better. But such men never dive into consequences. And, if these legislators had not been purblind, they would have perceived that the very existence of another grammar endangered that of Ruddiman; for, as in every other species of competition, the simple act of comparison was necessarily decisive, and the merits of the new work, if in any degree superior, would have had an irresistible tendency to establish it. The result of the dispute concerning Dr Adam's grammar has sufficiently warranted this remark.

We next come to the quaint and elegant production of the magistrates, as it appears upon their journals. They say, "Read letter from Dr Adam, relative to his teaching his scholars by Ruddiman's rudiments and grammar." Now, this letter, in point of fact and argument, might be good, bad, or indifferent; but these legislators say nothing further of it. They do not state its substance, nor does any copy of it appear on the record. Such a pro

G

ceeding appears to be characterized, neither by fairness nor comprehension of mind. The authour of this memoir states the fact, not to express his wonder that such a proceeding should have passed within the walls, of the Councilhouse of Edinburgh, but to say, he is sorry that he has not been able to procure, and here to insert, the arguments of his friend in his own behalf.

The anathemas which these patrons of literature thus fulminated against the Rector had no influence over his determinations. He continued, in spite of the resistance which he experienced from the masters, to use his own rules in his daily practice with the pupils of his class. The Magistrates, as visitors, were again informed of the manner in which their orders had been observed. These persons now found that they had been dabbling in a subject of which their gross ignorance was too obvious; but, having got among them some individuals of more enlarged views, they insti

tuted a formal investigation. A writer, who has had occasion to mention these events, and who has always been most pitifully unfortunate in treating of subjects of classical literature, or even of any person or thing connected with them, makes the following sage remark: “The Magistrates, having heard all parties, found, as it generally happens, all

ties in some measure to blame*.

par

This may

appear very fair to the person who has ha zarded the assertion; but, by the facts, he is not at all warranted in drawing any such conclusion. With the comparative merits of the rival works, the literary public must now be generally acquainted. To those who have perused neither of them, the authour feels that it would be useless to explain his opinions.

* Chalmers' Life of Ruddiman, p. 95. This authour has evinced the most incredible industry in his antiquarian investigations; but, in speaking of human motives or conduct, he has expressed harsh sentiments in the most unseemly language. His characters are remarkably concise. He designates Dr Adam as "a master of some conceitedness!"

He will therefore say nothing on either side. He wishes it, however, to be widely and dis

tinctly understood, that if Dr Adam had been

in

any manner" to blame," (as must be infer"to red from the passage which has been cited) he was just the very man whom the Magis trates of Edinburgh would then have utterly put down with all their might. In this assertion the author is amply supported by a circumstance which has recently come to his knowledge, through the means of a gentleman whose veracity is unimpeached, and who, if he had any bias in speaking of the Rector's disputes, that bias would assuredly be on the unfavourable side. Dr Adam happened to be involved in altercations with a certain knight, who at one time was of some consequence among his friends. These occurred, either during the time when that person was Lord Provost of Edinburgh, or soon after; and, as he affected to feel himself incommoded, he actually took the first profes

sional advice to ascertain whether it were possible, under the colour of law, completely to remove Dr Adam from his situation! Such facts need only to be stated, and callous must that heart be, on which they do not make an adequate impression. We turn, however, from this particular instance to the more important matter which was previously under consideration.

At this critical conjuncture, as in many others during his long life, the Rector earned, though late, the reward of his equanimity and perseverance. He was never afterwards impeded in the exercise of his honourable functions, by the interference of ignorance and stupidity, united under the cloke of authority; but continued, till the hour in which he was taken mortally ill, to teach from his own rules the language with which he was so familiar.

A stronger proof of the transient effects of imbecile malice cannot be given than in the