LORD WOODHOUSELEE. 51*7 



awakened him to a sense of the beauties of classical composi- 

 tion ; and the names of Johnstone and Buchanan reminded 

 him, that the accomplishments which he now travelled to ac- 

 quire, were once the produce of his own country. 



With this ambition, he soon distinguished himself amono' 

 his school-fellows of the Academy. He became the favourite 

 pupil of Mr Elphinston, and received from that worthy man 

 all that cordial assistance and encouragement which knowledge 

 has so fortunate a pleasure in affording to the ardent and aspi- 

 ring mind of youth. A little incident, at this time, too, oc- 

 curred, which served to confirm Mr Tytler in his love of 

 Latin poetry, and in his ambition to excel in it. 



The celebrated Dr Jortin was at that period vicar of Ken- 

 sington. Upon some occasion, when Mr Tytler had particu- 

 larly gratified Mr Elphinston, by a copy of Latin verses, the 

 good man carried them in exultation to Dr Jortin. The ver- 

 ses pleased Dr Jortin so much, that he requested to be made 

 acquainted with the author. Mr Tytler was accordingly in- 

 troduced to him. He received him with the greatest kindness, 

 and, after praising the composition, and encouraging his assi- 

 duity, he took down a copy of his own Latin poems, and re- 

 quested Mr Tytler to accept of it, as a memorial of his ap- 

 probation and regard. This volume, with a little inscrip- 

 tion in the author's handwriting, Mr Tytler ever afterwards 

 preserved with veneration, and often acknowledged, that much 

 of his attachment to Latin verse was owing to this little inci- 

 dent. 



It is among the most important effects of these studies in 

 early life, that they awaken the minds of the young to a new 

 sense of the beauties of Nature, and of the charms of poetical 

 imitation. Both these effects Mr Tytler seems at this period 

 to have experienced. It was during his residence at Kensino-- 



3 T 2 ton, 



