330 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Edinburgh publishing houses, he held an eminent and conspicuous 
position ; his name was known and honoured all over the world ; 
the circle of his acquaintance included almost all the most distin- 
guished writers of the day, many of whom were his close and inti- 
mate friends; and the chorus of regret uttered by the London 
newspapers on the occasion of his death showed how widely and 
how much he had been respected. His life was externally unevent- 
ful. He was born in 1818; was educated at the High School and 
University of Edinburgh ; travelled for three years under an accom- 
plished classical tutor upon the Continent ; commenced learning the 
publishing business with Messrs Whitaker in London in 1839 ; 
took charge of a branch of Messrs Blackwood’s in Pall Mall in 
1840; returned to Edinburgh in 1845, and became editor of 
“ Blackwood’s Magazine ; ” and in 1850 became head of the pub- 
lishing firm in George Street. Happily married, and pursuing 
with conscientious diligence and great success the interesting duties 
of his position, keenly enjoying both work and relaxation, entering 
with equal zest into manly exercises and the intellectual pleasure of 
literary and witty conversation, to which he himself was no mean 
contributor, ever unselfish and taking an interest in others, diffusing 
much happiness among those who came within his range, he con- 
tinued to exhibit till three years ago, when his health began to fail 
him, a career of high usefulness and a lot that was singularly blest. 
He continued in harness to the last, and within a few hours of his 
death was still reading the manuscripts of authors. He became a 
Eellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1857. He was never 
a contributor to the “ Proceedings ” of the Society. This, however, 
was only in accordance with the rule which he had laid down for 
himself, which was to abstain from authorship, in order to be able 
to estimate dispassionately and free from all feeling of rivalry the 
productions of others. Socrates used to say of himself that in 
matters of philosophy he performed the obstetric function for the 
youth of Athens, helping into existence such conceptions as were 
worthy to live and come before the world. The same sort of func- 
tion John Blackwood performed for literature in this country. He 
was singularly fitted both by nature and education for the duties 
of his office. His knowledge of belles lettres , as well as of man- 
kind, was extensive, and he had a remarkable sagacity in discerning 
