58 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
which now, of course, have lost much of their interest, but which 
mark a very intelligent and acquisitive mind. In particular, it is 
amusing to notice how his Caledonian enthusiasm every now and 
then breaks forth in defence of Scotsmen and their country in 
opposition to what he considered to be unjust English prejudices. 
He repudiates the idea that Scotland’s prosperity was in any mate- 
rial degree due to the Union with England ; he despises the sneers 
of Dr Johnson ; and he believes all that reasonably could be be- 
lieved of the genuineness of Ossian’s Poems, a portion of which, 
moreover, he heard recited by a native of Tiree. 
It is easy to believe that a young Swiss, highly intelligent, and 
animated by sentiments so agreeable to Scotchmen, was warmly 
welcomed into the best circles of Edinburgh. Among the sur- 
vivors of those who were then intimate with him, I have received 
a few slight reminiscences from two, — Mr Charles L. Camming 
Bruce, M.P., and Mr James Mackenzie.* In the families of these 
two gentlemen he was ever welcome ; and his gaiety, intelligence, 
gentleness, and love of female society, made him a great favourite. 
Indeed, the domestic pleasures of that early visit made an impres- 
sion on his mind which was never eclipsed, — which yet possibly 
tended to throw a shade of gloom over his more advanced years, 
when, still solitary in the w^orld, the magnetic influence of early 
scenes and friendships drew him once and again back to his much- 
loved Scotland. It was at the house of “ the Man of Feeling” 
especially, that “ he met, and was most intimate with, all that was 
best and most distinguished in the then charming society of Edin- 
burgh, which consisted, among others, of Dugald Stewart, Playfair, 
Walter Scott, Jeffrey, Dr Hope, and Lord Webb Seymour, with 
all of whom his happy temper and naive cheerfulness made him a 
great favourite. When they took their departure, he used to remain 
discussing their various characters with the accomplished ladies of 
the family.”! Mr James Mackenzie kindly informs me that 
Necker’s chief college companion was an intelligent English medi- 
cal student named Smith, with whom he lodged at first in St J ames’s 
Square. Previously (no doubt in the winter 1806-7) he lived in 
the College, in the house of Wilson the janitor. 
The travels described in the three volumes I have mentioned 
^ Writer to the Signet; a son of the author of the Man of Feeling. 
t From a letter of Mr Gumming Bruce, whom, later, he visited at Oxford. 
