His return in May, 1819, though longed for as parents alone, and widowed parents of such children, can feel, happened to be about the anniversary of his dear mother's death. I have never, on any other occasion, experienced so strange a conflict of pleasure and pain. When reading, as usual, the scriptures before family-prayer, on the morning after his return, I saw him opposite me, sitting hand in hand with his aunt, precisely as he had for years sat with her who was now no more, my bursting heart could no longer repress its emotion, my voice was choked-my sobs became audible—and, ere we could proceedwe-servants and all-gave vent to our tears. His aunt still required his affectionate attentions; her health was no better; and soon after his return, she was seized with a violent illness, which confined her to her bed for some weeks.

During the voyage from Leith to London, he formed his plan of summer study: and his

decision of character, so far as the result depended on him, ensured its accomplishment. He determined TO COMPOSE DAILY IN LATIN, making Cicero* his model-THRICE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK TO READ GREEK, BESIDES A CHAPTER, AT LEAST, EVERY DAY, IN THE

GREEK TESTAMENT-TO MAKE A TRANSLATION

OF THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS, (which gained a prize)-and, which was his magnum opus

TO COMPOSE AN ESSAY ON THE TRIBUNICIAL

POWER AMONG THE ROMANS, (which gained the first prize). He never skimmed the surface of any subject; and this essay, which would make a respectable volume, displayed great research and uncommon discrimination.

* He did not confine himself to words or phrases found in Cicero; for he deemed other authors to be of equal authority: but he was charmed with that great man's style. It must, however, be admitted, that Cicero, from the extent of his erudition, from the copiousness of his language, and from the variety of his subjects, has furnished almost a complete vocabulary. At the suggestion of our friend, Mr. Bullar, of Southampton, I procured an invaluable work (in three volumes, published 1820, by Priestley) "Lexicon Ciceronianum Marii Nizolii---Juxta editionem Jacobi Facciolati. During this summer, William went through one of Crombie's volumes on Latin Syuonimes.

He formed, almost in an instant, the plan of his work; and, that he might treat it as he ought, he read Hallam's Middle Ages,—a dry, but profound work, which enters deeply into the question of governments-Kennett's Antiquities-Bankes's Civil and Constitutional History of Rome-Hookes's Roman History→ the Latin writers, who had referred to the subject and, above all, LIvy. His method, with the last author, was-to read, in the original, one volume every week, for the first seven weeks after his return, making, as he proceeded, the necessary references and extracts for his work. He effected this, chiefly by the bed-side of the beloved sufferer. He disturbed her not-was ready to converse with her whenever she pleased—and to assist her, or call for assistance, whenever she needed it. In this work, he did not receive the slightest assistance; and had I offered him my aid, he would have refused it. He was most scrupulous never to present a line that was not entirely his own. A striking instance of his

* My copy is Tonson and Watts's edition of 1749, in seven volumes.

honor in this respect was given during this or the following summer, in a translation of the Somnium Scipionis. I compared it with the original; and found that, owing to the obscurity of the thing itself, and especially owing to his ignorance of the terms of music, he had given no very intelligible view of that odd passage respecting the spheres, which begins, "Nonne aspicis, quæ in templa veneris? novem tibi orbibus," &c. Understanding myself a little-though very little-of music, I wrote out a translation of that part, and presented it to him. He smiled, and said, "That is better than mine-but I must send it in with all its imperfections on its head it is understood to be, throughout, my translation.". I loved and venerated him the more for his perfect honesty. It gained no prize that fell to the lot, I think, of Mr. Sandford, son of the Bishop of Edinburgh, and brother of the present Greek professor at Glasgow.

He also wrote, in a burlesque style, a very humourous Voluntary, descriptive of college life, which displayed considerable talent for

that kind of composition. It neither gained, nor was intended to gain, a prize; but was thrown in as a work of supererogation; either to make the professor smile, or to convince him that he had not only been far from idle, but intensely active during his five months' vacation. In the course of the summer, as he was about to enter the logic class, we read Watts's Logic, D. Stewart's Elements, &c. In a part of this we were accompanied by a young French gentleman, Mr. Hine, then visiting at our house; who was to become his class-fellow at College; who there ranked among his dearest friends; and who expressed his friendship towards us by assiduous attententions at my son's dying bed, and by mingling his tears with mine at his grave.

The Essay on the Tribunicial power is much too long for insertion in these memoirs. It consists of An INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.CHAPTER II. which contains preliminary considerations on Roman Government, from the foundation of the city, to the year (U. C.) 260. -CHAPTER III. Reaches from the year 260, to