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ties of a baronetcy and to become tbe founder of an enno- 

 bled family. For tliis, liis vast and versatile powers were 

 taxed to tlie utmost strength, and even beyond endu- 

 rance. He seemed just on the eve of realizing his ardent- 

 ly cherished hopes. His literary fame was redolent with 

 the praises of a world of admirers. He attracted the favor- 

 able notice of his sovereign, and through the interest of one 

 and another, powerful in Court influence, he gained the 

 name of Baron. And very soon the vicissitudes of trade, 

 through which he hoped to acquire the means of maintain- 

 ing his newly conferred dignity, imposed on him the stern 

 obligation of laboring for his bread, and the liquidation of 

 the j ust claims of his creditors. Bravely he waged the battle 

 of life : But '' time and change happen to all ' ' and at last the 

 mightiest of all conquerers met him : and in his grasp he 

 yielded up life and all its promises of distinction, with as 

 little resistance as an infant oflers to the over-mastering 

 and crushing strength of a giant. For what purpose had 

 he lived and to what end had he employed the command- 

 in o- talents with which God had endowed him? It is 

 an accredited ma^sim, ^' de mortuis nil nisi bonum'' — that is 

 speak nothing derogatory of the dead. We accept the 

 aphorism, and mean not to deny its obligation in practice. 

 We would not take one leaf of pine or laurel from that 

 crown with which the suflTrage of a world has graced the 

 brow of Scotland's favorite son. But by suggesting a com- 

 parison between the works of the great Magician of the 

 Korth and the unobtrusive and patient labors of the Profes- 

 sor toiling for forty years in the Academic shades of Caro- 

 Una, in their acknowledged results upon human society, I 

 would add a modest and unpretending Forget-me-not to the 

 wreath which adorns the honored head of our beloved 



friend. 



We ask, how much have the writings of Sir Walter con- 

 tributed to the formation of correct principles of human 



