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Let it not be for one moment imagined that this article is designed to depreciate the genius of Hume and Robertson, who are the noblest of our modern authors, and exhibit a perfect idea of the literary character. Forty-four years ago, I transcribed from their originals the correspondence of the historian with the literary antiquary.

"By no means, young man," answered the Antiquary, interrupting him; "I believe I know more of your birth than you do yourself and, to convince you of it, you were educated and known as a natural son of Geraldin Neville of Neville's-Burgh, in Yorkshire, and I presume, as his destined heir?" "Pardon me no such views were held out to me.

His parts were quick, his industry unwearied, his reading various and most extensive. He was at once a historian, an antiquary, a theologian, a preacher, a pamphleteer, a debater, and an active political leader; and in every one of these characters made himself conspicuous among able competitors.

"I wish to Heaven, Hector," said the Antiquary, next morning after breakfast, "you would spare our nerves, and not be keeping snapping that arquebuss of yours." "Well, sir, I'm sure I'm sorry to disturb you," said his nephew, still handling his fowling-piece; "but it's a capital gun it's a Joe Manton, that cost forty guineas."

"No, monsieur, no, nobody. The man from Rouen might take it into his head to pursue me here to be revenged on me." And I have been alone, alone, all, all alone, for three months. I am growing tranquil by degrees. I have no longer any fears. If the antiquary should become mad ... and if he should be brought into this asylum! Even prisons themselves are not places of security. Noon had just struck.

Scott has made mention of it in The Antiquary, and Johnson in his Journey to the Hebrides, recalling the grandeur of the rocky coast of Slains, has said that though he could not wish for a storm, still as storms, whether wished for or not, will sometimes happen, he would prefer to look at them from Slains Castle.

Now the Alban dynasty bore the name of Silvii or Wood, and it can hardly be without significance that in the vision of the historic glories of Rome revealed to Aeneas in the underworld, Virgil, an antiquary as well as a poet, should represent all the line of Silvii as crowned with oak.

"Believe it, sir? how could I but believe it, when I have heard the songs sung from my infancy?" "But not the same as Macpherson's English Ossian you're not absurd enough to say that, I hope?" said the Antiquary, his brow darkening with wrath.

The German, determined, it would seem, to assert the vantage-ground on which the discovery had placed him, replied with great pomp and stateliness to the attack of the Antiquary. "Maister Oldenbuck, all dis may be very witty and comedy, but I have nothing to say nothing at all to people dat will not believe deir own eye-sights.

In 1616 appeared his Cloud of Witnesses confirming ... the truth of God's most holie Word. His maps were coll. and with descriptions pub. in 1611 as Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain. Historian and antiquary, b. at Congham, Norfolk, studied at Camb., and entered Lincoln's Inn. He sat in Parliament and on various commissions, and in recompense of his labours was voted a grant of £300.