10 
haps the most prominent feature of his character, 
and its supporting effect was felt in his presence, and 
diffused confidence. “ He feared God, and knew no 
other fear.” 
It seems natural to suppose that his father’s love 
of historical works led his son to take an interest 
in similar researches; for at the early period of 
eleven or twelve he composed an imaginary history 
of Scotland, very fairly and correctly written and 
expressed, in which two races of kings are accu- 
rately described. The writer of these pages has in 
her possession the drawing-room or saloon of these 
illustrious personages, and their place of interment 
under the chapel floor. 
If invention be the proof of genius, it inust be 
accorded to him even in this youthful occupation ; 
for nothing is borrowed: though the dresses, lan- 
guage, and furniture strictly resembled realities he 
had seen, yet the materials he used and the manner 
of applying them to his minute population, show 
very uncommon originality of design. 
The writer is not ashamed to acknowledge, that 
reading the history of this ideal court, its ladies, 
servants, and dependents, and the satirical verses and 
pasquinades upon some members belonging to it, 
has occasionally beguiled a winter’s evening very 
agreeably, when the company of some young friend 
has been the occasion of introducing the “ Paper 
People,” as they were called, upon the tea-table: 
and at the same time his own playful recurrence 
to the scenes of his youthful happiness produced 
an enjoyment which will never return. “ Man was 
