LORD WOODHOlJSELEE. 547 



The society that assembled at his table, was the best that at 

 that period this country afforded, — his own family-relations, — 

 the families of the neighbouring proprietors in the populous 

 county of Mid-Lothian, — most of the men eminent in science 

 or in literature, of which our metropolis was then so profuse, — 

 and occasionally those strangers of distinction, whom the love 

 of science or of nature had induced to visit Scotland. His hos- 

 pitality was cordial, but unobtrusive, — his attentions were so 

 unostentatious, that his visitors found themselves at once at 

 home, — and he himself appeared to them in no other light 

 than as the most modest guest at his own table. The conver- 

 sation which he loved, was of that easy and unpremeditated 

 kind in which all could partake, and all enjoy. To metaphy- 

 sical discussion, or political argument, he had an invincible 

 dislike ; but he gladly entered into all subjects of literature or 

 criticism, — into discussions on the fine arts, or historical anti- 

 quities, or the literary intelligence of the day ; and when sub- 

 jects of wit or humour were introduced, the hearty sincerity of 

 his laugh, the readiness of his anecdote, and the playfulness of 

 his fancy, shewed to what a degree he possessed the talents of 

 society. His sense of humour was keen, but at the same time 

 characteristic : it was the ludicrous, rather than the ridiculous , 

 in character or in manners, which amused him : those excesses 

 rather of the amiable than of the selfish or sordid passions, 

 which are observed with a sentiment of tenderness as well as 

 of disapprobation, and which the poet has so happily express- 

 ed by the phrase, circum prcecordia ludit. The humour of most 

 men is unhappily mingled with qualities which add little to 

 the amiableness, and still less to the respectability of character. 

 From the gayest conversation of Mr Tytler, on the contrary, 

 it was impossible to rise, without a higher sense of the purity 

 of his taste, and the benevolence of his nature. 



Vol. VIII. P. II. 3 Z His 



