land, the doctrine which has of late made so much noise under the appellation of Philosophical necessity. The same thing had, indeed, been taught by Hobbes, by Collins, and by the celebrated David Hume; but as those authors either were professed infidels, or sup posed to be such, it excited, as coming from them, no wonder, and provoked, for a time, little indignation. But when a writer, who exhibited no symptoms. of extravagant scepticism, who insinuated nothing: against the truth of revelation, in general, and who inculcated, with earnestness, the great duties of morality and natural religion, advanced at the same time. so uncommon a doctrine as that of necessity—a number of pens were immediately drawn against him, and for a while, the work and its author were extremely obnoxious to a great part of the Scotch nation. On the other hand, there were some, and those not totally illiterate, who confounding necessity with predestination, complimented Mr. Home on his masterly defence of the established faith; though between these two schemes, there is no sort of resemblance, except that the future happiness or mi-sery of all men is according to both, certainly foreknown and appointed by God. There was, however, one clergyman, a Mr. Anderson, who wrote a whole volume against the "Moral Essays," in which he treated the learned author with great rudeness and asperity. Not satisfied with this abuse, Anderson afterwards brought a formal charge of heresy against his Lordship before the presbytery of Edinburgh. But the presbytery dismissed the accusation with that contempt, which it so justly merited. This injurious attack, however, gave Lord Kames an opportunity of exhibiting a remarkable proof of his candour and liberality. In a second edition, after considering the

We mean not, by this remark, to exprefs our affent to his Lordfhip's fentiments. We merely wish to evince our difappro-bation of invective or perfonal fcurrility, in controversial writings whether on religious or political fubjects.

subject more maturely, he acknowledged his mistake and retracted some ingenious notions, which, contrary to his intention, had given offence. Alas! how few philosophers are capable of such greatness and generosity of mind!

In 1761, Lord Kames published "An Introduc tion to the Art of Thinking," in one vol. 12mo. This small but valuable book was originally intended for the use of his own family. The plan of it is both curious, amusing, and highly calculated to catch the attention, and to improve the minds of youth. It consists of maxims collected from Rochefoucault, and many other authors. To illustrate these maxims, and to rivet their spirit and meaning in the minds of young persons, his Lordship has added to most of them, beautiful stories, fables, and historical anecdotes.

In the department of belles lettres, his "elements of Criticism" appeared in 1762, in three volumes, Svo. In this valuable work, his Lordship discovers profound erudition and taste in every species of composition, both ancient and modern. It is the first and a most successful attempt to shew that the art of criticism is founded on the principles of human nature. Such a plan, it might be thought, should have produced a dry and phlegmatic performance. Lord Kames, on the contrary, from the sprightliness of his manner of treating every, subject he handled, has rendered the Elements of Criticism" not only highly instructive, but one of the most entertaining books in the English language. Before, this work was published, "Rollin's Belles Lettres," a dull book, from which a student could derive but little advantage, was universally recommended as a standard. But after the "Elements of Criticism" were presented to the public, Rollin instantly vanished and gave place to greater genius and greater utility. With regard to real instruction and genuine taste in composition o every kind, a student, a gentleman, or a scholar, ca

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in no language, find such a fertile field of improve ment. Lord Kames accordingly had the happiness of seeing the good effects of his labours and of enjoying for twenty years, a reputation, which he so justly merited.

To give our readers a still farther proof of the genius and various pursuits of his active mind, Lord Kames, in the year 1772, published a work in one volume folio, entitled, "The Gentleman Farmer," being an attempt to improve Agriculture, by subjecting it to the test of rational principles." With regard to this book, it must be remarked, that all the intelligent farmers in Scotland uniformly declare, that after perusing Young, Dickson, and a hundred other writers on Agriculture, Lord Kames's Gentleman Farmer contains the best practical and rational information, on the various articles of husbandry, which can any where be obtained.

*

In the year 1773, Lord Kames favoured the world with "Sketches of the History of Man," in 2 vols. 4to. This work consists of a great variety of facts and observations concerning the nature of man, the produce of much and profitable reading. In the course of his studies and reasoning, he had amassed a vast collection of materials. These, when considerably advanced in years, he digested under proper heads and submitted to the consideration of the public. He intended that this book should be equally intelligible to women as to men, and to accomplish this end, when he had occasion to quote ancient or foreign books, he uniformly translated the passages. The sketches contain much useful infor mation, and like all his Lordship's other performances are lively and entertaining. This work, however, hath been greatly blamed by some, and as highly commended by others.

We now come to Lord Kames's last work, to which he modestly gave the title of " Loose Hints on Education, chiefly concerning the Culture of the Heart."

It was published in the year 1781, in one volume, 8vo. when the venerable and astonishing author was in the 85th year of his age. Though his Lordship chose to call them Loose Hints, yet the intelligent reader will perceive in this composition an uncom mon activity of mind, at an age so far advanced beyond the usual period of human life; and an ear nest desire to form the minds of youth to honour, to virtue and to veneration of the Deity.

Upon reflecting on the studiousness of Lord Kames's disposition, and his numerous literary pro ductions, the reader will naturally recal to his mind, a striking similarity between his Lordship and the laborious Pliny, the elder. In a letter from Pliny the younger, to Marcer, the following passage occurs, which is equally applicable to both, "When you reflect on the books he has read, and the volumes he has written, are you not inclined to suspect, that he never was engaged in the affairs of the public, or the service of his prince?

Lord Kames was remarkable for public spirit to which he conjoined activity and great exertion. A vast number of the improvements in literature, trade, and manufactures, which, at present, so greatly characterize his countrymen, may, in a great measure, be attributed to him. As a private and domestic gentleman, Lord Kames was admired by both sexes. The vivacity of his wit, and of his animal spirits, even when advanced in years, rendered his company not only agreeable, but greatly, solicited by the li terati, and courted by ladies of the highest rank and accomplishments. Instead of being jealous of rivals, the character of little minds, Lord Kames fostered and encouraged every symptom of merit, that he could discover in the scholar, or in the lowest mechanic. His life was one continued round of benevolence and philanthropy, and so judicious was he in the mode of applying his charity, that even when his fortune was small, he did much more service to

the indigent, than most families of the greatest opu lence. One great feature in the character of Lord Kames was a remarkable innocency of mind. He not only never indulged in detraction, but when any species of scandal was exhibited in his company, he either remained silent or endeavoured to give a different turn to the conversation. As natural conse quences of this amiable disposition, he never meddled with politics, even when parties ran to the greatest lengths; and what is still more remarkable, he never wrote a sentence, notwithstanding his numerous publications, without a direct and a manifest inten tion to benefit his fellow-creatures.

:. He died on the 27th day of December, 1782: As he had no marked disease, but the debility resulting from extreme old age, a few days before his death, he went to the court of session, addressed all the judges separately, told them he was speedily to depart, and took a solemn and an affectionate farewell. 300

HOMER, the most ancient of the Greek poets, is supposed to have flourished 900 years B. C. Seven cities disputed the glory of having given him birth, viz. Smyrna, Rhodes, Colophon, Salamis, Chios, Argos and Athens. We have nothing very certain in relation to the particulars of his life. The most regular account is, that which goes under the name of Herodotus, and is usually printed with his history; and, though it is generally supposed to be spurious, yet as it exhibits that idea which the latter Greeks and Romans entertained of this eminent personage, we must content ourselves with giving an abstract of it..

A man of Magnesia, whose name was Menalippus went to settle at Cuma, where he married the daughter of a citizen called Homyres, and had by her a daughter called Critheis. The father and mother dying, the young woman was left under the tuition