Christ's kirk of the green, to which is prefixed a difsertation on the life and writings of king James, Edinburgh 1783." This difsertation forms a valu, able morsel of the literary history of Europe: for James ranked still higher in the literary world as a poet, than in the political world as a prince*. Great justice is done to his memory in both respects in this dissertation and the two morsels of poetry here rescued from oblivion, will be esteemed by men of taste, as long as the language in which they are written can be understood. : 2d, “A difsertation on Scottish music," first subjoined to Arnot's history of Edinburgh. The simple melodies of Scotland have been long the delight of the natives, many of which, to them, convey an idea of pathos, that can be equalled by none other; and are much admired by every stranger of musical talents who has visited this country. They have a powerful effect indeed, when properly introduced, as a relief, into a musical composition of complicated harmony. These are of two kinds, pathetic and humourous. Those who wish to receive information concerning this curious subject, will derive much satisfaction from the perusal of this difsertation. There is yet another kind of music peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland, of a more wild, irregular, and animating strain, which is but slightly treated here; and requires to be still more fully elucidated. 3d, "Observations on the Vision, a poem," first published in Ramsay's Evergreen, now also printed *There is a beautiful historical picture of this prince playing on the harp, with his queen and a circle of his courtiers listening to the music, by Graham, in London, one of the most eminent artists of the age. in the Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. This may be considered as a part of the literary history of Scotland. 4th, "On the fashionable amusements in Edinburgh during the last century;" ibid. It is unnecefsary to dwell on the light that such difsertations as these, when judiciously executed, throw upon the history of civil society and the progrefs of manners. The above are all the publications that are known to have been written by Mr Tytler; nor have I heard if he has left any in Mss. behind him; but if he has, they have fallen into good hands; and his son, I doubt not, will take care that nothing of that sort, which ought to be made public, fhall be lost to the world. Mr Tytler was the son of Mr Alexander Tytler, writer in Edinburgh, and was born there A. D. 1711. He received the first rudiments of his education at the high school, and completed his studies at the university of that city. In the year 1742 he was entered one of the clerks of his majesty's signet in Scotland; a respectable and opulent society of men : and in 1785 appointed treasurer to the funds belonging to that society; a trust which he discharged with great approbation till his death, which happened on the 12th day of September 1792. He married Anne Craig, daughter of Mr James Craig, writer to the signet, by whom he has left two sons, the eldest Alexander Frazer Tytler, esq. advocate, and professor of civil history in the university of VOL. Xiii. B Edinburgh, and the youngest Captain Patrick Tytler of the 57th regiment of foot. In his person, Mr Tytler was rather thin than corpulent; his stature about the middle size, or a little below it. Before the writer of this article knew him, when he was in the decline of life, he had been seized with a slight paralytic affection, which rendered his walk, and other motions, lefs firm; but it had never made the smallest imprefsion on his intellects and mental faculties, which continued uncommonly keen and active till his dying day. In his speech he had a small impediment,-extremely different from a stutter. It was a slight kind of stop, which, when connected with the animation of his manner, seemed to proceed from an excefs of eagerness, which, to his friends, gave rather an energy and emphasis to his utterance than any uneasy sensation. The exprefsion of the countenance depends so much on the idea that has been formed of the person in other respects, that those of one's acquaintance are, of all others, the least fit to judge of it. But his was deemed by them universally pleasing and energetic. The public will be able to judge of this from a very fine portrait of him, painted by Mr Raeburn, which is justly reckoned one of the best of his very excellent paintings. A good mezzetinto has been made from it by Jones, engraver to the prince of Wales. Both that, and the print executed by Scott for this work, by the obliging permifsion of Mr Tytler, are very striking likenesses. If the painting has any fault, it is that the figure is rather fuller than the life. Mr Tytler had not only the happiness to enjoy his mental faculties unimpaired, in the usual sense of that word, to a good old age; but he had the singular felicity of preserving to a very late period of life, that ardent glow of enthusiasm, which is in some measure peculiar to youthful minds. The writer of this article was present in the Royal Society of Edinburgh on the 10th day of April 1784, when Dr Carlisle read Collins' ode on the genius of the Highlands, at which time he could not help contemplating, with a pleasing astonishment, the enthusiastic ardour that animated the whole frame of Mr Tytler at the recital. He afforded also an example of another peculiarity that is seldom seen,-a man of acknowledged genius and distinguished talents, who had not an enemy or detractor; for it is believed there is not a man in Edinburgh who ever heard a living creature who would venture to detract from, or speak ill of William Tytler. MEMOIRS OF COUNT LA LIPPE. WHO that thinks for himself does not with, on many occasions, that a very considerable part of the world fhould think rather unfavourably than favou rably of him? It were a real misfortune to a man who can employ his time to advantage in retirement, if he were universally courted; and of course if every one invited him to his house, and the first question in every company were, Is not such a man to be of the party? But, in general, such are not the persons who are most beloved, and meet with most attention. On the other hand, he is never a man of very ordinary parts whom a whole town joins in condemning: there must be something great and striking in a character against whom all mouths are open;-at whom every one has a stone ready to throw; on whom curses and destruction are poured out in every company; who is accused of an hundred crimes, none of which, even his most inquisitive and scrutinizing enemy can prove. The lot of every independent thinker is to be envied in escaping. the notice of the multitude. He is then allowed at least to enjoy retirement; and though it naturally occurs to him that his character is never understood, yet he is not disappointed when the most erroneous and superficial judgements are formed of it; and when the unwearied endeavours of his friends, in order to correct them, prove unsuccessful. Such was the case with the great count of Schaumburg Lippe, or, as he is commonly called, the count of Buckeburg. A character, more generally ridiculed and misunderstood, I never knew in Germany; and yet his name deserves to be ranked in the first clafs of German worthies. I became acquainted with him at a time when he lived almost constantly alone, and secluded himself from the world; but governed his little territory with great wisdom. His appearance at first had something in it disagreeable; and on that account his real character met with great injustice. The count de Lacy, |