Boswelliana: The Commonplace Book of James Boswell, with a Memoir and AnnotationsBoswell, James
History
Boswelliana: The Commonplace Book of James Boswell, with a Memoir and Annotations
Boswell, James
Boswell, James, 1740-1795
[221] Bishop Warburton, author of “The Divine Legation of Moses,”
published in 1739 a series of letters in defence of Pope’s “Essay on
Man,” against Mons. de Crousaz, who had accused the poet of favouring
the doctrines of Spinoza. These letters led to a close intimacy between
the poet and his vindicator. Bishop Warburton died at Gloucester on the
7th June, 1779.
[222] Afterwards Sir Joseph Banks.
[223] Sir William Meredith, M.P., published a work entitled “Historical
Remarks on the Taxation of Free States.” Lond., 1788, 8vo.
[224] See _supra_, p. 17.
[225] Sir George Colebrooke was chairman of the East India Company’s
Court of Directors. He represented Arundel in three successive
parliaments. He married Mary, only daughter and heiress of Patrick
Gaynor, Esq., of Antigua. Sir George Colebrooke died 5th August, 1809.
[226] David Charles Solander, the eminent naturalist, was born in
Sweden in 1736. He was a companion of Sir Joseph Banks in Captain
Cook’s first voyage. In 1771 he received the degree of D.C.L. from the
University of Oxford, and in 1773 became assistant librarian in the
British Museum. He died in 1782.
[227] James Hamilton of Bangour, son of the poet, William Hamilton of
Bangour.
[228] Thomas Alexander Erskine, sixth Earl of Kellie, was celebrated as
a musician. Addicted to convivial pleasures, he made sacrifice of his
genius, and expended in social humour talents which might have brought
him eminence in the literary or political world. He died at Brussels,
on the 9th October, 1781, aged forty-nine.
[229] Patrick Murray, fifth Lord Elibank, was an elegant and
accomplished scholar. He studied law and passed advocate, but
subsequently joined the army. In 1740 he accompanied Lord Cathcart in
the expedition to Carthagena. Latterly he established his residence at
Edinburgh. Dr. Johnson much enjoyed his society; in a letter addressed
to his lordship he used these words:—“I have often declared that I
never met you without going away a wiser man.” Lord Elibank employed
much of his time in classical studies. He died 3rd August, 1778, aged
seventy-six.
[230] Andrew Crosbie of Holm, an eminent advocate, the original of
“Councillor Pleydell” in “Guy Mannering.” He met Dr. Johnson at
Boswell’s residence in Edinburgh, and engaged with him in keen debate.
In his “Journey” Boswell has described him as “his truly learned and
philosophical friend.” Crosbie attained opulence in his profession, but
having made an unfortunate investment fell into poverty. He died in
1785.
[231] See _supra_, p. 74.
[232] Orangefield, an estate in the parish of Monkton, Ayrshire, now
belonging to A. Murdoch, Esq.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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