made lastly sink into her grave, had not a most unlucky accident intervened. Dr. Pitcairn, from an internal hurt by a fall, was obliged to repair to Lisbon in the autumn of 1798, and did not return before the spring of 1800. Lord Howe, after his recovery from his long confinement to his bed-room, was obliged to use crutches. Such a perpetual memento of his infirmity, suited not his genius. In the beginning of 1799, he grew so impatient of the weakness and pains in his knees,. that he could not forbear trying electricity. The experiment had given him such considerable relief, that he was able to move about upon a horse; nor did he in the least apprehend that this quick restoration of his strength, would be attended with any fatal consequence.

To London, in a very few days, driven by a sudden emergency, the earl went himself-never to return.

The gout had seized upon his head; and by the 5th of August, he was no more. He had lived five months and seventeen days of his 74th year, and was buried in the family vault at Langar in the county of Nottingham.

Needless it may seem to readers in general, after the variety of facts already recited, to set down any further particulars, by which the genius and disposition of earl Howe should be more fully displayed to the public. But there are still some traits in his character, which it has not yet fallen into the writer's way properly to record. A principal one of these was his penetrating foresight into military events. Three instances of this shall be related.

When in 1779, carl Cornwallis commanded an army in America,

some at home thought him in a dangerous situation, but others not. I asked lord Howe's opinion, who immediately replied, "He did not "see how he could escape." This prediction, in a few weeks, was unfortunately verified.

In 1791, when the duke of Bruns. wick, at the head of a most potent army, was advancing towards Paris, and it was generally imagined nothing could oppose him, lord Howe said, " he would find it a difficult "matter to procure subsistence for

such an army in a country per"fectly hostile." It was soon after this, that, to the utter amazement of the world, the duke of Brunswick retreated.

When Bonaparte had landed at Alexandria, lord Howe said, "it is "a wild scheme: he will never make any thing of it."

Let us now view him in his sena

torial capacity. The steady conduct of lord Howe was never wrought upon by dissentions of any political characters. He pursued his own line of duty, seldom speaking in public, except when called upon by some pressing occasion. None of his speeches are recorded in the parliamentary register, during the whole of the parliament which was dissolved in 1768. It is not, however, probable he should have remained silent all this while, since he was treasurer of the navy, from 1765 to 1770. In the next parliament, from 1766 to 1774, the register records one of his speeches, and one only; which is, when he brought in the petition of the half pay captains in 1773. From the election in 1774, he took more part in the debates, both before his going to America, and after his return home. His

speech

speech on Sir George Rodney's victory, was an admirable proof how much he was superior to the idea of professional jealousy: he took infinite pains to make the naval excellence of Rodney intelligible to land-men. This indeed was bitt conformable to his habitual temper; for he utterly abhorred every specics of detraction. He would never allow that admiral Byng had beliaved like a coward; yet he by no means asserted, that Byng had his wits suf ficiently about him at the most critical moment. Lord Howe's parliamentary style was compendious, strong, pointed, and to the purpose. His speaking resembled his fighting: no idle prelude: close action was his aim. His manner was confessedly particular, and not ill imitated in the well-known pamphlet "ticipation."

An

Lord Howe's most material speeches in the house of peers were, that on the peace in 1783, his defence of the superannuation of captains, spoken in 1788, and lastly, in his 72d year, those on the mutiny.

The whole tenor of his parliamentary conduct, either as a commoner or peer, was in the highest degree irreproachable. He was perhaps as free as was possible to conceive, from all bigotry of party prejudice.

Though most deservedly popular with seamen, he had no spice of the tar in his personal behaviour anywhere. His domestical manners were unassuming, candid and friendly they evinced too, that he was habitually attached to piety and temperance: justice swayed all his dealings; and his fortitude was blazoned

over the world.

Upon the whole, the departed

earl Howe might undoubtedly have claimed eminent rank among two of those classes of worthies, whom Vir gil has imaged to be roaming with supreme delight through the fragrant laurel-groves, that over-hangs full streaming water-falls of Elyzium's Endames.

Account of the Life and Writings of

the late Dr. Beattie.

James Beattie, LL. D. was born on the 5th of November, in the year 1735; the parish of Laurencekirk, in the County of Kincardine, in Scotland, having the honor of enrolling his name among those of several other literary characters, which that remote part of the island has produced.

Dr. Beattie's father was a man of very considerable abilities, of the strictest probity, exact in taking account of the manner wherein he spent his time; and at his leisure hours he cultivated the muses. A journal kept by him, as well as some specimens of his poetry, are still in the possession of his descendants.

This last circumstance is the more worthy of notice, as it proves that Dr. Beattie derived his poetical turn from his father.

The subject of this memoir was deprived of his father at a very ten der age, being then only ten years old. The hopes of the widow and her helpless offspring were imme diately fixed upon the senior, and only brother of the doctor. In him they were not disappointed. Da vid Beattie, at the time of his father's death, was eighteen years old, prosecuting his studies at school. His father, in consequence of the promising

promising talents which he discovered, had resolved to send him to the university; but a premature death deprived him of this advantage, and imperiously called upon him to relinquish such pursuits, and to devote his time and abilities to the support of his mother's family. This duty, for a long series of years, he discharged with assiduity and affection; and whatever pleasure or instruction the public, have derived from Dr. Beatties's writings, they ought to consider themselves as indebted for it to the fostering, generous, and, I may say, parental care of his elder brother.

Of a character so interesting, one would wish to be acquainted with particulars, but the hand of time has now consigned them to oblivion.

In his early years, Dr. Beattie was of a very weakly constitution. It is, however, of little consequence to inquire in what particular year he went to school; it is likely he would afford as early indications of a capacity to acquire the elements of knowledge, as the generality of boys exhibit; and this, it will be admitted, is the ordinary and common maxim, whereby a parent is actuated, when resolved on sending achild to school.

A narrative of the most minute circumstances in the history of the progress of a man of letters, will be considered, by every judicious person, as a most invaluable treasure. We are informed, that the first opportunity he ever had of being acquainted with Virgil, was through the medium of Ogilvie's translation.

The practice of writing Latin verses has never been generally introduced into the public schools of Scotland. Beattie had seldom, or

2

never surely, attempted this in the early part of his life, because he was wont to confess, at a time when he had already acquired the most distinguished reputation as an author of real poetical genius, that he experienced great difficulty when he tried it.

At a very early period of life, Beattie was distinguished by his fellow scholars, not only by the superiority of his powers, but by his indefatigable application. He was always in the highest station in his class.

The particular circumstances attending the progress of his fame among his school fellows, I cannot now ascertain. It is an unquestionable truth, that he was called Poet Beattie at school. Owing to the delicate state of his health, his eldest sister Elizabeth, always accompanied him to school. This young lady died at an early age. tachment to her brother was great, that she not only gave attendance at the public school, but assisted him in private, and made such proficiency, that she could read Virgil with facility.

Her at

SO

The time now approached when Beattie was to enter upon his academical course. In Scotland access is more easily obtained to the higher establishments for learning than in England. That is, persons of moderate circumstances, if they are disposed, have it in their power to give the youth the best opportunity of improvement which the country can afford. The acuteness of David Beattie had, for a considerable time, discerned the very superior talents of his brother. Generously disposed to afford him every opportunity to exert those abilities which he had displayed at

school,

school, it was resolved that Beattie should be sent to the university.

In the year 1749, the two brothers left Laurencekirk, and directed their course to Aberdeen. Beattie's, or rather his brother's circumstances, not being very affluent, it was determined that he should be a candidate for what, in the academical language of Scotland, is called a burse, or bursary. The reputation of Marischal college induced Beattie to appear as a candidate there. The form upon such occasions is, that a piece of English is dictated to the candidates by a professor, which they are required to translate into Latin. They are inclosed in the college-hall, with one of the town clerks, and the professor who prescribes the trial, and are at liberty to retire whenever they have written their version. The name of the writer is subscribed at such a convenient distance, that it can be easily cut off. It is then numbered, and the same number is written upon the slip of paper on which the name is. The judges are, therefore, pre. vented from being partial, even though they were so disposed. After the different merits of the competitors have been ascertained, and the most valuable burse adjudged to the writer of the best translation, they arrange such as remain, according to their comparative excellence. When this part of the business is finished, the names of the successful candidates are easily obtained, by comparing the number on the version with the number on the slip of paper containing the writer's name.

On the day of the competition, David Beattie waited with great anxiety for the issue of the trial. He was surprised at the short time James had taken to finish his version,

and even expressed to him his fears that he had been in too great a hurry, and had not bestowed sufficient pains upon it. Next day, however, when the roll was called, James Beattie's name was first on the list, and he was consequently entitled to the best burse.

Beattie was exceedingly fortunate in having an opportunity presented to him, of profiting by the instructions of principal Thomas Blackwell, professor of Greek, author of the Life of Homer, and of The Court of Augustus.

It was Black well who revived the study of Greek literature in the north of Scotland; and he had the merit of rearing some of the best Greek scholars, whose names the history of the literature of Scotland for the last century can record. Dr. Beattie, near the end of his essay on Classical Learning, has borne testimony to the merit of his old master; he styles him “ a very learned au

"thor."

As no evidence exists, by which it can be proved how early in the session Blackwell discerned Beattie's genius, it is in vain to enter into a particular inquiry, what the real state of the case might have been. It is an undoubted fact, that Blackwell did discover the abilities of his pupil, and that he patronized them.

Blackwell's enthusiasm for Ho

mer was great. Perspicuity and simplicity of expression, with all the fervor of genius, are the distinguishing characteristics of Homeric poetry. How far young Beattie entered into the nature and spirit of the works of the first of the poets, it would be presumption to affirm. His poetical turn, however, even at that period, and bis uncom

mon zeal for improving himself in the knowledge of the Greek, might be proved by a great many anec dotes; but, Blackwell's opinion, or rather decision, will produce greater conviction upon the minds of most readers. Upon a stated and fixed day, (April 3, 1750), Beattie, according to an annual custom, was to try his skill with his classfellows. James Beattie had the distinguished honour of receiving a Greek grammar from principal Blackwell, with the following words, written by the principal's

own hand :

"Jacobo Beattie, agioTevovti in Græ"cis literis, hoc Beabov, dedit J. "Blackwell."

This grammar is in the possession of those whom the doctor made his heirs.

In the Scotish colleges (that of Edinburgh excepted) the different classes are examined publicly, before all the professors, and such of the students of the other classes as chuse to attend. This, in Aberdeen, is called the Black-stone lesson, a name derived from a custom that still exists in king's college, Aberdeen. When the students are examined, they sit upon the gravestone of bishop, Elphinstone, the founder of that college. The bishop is buried in the public hall. It may be proper to add, that the dead body of every professor, both in the colleges of the old and new town of Aberdeen, is always deposited in the hall of that university to which he belonged, upon the night before the funeral. I have not been able to ascertain the origin of those singular institutions, but it is probable they may be traced

remotely to some established forms. of the church of Rome.

At the Black-stone lesson, to which the students look with great anxiety, Beattie distinguished himself very much.

Beattie's proficiency, during the first year of his college course, is the more remarkable, because he was then in a very delicate state of health. On his return to Laurencekirk it improved considerably. During the vacation, which at this college is seven months of the year, he applied to his studies with un. remitting industry.

At the proper period Beattie set out a second time for Aberdeen. Being a bursar, it was absolutely necessary that he should attend the different classes, in the order prescribed by the statutes of the university, otherwise he could not apply for the degree of master of arts.

Beattie was frequently wont to express himselfin terms of high commendation of professor David Verner. Though this man be little known in the literary world, he was a coadjutor not unworthy of Black well, His uncommon knowledge of the Latin language, and the facility with which he could both write and converse in that tongue, with elegance, was often the subject of Beattie's praise. Of his general qualities, it is well known that Dr. Beattie expressed himself in terms of more unqualified panegyric, than one of his prudence and judgment could be expected to do, of any person of moderate talents.

Beattie, though unquestionably possessed of genius, never discovered any great attachment to mathematical pursuits. He sometimes expressed, in conversation, his own antipathy to that noble study, rather