pable of its high relish, than the contemplation of such an otium cum dignitate. A similar one has been enjoyed by the writer of this article, with the veteran Scots poet, HECTOR MACNEIL, in the evening of his days—just before he departed, crowned with years and laurels. There is an interesting point of resemblance between these kindred spirits, which it would be a fraud upon the memory of' him that sleepeth,' to suppress here. It is well known that. MACKENZIE, who ever passionately sympa thized with neglected genius, became the early patron, and the friend of BURNS: but it is not so notorious, though equally true, that to the discriminating friendship and active exertions of MACNEIL, one of the greatest living poets of the age is indebted for his immediate transit from obscurity to fame.

AS MACKENZIE's papers in the MIRROR greatly exceed in number the contributions of all his associates, in the same proportion they exceed them also, with a few exceptions, in beauty. This remark, however, is not to be taken, at the expense of much positive excellence in his coadjutors.-If MACKENZIE excel oftener, let it be remembered that he wrote more, than his friends; and that his opportunities for excelling, therefore necessarily outnumbered their's.-MACKENZIE'S pieces in the MIRROR amount very nearly to fifty; while three essays out of the one hundred and ten, are all that we have of CULLEN. Of these, which are all excellent, No. 27, On the silent

expression of Sorrow, is comparable with any in the work for its exquisite feeling, and truth to nature.

ROBERT CULLEN was brother to the celebrated physician and professor of that name in Edinburgh, universally known in the_medical world by his famous work on 'The Practice of Physic:' he had another brother, also, who rose to some eminence at the English Chancery bar, and wrote a book on the Law of Bankruptcy. Mr. CULLEN was educated for the Scotch bar, and long practised as an advocate with distinguished success. He sat as judge in the court of session, with the title of Lord CULLEN. He died upwards of fifteen years ago, leaving behind him a reputation of unsullied probity. He was a pleasant companion, a tolerable lawyer, and a kind friend*.

Mr. ALEXANDER ABERCROMBY, who was raised also to the Scots' bench, and sat as Lord ABERCROMBY, was an elder brother of the late Sir RALPH ABERCROMBY, and of the present member for Calne. His papers in the MIRROR and LOUNGER, are characterized by much taste and elegance: he has been long dead.

Mr. W. CRAIG, who became another judge of the court of session by the title of Lord CRAIG, is also departed from among us.

His

For these few particulars concerning Lord CULLEN, and the rest of MACKENZIE's literary colleagues, the Editor is indebted to the kindness of his friend, R. M. CRAUFURD, Esq. W. S. late of Edinburgh.

essays possess a considerable degree of refinement and delicacy, and evince a heart alive to the humanities of nature. No. 26, On the rules of external behaviour taken as a criterion of manners, cannot be too frequently read and meditated by those, who are apt to forget themselves in their demeanour towards their attendants, or persons who are subordinately employed.

Mr. MACLEOD BANNATYNE sits at this moment as Lord BANNATYNE, in the justiciary court of Edinburgh. May the early coadjutor and intimate friend of MACKENZIE, yet long enjoy his protracted honours! The best effort of Mr. BANNATYNE is, perhaps, the 39th paper in the LOUNGER-of which, however, he exists a living contradiction.

Mr. GEORGE HOME, who was one of the principal clerks to the court of session in Scotland, died in 1821. In this situation he had long the happiness of possessing for his associate and colleague, that prince of modern literature, Sir WALTER SCOTT: a name inferior indeed to SHAKSPEARE, but inferior to him alone.

Mr. HOME's papers are easy and elegant, and they both exemplify and inculcate a classical taste.

During the publication of the MIRROR, its numbers went abroad without any designatory marks but on their collection subsequently into volumes, each member of the society subscribed to his own, with some letters of a syl

lable that was appropriated for him. The contributions of correspondents were not distinguished at all. Of these, a few have eluded discovery; but the names of such as are known are affixed to their respective numbers.