CHAP. CLXIII. A. D. 1755. reputation of the Scotch press is not confined to this country alone. "It occurred to some gentlemen that at this period, when no very material difficulties remain to be conquered, a periodical view of the gradual advances of science would incite our youth to a more eager struggle to improve their minds, to gain distinction for themselves, and to do honour to their country. With this object the present work was undertaken, in which it is proposed to give a full account of all books published in Scotland within the compass of half-a-year; and to take some notice of such books published elsewhere as are most read in this country, or seem to have any peculiar title to public attention. "These are the motives and the plan of the present undertaking: the execution of it the public must judge of. Those who are concerned in carrying it on, hope, if the public should ever judge unfavourably of the execution, they will not condemn the attempt. One may judge of other men's writings with talents much inferior to those of the author; and to criticise is known to be easier than to compose. They are only to exercise over every book that right which the author confers upon the meanest of his readers: they are to judge with candour, but with freedom; opinions they are only to state, not to combat. Falsehood they will upon all occasions endeavour to detect: immoralities they would rather choose to bury in oblivion. Principles of irreligion or disaffection they will always strive to expose; as a zeal for the religion and constitution of their country can never be inconsistent with the greatest candour. It will always be more agreeable to them to find occasion for praise than for censure. But as their inclination leads them powerfully to indulge the one, their duty to the public will sometimes require them to exercise the less pleasing office. The authors expect no praise to themselves for a work in which to be useful is their only aim. In the conducting of it they hope they shall merit no personal blame. The success of the work they have earnestly at heart, as it may be attended with national benefit. To advance this end they will cheerfully 66 CHAP. CLXIII. A. D. 1755. Wedderburn on Greek accept the assistance of any gentleman who will contribute towards it by transmitting to the publisher his sentiments of any book; or in general any literary memoirs, criticisms, or observations he would wish to communicate to the world." Wedderburn contributed to the First Number one short Article by article on the "Rudiments of the Greek Tongue, by Mr. James Barclay, schoolmaster at Dalkeith," in which he took Barclay's occasion to pay a tribute of respect and gratitude to his old preceptor: A more plain and familiar Greek Grammar was certainly wanting. Mr. Barclay, to whose merit as a schoolmaster we are glad to bear testimony, has thought it his duty to endeavour to supply this want. It is his practice to teach his pupils Greek at a much earlier period than is usual in other places. The success of this method sufficiently appears in the progress several of his scholars have made, who frequently come from his school better Greek scholars than many of those who have been three years at an university." The more prominent articles on Scotch publications were written by Robertson, Blair, and Jardine. The Appendix contained a criticism on Dr. Johnson's Dictionary, by Adam Smith, strikingly displaying the profound philosophical knowledge of the formation of language possessed by this philosopher.* taken at some ar religion. The first number of the EDINBURGH REVIEW was well Offence received, and in January 1756, it was succeeded by a second, which had likewise an extensive sale. But, says Lord ticles on Kames, "the censure they most justly bestowed on some fanatical preachers excited such an outcry, that a regard to the public tranquillity, and their own, determined the Reviewers to discontinue their labours."-I am rather at a loss to understand what articles are here referred to; for all the discussions on theological subjects are conducted with such decency and propriety, that they could hardly have given offence to the most intolerant. Doubts are expressed in an There was a great mystery observed for a long time respecting the authorship of the different articles, and, indeed, with respect to the names of all connected with the publication. For some reasons not explained, David Hume was not a contributor, and was not let into the secret. Lord Commissioner Adam's Journal, СНАР. A.D. 1755. article supposed, without any certain authority, to have been CLXIII. written by Wedderburn, as to the expediency of the University having expelled, and the Presbytery excommunicated, the author of an infidel publication, but in the following becoming terms, which might have been used by the most pious father of the Church: "We are almost ashamed to say we have read this pamphlet. 'Tis such a low, scurrilous libel, that even the most necessitous printer or bookseller must be at a loss to find a decent excuse for publishing it. And, therefore, we hope our readers will excuse our giving any extract of such a thing as it is. We shall only add, that in our opinion, both the University and Presbytery did wrong in taking so much notice of such a criminal; for it was impossible for them to inflict a more severe sentence than that to which he has brought himself, and from which 'tis not in their power to absolve him, viz. Universal Contempt." From whatever cause, after the second number the Review was abandoned, and notwithstanding the extreme modesty of the preface, the authors were probably a good deal disappointed in their hopes of deriving from it both fame and emolument. Review discontinued. Wedderburn's longings after the English bar. Wedderburn's successes and reverses equally fostered in him a growing discontent with his own country. When he considered the éclat which he had acquired from his oratorical powers, he was impatient to display them on a wider stage. Again, although he was restrained by prudence from exceeding his narrow income, he had a passion for expense and magnificence which he could never hope to gratify from the scanty fees of the Parliament House. He likewise fostered a lofty ambition, which would be by no means satisfied by his becoming like his ancestors a "Senator of the College of Justice at Edinburgh." Although delighted to converse with Robertson, Hume, and Adam Smith, he was shocked by the prospect of spending his life among a people so bigoted and intolerant that they would not endure a publication undertaken to civilise and enlighten them, although it was conducted with perfect respect for religion, and with a laudable tenderness even for existing prejudices. CHAP. CLXIII. A. D. 1756. his father. A melancholy event had dissolved the chief tie which attached him to his native country. On the 11th of August, 1756, his father died suddenly, when little turned of fifty, and with the prospect before him of long life. Next day Death of appeared the following notice of this event in the Caledonian Mercury, supposed to be a tribute to his memory, in the midst of deep grief, from a pious son: "Yesterday morning died here Peter Wedderburn, Esq., of Chesterhall, one of the Senators of the College of Justice; a man of ability, of integrity, and candour; whose disinterested benevolence and manly spirit was adorned rather than obscured by a remarkable degree of modesty. The universal and uncommon regret which his death has occasioned, proves, indeed, that true fame is the certain attendant of genuine worth; but also proves how seldom characters so truly excellent appear in the world. When he had reached a situation that rendered his services more conspicuous, and most extensively useful, he was removed from us by a death which seems untimely, on account of his early years, notwithstanding the public veneration for his virtues." fies the Wedderburn, however, still wanted courage to take the desperate leap which he had long meditated; and he went on prosecuting his profession in Scotland nearly a year after his father's death. He continued to be appointed a public examinator, an advocate for the poor, and a curator of the Faculty's Library. At the anniversary meeting of the Weddercurators, held on the 4th of January, 1757, "Mr. Alexander burn notiWedderburn acquainted the Faculty that he had been au- resignation thorised by David Hume, Esquire, to intimate to them his of David resignation of the office of their library keeper, and to assure librarian them that he had, and would always retain a due sense of the honour done him by the Faculty in conferring that office upon him; and being interrogated whether he had any commission to show from Mr. Hume for that purpose, answered that he had no commission in writing, which was thought not necessary, as Mr. Hume had this very day acquainted divers other members of the Faculty of that matter. The Faculty were of Hume as to the Faculty of CHAP. opinion that Mr. Hume should direct a letter to the dean or vice-dean, signifying the same, under his hand."* CLXIII. A. D. 1757. His doubt. ful success at the A letter was then written by Hume, containing a formal resignation of the office of librarian, which he had obtained with such difficulty, and which had been of such service to him in the composition of his history, but which he had for some time found irksome on account of disputes with some members of the Faculty, in which it had involved him. The selection he made of an agent on this occasion shows the confidence he continued to repose in Wedderburn, as yet only in his 24th year. But I suspect much that our advocate did not stand so high in the estimation of the W. S.'s and S. S. C.'s who had Scotch bar. the distribution of briefs, and that in spite of his solemn step and grave deportment, unless when he pleaded for some "Peter Planestanes," suing in forma pauperis, he was generally silent before the Lords Ordinary and the Inner House. A. D. 1757. Nevertheless, he might have remained at the Scotch bar, meditating his great scheme of southern conquest till revolving years rendered the attempt impossible for him, had it not been for a scene which took place in the Parliament House towards the end of the summer session of this year, and which fixed his destiny. The Dean of Faculty at that time was Mr. Lockhart, afterwards Lord Covington, a man of learning, but of a demeanour harsh and overbearing. It had ever been considered the duty of the chief of the body of of Faculty. advocates, freely elected to preside over them, to be particu His quarrel with Lockhart the Dean larly kind and protecting to beginners †; but Lockhart treated all who came in contact with him in a manner equally offensive, although he had been engaged in a personal altercation with a gentleman, out of court, who had threatened to * See Burton's Life of Hume. One of the most effectual interpositions in favour of a junior was by old John Clerk, afterwards Lord Eldin. A presumptuous youth to whom he was opposed, and against whom the Court decided in a very peremptory manner having declared that "he was much astonished at such a decision," there was a threat of committing him to the tolbooth for his contempt, when Clerk caused a universal laugh, in which the reverend sages of the law joined the loudest, by saying, "My Lords, if my young friend had known your Lordships as long as I have done, there is no decision of your Lordships which could have astonished him!!!" |