Recognising his great abilities, easy circumstances, and the varied store of historical matter at his command, yet it has to be regretted that his work is not of high historical authority. He did not reach a high standard either in research or the accurate statement of facts; though he was well qualified to estimate every description of evidence, still he fell into many mistakes. On some important religious and political subjects, such as the Covenanting struggle, and the period of persecution in Scotland, Hume was constitutionally disqualified for forming just views of his suffering countrymen. Having made these adverse comments on his history, I will indicate some of its special merits. Looking at the general character of his work, in many points it is much superior to the annals and compilations of previous British historians. His sagacity enabled him to sink much of the offal and draff which encumber the pages of less gifted writers. While he exhibited a lamentable deficiency in appreciating some of the movements of the seventeenth century, yet on other occasions the views of conflicting parties are grasped and estimated with rare fairness, and presented with much effect. He recognises the importance of literature and culture, which is specially treated in certain portions of his history. His narrative is admirable. His style is clear, easy, and polished.

The following on the character of Queen Elizabeth is a fair specimen of his style: "There are few personages in history who have been more exposed to the calumny of enemies and the adulation of friends than Queen Elizabeth; and yet there is scarcely any whose reputation has been more certainly determined by the unanimous consent of posterity. The unusual length of her administration, and the strong features of her character, were able to overcome all prejudices; and obliging her detractors to abate much of their invectives, and her admirers somewhat of their panegyrics, have at last, in spite of political factions, and what is more, of religious animosities, produced a uniform judgment with regard to her conduct. Her vigour, her constancy, her magnanimity, her penetration, vigilance, and address, are allowed to merit the highest praise, and appear not to have been surpassed by any person that ever filled a throne: a conduct less vigorous, less imperious, more sincere, more indulgent to her people, would have been requisite to form a perfect character. By the force of her mind she controlled all her more active and stronger qualities, and prevented her from running into excess: her heroism was exempt from temerity, her frugality from avarice, her friendship from partiality, her active temper from turbulency and

vain ambition: she guarded not herself with equal care or success from lesser infirmities; the rivalship of beauty, the desire of admiration, the jealousy of love, and the sallies of anger."

4

Dr. William Robertson was a native of the parish of Borthwick, in the county of Edinburgh, where his father was minister. He was educated for the Church, and in 1743, was appointed minister of Gladsmuir in Haddingtonshire; but in 1758, he removed to one of the churches of Edinburgh. He delivered his first speech in the General Assembly in 1751, which at once produced a marked impression, and was subsequently the leader of the moderate party in the Church of Scotland.

His works consist of: (1) The History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary and James the VI., which appeared in 1759; (2) History of the Reign of Charles V., in three volumes, published in 1769; (3) History of America, (1777); and (4) A Historical Disquisition on Ancient India, a slight sketch, (1791). For the copyright of his History of Scotland, he received £600, and £4500 for his History of Charles V.

Shortly after the publication of his History of Scotland, he was appointed principal of the University of Edinburgh, and historiographer royal for Scotland.

of

Dr. Robertson was a man of great intellectual power and grasp mind, combined with a singularly clear and sober judgment. Guided and enlightened as his faculties were by a pretty broad and varied culture, the works which he produced were all stamped with enduring qualities, and still remain monuments of his industry and genius. Although his works are not remarkable for exhaustiveness of research, he possessed in a high degree the rarer qualification of seizing the essential features of a subject, and presenting them in a lucid and attractive way. His introductory chapter on Scottish history prior to the birth of Queen Mary, though only a slight retrospective sketch, is remarkable for its grasp and luminous view of the subject. It is true that this period of history is now better understood than it was in his day; yet with the materials within his reach, he drew a wonderfully accurate picture of the subject.

His History of Scotland is intensely interesting; the period itself was a stirring one, full of important, varied, and tragic events; his

• Born in 1721; died 1793. An interesting account of his life and writings was written by Dugald Stewart.

narrative is masterly, and his style flowing and clear. The first volume of his History of Charles V., which describes the state of society in Europe prior to the sixteenth century, is one of the most valuable parts of his works, and exhibits his highest qualifications as a historian to the best advantage. Soon after its appearance the work was translated into French. His History of America is full of deep interest, presenting a clear narrative teeming with picturesque features and touching incidents, accompanied with striking and philosophical reflections, which charmed the literary world. A short extract from his account of the discovery of America may be given. The land had been descried about midnight, and great joy was manifested by the crews of the ships :

"As soon as the sun arose, all their boats were manned and armed. They rowed towards the island with their colours displayed, with warlike music, and other martial pomp. As they approached the coast, they saw it covered with a multitude of people, whom the novelty of the spectacle had drawn together, whose attitudes and gestures expressed wonder and astonishment at the strange objects which presented themselves to their view. Columbus was the first European who set foot on the new world which he had discovered. He landed in a rich dress, and with a naked sword in his hand. His men followed, and kneeling down, they all kissed the ground which they had so long desired to see. They next erected a crucifix, and prostrating themselves before it, returned thanks to God for conducting their voyage to such a happy issue. They then took solemn possession of the country for the crown of Castile and Leon, with all the formalities which the Portuguese were accustomed to observe in acts of this kind in their new discoveries.

"The Spaniards, while thus employed, were surrounded by many of the natives, who gazed in silent admiration upon actions which they could not comprehend, and of which they did not foresee the consequences. The dress of the Spaniards, the whiteness of their skins, their beards, their arms, appeared strange and surprising. The vast machines in which they had traversed the ocean, that seemed to move upon the waters with wings, and uttered a dreadful sound resembling thunder, accompanied with lightning and smoke, struck them with such terror that they began to respect their new guests as a superior order of beings, and concluded that they were children of the sun, who had descended to visit the earth.

"The Europeans were hardly less amazed at the scene now before them. Every herb and shrub and tree was different from those which flourished in Europe. The soil seemed to be rich, but bore few marks of cultivation. The climate, even to the Spaniards, felt warm, though extremely delightful. The inhabitants appeared in the simple innocence of nature, entirely naked. Their black hair, long and uncurled, floated upon their shoulders, or was bound in tresses on their heads. They had no beards, and every part of their bodies was perfectly smooth. Their complexion was of a dusky copper colour, their features singular rather than disagreeable, their aspect gentle and timid. Though not tall, they were well-shaped and active. Their faces and several parts of their bodies were fantastically painted with glaring colours. Towards evening

Columbus returned to his ships, accompanied by many of the islanders in their boats, which they called canoes; and though rudely formed out of the trunk of a single tree, they rowed them with surprising dexterity. Thus, in the first interview between the inhabitants of the old and new worlds, everything was conducted amicably and to their mutual satisfaction. The former, enlightened and ambitious, formed already vast ideas with respect to the advantages which they might derive from the regions that began to open to their view. The latter, simple and undiscerning, had no foresight of the calamities and desolation which were approaching their country."

William Guthrie, a son of an episcopal minister, was born at Brechin in 1708. He was educated at King's College, Aberdeen, and afterwards proceeded to London to push his fortune. He was for some time engaged writing as a supporter of the Government, and received from the Pelham Ministry a pension of £200 per annum. He became a voluminous writer, and was connected with many literary undertakings. He wrote a History of England in three volumes, which begins with the Conquest and closes with the Commonwealth. In 1767 he published a History of Scotland in ten volumes. His Historical and Geographical Grammar was his most successful work. It had reached its twenty-first edition in 1810, and was translated into French. He died on the 9th of March, 1770.

Dr. Smollet, the novelist, wrote a History of England, published in 1758, in four large volumes; but it is not of much historical value. It was hastily composed without sufficient preparation and study, and it is full of mistakes and inconsistencies. The portion of this history

from 1688 to the death of George II. has often been printed as a continuation to Hume's history.

Mr. William Tytler of Woodhouselee, published in 1759 An Inquiry into the Evidence against Mary Queen of Scots, in which he combated the views advanced by Robertson and Hume, touching Queen Mary. Tytler's work is acute and candid, but not at all conclusive. He also rendered good service to the national literature by his publication of the Poetical Remains of James I., with a dissertation on the life and writings of the royal poet.

Dr. Gilbert Stuart was born at Edinburgh in 1742. He is the author of a History of Scotland, a History of the Reformation, and a Dissertation on the British Constitution. He also wrote many articles for periodicals in which he bitterly attacked the works of some of his contemporaries. His style is florid and flowing, but much affected. He died in 1786.

In 1771, the first volume of Dr. Robert Henry's History of Great Britain appeared, and four others followed at intervals from this date to 1785. In this work special attention was directed to the state of the people and domestic manners; but it only came down to the reign of Henry VIII. The author received for his work £3300; and was rewarded with a pension from the Crown of £100 a year.

Lord Hailes, a son of Sir James Dalrymple, was born in Edinburgh in 1726. He distinguished himself at the Scottish bar, and was raised to the bench in 1766. He was a man of considerable erudition, an able lawyer and conscientious judge. He was, moreover, a man of wit, and had a strong feeling of the comic and ridiculous in human conduct and character, "which gave a keen edge of irony both to his conversation and writings. How much he excelled in painting the lighter weaknesses and absurdities of mankind, may be seen from the papers of his composition in the World and the Mirror. In a word, he was an honour to the station which he filled, and to the age in which he lived. He died in his 67th year, on the 29th of November 1792." 6

The first part of Lord Hailes' Annals of Scotland was published in 1776, and the second part, which brought the work down to the death of David II., appeared in 1779. It is a work of very high merit and historical value, and it has been long well known and

5 Born in 1718; died in 1790.

6 Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Lord Kames, by A. F. Tytler, Vol. I., pp. 182-183; 1807.