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"December" is the month which we have read, on the whole, with the most uniform gratification; and on in. vestigating the cause, we suspect that it arises from the frost-bound earth admitting no culture, and therefore giving no occasion for admonitions to farmers and cow-herds.

There is an amiable peculiarity about Mr Grahame which we ought not to omit, and which we do not think has been noticed by any of the commentators on his writings. The things which have once pleased him, never fail to please him when they recur; and his having sung the lark or the redbreast at great length, and in various places in the Birds of Scotland, and the Rural Calendar, is no reason why he should not have the pleasure of recognising these familiar friends when he meets them again on the daisied leas, and winter hearths of the Georgics. Robin, indeed, is such a favourite, that he is sure to run away with him, meet him where he may; and he describes his confiding sociality, and his winter song, with as unvarying enthusiasm as any child could do, who for the first time has had his heart melted over the compassionate bird which covered with withered leaves the forsaken Babes of the Wood. We may apply the same remark to his favourite wild-flowers. A very beautiful passage in the "April" of the Rural Calendar is transplanted nearly verbatim into the Georgics. The following is the close, and we think the concluding image exquisitely beautiful and tender. Speaking of the trout, he says

Exhausted, soon Ashore he's drawn, and on the mossy bank, Weltering, he dyes the primrose with his blood.

Grahame's long-cherished and anxious wish was to be accomplished, and he left Scotland in spring, 1809, to endeavour to obtain episcopal ordination. In the prosecution of this object he met with greater obstacles than he had expected; and he was refused ordination by several bishops, for this reason alone, that he had not studied at an English university. He had at length the good fortune to apply to that learned and excellent prelate, Dr Bathurst, bishop of Norwich, who, having made trial of his qualifications, and obtained the most satisfactory evidence of the respectability of his character, ordained him on Trinity Sunday, May 28th, 1809. Though Mr Grahame was known to this distinguished character only by his writings, and came to him with out any formal introduction, he received from him the most polite and friendly attention, for which he was deeply grateful, The good bishop even invited him to remain in his diocese. Nothing could exceed his desire to comply with this invitation, so honourable to both parties; but the prevalence of agues and intermitting fevers in that district, induced him most reluctantly to decline it.

Mr Grahame and his family resided for several weeks, from this date, in the city of Chester, where he lived in retirement. Here he was unexpectedly visited by a friend from Tweedside, who was seated with his family when he returned from a walk, bowed down with rheumatism, and with a countenance expressive of languor and dejection. On entering the room he stopped short as soon as he cast his eyes on the stranger, gazed for a few seconds in silence, and at length his countenance kindling into an expression of satisfaction and joy, he rushed

The time new arrived when Mr forward and welcomed him with heart

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It was his earnest desire, on account of his health, to be settled in the south-west of England, and he had the satisfaction of being invited to officiate as curate at Shipton Moyne in Gloucestershire, for a very respectable young clergyman who was rector of the parish. He began to exercise his clerical functions here on the last Sunday of July, and continued till the month of March follow ing, when, for family reasons, he was obliged to return to Scotland. Here he remained during the summer, and was a candidate for supplying a va cancy in St George's chapel, Yorkplace, Edinburgh. Though he was admired as a preacher, and much beloved as a man, owing to particular circumstances he was disappointed. He was employed as sub-curate to the chapelry of St Margaret, Durham, in August, 1810. The church in which he officiated was almost desti tute of an audience when he was appointed to it, but such was his grow ing popularity, that persons of all descriptions flocked thither, and lis tened with edification and pleasure to his instructions. From this place he removed on May-day, 1811, to Sedge field, a parish in the same diocese. This situation was tendered to him by Mr Barrington, the nephew of the venerable Bishop of Durham. His health, however, now became so bad as to disqualify him for the easy du

ties of this quiet station. We have pleasure in extracting the following interesting anecdote, printed in a periodical publication, a short time after his death, in a review of Wilson's Lines sacred to the Memory of James Grahame. "The same sentiments and feelings which caused him to be so tenderly beloved by his friends, accompanied him in active duties of life, and led him to be indefatigable in acts of charity and benevolence. Mr Grahame, during his residence at Durham, had frequently remarked a poor cobler, whom he found constantly in his little stall labouring diligently for his subsistence. One day, however, as he passed along the street, he was surprised to see the stall shut up, and on making enquiry, was informed that the poor man was sent to prison for debt. The industrious and inoffensive habits of this simple me chanic had interested Mr Grahame's feelings in his favour, and he went to the jail for the purpose of enquiring into his situation, and procuring, if. possible, his release. Here he was shocked and astonished to meet with Mr Greathead, the celebrated inventor of the life boat, who had also been put into confinement by his creditors. The circumstances of this man's case made so strong an impression on Grahame's benevolent mind, that he soon after preached a warm and indignant sermon against that part of the English law, which authorises unlimited imprisonment for debt, a policy which he had always depreca ted as needless and cruel. In this ser mon he so eloquently pleaded the cause of the unfortunate debtors, that Greathead regained his liberty, the poor cobler obtained a considerable subscription, and the preacher himself acquired, what was not his ob ject, unbounded applause."

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sermon from the parable of the good Samaritan, which obtained from that learned prelate very high commendation. He set out for the north in the month of August along with his nephew; but he was not able to come on horseback, nor to make the visit by the way to which he had looked forward.

He remained for a short time in Edinburgh, and received from his medical advisers all the aid it was in their power to give, with assurances of their expectation of a favourable result to his illness. On the 9th of September he went to Whitehill near Glasgow, where his eldest brother resides. He was very ill from the time of his arrival, and in vain endeavoured to struggle against the overpowering effects of disease. He soon after sunk into a kind of stupor ; but during the intervals of recollection rejoiced in the consolations of religion, and in his broken slumbers poured forth the pious effusions of his soul. We use the language of a

"It is hard that I am able to write but a very short letter in answer to the long and kind one which I received from I have been and still you. am excessively ill with severe and almost unceasing headaches. This illness and my absence from Durham have stood in the way of the subscription for Dr H's sermons; I have got only five names, of which I annex a list. I have a long letter lying for you which I wrote very soon after I saw you in Chester; the subject Evil.' I had got to the bottom of the third page, there I laired, and instead of getting forward stopped short, and turned back the best way I could. I have some thoughts of taking a trip to Scotland on horseback. If so I will take in my way. I feel the dicta-respected friend: "After his tongue tion of this letter a burden, so I must conclude. I am, my dear yours, with affectionate regard."

About this time, a friend eminent in the English law, who was present at Durham assizes, deplored to see Grahame seated for a few moments on the steps of the court-house, apparently as unconscious of the crowd that thronged him, as if he had been alone in his own apartment. This temporary failure of recollection was one of the symptoms which attended the increasing malady in his head; though we believe no immediate danger was apprehended from it. A very short time before he made the journey to which he alluded in the above letter, he is said to have preached before the Bishop of Durham a

could no longer give utterance to his thoughts, his looks of tenderness and benignity towards the friends who surrounded his sick-bed, unequivocally proved that his heart still glowed with its accustomed feelings; and that the amiable and gentle virtues which through life adorned his character, contributed to support and sooth him in his latest moments."

The 14th of September, 1811, brought his sufferings to a close, and he resigned his soul into the hands of his Creator, in the faith and hope of the Gospel.

Deep and general was the sorrow occasioned by the unexpected loss of this amiable and excellent character. It was not the least painful circumstance attending his dissolu

tion, that he expired at a distance from his own family. His mortal remains were, however, deposited in the same grave with those of his be loved parents; and the same spot which gave him to existence, received him when his body returned to dust.

The tears which have been shed by friends, relatives, and strangers, bear the most honourable testimony to his worth.

"Peace to thy soul, thy God thy portion be, And in his presence may I rest with thee!"

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[The curious manuscript from which these historical memoirs are extracted, contains several Gaelic poems and genealogies, written by the MacVuirichs, heredi tary bards or seannachies of a distinguished western chieftain. The following literal version contains many particulars respecting the wars of Montrose, totally unnoticed by our historians, and may be considered, at the same time, as affording an authentic historical document, and a curious specimen of the manners and habits of the Gaelic tribes, recorded by one of their own historians. No attempt has been made to correct the language of the translator, who seems to have been better skilled in the Gaelic language, than capable of transfusing its spirit into the English version.]

"I TREAT here," says the bard, "of what happened in my own time. The first king that reigned in Scotland and England, since I remember, was the 1st Charles the son of James of the Stewart line, and these are a few of the chiefs or heads of families existing and cotemporary with me. Namely, Ronald Og Aranui Marquiss of Antrim, of Ruta, and the Glinns in Ireland; and † Archibald Caoch son of Archibald Gruamach, son of Archibald Dun Marquis of Argyle; Sir Lauchlan Maclean of Duart; John Muidartach, son of

Niell Mohr MacVuirich.

Donald son of Allan, Captain of Clanronald, Laird of Muidart and Uist; John, son of Rodric Macleod More of Harris; Sir Donald Gorm, son of Archibald son of Donald, Chief of Slate and Troternish, a great courtier with King Charles; Niel Macniel of Castle Macniel of Bara; Lauchlan, son of John Balbh son of Finguin of Strath; John Garbh, son of Gilcolm of Rarsay; John Garbh, son of John Abrach, Laird of Coll; Murdoch Maclean, Laird of Lochbui; Donald of Truim, son of Angus son of Alexander,

+ Beheaded after the Restoration.

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