His ode on Hope has been too long admired to require any laboured criticism in illustration of its beauties. The powers of invention discovered the novelty and variety of the allusions, and the figurative language introduced, entitle the author to the praise of distinguished genius. An ode to Peace, and a song in imitation of Shakespeare's "Blow, blow, thou winter wind," &c. to be found in the Scots Mag. for Sept. 1758, were afterwards acknowledged by him. The particular, circumstances in which Mr. Beattie was then placed, perhaps suggested Retirement as the subject of the next poem whose date can be ascertained. This was also written in 1758. He has thought proper, in the editions of the poems of late years acknowledged by him, to withdraw the title of "An Ode," which he had prefixed to this pretty little poem, in the first edition of his verses. In May, 1760, Mr. Beattie had accepted of an invitation to dinner from the parents of one of his scholars, where he was requested to reIt had in a great measure escaped cite a part of a poem he had written. his memory. The specimen it was then in his power to give, produced a desire in those present to hear the whole. He accordingly went to his lodgings, and returned to the company with his manuscript. He was informed, however, either while he was going or returning from the place where he lived, of the sudden death of professor Duncan. This information he naturally communicated to those persons to whom he was about to shew his poetical effusions. There were now, it will be remembered, two vacant professorships in Marischal college, because Dr. Gerard had, a year before, been chosen professor of divinity, on the death of Dr. Pollock, and the chair of moral philosophy had not yet been filled. It was suggested, by Mr. Arbuthnot, at whose particular request Beattie had gone home for his poems, that a young man who had produced such unquestionable proofs of his talents, would be a very fit successor either to Duncan or Gerard. This gentleman actually prevailed upon the earl of Erroll, lord high constable of Scotland, to recommend Mr. Beattie to his majesty, as one well worthy of being appointed to a vacant professorship. Nearly four months had elapsed before Mr. Beattie was officially informed that the recommendations of his friends had proved successful. Towards the end of Sept. 1760, his majesty's patent came to Aberdeen, appointing him a professor of philo'sophy in Marischal college. An academical life is so barren of incident, that it cannot be expected 3 D 3 pected to furnish much in the nar- In the year 1766, he married On the 12th of December, 1770, he received the degree of doctor of laws from king's college, Aber. deen. In the year 1771, at the end of the session of the college, he proposed to visit London. as a man of genius, easily procured His fame, him letters of introduction to the most celebrated literary characters in the metropolis. Mr. Boswell had the honour of introducing him to Dr. Johnson; and his other friends exerted themselves to procure for him as favourable a reception as his great merit deserved. After remaining a short time in London, he returned to Aberdeen, and felt those agreeable sensations which those only who have experienced unexpected success can estimate. In 1773 he again went to London, and on the 30th of June was prosented to the king, at the levee, by lord Dartmouth. The levee was on that day exceedingly crowded. Dr. Beattie had, however, the distin the king for five minutes, a mark of guished honour of conversing with attention not conferred upon ordinary men, and which those who are in the greatest favour do not always presume to expect. In the year 1790, Dr. Beattie papers, in 4 vols. and wrote the edited, at Edinburgh, Addison's preface. About this time he sustained a great loss by the death, of his eldest wrote a very interesting account of son James Hay Beattie. The doctor this excellent young man. who has any taste for good writing, for simplicity of language, and nar No one rative composed of a selection of the most interesting incidents, will, I am persuaded, be satisfied with never completely recovered the shock perusing it only once. he received by his son's death, who, Dr. Beattie though young, had given the most and promised to be an ornament to undeniable proofs of great abilities, that university whereof he was a fort to his parent in his declining member, and to be a source of comyears. went to London, accompanied by his In the year 1791, Dr. Beattie son, Montague Beattie. This young younger than his brother, died in man, who was about ten years March, 1796, of a disease similar to that which cut off his brother. << har These, and other misfortunes, to tered himself from society, and even relished relished by him. Premature old age, with all its infirmities, had made rapid advances upon him, and, for three years before his death, he kept the house, and was for a great part of that time confined to his bed. If I mistake not, the last time he ventured out to take a short walk, was in the month of June, 1800. He was then very corpulent, and discovered extreme debility. After he had endured much bodily pain, and in a great measure had be come insensible even to what he himself was suffering, Dr. Beattie died, at Aberdeen, upon the 18th day of August, 1803. His person was about the middle size, of a broad square make, which seemed to indicate a more robust constitution than he really had. I have formerly mentioned that he was, during the whole course of his life, subject to attacks of head-ach, which, upon many occasions, interrupted his studies. His features were exceedingly regular: his complexion was somewhat dark: his eyes had more expression than those of any other person I remember to have seen. It will be admitted, that if he was not, at the the time of his death, the first literary character in the united kingdom, he was second or third in the list. Description of the Persons, Dress, Customs, and Manners of the Inhabitants of the Island of Celebes, with other Particulars. The men and women of the island of Celebes are not tall, nor handsome in their persons, but short and thick set. They have a flattish face, but not thick lips. Their colour is of a yellowish copper or reddish colour; their manners are not graceful, and they are revengeful and jealous. The men are very ingenious with edged tools. They are warriors, attend to the field, and the building of houses, canoes, and proas, in which they are very expert. The women are engaged in cooking, pounding of rice and corn, going to the gardens, and attending to all domestic concerns. The children are kept under no fear or order, and are punished from the whim or caprice of their parents. I have often seen a mother, when displeased, throw stones and billets of wood at her children. The men are capable of carrying great burdens on their backs, enduring great fatigues, and of fasting a long time; and will, with ease, travel forty or fifty miles a day. They are long-lived, and live very temperately. Intoxication is not frequent among them, though they are occasionally exhilarated bydrinking toddy, which they collect from the cocoa-nut tree in the following manner: The branches on which the nuts grow, when young, are taken and tied together, and the nut is not suf fered to grow upon them; the sprouts are cut off at about one foot from the end, and under these they fix a bamboo, into which the toddy runs. The bamboo is emptied night and morning, and the branches are cut away about one-eighth of an inch at a time, which creating a fresh wound, the liquor runs again, and is again caught in like manner. a dry season the roots of the tree are watered, to increase the toddy, 3 D4 In which which runs with great freedom in this manner. The liquor itself is agreeable and intoxicating. The dress of the men is simple, the climate not requiring much clothing. It consists of short breeches, half way down the thighs, and drawn tight, to keep out insects; and those who can afford it, wear a country cloth as a wrapper: some even go to the expence of a white cloak, which they put on occasionally when dressed. The women wear a wrapper, with a short gown made of red silk gauze, if to be had; if not, they are ornamented with bangles, made of large brass wire, round their ancles and wrists. The young women of fashion or consequence, wear their left thumb nail to a great length, and wear over it a case, except when they are full dressed. Some of the rajahs and priests wear wooden shoes, to keep their feet from the wet. These are made with a wooden pin, with a head stuck in the upper sole of the shoe, and which is kept on the foot by keeping the pin of it betwixt the great and the next toe, and by some management of the toes themselves. Their mode of living and cookery, is simple: it consists of rice, cocoanuts, sago, and Indian-corn: the latter they often boil into ommani. They eat but two meals a day; one about twelve o'clock at noon, the other just after sun-set. They commonly dress their food in Dutch copper kettles, or in their own country pots, made of clay, but which do not long stand the fire. It is customary to cover their dishes, when at meals, with a lid made of the nissa leaf, which much resembles that of the sago tree; these leaves are dyed in ornamental colours, and are often inlaid. They look very neat, and last a long time. It is a custom to cat with their right hand, and wash with their left. Their modes of life are simple, and their disorders are few. They do not understand much of physic. They pretend to cure a great deal by enchantment. The betel-nut is their principal medicine. If any part of the body be in pain, the patient sends for a rajah, who, on his arrival, feels the place, and taking a large quid of the betel-nut, and pronouncing some words to himself, blows it on the place affected; which is esteemed a perfect cure. But if the complaint be a fever, they often bring in a drum, which is beaten by two men, one at each end. If that do not succeed, they sometimes beat a brass kettle, which they continue beating until the recovery or death of the patient. If the latter, the kettle and drum are immediately thrown out of the house: the drummer and physician are turned out also. I was once present at this drumming prescription, and witnessed the death of a poor girl. An old rajah once applied to me to be cured, but I shook my head, and told him that it was not in my power, as he was too old to be cured. A young priest was one day working in his proa, in the heat of the sun, which brought on a violent head.ache. He applied to me to be cured. Well knowing that his complaint was nothing more than the effect of the heat of the sun, I proposed to bleed him; a custom with which the natives were not acquainted. He was at first much afraid, but at last consented, on my assur ing him that if he died, or received any injury, my life should answer for it. I then sharpened to a point a cock's gaff, or spur, and bled him. He, and those about him were at first much alarmed at the sight of the blood; but I encouraged them, and after bleeding him, and taking a pound of blood, I loosened his bandage, and bound up the wound, ordering him to remain quiet for two or three days. He found himself much better the next day, and wanted to go to work, but I would not permit him. In two days his head was less heated, and he went to work as usual. Afterwards many patients applied to me, but I did not choose to lose the reputation of curing a young priest, or run the risk of my life. I therefore left off practice, and would bleed no more. The Malays have a notion, that if a man can eat when he is sick, he will recover; if not, that he will die. I, however, saw two or three men, who were wounded in the battle of Dungally, eat very heartily of rice, but who did not recover. The natives bathe twice a day in fresh water rivers. This is, however, sometimes dangerous, on account of alligators, which infest the whole coast, and frequent the mouths of rivers. The women bathe twice a day, once in the morning, immediately after rising. When bathed, the bair is put up in a smooth manner; they then pick a flower or sprig of some kind, which they fasten on the top of the head: they also gather two little blossoms of flowers just in bloom, and put them in their ears, through the holes where they wear their ear-rings. This is the dress of the day, and they reckon it a token of good luck. Amongst these people the government is arbitrary. There is one head rajah, who rules over many others. He resides in a house which stands separately from any other building. Near it is his judgment seat, where he spends the greater part of the day; and all who have business with him apply there. When a rajah dies, his eldest son succeeds him. Any one desirous of speaking with the head rajah, must go to his judgment seat: on approaching it, the person squats down and makes his obedience, which is done by putting both his hands together, and then carrying them up to his forehead. The rajah then asks him his business, which he delivers. The rajahs are dressed in what they |