ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

The Correspondents of the EDINBURGH MAGAZINE AND LITERARY MISCELLANY are respectfully requested to transmit their Communications for the Editor to ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE and COMPANY, Edinburgh, or LONGMAN and COMPANY, London; to whom also orders for the Work should be particularly addressed.

Printed by George Ramsay & Co.

THE

EDINBURGH MAGAZINE,

AND

LITERARY MISCELLANY.

SEPTEMBER 1820.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE, WRIT- Glasgow, he received a present of a

INGS, AND CHARACTER OF WIL-
LIAM RICHARDSON, ESQ. LATE PRO-
FESSOR OF HUMANITY IN THE UNI-
VERSITY OF GLASGOW.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON, Esq. of Croy, late Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow, and author of several esteemed works in the departments of poetry and criticism, was born at Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire, about the year 1744. He was the only child of the Rev. James Richardson, minister of that parish, and of Jane Burrel, a native of Northumberland. His father, though necessarily much excluded from the sources of intellectual improvement, was possessed of superior talent and information, or which the sermons in MS. left by him furnish decided proofs. For one of these sermons, against popery, which he preached in the College church in

• This sketch is taken, with little variation, from a periodical work which, under the name of The Student, was published in Glasgow a few years ago. The facts, we are assured by the author, are from the most authentic sources, and we have a satisfaction in inserting it in our Journal, as we do not find an account of Mr Richardson's life in any earlier Number of the Scots Magazine. His name is too considerable an one to be passed over, in a work that has more especially in view the literature of Scotland, and it cannot but be agreeably and grate fully associated with the early recollections of many of our readers, no less than with

our own.-Editor.

Bible from some Protestant Association in Dublin, expressive of their sense of the ability and courage which he on that occasion exhibited.

The subject of this memoir was, at an early age, put to the parochial school of his native village, at that time successfully taught by a Mr Joseph Balfour, for whom Mr Richardson ever entertained feelings of grateful regard. It is related of him, that, even at this period of his life, he gave evidence of a poetical turn, having written one day, with a bit of chalk, on his master's furniture, a few verses of some merit, which delighted his preceptor, and procured him considerable applause in the neighbourhood.

After completing his initiatory instructions in the English and Latin languages, and acquiring some knowledge of Greek, he was sent to Glasgow, and matriculated in the University there, on the 15th November 1757, having then entered in the fourteenth year of his age. Here his assiduous application to the study of Latin and Greek, under the care of Professors Muirhead and Moor, his rapid proficiency in classical learning, and the evidences which he gave of superior taste, soon attracted the notice, and procured the approbation, of those eminent men. Some poems, which he wrote at this time, and afterwards when he was studying philosophy, served to gain him additional reputation and applause. These

effusions were on such subjects as Spring and the First of May, a day on which the students gathered flowers for the fire-places in the College, and, though not prescribed by the Professors, were occasionally read by them to their pupils. Dr Moor was highly pleased with one of those performances, and, if we may judge from the following very elegant tribute to the merits of Mr Richardson, held in no inconsiderable estimation his general proficiency and talents.

Elegantioris ingenii
Puer,

et ingenuae verecundiae,

GULIELMUS RICHARDSON, Filius unicus Reverendi viri Jacobi Pastoris Parochiae de Aberfoil, Annos natus quindecim, Academiae Glasguensis,

In classibus literarum Graec. et Lat. Altero anno alumnus; Ad musarum, interca, patrio sermone, Cultum, haud infeliciter aspirans, Post varia nascentis indolis specimina, Proemium hoc academicum,

Publice tulit ;

Pridic Calendas Junii, MDCCLIX.
J. M. Litt. Gr. P.

In this way Mr Richardson recommended himself to the notice of the Professors, and particularly to the late venerable Principal Leechman, who became his early patron and friend, and who procured for him the situation of private tutor in the family of Cunningham of Craigends. The celebrated printers, Messrs Foulis, also were useful to him in various ways while he attended College; and their acquaintance, accidentally acquired by Mr Richardson happening one evening in their sale-room to bid very keenly for a copy of Marcus Antoninus, was soon improved into a friendship which was cemented by similarity of pursuit, and which was terminated only by the death of one of the parties.

When he had finished the usual course of languages and philosophy, and had taken the degree of Master of Arts, Mr Richardson began the study of theology, intending to be a clergyman. With this view, he attended the lectures of Dr Trail for nearly three sessions, and is said to have made considerable progress in divinity. But at the end of this period, being recommended by Dr Leechman

to the charge of superintending the education of the present Lord Cathcart and his brother, then about to go to England, his designs as to the church were given up for the time, and never afterwards accomplished. These young noblemen he accompanied to Eton, where he remained for two or three years, being distinguished at that place, in the capacity of private tutor, by classical erudition and elegant accomplishments. When in England, he had the honour of being frequently invited to the table of the illustrious Lord Chatham, who paid him much attention.

In the year 1768, Lord Cathcart, father of the present nobleman of that name, was appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Empress of Russia, and accordingly, in the August of that year, he went to St Petersburgh, accompanied by his family and their tutor. As they resided four years in that capital, Mr Richardson must have enjoyed admirable opportunities of enlarging his knowledge of the world, at the same time that he could prosecute, with eminent advantages, his private studies. Having easy and frequent access to the society of the learned, to the circles of fashion, and to the means of becoming acquainted with the customs and politics of the nation, he must have both added to his information, and cultivated his manners and taste; and that such were the effects of his stay in Russia, was suf ficiently shewn by the improvement, observable at his return, both in his mind and in his deportment.

Mr Richardson filled the important office of private secretary to Lord Cathcart, as well as that of tutor in his Lordship's family. But these situations not entitling him to admission into the court circles, he was under the necessity of procuring from the Empress a special appointment to the military rank of a Major in the Russian service.

While in Russia, he carried on a correspondence with his literary friends in Glasgow. That part of it which passed between his class-fellow, Professor Arthur, and himself, was afterwards published in the shape of Essays, in a small work to which they contributed, in order to promote certain designs of the publisher, Mr

Chapman, minister of Kinfauns, in relation to an academy for the education of a few young gentlemen, which he was preparing to open.

Lord Cathcart, having fulfilled his diplomatic appointment, returned to Britain in the September of 1772, when Mr Richardson accompanied his only surviving pupil to the University of Glasgow. Before he had been a year in Scotland, he became a candidate for the Humanity Chair in Glasgow College, then vacant by the death of Mr Muirhead. The high literary character which Mr Richardson maintained, and the powerful influence of Lord Cathcart, who was at that time Lord Rector of the University, were circumstances greatly in faFour of his claims. The result was, that, after a keen contest, in which he was preferred to the present Professor of Logic only by the casting vote, he was elected. His appointment to this situation took place on the 9th October 1773.

Mr Richardson began his professional career under the most favourable auspices. Of the particular manner in which his earliest efforts in this department were conducted, we have had no opportunity of being informed; but it is probable, making due allowances for the improvements to which practice and experience must have given rise, that the plan which he then adopted was much the same as that which he latterly pursued, and which, without any reference at present to the merits of the teacher, it may not be improper in this place shortly to describe.

The Humanity Class, at the period of our acquaintance with it, was divided into two great parts, the Public and Private. In the former, the Professor prelected on some portion of a Latin author, which a considerable portion of the class, who said from their own preparation, had previously translated in public, and which was then appointed to be acquired before the next meeting by an inferior order of students, who, from their youth or standing, were under the necessity of hearing a translation from the Professor prior to their preparing the pas

sage.

The stated hours of meeting each day, Saturday excepted, were two, when all the students assembled, and when they read, or were examined

promiscuously. There were other hours, however, that did not enter into the fixed arrangements of the class, in which the Professor met with the several divisions separately, and when the manner of teaching was adapted to their respective circumstances. The books commonly read during the course, in succession, were Livy, Cicero, and sometimes Cæsar, at the morning hour; and at the second meeting, Virgil, sometimes Horace, and Terence, or Plautus, the two last being annually alternated. During the week, exercises of various kinds, such as translations from Latin into English, and English into Latin, with tasks in prosody, were prescribed. Reading Buchanan's Psalms, and revising the lessons of the preceding week, formed the chief occupation on Saturdays. As no regular order was preserved in calling on the students to read, all of them were obliged to be prepared in the passage, and to be attentive while the business was advancing. Fines were exacted for absence or lateness, and for non-preparation, except in some cases, when the last offence was punished by disgrace or the imposition of tasks. Rewards at the close of the. season were bestowed on the several divisions, according to the regularity. of attendance, the propriety of behaviour, and the proficiency in learning, of the different students.

The private class consisted of students from all the classes. The initiatory discipline of the other class was here dispensed with, as those who attended it were, for the most part, of some maturity of understanding. During a part of the hour, a passage from Horace or some other author being selected, the meaning of difficult words was given, intricacies of expression unfolded, critical dissertations read, the readings of different commentators mentioned, and a considerable portion of the text translated, first: literally, and then with elegant and idiomatic freedom. The remainder of the hour was occupied with what was called the Lecture. Mr Richardson here pursued a particular course, of which the outlines were printed in a small syllabus, and which embraced, together with a great variety of collateral topics, the daily life of a Roman, in all relations and cir

cumstances, from his cradle to the grave; the progress of literature among the Romans, from its earliest, through its most flourishing, to its declining state; and the art of writing in general, with illustrations from ancient and modern authors. These lectures were very useful in illustrating the Roman writers to those persons who were more immediately employed in studying them, in exciting their ardour, as well as in improving the taste and guiding the efforts of the superior students. In themselves, they were models of fine composition and classical elegance.

Such is an imperfect sketch of the manner in which the Latin class was taught by Mr Richardson, and we believe there are none of our readers, who commenced, at this time, their literary career at Glasgow, but will retain a grateful recollection of the instructors who conducted their initiatory studies, without adverting at present to the celebrated Professors in the higher branches, although certainly no University could boast throughout all its departments of greater or more diversified excellence. The young student had before his eyes the model of an elegant mind, of refined taste, and of polished manners, in one who was well acquainted with the writings and language of Rome, and fitted to perceive the nicer beauties of poetry and of diction, as well as able to inspire him with a relish for every thing that was correct, and tasteful, and refined, in sentiment and expression. In another eminent scholar, he could not but admire a vigour, an acuteress, and a luminousness of mind, -a concentration of intellect and information, of the highest order, brought to bear on the investigation and evolution of the intricacies of language and grammar,-a profundity of research, a clearness of idea, and a perspicuity in the conveyance of his thoughts, even on the most abstruse subjects; and on his favourite theme an enthusiasm of manner, such as to inflame the coldest heart, and to kindle rapture in the bosom of genius. A third will live in the memory of more than one generation as "the noblest work of God-an honest man," glowing with warm affection to his pupils, and with ardent interest in their wel fare; one well acquainted with the

springs of action in youth, and skilful in using those means by which the juvenile mind is animated in its pursuits and expanded in its faculties; one who was of incalculable use to young men in animating their desires after intellectual and moral excellence, in impressing upon them feelings of generous emulation, and, by precept and example, directing thein to all the purest sources of thought and of action.

The two last of these distinguished men happily remain full of years and honour; and we are far from wishing to insinuate that the reputation of the University, although deprived of several of its brightest ornaments, has at all declined; yet, in going back to the recollections of our youth, it is ever a natural illusion to suppose that the glory of existence is at an end!

It is as commonly remarked as experienced, that the life of a literary man presents few circumstances interesting to the curiosity of the world. From the period of his becoming a Professor to his death, the history of Mr Richardson was, in a great measure, of this description. For fortyone years, during which he discharg cd the functions of Professor, his life exhibited little else than the regular succession of laborious application to his proper business in winter, and of rural retirement and professional preparations in summer, except, indeed, which was not unfrequent, when the publication of some work relieved the uniformity of his occupations. But who will say that a life of this kind, though not so conspicuous as that of the statesman or of the warrior, may not be crowned with the utmost enjoyment to the individual, with the greatest interest and advantage to the world, and that all the glories of mind, and all the graces and charities of the heart, may not, in this little sphere, find scope for their most expansive exercise?

Mr Richardson, as we have seen, devoted the greatest part of his attention to the labours of his vocation, in which, both from personal taste and inclination, and from the desire of being useful to his pupils, his heart seemed to be engaged; and his time was thus chiefly occupied in attendance on his various classes, or in de

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »