depth of penetration, and an absolute confidence in his own abilities, aided by great powers of debate rising occasionally to eloquence. Though the object, first of a kind of contemptuous dislike, then of an intense opposition, he rose to be universally regarded as, at all events, a great political force, and by a large part of the nation as a great statesman. As a writer he is generally interesting, and his books teem with striking thoughts, shrewd maxims, and brilliant phrases which stick in the memory. On the other hand he is often artificial, extravagant, and turgid, and his ultimate literary position is difficult to forecast. _Lives_ by Froude (1890), Hitchman (1885), see also _Dictionary of Nat. Biog. etc._ BEATTIE, JAMES (1735-1803).--Poet and philosophical writer, _s._ of a shopkeeper and small farmer at Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, and _ed._ at Aberdeen; he was, in 1760, appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy there. In the following year he _pub._ a vol. of poems, which attracted attention. The two works, however, which brought him most fame were: (1) his _Essay on Truth_ (1770), intended as an answer to Hume, which had great immediate success, and led to an introduction to the King, a pension of £200, and the degree of LL.D. from Oxford; and (2) his poem of _The Minstrel_, of which the first book was _pub._ in 1771 and the second in 1774, and which constitutes his true title to remembrance. It contains much beautiful descriptive writing. The _Essay on Truth_ and his other philosophical works are now forgotten. B. underwent much domestic sorrow in the death of his wife and two promising sons, which broke down his own health and spirits.