55-i MEMOIR OF 



English history, than had yet been accomplished in any one 

 performance in our language. The most important, however, 

 of these literary projects, was that of a continuation of Lord 

 Hailes's Annals of Scotland, from the period when Lord 

 Hailes's researches closed, to the accession of James VI. to 

 the Crown of England ; a work to which no common talents 

 were adequate, and of the -difficulty of which no stronger evi- 

 dence can be given, than that, however desired, it has yet re- 

 mained unattempted. 



All these projects, however, yielded to another, which was 

 much more interesting to Lord Woodhouselee himself, and 

 to the accomplishment of which he was animated by some- 

 thing more than the hope of literary fame, — this was the Life 

 of his earliest friend and patron Lord Kames. " He had wait- 

 " ed, (as he says,) with his usu».l modesty, for more than twen- 

 " ty years, in the hope of its falling into abler hands." He 

 was now raised to the same Bench which had been dignified 

 by the presence of Lord Kames ; and the business in which he 

 was engaged, served every day to bring him to his remem- 

 brance, and to afford him the new opportunities of appretiating 

 his learning and his genius. From this fortunate concurrence 

 of circumstances, Lord Woodhouselee felt himself emboldened 

 to undertake the task, and having determined upon his plan, he 

 entered with eagerness upon the study of his works, and the 

 collection of materials ; and in the course of the vacations of 

 only four years, he was able to accomplish his design. The 

 work was finally published in two volumes, quarto, in the year 

 1807, with the title of Memoirs of the Life and Writings of 

 Henry Home, Lord Kames. 



It is impossible not to admire the motives which led Lord 

 Woodhouselee to this undertaking, and it is impossible also 

 not to respect the ability with which, amid the distractions of 



public 



