Acute Doctor. He is reported to have studied under the Subtle Doctor; and he soon acquired the reputation of a celebrated schoolman. John Bassol, or the Methodical Doctor, and John Suisset, the Calculator, were the scholars of the Subtle Doctor. These are the principal Scottish philosophers that preceded Mair the historian. Although they cannot be ranked a mong those who have extended the boundaries of true science, it is gratifying to the feelings of Scotsmen to ascertain the rank which their lettered countrymen maintained in past times among other competitors in the same field.

The most ancient of the Scottish poets was Thomas Lermont, called the Rhymer; who is still familiar to the common people of Scotland as a poet and prophet. He flourished in the reign of Alexander the Third. The history of his life and writings is involved in impenetrable obscurity; but he is mentioned in his prophetic character by many of our early writers. About a century after the Rhymer, flourished Barbour, the contemporary of Chau cer. He was educated for the church. In his poem which celebrates the exploits of Robert Bruce, he has evinced the genius of a poet: Besides, the general fidelity of his narrative is unques tionable. Andrew Winton, prior of St Serf, in Lochleven, in his metrical Orygynale Crouykil of Scotland, has given an interesting picture of ancient manners. His work is valuable, as a specimen of the literary attainments of our ancestors, and as a repository of historical anecdotes.

Before the revival of learning in their own country, the Scottish youth who thirsted for literary knowledge were under the necessity of studying at some foreign university. The schools of Oxford, Cambridge, and Paris, seem to have been those which they chiefly frequented. To facilitate the wishes of her countrymen, Dervorgil, the daughter of Allan Lord of Galloway, and the wife of the elder John Baliol, founded and endowed a college at Ox. ford, which, it may be presumed, was open for the reception of Scotsmen. David Murray, bishop of Murray, founded and endowed a college at Paris, in 1326. This institution is generally known by the name of the Scottish College of Paris: It was soon attended by students from every district of Scotland,

For some years prior to the institution of the university of St Andrew's, public lectures were delivered in that city, on the canon law, philosophy, and logic: But, as Lord Bacon observes, "the schoolmen

having sharp and strong wits, and abundance of leisure, but small reading either of nature or of time, did, out of no great quantity of matter, and infinite agitation of wit, spin out unto us those laborious webs of learning which are extant in their books. For the wit and mind of man, if it work upon itself, brings forth, indeed, cob-webs of learning, admirable for the fineness of thread and work, but of no substance or profit."

Little attention seems to have been paid to classical learning at this period. It is conjectured that there was an academy or grammar school, under the immediate protection of the university of St Andrew's; where students were instructed in classical learning previous to their admission into the philosophical schools. The Greek language appears to have been totally neglected, even at the establishment of the university of Aberdeen, in the beginning of the sixteenth century. John Vaus was there appointed professor of humanity: He was the author of the first grammatical treatise which is known to have been published by a native of Scotland.

The cultivation of literature was not neglected by the royal house of Stuart. Several monarchs of that family were themselves emulous of literary distinction. James the First having received an excellent education at the court of England, was a most successful cultivator of letters, and a generous patron of his learned countrymen. His poetical reputation has stood the test of many ages: He was undoubtedly possessed of real genius; and his share of acquired knowledge appears to have exceeded that of his most learned subjects. Such of his compositions as have escaped the ravages of time, are entitled to high commendation. He excelled in serious as well as in ludicrous poetry. The most celebrated of the poems ascribed to him is "Christis Kirk of the Grene." The unfortunate James the Third, by his devotion to the elegant arts, was more adapted for the cloister than the throne.

Two events of importance occurred in the reign of James the Fourth, the foundation of the university of Aberdeen, and the introduction of the typographical art into Scotland. The court of this monarch was frequented by Dunbar, besides several other poets of eminence, The reign of the Fifth James is more conspicuous in the annals of literature. Knowledge began to be more generally diffused; and that spirit of investigation was excited which displayed itself with such vigour in the Reformation.

The Latin compositions of Boece and Wilson, and the poems of Douglas, Lindsay, and Bellenden, in the Scottish language, exhibit favourable specimens of the taste and genius of that age. Of these writers, three were dignitaries of the Scottish church: Gawin Douglas was bishop of Dunkeld; Bellenden was archdeacon of Murray; Boece was canon of Aberdeen and principal of its university.

Alarmed at the danger to which their establishment was exposed by an almost total neglect of learning, the Scottish prelates exerted themselves to save their tottering church, by procuring respectable and intelligent teachers. In 1522, the abbot of Cambuskenneth applied to the college of St Victor, near Paris, for some scholars; but with what success, is unknown. "We stand in need of nothing," said he, “so much as of an accession of learned men. Although, in former times, learning abounded in our monastery, yet at present it is almost completely extinct." The feeble and procrastinated efforts of the clergy were ineffectual to preserve the influence of the church over the minds of the people; but they did not recede without resistance. Besides their pious endeavours to secure the peace of the church by the death of its enemies, some of its more learned members had recourse to the more rational weapons of argument, in verbal and written disputations. Kennedy, commendator of Crossragwell, engaged in public disputations with Knox and Willock, two of the ablest Reformers. Dr Ninian Winzet, who was ten years teacher of the grammar school of Linlithgow, and Tyrie a Jesuit, were among the most powerful champions of the Catholics. Opposed to them was Knox, "who never feared the face of man ;" and on the same side appeared Cockburn, Arbuthnot, Smeton, Rollock, Adamson, Pont, and Melvin, who possessed a decided superiority over their antagonists. The Reformers had the merit of reviving the study of the Greek language in Scotland.

To support their usurped authority, the Catholics had gradually corrupted and accommodated the Vulgate or Latin version of the Scriptures. In order to expose the errors of that translation, the Reformers appealed to the Greek original of the New Testament, and even to the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. Their antagonists were reluctantly driven, in self-defence, to acquire some knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew; which introduced the study of these languages into the Scottish universities.

These seminaries were not, like those of more opulent countries, enlightened by eminent teachers, attracted from every quarter of Europe; while the universities of almost every country upon the Continent were enriched by the literature of Scottish adventurers. The number of foreign students that then resorted to the Scottish colleges was not considerable; although it is not improbable that at one period St Andrew's was frequented by the youth of various nations. At the period of the Reformation, party disputes and contempt of the clerical character had so convulsed the universities, that some of them were almost totally des serted. King's College, Aberdeen, was not attended by twenty

students in 1562.

The indignant spirit which roused the Scots to spurn at the ty ranny of the Romish superstition, produced likewise a more rigid examination of the general principles of government, and induced the study of political science. Buchanan, who united a transcendent genius to extensive and elegant learning, was the first scholar who caught from the ancients the flame of republican principles. He published a tract, DeJure Regni apud Scotos, in which the principles of popular politics and the maxims of a free government are delivered with freedom and enforced with energy; but so different from the doctrines which till then had been commonly taught were the principles which it unfolded, that a violent ferment was produced. That tract, as well as the author's celebrated history, was, after his death, proscribed by a statute of the Scottish Parliament.

Of the Scottish writers who flourished during the sixteenth century, the following held the most distinguished place. Florence Wilson; whose skill in Latin composition has been eulogized by his learned contemporaries. Henry Scrimger, professor of civil law in the college of Geneva; who was an able civilian and a profound philologer. He prepared editions of Demosthenes, Strabo, Polybius, Athenæus, the ecclesiastical history of Eusebius, and the philosophical works of Cicero. Of these prepared editions, none were ever published.

Edward Henryson, professor of law in the university of Bourges, was equally celebrated as a civilian and as a Latinist. Alexander Hales, professor of divinity in the university of Leipzic, was driven thither by the persecution which prevailed in Scotland. His classical attainments were highly respectable, and re

commended him to the friendship of the celebrated Reformer Melancthon. Beza regards him as one of the principal ornaments of Scotland. Bale, bishop of Ossory, was the intimate friend of Hales and Knox; to whom he dedicated a portion of his works. Robert Rollock, the first principal of the university of Edinburgh, was the author of various theological works, and was esteemed as a pious and learned man.

The Scottish poems of James the Sixth, though more remarkable for their number than their excellence, are not so despicable as to exclude his name from the literary annals of his country. Whatever estimate may be formed of his moral qualities, he possessed a respectable portion of learning; and he was engaged in controversies or connected by personal attachment with many distinguished individuals who at that time adorned the republic of letters. He devoted his attention both to poetry and theology; and he was weak enough to seize every opportunity of displaying his scholastic attainments.

When only in his twenty-first year, he challenged a learned Jesuit to a solemn disputation in the palace of Holyroodhouse. He failed to convince his opponent of the errors of Popery; but he discussed the points in controversy with such ability, that his hearers appeared to be filled with astonishment. He thenceforward acquired the reputation of a learned monarch, and was known by the appellation of Solomon the Second. It is not generally known, that James, during his nuptial visit in Denmark, visited the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. The interview was mutually agreeable. James presented him with several gifts, and celebrated his excellencies in Latin verse.

Besides a treatise on demonology, in which he appears the abettor of superstition and cruelty, James published his Basilicon Doron, or instructions to his dearest son Prince Henry. After his accession to the English throne, he engaged in a conference with a deputation of the Puritans. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who was present, though reputed wise and grave, enraptured with the King's knowledge and sagacity, declared he was verily persuaded that "the King spoke by the spirit of God," A variety of controversial writings emanated from his pen.. During his latter years, he began a version of the Psalms: He lived to complete only the first thirty.

It has been asserted, that his chief attachment to men of letters