ij* obituary ef the learieJ. ^ug. ty, 



" n^ cases by a few lines, which would cost little trouble 

 " to write i:fc. mi^ht prompt such persons chcarfuUy to 

 •* point out errors wherever they occurred, and so speedi- 

 " ly check their progrefs almost as soon as they did ori<« 

 *' ginate." 



These considerations, Sir, have induced me to pro- 

 pose for your miscellany, an Obituary of the Learned, in 

 which, beginning with the present century, or earlier if 

 agreeable to your correspondents, the obit of every man 

 of Learning (hould be "set down, with such particulars of 

 his literary life as may be thought most interesting and 

 useful to the republic of learning. 



It seems at present as if there were no bounds between 

 smerc entry in a bill of mortality, and an extreme panegy. 

 ric or an eulugy pronounced is a literary society in honour 

 of a deceased afsociate, neither of which come at all with* 

 in the scope of my proposal ; which (hould embrace only 

 the great outlines of the life and character, and the titles 

 and purport of the writings, with notices of such works 

 as may remain in M. S. and unpublifhed. 



Besides in such an obituary as I have done myself the 

 honour to propose, correct particulars might be given 

 of great importance to the general history of literature, 

 unmixed with that ridiculous anecdote which disgraces 

 our modern biography, and makes every one afraid to see 

 one^s friend become the subject of literary record. As a 

 specimen of the proposed obituary, permit me to fet down 

 as on the spur of the occasion, an entry on the death 

 of George Stuart, Doctor of Laws, late profefsor of hu* 

 cnanity in the university of Edinburgh. 

 Dr George iiiuart. 



Gocrge Stuart i^c. of an honourable descent, was born 

 in th; year 17 j J. He was particularly attached to the 

 family of the earl of Dalhousie, and having ^iven instruc- 



