vestra ipsorum corda, Academici, gratique animi fidelitas, facillimè suppeditabunt. Si verò nos felicissimos prædicemus, quòd patriam libertate purissimâ florentem et potestate nacti simus, gaudeamus insuper nos in hujusce Academiæ gremium receptos esse, ubi, quodcunque est ingenui, quodcunque liberalis et eruditi, prosequi datur. Tu igitur, quam totus veneror, Alma Mater, tuam ab omni mutatione incorruptam serves disciplinam, ac lumen doctrinæ et virtutis semper diffundas. Floreas, precor, in omne seculum novis honorum incrementis: nec gloriæ monumentum tuæ nisi fracto illabatur orbe.

JOHANNES ASHBRIDGE, A. B.

Cantabrigiæ.

In Comitiis Maximis.

TRIN. COLL.

NECROLOGY.

We have already alluded to the death of Professor Scott of Aberdeen, (See No. v. p. 79.) We now present our readers with his character, drawn by Dr. Skene Ogilvy, Senior Minister of Old Aberdeen.

"As a man, the conduct of Mr. SCOTT was dignified and correct. He neither assumed that austerity, which sets others at a distance; nor descended to those frivolous levities, which lead to unbecoming familiarity. Possessing, in an uncommon degree, a calm firmness of mind, by which he could control his feelings, and adhere to his purposes, he was generally able to avoid the errors, into which the unwary are often led by the disorders of the passions: and to ensure the success of his undertakings, by the caution with which they were commenced, and the undeviating steadiness with which they were kept in

"In domestic life his character was amiable. The tears of his disconsolate widow can but feebly express her heartfelt grief for a most worthy, indulgent, and affectionate husband, who rejoiced with her in prosperity, counselled her in perplexity, and in affliction soothed and composed her, by his kind, constant, and sedulous attentions. Her happiness or sorrow he felt as his own.

"Steady and warm in his attachments, his intimate friends will long recollect with mingled gratitude and regret, the readiness of his sound, though unobtruded advice; the cheerfulness, with which he endeavoured to promote their interest; and the pleasure he felt, when fortune favored their views. Unostentatious in his professions of regard, the sincerity of his affection was marked, chiefly, by the assiduity of his efforts to alleviate their distress.

"His house was the seat of hospitality, affability, and kindHis door was opened with complacency to the stranger: and he was always pleased to see a companion or a friend.

ness.

«In company, he neither anxiously sought, nor affectedly shunned, learned conversation; but was at all times willing, as far as propriety would admit, to adapt his discourse to the humor and inclinations of his associates to the young, as well as to the old; to the gay, as well as to the grave; to the man of the world, as well as to the scholar. With an accurately discriminating eye he could perceive where, and with whom, he might safely and properly unbend his mind; and when, and how far, it was expedient to use reserve. Wherever he was known, his company was eagerly and generally courted :—and, we admire the talent, by which he could devote large portions of his time to the gratifications of social intercourse, without suffering his ardor in literary pursuits to cool. Where he was accustomed to visit, often will the sigh be heard, among those who feel the loss of the cheerful conversation, with which he was wont to amuse, to please, and to inform his associates.

"Long will his fellow-citizens lament his death, and recollect his virtues. Often will they mention his name with the feelings of respect and esteem, due to the memory of the man, who, with high credit to himself, and advantage to the place, dis

charged, during several years, the functions of Chief Magistrate in his native city; who, in all the offices that he held amongst them, successfully directed his undeviating efforts to their common good; and, whose purse, without the ostentation of charity, was ever open to their poor.

"As a man of letters, his attainments were truly great. Endowed with more than ordinary natural abilities; and availing himself of all the advantages of an excellent education, he devoted his attention to literary pursuits, with that ardor which marks the scientific mind. Nor did he fail to reap the fruits of his industry; for his philosophical publications, and his extensive and highly valued correspondence with learned men, had procured him uncommon esteem in the literary world. The numerous compositions which he has left in an unfinished state, serve now, alas! only to show what might have been expected from his genius, knowledge, and industry, if it had pleased God to prolong his estimable life.

"In his Academical Lectures, he combined original observation with judicious selection, and accurate scientific arrangement with that simplicity, perspicuity, and neatness of style, which is the best and most captivating vehicle of instruction. Deeply conversant in the writings both of ancient and modern philosophers, he freely availed himself of all their information; while trusting modestly to his own powers, he had the courage to think, and to judge for himself. Where his reason led him to differ from respectable authorities, cautiously avoiding that asperity of language, which is too often the disgrace of literary combatants, he stated the arguments on which he founded his opinions, with the manly firmness which becomes the advocate of truth. Preserving the respectful deference due to distinguished learning and genius, even while they err, his candid, unassuming manner never injured the memory of a dead, or wounded the feelings of a living opponent. It was only against those sophists, whose pernicious tenets tend to sap the foundations of religion, or to disturb the harmony of social life, that his indignation could be roused:--and even then, while, in terms of merited ridicule or contempt, he exposed the fallacy, in pity he spared the man. Far from thinking that human VOL. IV. No. vII,

N

science had yet attained perfection, he was constantly attentive to its progress. In his zeal for its improvement, he was not misled by the theories which fancy daily forms, and which ingenuity and novelty alone support; but, deliberately applying the test of reason to whatever the genius or learning of the age brought forward to his view, while he rejected what seemed frivolous or false, he carefully enriched his academical course with every new and important discovery.

"Such was the example which he gave to his pupils, in his manner of investigating, illustrating, and defending truth.

"Its happy influence appeared in the steadiness and dignity which commanded their respect, combined with the affability and kindness which won their hearts; and in the pleasing address with which he roused them to application, by exciting in them a laudable emulation, and animating them with the love of science. When the relation of pupil and teacher had ceased, young men of merit were sure to find in him the characters of a father and a friend.

"By his death, science has lost a friend who bade fair to increase her stores; society, one of its most respectable and agreeable members; and the University, a Professor of highly distinguished ability and usefulness. *

I

"But his abilities, his learning, and the excellence of his manner of communicating knowledge, are not the only important endowments for which the literary world, and the public at large, will long and deeply lament his untimely fate.

"Feeling, on his heart, the powerful influence of rational Christianity; and sensible that the impressions of early life are lasting, the philosophy which he taught was friendly to the best interests of religion and morals. In his writings, in his

' Mr. ROBERT EDEN SCOTT died in the morning of Monday the 14th of January, 1811. After having acted during several sessions of college as an assistant Professor, he held different chairs in the University, nearly 15 years; and taught, with great reputation and success, Greek, Mathematics, Natural and Moral Philosophy, and Logic. He was descended, by his mother, from the family of GORDONS, who had been much and justly respected as Professors in the University and King's College of Aberdeen for almost two centuries.

conversations, and in his school, scepticism and infidelity, with all their fallacies and fictions, were zealously opposed; while the sacred treasures of natural and revealed religion, which cherish whatever wisdom, virtue, and affection value most, were supported with that force of argument which flows from the clearest understanding, and with that energy of manner, which emanates from the heart that feels their power. These alone, he knew, could soothe the sensibilities of a wounded spirit, in those hours of sorrow, when other consolations are of no avail : —these alone, he knew, could ease the throbbings of the heart that mourns for departed worth :-and these alone, he knew, could arm the dying man with fortitude, with resignation, and with joy.

"Nor did his well-founded expectations terminate in disappointment. He showed, on his death-bed, the magnanimity and hope, which spring from the sound and rational principles which he had uniformly inculcated, and by which he had carefully regulated his conduct. During the progress of the fatal fever which deprived us of this truly worthy man, in every lucid interval he calmly viewed his approaching end.

"Observing a friend sitting by him, and looking on him with anxious tenderness, he affectionately grasped his hand, and, with the noble confidence of a dying Christian, he said, "I know that I am going to another and a better world." In the evening immediately preceding his death, and but a little time before he had intirely lost the power of speech, with the resignation and composure of a true disciple of Jesus, he recommended his departing spirit to his God, through the merits and mediation of his Redeemer. How different is this from the gloomy end of the doubting sceptic, the sullen departure of the hardened infidel, or the frightful death of the sinner, who expires without a ray of hope! What a practical value does it stamp upon the rational assurance of "eternal life," which Christianity alone can inspire!