BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 38 1
Esq. of Woodhouselee.’ He was born in Edinburgh in 1747, where he attended
the High School for five years, and afterwards studied at a seminary in Kensington,
taught by Mr. Elphinstone, a man of reputed learning. Here he made rapid
progress in the classics, and distinguished himself in the attainment of various
accomplishments ; among which drawing and music-tastes he had early imbibed
-were not forgotten. On his return to his native city, about 1765, Mr. Tytler
entered on his professional studies at the University ; and in 1770 was called
to the bar. The following year he went on a tour to France, in company with
his cousin, the late James Ker, Esq., of Blackshiels. Through his father, Mr.
Tytler had been early introduced to literary society in Edinburgh. The friendship
of one so much his senior as Lord Kames, on whose suggestion he undertook
a supplementary volume of the Dictionary of Decisions, was in the highest degree
flattering. This work, which he executed with great ability, laid the foundation
of his future reputation. It was afterwards enlarged, and published as the third
and fourth volumes of the Dictionary.
In 1780 he was appointed Joint-Professor of Universal History in the
University of Edinburgh j and on the death of Mr. Pringle, in 1786, became
sole Professor. His lectures, embracing a much wider range than had previously
been deemed necessary for mere professional purposes, proved so generally popular,
that he was induced to publish an abridgment of them, first in 1782, and
subsequently, in a more extended form, under the title of ‘c Elements of General
History.”’
The literary labours in which Mr. Tytler now engaged were of a multifarious
nature. Although his name does not appear as one of the “ Mirror Club,” he
was intimately acquainted with almost all the members, and contributed both
to the Mirror and Lounger a number of lively and interesting articles. These,
it is said, were mostly written at inns, where he happened to be detained
occasionally on his journeys. Having become a member of the Royal Society
on its institution, he was elected one of the Secretaries ; and throughout a series
of years continued to interest himself deeply in its management. He was the
author of several valuable papers read to the Society, and lent no inconsiderable
aid in drawing up the yearly account of its Transactions.
An ‘‘ Essay on the Principles of Translation,” published anonymously by
Mr. Tytler, attracted an unusual degree of public notice, from a correspondence
which ensued between Dr. Campbell, Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen,
Author of the “Inquiry, Historical and Critical, into the Evidence against Mary Queen of
Scota,” and of an excellent “Treatise on Scots Mwic,” and several other works, illustrative of the
Antiquities and Literature of Scotland. He was much celebrated for hia taste in music and painting.
He resided :m New Street (then called Young Street), Canongate.
It is rather a curious fact, that in this work the Jewish History in altogether omitted. The
Lectures were afterwards published by his eldest son, and his immediate e u m o r in the chair
(William Fraser Tytler, Esq. of Balnain, Vice-Lieutenant and Sheriff of Inverness-shire), under the
title of “Universal History, from the Creation of the World to the beginning of the Eighteenth
Centiiry.” 1834, 6 vols. 121no. The work formed part of the senm of Murray’a Family
Library.
385 B I0 GBAP HICAL SRET CHE S.
and the author ; the former asserting that many of the ideas he had promulgated
in his " Translation of the Gospels," published a short time before, were
appropriated without acknowledpent in the Essay of the latter. Mr. Tytler,
however, proved satisfactorily that no such thing as plagiarism could have been
the case ; and that the extraordinary similarity was alone the result of a unison
of sentiment. Of this the Doctor, although at first somewhat sceptical, was so
thoroughly satisfied, that a warm friendship between the parties was the agreeable
result.
In 1790 Mr. Tytler was appointed Judge-Advocate of Scotland, an office
which he filled in the most conscientious manner, performing the duties personally,
and in several instances displaying a creditable degree of humanity,
by procuring a mitigation of punishment, in cases where the sentence of the
Courts-Martial appeared unnecessarily severe.
In 1792 he succeeded, by the demise of his father, to the estate of Woodhouselee,
where he afterwards continued to reside, and for a few years enjoyed
the utmost felicity in improving and ornamenting his much-loved paternal
residence. A dangerous illness with which he was seized in 1795 nearly proved
fa,tal, and confined him for a length of time. His hours of convalescence and
leisure, however, were sedulously devoted to literary pursuits, and to this period
several productions of his pen are due.
On the death of Lord Stonefield, in 1805, Mr. Tytler was promoted to the
bench; and appointed a Lord of Justiciary in 1811. Shortly after returning
from London, the following year, whither he had gone to make arrangements
respecting some property bequeathed him by his relative, Sir James Craig,
Governor-General of British North America, he was attacked by a return of
his former disorder. To have the advantage of prompt medical assistance, he
was induced to remove from Woodhouselee to Edinburgh ; but, notwithstanding
every effort, the malady made daily progress. " Feeling that he had not long
to live, although perhaps not aware that the period was to be so brief, he
desired his coachman to drive him out on the road in the direction of Woodhouselee,
the scene of the greater portion of the happiness which he had enjoyed
through life, that he might obtain a last sight of his beloved retreat. On
coming within view of the well-known grounds, his eyes beamed with a momentary
feeling of delight. He returned home-ascended the stairs which led to
his study with unwonted vigour-gained the apartmentsank on the floor, and
expired without a groan. Lord Woodhouselee died on the 5th January 1813,
in the sixty-sixth year of his age ; leaving a name which will not soon be forgotten,
and a reputation for taste, talent, and personal worth, which will not
often be surpassed.
One of his sons, Patrick Fraser Tytler, Esq.,
advocate, attained considerable reputation by a valuable History of Scotland,
and other historical and biographical works.
He left several children.
The following is a list of Lord Wooclhouselee's writings :-
