Notice is not pretended to be taken, in our memoranda, of the literary productions of this gentleman with any thing like chronological accuracy; they seem to have been written down merely as the recollection of them presented itself. He got considerable credit, and deservedly too, by a spirited translation of a very crabbed Latin poet, though severer critics seemed inclined to consider it rather as a paraphrase than as a translation. However this may be, the version was, undoubtedly, highly spirited and poetical. But an earlier, if not absolutely his first literary effort, was a speculative investigation on the subject of ancient Greek politics. This was characterized by much sound sense, and very extensive reading, subject to the imputation of a style somewhat too inflated. A later production exhibited a metaphysical labyrinth, in which the author bewildered himself, and confused his readers. Among the more remarkable paradoxes which this work contained, and it contained a great many, was the preposterous supposition that Newton’s Principia, was an Atheistical system, and that the philosophy of Bacon was unsound and erroneous. His partiality to Helvetius, Delaplace, and the French school, demonstrate the perverse tendency of his mind, on religious subjects, which indeed, even in conversation, and it is even said in female conversation too, he was at no pains to conceal. As a Symposiast, however, his talents would have done honour to the Athenian academy itself, and it is hoped that time and reflection may have meliorated and amended those opinions, which it is impossible that any religious character can approve. Two other individuals compleated the number of Symposiasts, of one of whom some mention has already been made, the other was the Sexagenarian himself. To the former, a tribute of affection has been paid, which he who compiled the heterogeneous matter of these pages, can testify to have been well-deserved. We are inclined to make some mention of the latter, as we knew him in the decline of life. Nunc aliquis dicat mihi—quid tu? Sum cinis—ossa—nihil. CHAPTER XXV. His earlier years have been pourtrayed by himself in a preceding part of the work, but ah! how changed was he in his latter days! His characteristic of mind was an extraordinary quickness; his characteristic of temper was cheerfulness. The first of these qualities he retained as long as we knew him. He could compose any thing in prose or in verse, as the physicians say, “_pro re nata_,” with a facility which seemed hardly credible, and with an accuracy which excited surprize. He has been known to write a sermon in the evenings which he preached on the following morning. In four mornings he wrote a book, which he intended as an amusement for his children. Some friends recommended him to print it, and though many years have elapsed since it was written, it still continues so great a favourite with younger readers, that an edition is every year published.