BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3 6 i
undertake the translation of Buffon’s Natural History, he endeavoured to dissuade
him from the undertaking, solely on account of the “atheistical parts,” which
it contained. The following is his lordship’s letter :-
“New Hailes, 11th July 1779.
“ Sir-I received your proposals for publishing the Natural History of Rulfon. To make the
work useful, a confutation of the atheistical parts of it ought to be added in the notes. Without
that addition it would do great hurt to an ignorant nation, already too much vitiated by French
philosophy. It will be to make poison cheaper and more pleasant. . My reverend friend, Profeasor
Monro, held Buffon in sovereign contempt, and ranged him in the class of Indian philosophers, with
their bull and their tortoise.
“ Not many years ago, there was published a book of travels : it had a run merely for ita French
philosophy ; for it was ignorant beyond probability or even imagination. The authors of the Edinburgh
Recieza were the only persons who, to my knowledge, confuted it ; and yet they were represented
&s enemies of religion. This shows that it is dangerous to publish such books as those of
Buffon, when treatises of less merit are admired ; and when confutations of such treatises are overlooked,
because the confuters are ill thougbtof and traduced. But what can we say of aoage
which admires the blundering romanoes of Raynal ?-I am, etc.
Lord Hailes lived sometime in the Old Mint House, foot of Todrick’s
Wynd ; he next occupied a house in what is called ‘‘ the Society,” Brown’s
Square ; and latterly removed to New Street, on the north side of the Canongate.
His general residence, however, even before his promotion to the bench,
was New Hailes.’ The. house in New Street (No. 23) was afterwards possessed
by Mr. Ruthven, the ingenious inventor of the Ruthven printing-press.
D A VD~AL RYHPLE.”
The following is a pretty accurate catalogue of his works :-
Sacred Poems, or a Collection of Translations and
Paraphrases from the Holy Scriptures ; by various
authors. Edinburgh, 1751, 12mo. Dedicated
to Charles, Lord Hope; with a PrePace of ten
Proposals for carrying on a certain Public Work in the
City of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, 1751, 12mo. A
jeu-#esprit.
The Wisdon of Solomon, Wisdom of Jesus the Son of
Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus, 12mo.
Select Discourses (in number nine), by John Smith,
late Fellow of Queen’s College, Cambridge, 12rno.
pp. 291. Edinburgh, 1756 : with a Preface of five
pages-“ many quotations from the learned langnages
translated-and notes added, containing
allwions to ancient mythology, and to the erroneous
philosophy which prevailed in the days of
the author-various inaccuracies of style have been
corrected, and harsh expressions softened.“
World, No. 140. September 4, 1755. A meditation
among books.
Ditto, No. 147. Thursday, October 23,1755. “Both
these papers are replete with wit and bumour:
and the last one is introduced with a high character
OP it and of the author, by Mr. Moore, the
editor and chief author of the World.“
Ditto, No. 204. Thursday, Xov. 25, 1756. “A piece
of admirable wit,” ‘‘(food Things,and the propriety
of taxing them.”
A Discourse of the unnatural and vile Conspiracy
pages.
Edin. 1755.
attempted by John, Earl of Gowry and his Brother
against his Majesty’s Person, at Saint Johnstouu.
upon the 6th ofi August 1600. No date
British Songs, Sacred to Love aud Virtue. Edin. 1756.
12mo.
A Sermon, which might have been preached in East
Lothian upon the 25th day of October 1761, on
Acts xwu 1, 2. “The barbarous people showed
us no ’little kindness.” Edinburgh, 1761, pp. 25,
12mo. ‘‘ Occasioned by the country people pillaging
the wreck of two vessels, &. the Betsy
Cunninghum, and the Leith packet, Pilouip, from
London to Leith, cast away on the shore between
. Dunbar and North Berwick. AU the passengers
on board the former, in number seventeen,
perished; five on board the latter, October 16,
1561. Reprinted at Edinburgh, 1794, 8vo. The
first edition is scarce.
Memorials and Letters relating to the History OF
Britain in the reign of James I., published from
the originals. Glasgow, 1762. Addressed to
Philip Yorke, Viscount Roystoun, pp. 151. I‘ From
a collection in the Advocates’ Library, by Balfow
of Denmyln.” An enlarged edition was printed at
Glasgow, 1766, 8vo.
The Works of the ever-memorable Mr. John Hdes of
Eton, now Brst collected together, in Y vols.
Glasgow, 1765 ; preface of three page& Dedicated
to William (Warbur&n), Biahop of G1ouceater.-
L1755.1
1 New Hailes is beautifully situated a little to the west of Mwelburgh, near the line of the
Rsilway to Edinburgh.
368 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
"The edition said to be nndertaken with his
approbation : obsolete words altered, with corrections
in spelling and punctuation."
A specimen of a book entitled Ane Compendious Booke
of Godly and Spintual Sangs, collectit out of
enndrie parts of the Scripture, with sundrie of
other Bailates changed out of Prophaine Sanges,
for avoyding of Sin and Harlotrie, with augmentation
of sundrie Gude and Qodly Ballates,
not contained in the 8rst edition. Edinburgh,
printed by Andro Hart, 12mo. Edinburgh, 1765,
pp. 42 ; with a Glossary of four pages.
Meniorials and Letters relating to the History of
Britain in the reign of Charles I., published from
the Originals. Glasgow, 1766, pp. 189. Chiefly
eoliectedfrom the manuscripts of the Rev. Robert
Wodrow, author of the History of the Church of
Scotland. Inscribed to Robert Dundas of Arniston,
Lord President of the Court of Session.
An Account of the Preservation of Charles 11. after
the Battle of Worcester, drawn up by himself; to
which are added, his Letters to seveyal persona.
Glasgow, 1766, pp. 190, from the MSS. of Mr.
Pepys, dictated to him by the King himself, and
communicated by Dr. Sandby, Mnster of Magdalen
College. The Letters are collected from various
sources, and some of them are now first published.
Dedicated to Thomas Holles, Duke of Newcastle,
Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Some
copies havexa reprinted title page, dated Edinburgh,
1801, with one OT two additional Letters,
and a Portrait prefixed of General Thomas Dalziel.
The Secret Correspondence between Sir Robert Cecil
and James VI. 12mo. 1760.
A Catalogue of the Lords of Seasion from the Institution
of the College of Justice, in the year 1532,
with Historical Notes. Suum cuique-rependet
posteritas. Edinburgh, li67,4to, pp. 26.
A Specimen of Notes on the Statute Law of Scotland.
No date, 8v0, very rare.
A Specimen of similar Notes during the Reign of Mary
Queen of Scots. No date, Svo, very rare.
The Private Correspondence of Dr. Franris Atterbury,
Bishop of Rochester, and his friends, in 1725,
never before published. Printed ip 1768, 4to.
Advertisement pp. 2. Letters, pp.pO. fac-simile of
the firat letter from Bp. Atterbury to John Camemn
of Lochiel prefixed.
An Examination of some of the Arguments for the high
Antiquity of Regiam Majestatem; and au Inquiry
into the Authenticity of the Leges MaZcolmi.
Edinburgh, 1769, 4t0, pp. 52.
Historical Memorials concerning the Provincial Councils
of the Scottish Clergy, from the earliest accounts
to the era of the Reformation. Edinburgh,
1769, 4t0, pp. 41.-Nota, Having no high opinion
of the popularity of his writings, he prefixes to
this work the following motto :-"Si delectamur
quum scrihimus, qui8 est tam invidus qui ab eo
nos abducat P sin labotamus, qui8 est qui aliena
modum atatuat industriaP"4icero.
Canons of the Church of Scotland, drawn up in the
Provinrial Councils held at Perth, A.D. 1242, and
1269.
Ancient Scottish Poems, published from the MS. of
George Bannatyne, 1568. Edinburgh, 1770, I2mo.
Preface, six pages. Poems, pp. 221, very CW~OUS
Notes, pp. 92. Qlossary, and list of passages and
words not undemtood, pp. 14.
Edinburgh, 1769, ate, pp. 48.
The Additional Case of Elizabeth, claiming the title
and dignity of Countess of Sutherland. By her
Guardians. Wherein the facts and argumenta in
support of her claim are more fully stated, and the
errors iu the additional cases for the claimants am
detected, 4to. .
This singularly learned and able case Was subscribed
by Alexander Wedderbnrn (afterwards Lord
Chancellor and Earl of Rosslyn) and Sir Adam Fergnsson,
but is the well-known work of Lord Hailes. It
ought not to be regarded merely as a Law Paper of
great ability, but as a Treatise of profound research into
the history and antiquity of many important and
general points of succession and family history. Introduction,
pp. 21. The first four chapters, pp. 70
The 6fth and sixth ohapters, pp. 177.
Remarks on the History of Scotland. By Sir David
Dalrymple.
" Utinam tam facile vera invenire possem, qnani
falsa convincere."-C&To.
Edinburgh, 1773. Inscribed to George Lord
Lyttleton, in nine chapters, pp. 264, l h o .
Specimen of a Glossary of the Scottish Language.
No date, 8vo.
Remarks on the Latin Poems of Dr. Pitcairn, in the
Edinburgh Magazine for February 1774.
Huberti Langueti Epistole ad Philippum Sydneium
Equitem Anglum. Accurante D. Dalrymple de
Hniles. Eq. Edinburgh, 1776, 8vo. Inscribed to
Lord Chief Baron Smythe.-Virorum Eruditorum
testimonia de Langueto, pp, 7. Epistolz, 289.
Index Nominum, pp. 41.
Aunals of Scotland, from the Accession of Malcolm
HI., surnamed Canmore, to the Accession of
Rohert I. By Sir David Dalrymple. Edinburgh.
1776, pp. 311. Appendix, pp. 51.
Tables of the Succession of the Kings of Scotland
from Malcolm 111. to Robert I., their marriages,
children, and time of their death; and also of
the Kings of England and France, and of the
Popes who were their contemporaries.
Chronologlcsl Abridgment of the Volume, pp. 30.
The Appendix contains eight Dissertations.
1. Of the Law of Evenw and Mercheta Mulierum,
2. A Commentary on the 22d Statute of William
3. Of the 16th Statute of Alexander IIL, pp. 6.
4. Bull of Pope Innocent IV., pp. 6.
6. Of Walter Stewart, Earl oP Menteth, 1296,
6. Of M'Duff, slain at Falkirk in 1298, pp. 3.
7. Of the Death of John Comyn, 10th February
8, Of the Origin of the. House of Stewart, pp. 6.
pp. 17.
the Lion, pp. 8.
PP, 7.
1305, pp. 4.
-
Snnals of Scotland, from the Accession of Robert I.
surnamed Bruee, to the Accession of the House
of Stewart. By Sir David Dalrymple. Edinburgh,
1779, 4t0, pp. 277. Appendix, pp. 54.
containing-
1. Of the Manner of the Death of Marjory,
2. Journal of the Campaign of Edward 111.. 1327,
daughter of Robert I., pp. 7.
PP. 9.
