1790. , LITERARY INTEtLIGENCER. 5 



The name of Cullen by this time became familiar 

 at every table in that neighbourhood ; and thus he 

 came to be known, by charaftcr, to the Duke of Ha- 

 milton, who then refided, for a fhort time, in that part 

 of the country : and that nobleman having been fud- 

 denly taken ill, the affiftance of young Cullen v/as call- 

 ed in, which proved a fortunate circumftance in ferving 

 to promote his advancement to a ilation in life, more 

 fuited to his talents than that in which he had hither- 

 to moved. 



The charafter of the Douglafles, of which name the 

 family of Hamilton now forms a principal branch, 

 has always been fomewhat of the fame {lamp with that 

 of the riling Cullen. Genius, benevolence, franknefs, 

 and conviviality of difpofition, have been, with them 

 in general, very prominent features : and if to that 

 be added a fpirit of frolic and of diffipation, thefe Vv^ill 

 be accounted as only natural confequences of thofe 

 youthful indulgences that fpring from an excefs of 

 wealth at an early period of life, and the licence al- 

 lowed to people of high rank. The Dnke was there- 

 fore highly delighted with the fprightly charafter and 

 ingenious converiation of his new acquaintance. Re- 

 ceiving inftruftion from him in a much more pleafing, 

 and an infinitely eafier way ihan lie had ever before ob- 

 tained, the converfation of Cullen proved highly in- 

 terefting to his Grace — no wonder then tbat he foon 

 found means to get his favourite Doftor, who was al- 

 ready the efleemed acquaintance of the man through 

 whofe hands all preferments in Scotland were obliged 

 to pafs, appointed to a place in the univerfity of Glaf- 

 gow, where his Angular talents for difchprging the du- 

 ties of the flatiou he now occupied, foon became very 

 confpicuous f . 



f It was not, however, folely to the favoui; of thefc two great men 

 that Cullen owed his literary fame. He was reconimoucled to the notice 

 of men of fcience, in a way ftiU more honourable to himfelf. The dif- 

 «afe of the Duke of Haniihou having refiiUd the cffed of the firft 



