by Cadell in the year 1785. In every quality of legitimate history it was judged not unworthy to be put into competition with the best examples of historical excellence in the English language. Its beauties were remarked to be-great fidelity of narrative, the fruit of integrity, judgment and erudition,—a skilful combination of the parts into one whole,-that force of sentiment, and that picturesque power of displaying imagery, without which no relation of events in which we are personally unconcerned, can ever be made interesting to the mind,-a continual selection of the most impressive particulars, such as is never made but by taste and genius,-a rich display of ethical and political wisdom from the stores of antiquity, as well as of that philosophy of history and legislation which peculiarly belongs to modern times, -taste to estimate aright the merits of the Greeks in the sciences and the fine arts,-an eloquence, copious, rich, high-sounding, and splendid, adapted to the dignity of the subjects on which it was employed, breathing not a little of the spirit, of Plato and of Homer, and reminding the reader of the lofty sonorous march of the style of Gibbon. This work was very generally read, with much popular applause. It has passed through several editions, and is still rising in the estimation of the world; notwithstanding the competition of the rival history of Mr. Mitford, a work of very great and acknowledged excellence.

Upon the death of Frederick the Great, of Prussia, Dr. Gillies, who had visited his Court, produced, in

a very

a very agreeable and instructive volume, a Parallel between his Character as a Politician and Warrior, and that of the famous Philip of Macedon.

The Doctor had now for some time fixed his residence chiefly in London. He had access to the best society; and, on account of his pleasing manners, and of his rich, fluent, and various conversation, was every where very acceptable. His fortune, though not opulent, was, by an annuity from the Earl of Hopeton, by the profits of his History, and by some other supplies, rendered sufficiently equal to his moderate though gentlemanly plan of expence. Nor did he want friends who desired to make it still more casy. On the death of Dr. Robertson of Edinburgh, Dr. Gillies was, with a discernment that did honour to Government, appointed to succeed him in the office of historiographer to the King for Scotland, with a salary of 2001. a year. He soon after married an amiable and accomplished woman, and settled in a pleasant house in the vicinity of Portman Square.

For some time, the works of Aristotle had engaged much of his attention. Like all others who, with vigour and perspicacity of intellect, have studied Aristotle deeply, the more he read the treatises of that philosopher, so much the more did he discover in them of profound, original, incontrovertible science, and of sound good sense. It was an undertaking worthy of his erudition and judgment to renew the popularity and the usefulness of the prince of Grecian philosophers. He entered upon it so much the more earnestly,

earnestly, because he saw in Aristotle's Ethics and Politics a view of the foundations and essential nature of social order and civil government, which would, as he conceived, decisively expose the futility of all the theories of modern revolutionists. The result of this undertaking, consisting of a general analysis of the works of Aristotle, and of translations of his Ethical and Political Treatises, was given to the Public in 1798. Its reception has been very fa

vourable. Aristotle is exhibited in a dress somewhat similar to that in which Pope has invested Homer. His principles appear to be wonderfully extensive and just. Nor should we be surprised if, by the favour of such an interpreter, he were to recover almost all his ancient authority over the opinions of mankind. Those who reckoned Dr. Gillies's style somewhat too luxuriant in his former writings, allow that it is, in this work, happily tempered by the austerity of that of Aristotle, so as to be a model of elegance not ornamented beyond the bounds of strict propriety.*

He

* It is, however, the opinion of some who are well skilled in the Peripatetic philosophy, that Dr. Gillies in his translation has not in the least preserved the manner of Aristotle; that he frequently mistakes his meaning; and that he has acted indiscreetly in so often uniting entire sentences of his own with the text of his author. The same critics have likewise wished that the Doctor had availed himself of the assistance of Aristotle's Greek intepreters, as many of their commentaries are replete with uncommon erudition, and are inestimably valuable (particularly those of Simplicius) for the numerous and large extracts which they contain from the writings of philosophers prior to, or contemporary with,

the

He is understood to be now occupied in the continuation of his History of Greece. In the second part of that work, he will probably pursue the history of the Grecks through their foreign conquests, their colonial settlements, their dispersions, their subjugation to the power of strangers, their intercourse with other nations, the reciprocal influences of their transactions on the rest of the world, and of the rest of the world on them, even downward, almost to the present time. The field is of vast compass and diversity. And it is probable that, with his powers and experience, he may prepare from it, the most interesting and truly instructive history which the world has yet seen.

Dr. Gillies is a man of a handsome figure, not exceeding the middle size. His countenance is open, ingenuous and expressive-rather of sagacity and cheerfulness than of any keen activity of passion. His manners are frank without vulgarity, and courteous without affected stateliness; and his conversation is, in a high degree, rich, various, and pleasing.

the Stagirite himself. Hence they are of opinion that the Doctor was neither sufficiently aware of the difficulty, nor well prepared for the execution, of such an undertaking; and that in consequence of this, he has procured for himself a reputation more extended than durable, and more shining than solid.

LORD

LORD HOBART.

FEW men have, at so early a period of life, filled such important public situations as Lord Hobart; and no man has acquitted himself with more private esteem or public approbation. Entering very young into the army, he served in America with much credit, obtaining a company on the Irish establishment. In the year 1779, he left America, and went to Ireland, being appointed aid-du-camp to his uncle, the Earl of Buckinghamshire, then Lord Lieutenant of that kingdom; where, by his engaging talents and captivating manners, he interested the people of Ireland so much in his favour, and was so beloved in return, that he grew imperceptibly to consider and to feel it as his own country, in adoption of which idea he resided in it many years. In the year 1789, there occurred some matter of political dissention between the then Lord Lieutenant and the Irish Parliament, originating principally in the discussions respecting the appointment of a Regent. This subject, however, is immaterial to this history, being matter of dissention. Lord Hobart was recommended to the Marquis of Buckingham, from the most amiable motive-his being thought most capable of effecting the purposes of conciliation. He was accordingly made Secretary, and the consequence justified the choice.

In the year 1790, Lord Westmoreland succeeded to the government of Ireland, and Lord Hobart was continued. In this appointment Lord Hobart's ge