guide. An edition of it was long afterwards published by Sir Robert Sibbald; who added several biographical notices, and augmented the number of the testimonies collected by Sir Thomas Pope Blount. The name of Buchanan, it may be almost superfluous to remark, occurs in every collection of general biography. The article inserted in the very curious work of Bayle, is extremely defective: this acute and singular man seems to have been but little acquainted with the productions of Buchanan, and still less with the genuine character of their author. But to the learned and indefatigable Le Clerc our obligations are not inconsiderable. This writer, who, in the year 1706, inserted in one of his periodical publications a dissertation De George Buchanan et de ses Ouvrages, had evidently perused his works with attention, and had formed no injudicious estimate of his personal and literary merits. Still however no other separate memoir had been undertaken, or at least had made its part appearance. During the earlier. of last century, George Crawfurd addressed to the Le Clerc, Bibliotheque Choisie, tom. viii, p. 106. gentlemen of the name of Buchanan, proposals for writing and publishing the life of this illustrious scholar; but his project seems not to have been received with adequate encouragement. He proceeded however to the completion of his work: and in the year 1751, after the author's decease, proposals for printing it were issued at Glasgow, but with no better success." biographical account of Buchanan was also composed by Mr. Wodrow ;" and, like Crawfurd's production, it still remains unpublished. These manuscript works I have never seen. A At a more recent period, the task of writing his life was successively recommended, by the earl of Buchan, to Dr. Stuart and to Dr. Dunbar: and either of those able men could have invested the subject with charms, which the reader will in vain expect to discover in the subsequent pages. If however we consider the complexion of Dr. Stuart's history of Scotland, his declining this undertaking can certainly excite very little regret : regret: but the eloquence and superior candour of Dr. Dun Chalmers's Life of Ruddiman, p. 309. bar would have enabled him to display the variegated excellence of Buchanan with powerful effect. Although no regular account of his life was composed by Mr. Ruddiman, yet from the labours of that learned and worthy man I have derived very important aid. His edition of the works of Buchanan' is entitled to high commendation. The plan of such a collection was originally formed by George Mosman; and the impression was actually proceeding in the year 1702. After a few sheets had been completed, the property was transferred to Robert Freebairn, printer to the king, and Ruddiman was by him engaged in the undertaking ;" but the edition did not make its appearance till the year 1715. It reflects equal credit on the printer and on the editor. Ruddiman's masterly acquaintance with philology, and with the history of his native country, had eminently qualified him for his laborious task. The accuracy of the text, and the utility of his illustrations, are equally con • Edinb. 1715, 2 tom. fol. ‣ Sibbaldi Comment. in Vitam Buchanani, præf. a Ruddiman's Anticrisis, p. 22. spicuous. He has prefixed a copious and satisfactory preface; and, among other appendages, has added a curious and critical dissertation De Metris Buchananæis. His annotations on Buchanan's history are particularly elaborate and valuable; but it is to be lamented that his narrow politics should so frequently have diverted him from the more useful tracts of enquiry. Where political prejudices intervene, he is too eager to contradict his author; and he often attempts, by very slender and incompetent proofs, to extenuate the authenticity of his narration. In illustrating the moral and literary character of Buchanan, he spent many years of his life. With great zeal and success, he afterwards vindicated his paraphrase of the psalms against the frivolous objections of Mr. Benson; but his political prejudices seem to have encreased with the number of his years. His controversies with Mr. Love and Mr. Man were conducted with sufficient pertinacity; though it must be acknowledged that the advantage of learning, and even of candour, generally inclines to Ruddiman's side. The perusal of his controversial works in the or der of their composition, is a task of considerable interest and edification. When hè concluded his annotations on the life of Buchanan, he was disposed to regard him, with Nathan Chytræus, as "a most excellent and most innocent man, and entitled to perpetual remembrance on account of his exquisite learning and dignity;" but when galled by his antagonists, and mortified by the fading hopes of the royal house of Stewart, he gradually adopted new opinions which were not founded on any new evidence. It must frequently have occurred to his reflections, that Buchanan had essentially contributed to the dissemination of those doctrines which led to the revolution; and after the hopes of the Jacobites were completely blasted, he expressed himself with a degree of asperity which is chiefly to be regretted for his own sake. One example will probably be deemed sufficient. "But, alas! what will his great admirers gain by that concession? Only this, that they make him die an hardened and impenitent sinner; and rather than his reputation, or more truly that of their own cause, should suffer in this world, they |