GOOD’S LIFE OF GEDDES. 
Alexander Geddes, LL. D. to the right 
reverend John Douglas, Bishop of Cen- 
‘turie.”” 
_ ‘The consequence of these persecu- 
tions was more serious to Dr. Geddes, 
than it would have been to a man of less 
irritable frame. He was seized with a 
lingering fever, brought on by the an- 
xiety of his mind, from the effects of 
which it was nearly a twelvemonth be- 
fore he was completely recovered. The 
fast ten years of his life, though embit- 
tered by these contests, were, in other 
respects, nearly of the same complexion 
with those which preceded them, occu- 
pied in the diligent execution of his 
avork, with occasional deviations, as any 
temporary object seized the attention of 
Ais excursive mind. The dates at which 
the subsequent volumes of his bible 
made their appearance we have already 
noticed. The most remarkable of his 
other publications, within this period, 
were three secular odes in Latin, cele- 
brating the French revolution, a free 
translation of the Ver-vert of Gresset, 
and especially his “ Modest Apology” 
already mentioned, “ addressed to all 
moderate protestants, pariicularly to th 
‘members of both houses of parliament.” 
WA list.ef thirty-five publications, some 
Axa and some on lighter topics, 
yesides many occasicnal contributions to 
periodical works, comprized within the 
‘Space of little more than twenty years, 
‘marks the industrious career of this in- 
Jefatigable scholar. 
| The closing years of his life were 
father of a melancholy cast... From the 
expensive nature of his great undertak- 
Az, without adequate support, he was 
ninvolved in pecuniary difficulties. 
sreat anxiety of mind must have been 
ndured before he disclosed them to his 
that disclosure however was 
followed by prompt relief - A severe 
loss was sustained by the death of his 
noble patron, whose place however, in 
munificence, his son generously came 
Orward to sustain. A most. painful, 
dultimately fatal, disease, arising from 
cancerous affection of the rectum, now 
de its appearance; his gradual decline 
Was sensible to himself, and visible to 
lis friends, and bowed down by accu- 
wilated suffering, he expired on the 
26th Febuary 1402 The last act of 
goted persecution was to forbid the 
mance of public mass for the de- 
¢ 
7 Ate : 
“A shameless attempt was made to 
479 
spread the belief, that on his death-bed 
Dr. Geddes had recanted what were 
termed his heretical opinions, and that 
this recantation was studiously conceal. 
ed. This falshood, if it'were worth re- 
futation, there is direct evidence sufli- 
cient to refute. 
Respecting the literary merit of Dr. 
Geddes’s publications, it is not within 
cur province to offer any detailed opi- 
nion. ‘The force of his mind will per- 
haps be better estimated from the perusat 
of a narrative like the present, which 
collects his energies into one view, than 
from any of his single works. He often 
composed, as his biographer observes, 
precipitately, and occasionally in a state 
of high mental irritation. In all his 
works, therefore, with much to admire, 
a fastidious taste will probably find some- 
thing to condemn. Of his poetry, either 
in Latin or English, we have seen little 
which we have been induced to place in 
a very high rank; nor does it- indeed 
appear that any of his performances of 
this nature were considered by himself 
as more than relaxations from his severer 
studies. His Latin verses have all the 
appearance of having been written with 
great Auency, but they do not often re- 
mind us of classical antiquity. In poles 
mics, his powers\both of attack and 
defence appear to have been of the most 
formidable order; he was an acute logi- 
cian, but in some of his arguments be- 
trays perhaps the schgol in which his 
education was received. His critical 
attainments are unquestionable; in the 
grand requisites of fidelity of translation 
and approximation to the genuine read- 
ing of the text, his version, in all pro- 
bability, greatly excels any which pre- 
ceded it, but toits style something might 
perhaps be objected. ‘T'o the general 
eulogium of his character, which is made 
by Mr. Good, -no liberal mind will re- 
fuse its assent: “ He was a benevolent 
many an accomplished scholar, an inde- 
fatigabie friend, and a sincere christian.” 
Por much additional information re- 
specting this distinguished character, as 
well as much curious matter incidentally 
eonnected with his life ard writings, we 
refer our readers to the work of Mr: 
Good. His office of biographer we 
consider him as having, on the whole, 
very ably discharged. He is learned; 
he writés with elecance and ease, and 
his account is stamped, we had almost 
said, if that attainment be possible, with 
inarks of absolute impariiality. The 
