418 Biographical Account of [Dec 



nothing like a regular system has been formed until now." And 

 Mr. Cumberland, the extent of whose learning, and the fertility 

 of whose genius, gave so much value to his opinion, was so much 

 delighted with the work, and so grateful for the just praise 

 which Mr. Tytler had bestowed upon his admirable translations 

 from the fragments of Greek comedy, that he wrote to his friend 

 Sir William Forbes to beg oHiim to procure Mr. Tytler's permis- 

 sion to dedicate to him a translation of " The Clouds of Aristo- 

 phanes," which he was then preparing, and which the praise of 

 so distinguished a critic had encouraged him tit first to under- 

 take. To the opinion of these eminent men it may be supposed 

 I very willingly subscribe ; yet, I must add, that the work has 

 always appeared to me as entitled even to a higher praise. In 

 its plan, indeed, it appears to relate only to the principles of 

 translation ; but in its execution, it necessarily involves the 

 principles of composition in general ; and in the nature and 

 variety of the examples he adduces, and the acuteness and 

 delicacy of the criticism he employs, Mr. Tytler seems to me 

 to have made use of one of the happiest methods to lead the 

 minds of his readers to a sense of those fine and evanescent 

 beauties in composition, which abstract language can so imper- 

 fectly express, and which affords the best preparation, not only 

 for the task of translation, but for the higher purpose of original 

 composition. 



The " Essay on the Principles of Translation " has now 

 passed through five editions, in each of which the author has 

 been anxious to repay the approbation of the public, by the 

 additions he has made ; and, after the experience of 15 years, 

 it may now be considered as one of the standard works of 

 English criticism. 



While Mr. Tytler was thus actively and usefully employed, 

 the government of Scotland began to consider him as one who 

 was fitted to share in its administration ; and Lord Melville 

 thought himself now entitled, by the character which Mr. Tytler 

 had established, to testify to the public the sentiments of his 

 private friendship. His practice at the bar, though not exten- 

 sive, had been respectable ; and in the conduct of it he had 

 shown sufficiently the talents he possessed for business. His 

 honour was high ; his integrity acknowledged ; and his manners 

 amiable and conciliating. His political opinions were those of 

 hereditary loyalty ; and in the acceptance, therefore, of office, 

 he had none of those sacrifices of principle to make by which 

 the course of political ambition has been sometimes degraded. 

 In the year 1790, he was appointed Judge-Advocate of Scot- 

 land, in the room of Mr. Charles Hope. 



The office of Judge-Advocate it had hitherto (I believe) been 

 usual to execute by deputy ; but Mr. Tytler was not of a cha- 

 racter to make any compromise with duty, or to accept of office, 



