Professor of English to the Grand Dukes, an appointment which he retained till his death. For nine years Mr. Shaw's position was in every respect enviable: happy in his married life, loved by his pupils, respected and honoured by all for his high attainments and many virtues, his life passed in peace and prosperity. A few years more, and his means would have enabled him to retire and pass the evening of his life in literary pursuits. But this was not to be. In October, 1862, he complained of pain in the region of the heart; yet he struggled hard against his malady, until nature could bear no more. For a few days before his death he suffered acutely, but bore his sufferings with manly fortitude. On the 14th of November he was relieved from them, dying suddenly of aneurism. His death was regarded as a public loss, and his funeral was attended by their Imperial Highnesses and a large concourse of present and former students of the Lyceum. A subscription was raised, and a monument is erected to his memory. The following is a list of such of Mr. Shaw's works as have come to our notice. · In 1836 he wrote several picces for 'The Fellow' and 'Fraser's Magazine.' In 1837 he translated into verse numerous German and Latin poems, and wrote a few original poems of merit, some of which appeared in 'The Individual.' Two well-written pieces, 'The Song of Hrolfkraken the Sea King,' and 'The Surgeon's Song,' were contributions to Fraser's Magazine.' In 1838 and two following years he contributed several translations from the Italian to Fraser.' In 1842 he started 'The St. Petersburgh Literary Review;' he also published in 'Blackwood' a translation of 'Anmalet Bek,' a Russian novel, by Marlinski. In 1844 he published his first work of considerable length, a translation of 'The Heretic,' a novel in three volumes, by Lajetchnikoff. The work was well received, and an edition was immediately reprinted in New York. In the following year appeared in Blackwood' his 'Life of Poushkin, accompanied by exquisite translations of several of the finest of that poet's productions. In 1846 his leisure time was entirely occupied in writing his 'Outlines of English Literature,' a work expressly undertaken at the request of the authorities of the Lyceum, and for the use of the pupils of that establishment. The edition was speedily sold, and immediately reprinted in Philadelphia. A second edition was published by Mr. Murray in 1849; and the edition now offered to the public is the fruit of his later years and mature judgment. It may, indeed, be said to be an entirely new work, as the whole has been re-written. In 1850 he published in the Quarterly' an exceedingly original and curious article, entitled 'Forms of Salutation.' |