of their volumes in 1806; but the draftsman and engraver entirely failed of any likeness. The engraving of a profile likeness fronting the Hollis' Memoirs,' is, I understand, a fair resemblance of him; and the copper-plate should be at your service, but I fear it would not suit for your history, having been placed in another and immediately appropriate work. But do as you please. I remain, Gentlemen,

"Your obedient humble servant,

JOHN DISNEY."

DAVID EARL OF BUCHAN.

The Right Hon. David Steuart Erskine, eleventh Earl of Buchan and sixth Lord Cardross, was born June 1, 1742 (O.S.), the second but eldest surviving son of Henry David the tenth Earl, by Agnes, second daughter of Sir James Steuart, of Goodtrees, Bart. his Majesty's Solicitor for Scotland; and was the elder half-brother of Thomas Lord Erskine, for a short time Lord High Chancellor of England.

From an account communicated by himself to Mr. Wood's edition of Douglas's "Peerage of Scotland," we learn that he "was educated by James Buchanan, of the family of the memorable poet and historian, under the immediate direction of his excellent parents. He was founded in the elements of the mathematics by his mother, who was a scholar of the great Maclaurin; by his father in history and politics; and by his preceptor in all manner of useful learning, and in the habits of rigid honour and virtue." By a memoir in the "Public Characters of 1798," to which also it is probable that his Lordship contributed, we are further informed that, "at the University of Glasgow, in early youth, he applied with ardent and successful diligence to every ingenious and liberal study. His hours of relaxation from science and literature were frequently passed in endeavours to acquire the arts of design, etching*,

* A specimen of his abilities in etching (a view of Icolmkill

engraving, and drawing, in the academy which the excellent, but ill-requited, Robert Foulis for some time laboured to support in that western metropolis of Scotland."

Having completed his education, Lord Cardross was probably at first intended for the military profession, as he held a half-pay lieutenancy of the 32d foot even to the period of his decease. It has been said, however, that he repaired to London, to pursue the study of diplomacy under the patronage of the Earl of Chatham. Whilst resident in the metropolis, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies in 1765. Of the latter, and perhaps of the former, he would, for some years before his decease, have been the senior Member, had he not resigned the honour a few years after returning to Scotland.

His Lordship was appointed Secretary to the British Embassy in Spain in November 1766; but, losing his father Dec. 1, 1767, "withdrew from public life at a very early period after his succession to the title, and dedicated himself to the duties of a private station, the advancement of science and literature, and the improvement of his native country by the arts of peace." Such is his Lordship's own account. His political feelings, however, were strong; and several occasional manifestations of them are on record.

One is thus noticed in the "Public Characters: " "The King's Ministers had been long accustomed, at each new election, to transmit to every Peer a list of the names of sixteen of his fellow-Peers, for whom he was required to give his vote, in the choice of the Members who should represent the nobles of Scotland in the British Parliament; and to this Sumiliating usurpation the descendants of the most rious names had accustomed themselves tamely mit! The Earl of Buchan, with the spirit

iltasa

to sub

Abbey), was published in the first volume of the Transactions of the Scottish Antiquaries, as noticed hereafter.

of an antient Baron, took an early opportunity of declaring, that he would oblige the Secretary of State, who should insult him with such an application, to wash away the affront with his blood. The practice from that time ceased; and Ministers were obliged to adopt some other less offensive mode of exercising their electioneering influence over the Caledonian Peerage." Lord Buchan's " Speech, intended to have been spoken at the Meeting of the Peers of Scotland, for the General Election of their Representatives; in which a plan is proposed for the better Representation of the Peerage of Scotland," was published in 4to, 1780. His Lordship never voted at subsequent elections of Representative Peers.

To revert from these political efforts to those scenes where his zealous enthusiasm was more successfully and beneficially exerted, the " Public Characters" shall be again quoted: "The Earl had two very promising brothers [the Chancellor and the witty Henry Erskine]; and on their education he earnestly bestowed that care which was to be expected from the kindness and vigilance, not merely of a near relation, but of a prudent and affectionate parent. The fortunes of his family had been, from different causes, not dishonoured indeed, but impaired so considerably that they could no longer afford an annual income sufficiently ample to support its dignities with due splendour, and to enable him to gratify all the generous wishes of a munificent spirit. Struck with this, he resolutely adopted a plan of economy, admirably fitted to retrieve and re-establish those falling fortunes; and his endeavours (perhaps the most honourable and difficult which a young and liberal-minded nobleman could resolve upon), without subjecting him to the imputation of parsimony, were crowned and rewarded with opulence.

"The High School of Edinburgh is confessedly one of the best seminaries in the kingdom for the initiation of youth in the first principles of the

Latin language. By frequent visits to this seminary, the Earl of Buchan has sought every opportunity of recommending to public notice the skill and attention of the teachers, as well as the happy proficiency of their pupils; and a premium, his gift, is annually bestowed at the University of Aberdeen, upon the successful competitor in a trial of excellence among the Students."

Of a school for Students of more advanced years, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the Earl of Buchan may justly be styled the Founder. The first meeting, preparatory to its formation, was held at his house, Nov. 14, 1780; when he explained, in a pertinent discourse, (printed that year in octavo,) the general plan and intention of the proposed Association. A second meeting assembled at the same place a fortnight after; and at a third, on the 18th of October, the Society was instituted, when the Earl of Bute was elected President, and the Earl of Buchan the first of the five Vice-Presidents. A few weeks after it was annouced that "the Earl of Buchan has presented to the newly-instituted Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, a correct Life of the admirable Chrichton, written by the Earl himself, in which many falsities relative to this prodigy of human nature are detailed. [This was afterwards employed in the Biographica Britannica.] His Lordship has likewise deposited with the Society some valuable literary productions of Chrichton." His subsequent exertions will be considerably illustrated by the correspondence appended to this article.

In December 1784 the Earl communicated to Mr. Nichols, two letters containing some "Remarks on the Progress of the Roman Arms in Scotland, during the Sixth Campaign of Agricola," which, with a third by the Rev. Mr. Jamieson, and six plates, were published in 1786 as the XXXVIth number of the Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica. The first letter begins in this singular manner, the quotation of

which will impart some further idea of his Lordship's political sentiments: "Sir, Next to the united loss of health and character, accompanied by the gnawing torments of an evil conscience, is the misfortune to a good man of surviving the virtue, the glory, and the happiness of his native country. This misfortune is ours; and such has been the accumulation of disgrace and discomfiture that has fallen on us as a people, since the last wretched twenty-four years of the British annals, that I turn with aversion from the filthy picture that is before my eyes, and look back for consolation to the times which are past. It was in seeking, Sir, for such opiates to the watchful care of a good citizen in a falling empire, that I fell into antiquarian research, and shall give you from time to time the results of it."

On reviewing the memorials of the Scottish nobility, Lord Buchan felt his enthusiastic veneration in a particular manner excited by the science and virtues of the illustrious Napier, the inventor of logarithms, and the most eminent discoverer in philosophy which Scotland could boast. With a generous hand he aspired to crown the memory of his illustrious countryman with due honours, and, in conjunction with Walter Minto, LL. D. published at Edinburgh in quarto, in 1787, "An Account of the Life, Writings, and Inventions of Napier of Merchiston; as a specimen of biography on a new plan *.

In 1787, Lord Buchan, from regard to his health, left Edinburgh and went to reside at his country mansion of Dryburgh Abbey. The circular Latin epistle, which he addressed to his learned friends on this occasion, will be found in a subsequent page. His Lordship then applied his energies to the improvement of his ancestral seat; and no tourist who has visited the south of Scotland will forget the beauties of Dryburgh. The Earl himself commu

* See the Monthly Review, vol. LXXX. pp. 232-237.