monks. They loudly objected to him that he was a Lutheran ; that he had written poems against the Franciscans; and that he had been guilty of the abominable crime of eating flesh in Lent. Through their influence he was confined a year and an

could to the city of Bourdeaux, | bim exposed to the malice of where he had been before in- his inveterate enemies, the vited by Andrew Govea, a learned Portuguese, and with whom he was immediately chosen to divide the labour of classical instruction in the public schools. Here he taught with applause for three years. It was at this time that he wrote his four tragedies, the "Baptis-half in the inquisition. Delita," " Medas,"" Jephtha," and vered from thence, he was sent "Alcestis." About this time, to a monastery to be better intoo, he presented a copy of ver- structed in the principles of the ses to the emperor Charles V, catholic faith. To amuse the who happened to pass through ennui of his confinement, he Bourdeaux. But all his genius, here wrote a considerable part learning, and merit, were in- of his inimitable Latin version insufficient to allay the malice of the Psalms. Some have asof offended power. Cardinal serted, that this task was enBeaton had been exerting his joined him as a penance for his influence with the archbishop heterodoxy, and that, fascinated of Bourdeaux to have him ap-by the divine music of his lyre, prehended. This revenge, how- the monks of the cloister reever, was seasonably frustrated warded him with his liberty. by Buchanan's friends, into Be the cause what it might, he whose hands Beaton's letters to at length obtained his liberty. the archbishop had fallen. In He now earnestly desired to rethe year 1546 his old friend turn to France; but the king, Govea was commissioned by the persuaded of his, uncommen king of Portugal to invite able merit, endeavoured to detain teachers of philosophy and clas-him in Portugal, and, to tempt sical literature to establish them-him to stay, held out to him selves in the university of Co-prospects of honourable adimbra in Portugal. Among vancement. But his aversion others he made the proposal to to the clergy determined him to Buchanan, who very willingly depart. He hastened to Eng closed with it, as offering him a land. Here the perturbed state quict retreat; and here our au- of affairs during the minority of thor's affairs prospered, till the Edward VI. not giving him the death of Govca, who lived only promise of any lasting security, about a year after they had quit- he again set out for France. ted France. This event left There he had not been long,

tical abilities of our author, while in that situation. About the end of the year 1563, when the prince had nearly completed his fourth year, Buchanan was, by order of the privy council and states of the realm, directed to attend the charge of his edu. cation at court; being at the same time very honourably per mitted to nominate a successor to his office at St. Andrews. The literary character and acquired talents of James VI. being known to every one at all conversant in history, it may suffice to say, that the public expectation respecting his in

when he published his Jephtha, which his necessities made him dedicate to the marshal de Brissac. This patron did not want generosity, and could judge of merit. He sent Buchanan to Piedmont, as preceptor to his son Timoleon de Cossi. In this capacity he continued several years, and, during the leisure it afforded him, he fully examined the controversies which then agitated Europe; and likewise put the last hand to many of the most admired of his smaller productions. In 1563 he returned to Scotland, a professed adherent to the reformed church. Two years after we find him a-structors, so far as their respongain in France; a country to sibility went, was amply satiswhich our author seems to have fied. On the misfortunes which felt peculiar attractions. He befel the beautiful but impruwas, however, speedily recalled dent Mary, he went over to the by queen Mary, and engaged party of the earl of Murray; as the future preceptor of her and at the earl's earnest desire infant son and, till that prince he was prevailed upon to write should be of age to commence his "Detection," a work in his studies, Buchanan was ap- which, by means not the most pointed to the principalship of commendable, he endeavours to St. Leonard's college at St. An- blast the character of the queen, drews, an office which he filled and which his greatest admirers for four years with singular have ever read with regret. credit. Having applied himself Having been sent with other in the former part of his life to commissioners to England athe study of controversial theo-gainst his mistress, he was, on logy, Buchanan, though a lay-his return, rewarded with the man, was elected moderator of abbacy of Croceraguel; made the synod of Scotland, which director to the chancery; and assembled in June 1567; and some time after lord of the privy the ambition of the regent council and privy seal. He was Murray, his old pupil, discover-likewise rewarded by queen ed no inconsiderable resources Elizabeth with a pension of in the literary talents and poli-rool. a-year. The last twelve

and introduced him to king Charles II. On his return to Scotland he married the lady Margaret Kennedy, daughterof the earl of Cassilis. The same year he published his " Vindica

the restoration of king Charles | upon which he drew up the MeII, appointed one of the lords of moirs of the Dukes of Hamilsession, with the title of lord ton.' The duke of Lauderdale Crimond, in reward for his at-hearing that he was about this tachment to the royal party dur-work, invited him to London ing the troubles of Great Britain. Our author, the youngest son of his father, was instructed by him in the Latin tongue. At ten years of age he was sent to continue his studies at Aberdeen, and was admited master of artstion of the authority, constitubefore he was fourteen. His tion, and laws, of the church inclination at first led him to the and state of Scotland," which at study of the law; but he soon that juncture was looked upon changed his mind, and began as so great a service, that he was to apply himself to that of divi-offered a bishopric, and a pronity. He was admitted preach-mise of the next vacant archer before he reached his eight-bishopric, of neither of which he teenth year; and sir Alexander would accept. Soon after this, Burnet, his cousin-german, of- at the request of the duke of fered him a benefice, but he refus-York, he removed to London, ed to accept of it. In 1663, ab- and was afterwards chosen lecout two years after the death of turer of St. Clements. In 1697 his father, he went to England, he published his History of and after six months stay at Ox- the Reformation," which pro ford and Cambridge, returned cured him the thanks of both to Scotland; which he soon houses of parliament. Mr. Burleft again to make a tour for net about this time happened to some months in Holland and be sent for to a woman in sick. France. Upon his return from ness, who had been engaged in his travels, he was admitted an amour with the licentious minister of Salton, in which carl of Rochester. The manner station he served five years in in which he treated her during the most exemplary manner. In her illness, created in that no1669 he published his " Modest bleman a great curiosity to be. and free conference between a better acquainted with him. conformist and a non-conform-Whereupon, for a whole winter, ist." At this time he became he spent most of his time with acquainted with the duchess of Mr. Burnet, who discoursed Hamilton, who communicated with him upon all those topics on to him all the papers belonging which sceptics and men of loose to her father and her uncle; [principles attack the Christian

religion. The happy effect of two first books," concerning these conferences in converting the Deluge and Paradise," in the earl, occasioned the publica- 1681; the two last," concerntion of Mr. Burnet's excellent ing the Burning of the world, Life and Death of that noble- and the New Heavens and New man. On king James's acces- Earth," in 1689. The uncom sion to the throne, having ob- mon approbatiou this work met tained leave to go out of the with, and the particular encourkingdom, he first went to Paris, agement of Charles II, who was and afterwards, made a tour exceedingly taken with it, put into Italy. He pursued his tra- the author upon translating it vels through Switzerland and into English. Many encomi Germany. In 1688 he came to us have peen passed on this Utrecht; and having received work, by various authors. Now, an invitation from the prince however, it is rather out of date; of Orange to come to the Hague, it being generally thought much be accepted of it, and afterwards more philosophical, in framing came over to England with him a theory of the earth, to argue in quality of chaplain. He was from facts observed in nature, soon after this advanced to the than from texts of Sacred Scripsee of Salisbury. In 1699 he ture. In 1692 he published his published his "Exposition of the" Archæologia Philosophica," 39 articles," which occasioned a representation against him in the lower house of convocationet. in the year 1701; but he was vindicated by the upper house. After his death, which happened March 1715, his "History of his own Times," with his life prefixed, was published by his son Thomas Burnet, esq. afterwards sir Thomas.

BURNET (THOMAS), an ingenious and learned writer, was born in Scotland in 1635, but educated in Cambridge under the tuition of Mr. Tillotson afterwards archbishop of Canterbury. His most ingenious work," The Sacred Theory of the Earth," was originally pubished in Latin in 2 vols. 4to; the

dedicated to king William, to whom he was clerk of the clos

He died in 1715.

BURNET (JAMES, lord Monboddo), was born in Kin cardineshire in 1714. He was educated at home under the late professor Skene, and went afterwards to the Marischal college Aberdeen, His studies were afterwards directed to the law, with a veiw to practise at the Scottish bar; and for that pur pose he studied the civil law at Groningen in Holland for three years, In 1737 he became a member of the faculty of advocates, and in 1767 was raised to the bench of the court of session. A journey to the capital became a favourite amusement of his

with a distinguishing notice that could not be but very flattering to him. He used to mingle, with much satisfaction, among

periods of vacation from the himself at court; as the king is court of session; and for many said to have taken a pleasure in years he made a journey to Lon-conversing with the old man, don annually. A carriage, a vehicle that was not in common use among the ancients, he consider ed as an engine of effeminacy and sloth, which it was disgrace-the learned and ingenious at the ful for a person to make use of house of Mrs. Montague. He in travelling. To be dragged at died May 26, 1799, at the adthe tails of horses, instead of vanced age of eighty-five. Lord being mounted on their backs, Monboddo's character as a wriseemed in his eyes to be a ludi- ter is well known. He publishcrous degradation of the genuine ed the last volume of his great dignity of human nature. In work, which he called "Anall his journies, therefore, be- cient Metaphysics," in 4to, a tween Edinburgh and London, few weeks before his death. he was wont to ride on horse- His work on Language," in back, with a single servant at-6 vols. 8vo, he had finished tending him. He continued some years before. The history this practice, till he was up- of Man, and his intellectual wards of eighty years of age. powers, were his lordship's faWithin these few years, on his vourite subjects; and it must return from a last visit, which be allowed, that he has discussed he made on purpose to take the subjects of language, logic, leave of all his old friends in and metaphysics, with no comLondon, he became very ill on mon degree of acuteness. the road, and was unable to pro-a judge, Lord Monbeddo's opinceed; and had he not been over-ions were highly regarded, taken by a friend, who prevail- and his independence of spirit ed upon him to travel the re- rendered his character highy remainder of the stage in a car-spectable. riage, he might, perhaps, have actually perished by the way side. He continued his journey, however, next day on horseback, and in about eight days afterwards returned in good spirits to Edinburgh. In the capital his visits were most acceptable to all his friends, whether of the literary or fashionable world. He delighted to shew

As

BURNS (ROBERT), a celebrated Scottish poet. He was born on the 25th of January 1759, in a small cottage, distant about two miles from the town of Ayr. His father, William Burns, was the son of a farmer in the county of Kincardine, William having for some time followed the employment of a gardener at Edinburgh, remov