sition in him to do so, and even the expression, "I consent to all," was either, perhaps, uttered from a wish to oblige me as his friend, or a desire to shorten the conversation, than from any change in his opinions. After having thus examined himself, however, for some minutes, he gave a sign of being ready, and received absolution as I had proposed to him. I then left him; he shook my hand heartily upon quitting him, and said that he was happy he had seen

Agreeably to his own desire, his remains were interred in the church-yard of Paddington, and in a spot which he had himself pointed out, for a reason which presents a striking picture of the whole character of his mind, and ought for ever to silence all doubts as to the general sincerity of his Christian belief, however much he may have erred on particular points. "I choose this spot," said he, " that when summoned from my grave, to meet my God on high, the first thing which may strike my sight on looking up, may be that noble inscription in front of the Church, " Glory to God in Heaven, and peace and good-will to men on earth."

A plain marble monument has been erected to his memory by the present Lord Petre, at the outside of the southwest entrance into the church; and to those who may wish to view the sod beneath which he reposes, a solitary yew tree, planted by his worthy friend, Dr. Calder (now also deceased) will mark out the spot. It is close by the side of the public road.

*The inscription on the church is in Greek.

In his corporeal make Dr. Geddes was slender, but the features of his countenance were large and protruded. "A play of cheerfulness," says Mr. Good, "beamed uniformly from his cheeks, and his animated eyes darted rather than looked benevolence. Yet, such was the irritability of his nerves, that a slight degree of opposition to his opinions, and especially when advanced by persons whose mental powers did not warrant such opposition, put to flight, in a moment, the natural character of his countenance, and cheerfulness and benevolence were exchanged for exacerbation and tumult." The portrait of Dr. Geddes, which is prefixed to Mr. Good's Memoirs of his Life and Writings, agrees with this description; but it is an exaggerated likeness. It was taken when the Doctor was in his last illness, and wasted with anguish both of mind and body. A friend happening to call on him the day after he had sat to the painter; "Do you know," said the Doctor, "I have been getting my likeness taken?" "Ah! Doctor," observed his friend, "I am afraid it must have been a likeness taken in agony." Oh, no," rejoined the Doctor with his usual sprightliness, "I sung Latin songs all the time!"-A very fine portrait of him when in the hey-day of health and spirits is in the possession of Mr. Corner, a gentleman of the Catholic persuasion.* Dr. Geddes was fond of society, and, except when under the influence of high wrought irritability, no

"

*From this portrait the likeness prefixed to the present work has, with that gentleman's kind permission, been engraved.

A. S.

man possessed more companionable qualities. His anecdote was always ready; his wit always brilliant ; there was an originality of thought, a shrewdness of remark, an epigrammatic turn of expression in almost every thing which escaped him, that was sure to captivate his companions, and to induce those who had once met him, notwithstanding his habitual infirmity, to wish earnestly to meet him again.*

His kindness of heart was constantly displaying itself in acts of benevolence and friendship. The moment he beheld the probability of doing good by his own exertions, the good was instantly done.

As a man of genius and learning Dr. Geddes held deservedly a high rank. That his literary labours took an unfortunate direction, and that his reputation is exposed to a rapid decay from the controversial and offensive character of great part of his writings, must, at the same time, be allowed. His effusions in poetry shew, that had he devoted the strength of his faculties to the service of the Muses, instead of wasting them in an obnoxious contention with creeds of faith, his fame might have been as elevated as his happiness would have been pure and unalloyed. Such as they are, they are rather to be considered as the relaxations of a severe student than as the compositions of an author ambitious of distinction. "They discover," as Dr. Irving remarks, "what might have been effected, but are not sufficiently elaborate to be classed amongst finished compositions."

* Mr. Good.

Beside the more important publications which have been mentioned in the course of this narrative, Dr. Geddes wrote several pamphlets of an ephemeral nature, and many fugitive pieces in prose and verse, in the magazines and newspapers.

He left behind him, nearly ready for publication, "A new Translaiton of the Psalms," which was afterwards edited by Dr. Disney, and Mr. Butler. It was completed as far as the 11th verse of the 118th Psalm, and at the time of his death, printed off to the end of the 104th. A translation of the 150th Psalm was also found among his papers. The editors of the work have supplied the intermediate Psalms, from Bishop Wilson's edition.

W. M.

JAMES GRAHAME.

THE Rev. James Grahame, author of "The Sabbath" and other poems, was born at Glasgow, on the 22nd. of April, 1765. His father, who was a writer in that city, appears to have been a man of considerable literary attainments, of pious habits, and excellent moral character. His mother, who had been brought up in similar principles, was confirmed in her early impressions by the example of her husband, and the united influence of both was well calculated to lay the foundation of those pure sentiments of devotion in the mind of the young poet, which were afterwards to regulate his conduct and awaken his muse.

In early youth, Grahame is said to have been of a sprightly disposition, but his vivacity declined as he grew up, and long before that period when the character is matured by experience, the indications of a reflecting habit were manifest in his deportment and conversation. This sober turn of thought commenced as early as his introduction to the grammar-school of Glasgow, where he received the rudiments of his education. From the grammar-school, he went to the university of Glasgow, where he soon recommended himself, by his knowledge of the ancient classics, and his talent for Latin composition, of which he produced a very favorable specimen at the commencement of his academical career. With the study of literature and philosophy, he ultimately joined that of civil law, and had the good fortune to obtain the intimate friendship of the professor of that depart