VISIT TO EUROPE: RESIDENCE IN EDINBURGH. 189 



the winter was not passed before Mr. Black was called 

 away ! Hearing that he was sick, we sent our servant-girl 

 daily to inquire as to his condition. At last she returned 

 one morning and said, " Sir, he has gone to his rest" a 

 beautiful annunciation of his death. 



The fame of our American Dr. John Mitchell Mason 

 was widely extended in Scotland, and especially in Edin- 

 burgh where he was educated. Although they were proud 

 of his talents and eloquence, adorned as they were by a 

 noble person and a commanding voice and manner, he 

 was not permitted to preach in the churches of the Estab- 

 lishment, because his family, which was from Scotland, be- 

 longed to the Seceders. They regarded him, moreover, as 

 too ornate in his style ; and in London he was censured for 

 eulogizing Colonel Hamilton, who in July, 1804, had fallen' 

 in a duel with Colonel Burr. 



" Edinburgh Review" A curiosity, natural on my part, 

 to know something more of the organization and history 

 of this Review, was gratified by the hospitality of our book- 

 seller, Mr. Ross. This kind friend, as he ever proved 

 himself to be. invited me to meet at dinner at his house 

 a party of gentlemen, and among them Messrs. Constable 

 and Hunter, the publishers and proprietors of the Edin- 

 burgh Journal. These gentlemen, with great frankness 

 and liberality, communicated to me those facts respecting 

 the origin and plan and execution of this journal which 



I have published in my early travels At dinner, 



at Mr. Hunter's, the next day, I found in him not only 

 hospitality but great intelligence, with an extended knowl- 

 edge of books, especially those that are rare and valuable, 

 of which Mr. Hunter was a great collector. I mentioned 

 Mather's " Magnalia," of which I wished to obtain a copy 

 for a friend at home. It was sometime after procured at an 

 expense of seven dollars, but unfortunately was lost from 

 the stage between Edinburgh and Liverpool. Mr. Hun- 



