felt exclamations of delight. They pas sed that and the following day toge ther, during which time he expressed conscientious solicitude about the discharge of his clerical duties, He also reprobated the slovenly practice so prevalent in the English church, of clergymen delivering to their people sermons composed, and even printed, by others; and he expressed his determination to deliver no sermons that were not his own.

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 following, when, for family reasons, he was obliged to return to Scotland. Here he remained during the summer, and was a candidate for supplying a vacancy 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 destitute of an audience when he was appointed to it, but such was his grow ing popularity, that persons of all descriptions flocked thither, and listened with edification and pleasure to his instructions. From this place he removed on May-day, 1811, to Sedgefield, 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 mechanic 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 deprecated as needless and cruel. In this sermon 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 object, unbounded applause."

The following is an extract from

the last letter written to the friend who had visited him at Chester. It is dated 24th June, 1811, from Sedgefield; and, what is an affecting proof of the decayed state of his health, it was without a signature, and was not written by his own hand.

"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 you. I have been and still 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 dictation 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

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 respected friend: "After his tongue 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 charac ter. 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!"

Laird of Glengary and Cnoidart, he was an old hero in my first remembrance; he was for some time absent from his people, and in ward in Edinburgh; after him succeeded Angus son of Alexander son of Donald, (Lord Glengarey.) Allan Maconel Dhu, chief of the Clan-Cameron, and latterly the youth Ewen son of John son of Allan, who still lives; George Donn, son of Kenneth Og, Earl of Seaforth, Chief of the Clan Mackenzie; Donald Uabal Macaoi son of Magnus, namely, Lord Megrath head of the clan Morgan; and many other great men whom I need not mention here, who were proprietors of land and chiefs in my time; for I write nothing here but of those men whom I have seen myself, and have known great part of their transactions; you may know, from the histories of those who write in the popular language, an account of the troubles of those times. But what I mean to shew you here is, that the Scots were ready at all times to make *war, and more so than either the English or irish. For after the covenant was made against the king, and episcopacy suppressed, and presbytery set up in its stead, the covenanters sent couriers through all countries, in order to find out proper officers to lead and command their armies, and made choice of Alexander Lesly to be their commander-in-chief, an old hero who had been long in the army abroad in different countries. The covenanters' army marched into England; it was the first they set on toot against King Charles; thus the kingdom was put into confusion in the year 1639. In the heat of these troubles, the Marquis of An

trim, young Ronald son of Ronald Arani sent a party of armed men from Ireland to Scotland by the king's orders, and gentlemen of his own kin to command them, namely, Alexander son of Coll son of Gilespie, Colonel James son of Somerled son of James of Banna, and other gentlemen. They took shipping at the town of Ilac in the month of July 1644. They did not stop or take harbour, until they came to the Sound of Mull, where they besieged the castle of Kinloch-alin, took it, and left a party in it, and went from thence to the castle of Mengary, and took it after a great deal of trouble. Alexander (MacColla) Macdonald and his party marched to Caol Reate, and the ship sailed to Loch Eisord in Strath to Sir Donald Macdonald; for the king and the Marquiss of Antrim's orders were for Sir Donald taking the command of the army, and take every man that would rise with them; but Sir Donald died half a year before, upon which Alexander offered the command to Sir James; but he refused it, as he thought the army too few in number, since the whole kingdom was in arms against them, they having five hundred men only; upon which Alexander Macdonald thought of returning to Ireland, since the king's orders were not obeyed; mean time, three large ships of war belonging to the parliament came round from Leith to Loch Eisord, while Alexander's ship lay in the Loch; they ought, but Alexander's ship was taken, which obliged him to remain in the country whatever might happen.

He marched off from thence to Caol Reitle, and over the mountains'

VOL. V. PART II.

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