Crebillon's "Rhadamisthe e Zenobie" to the British theatre. His tragedy was offered to the manager of Drury-lane theatre; but, as Murphy's "Zenobia" was at that time in rehearsal,

historical pieces, as far as his leisure and health (which was considerably injured by painting the hall of Ossian) would permit. His salary from his office formed a little competency, which, when augment-it was deemed imprudent to

ed by the emoluments derived accept of another play on the from his other works, raised same subject. In 1765, lord him to a state of independence. Elibank having invited him to The fine arts and his friends his seat in East Lothian, be were deprived of this extraor-spent there the greater part of dinary painter on October 21, the autumn. He now relin1785. quished his original employ

RUSSELL (WILLIAM)|ment, and resided with his fa was born in the year 1746. Hether. In 1767 he set out for was sent to the school of Inver- London. His hopes in this exleithen, where he acquired a pedition did not answer his exslender knowledge of the La-pectations; and he felt himself tin and Greek languages. In under the necessity of engag 1756 he was removed to Edin-ing himself as a corrector of the burgh, in order to be instructed press to Mr. William Strahan, in writing and arithmetic. Hav-afterwards his majesty's printer. ing studied these useful bran- His "Sentimental Tales" apches of education for about ten peared in 1770. From this months, he was bound appren- time he wrote many essays in tice to the printing business for prose and verse in the monthly five years. When he had finish-publications. In 1772, he pubed his apprenticeship, he published a collection of "Fables, lished a Collection of Modern Moral and Sentimental," and Poems," which seems to have an Essay on the Character, attracted some notice at the Manners, and Genius of Wotime of its appearance. In 1763, men," from the French of M. while employed as a journey-Thomas. "Julia," a poetical man printer, he became a mem- romance, appeared in 1774; and ber of the Miscellaneous Socie-the" History of America," pub ty, a private literary institution, chiefly under the direction of Mr. professor Dalzel and Mr. Liston, our late ambassador to America. About this period, he made an attempt to adapt

lished in numbers, was com pleted in 1779. In the course of the same year he also published the two first volumes of his " History of Modern Europe." During the following

year his studies met with a he obtained from the universi temporary interruption: he em-ty of St Andrews the honorary barked for Jamaica, in order to degree of doctor of laws. Enrecover some money due to couraged by the reception of him as heir to his brother, who his last performance, he had had died in that island. In begun to digest the "History 1783 he published the " Tragic of Ancient Europe;" two voMuse," a poem addressed to lumes of which appeared in the Mrs. Siddons. The three vo- course of the following year. lumes which complete the His-This work was less favourably tory of Modern Europe, made their appearance in 1784. In 1787 he formed a matrimonial 'connection with Miss Scott, and fixed his residence at Knottyholm, a farm belonging to the duke of Buccleuch, and situated at a small distance from the town of Langholm. In 1792

received; but the period was now approaching, when to hini applause and censure were to be alike indifferent. A stroke of the palsy quickly terminated his life, in the 47th year of his age. He was interred in the church-yard of Westerkirk.

COT (MICHAEL), of Bal-, lived, was no mean proficient in

Swirie, a learned Scottish au- philosophy, mathematics, and

thor of the 13th century. This
singular man made the tour
of France and Germany, and
was received with some died physician Avicenna.
stinction at the court of the em-
peror Frederic II. Having tra-
velled enough to gratify his
curiosity, he returned to Scot-
land, and gave himself up to
study and contemplation. He
was skilled in languages; and,
considering the age in which he

medicine. He translated into
Latin from the Arabic, the his-
tory of animals by the celebrat-

Eez

He

published the whole works of Aristotle, with notes, and affected much to reason on the principles of that great philosopher. He was much admired in his day, and had Roger Bacon and Cornelius Agrippa for his pane gyrists.

SCOT (ALEXANDER), a Scottish poet, who flourished in the 16th century. A considerable number of his poents may be found in the collections of lord Hailes, Allan Ramsay, and Mr. Sibbald. His productions may be classed among the most elegant Scottish poems of the 16th century.

son Crusoe, was born at Largo in Fife, in 1676. Having gone to the sea in his youth, and being sailing master of the ship Cinque Ports, bound for the South Seas, he was put on shore on the island of Juan Fernan dez, as a punishment for mutiny. In that solitary place he remained four years and four months, till at last he was re

by captain Woods Rogers. By long seclusion from intercourse with men, he had so far forgot the use of speech, that the people on board captain Rogers ship could scarcely understand him, for he seemed to speak his words by halves. The chest

SCRIMZEOUR (HENRY) was born at Dundee in 1506.lieved and brought to England He received the rudiments of his education at the grammar school of Dundee, from which he removed to the university of St. Andrews, and afterwards to that of Paris. Having gone to Geneva, he was there appointed professor of philosophy; from which he removed to Angs burg, under the patronage of a Mr. Fugger. Returning to Geneva, he resumed his chair, and soon after instituted a course of lectures on the civil law. Mr. Scrimzeour was one of the purest Latin writers of his age, and has left behind him a great many pieces written in that language, He died in Getieva about the year 1571.

SEGGAT (THOMAS), a Scottish poet, who flourished about the end of the 16th century. Some of his Latin poems may be found in the second volume of the "Delitiæ Poetarum Scotorum."

and musquet which Selkirk had with him in the island, are still in the possession of his grandnephew, John Selkirk, weaver in Largo.

SEMPLE (HUGH) of the Jesuit college at Madrid, a Scottish writer, who acquired considerable reputation among his contemporaries by his critical disquisitions "De Mathematicis Disciplinis," published in 1635.

SHARP (JAMES) archbishop of St. Andrews, was born in 1618. Soon after the restoration of Charles II, the presbyterian party in Scotland sent Mr. Sharp, at that time one of their ministers, to wait upon SELKIRK (ALEXAN- the king in their name, and DER), rendered famous by Mr. to endeavour to procure his De Foe, who writes his adven-consent that Prebyterianism gures under the name of Robin- should be the established reli

gion of the Scots. But Charles, in arms for their own defence. did not conceive presbyterian- A party had vowed to retaliate ism to be a religion fit for a Carmichael's malignity upon gentleman. Many of those his own head; nor would they Scottish loyalists who had suf- have been sorry to fulfil this fered the most for his father vow upon the archbishop himand himself were of the Episco- self. They had gone out in pal communion; and Claren- pursuit of Carmichael, but had don, the principal minister for missed him, when they were English affairs, was attached to suddenly informed, that Sharp. episcopacy upon the same prin. himself was approaching in his ciples. When such was the coach from Ceres, and would case, it was not to be expected speedily pass near the very spot that the representations of the at which they then were. They presbyterians would be much awaited his coming; then folregarded. But Sharp, the sup-lowed hard after his coach, till posed zealous agent of that par- they saw it at a place the most ty, had betrayed the cause he remote from help against their was sent to solicit; and, to the attack, in the middle of Maunspeakable indignation of the gask moor. Here they hastenpresbyterians who had sent him,ed to surround it; dismounted came down from London epis- and disarmed his servants, who copal primate of all Scotland. strove to defend their master; In all the melancholy transac-struck the postilion from his tions which followed for many seat, and cut the traces of the years this establishment of epis- carriage. Two of the assassins copacy, the odium of the mea-then discharged their pieces at sures pursued were always the archbishop; but in the trethrown upon Sharp; and even pidation of rage, they had, howoccasioned attempts against his ever, failed of making any danlife. One of these attempts had gerous wound. The assassins been already frustrated; but the were now retreating, when his rage of those whom he had daughter, who was with him in made his enemies was still un- the coach, was overheard to cry extinguished. A person named out," O there is life yet!" They Carmichael, who was employed immediately turned; dragged under his authority to watch him from the coach, and murfor the suppression of conventi-ed him with the most savage cles throughout the diocese of cruelty. This happened on the St. Andrews, brought new o- 3d of May 1679. dium upon the archbishop by his vigilance, cunning, and severity. The conventiclers were

SHORT (JAMES), an eminent optician and constructor of reflecting telescopes, was the

rin's mathematical class in the college, he soon lost all relish for his ecclesiastical prospects; and made so great a figure in the class, that the professor took great notice of him, and invited him often to his house, where he had an opportunity of know.

son of William Short, a joiner in Edinburgh. He was born on the roth of June O. S. in the year 1710. At the age of ten years, young Short was entered on the foundation of George Heriot, his father and mother being now dead, and the circumstances of the family verying more fully the extent of his scanty. His genius for me chanics appeared about that time, in cutting out and joining little chests, book-cases, and such like conveniences for him self, with the tools that came in his way. At twelve years old he was put to the High School of Edinburgh, where he generally kept at the head of his form, and showed considerable taste for classical learn ing. This prompted his friends to destine him for a learned profession. After having been four years at the high school, then taught by Mr. Arbuthnot, he went, in the year 1726, to the university of Edinburgh, where he passed through a regular course of study with applause; took his degree as master of arts; and at the earnest solicitations of his grandmother, attended the divinity hall, and passed his trials to fit him for a preacher in the church of Scotland, in the year 1731. Soon after this, the mind of our young artist began to revolt against the idea of a profession so little suited to his talents; and, having had occasion to attend a course of Mr. Maclau

capacity. In the year 1732, Mr. Maclaurin kindly permit ted Mr. Short to use his rooms in the college for his apparatus; and there he began to work in his profession, under the eye of his eminent master and patron, who, in a letter to Dr. Turin, about two years after, takes notice of the proficiency made by Mr. Short in the casting and polishing of the metallic specu la of refi:cting telescopes: “ Mr. Short," he writes, "who had begun with making glass spe cula, is now employing himself to improve the metallic. By taking care of the figure, he is enabled to give them larger apertures than others have done, and, upon the whole, they sur pass in perfection all that 1 have seen of other workmen." The figure which Mr. Short gave to his great specula was parabolical; not, however, by any rule or canon, but by prac tice and mechanical devices. This parabolical figure, given to the great specula of reflecting telescopes, had been formerly pointed out by the great sir Isaac Newton, as the most necessary attainment for the per