law-the one as Lord Chancellor, the second as Lord Chief Justice, and the third as Judge of the Admiralty and Prerogative Courts. Perhaps there were not at the time three more simple, humble, modest-looking men within the compass of the university, and certainly not three men from whose air and deportment any one would less have augured such a splendid futurity.

Like Lord Eldon and Lord Stowell, Mr. Abbott was very soon elected to a fellowship in his college, and, like the latter of these noblemen, he became a tutor.Whilst in this office, one of the sons of Sir Francis Buller, the eminent judge, fell under his tuition, and the father became so much pleased with the talents of Mr. Abbott, that he immediately adopted him into his patronage, and recommended him to quit his collegiate life, and to take his chance at the bar. Mr. Abbott complied with the recommendation, giving up his tutorship, but keeping his fellowship. He