were always influential and useful, for and who, by the diligent exercise of a they were seen to be the production cultivated intellect, delicate taste, and of a vigorous and widely instructed graceful fancy, attained an honourable mind, and to emanate from an eleva- reputation as a public writer. A few tion and purity of moral taste and in- of his personal friends share a melantegrity which no inducement could choly consolation in inscribing with warp or turn aside." Notwithstand- his name this memorial of their affecing his editorial avocations, he still tion." In 1826 Mr Sutherland marfound leisure for the labours of author- ried his cousin-german, Elizabeth, ship, and prepared for Constable's daughter of the late Captain AlexanMiscellany a "History of the Achieve- der Sutherland of the 30th regiment. ments of the Knights of Malta" which appeared in two vols. in 1831; a work which will always be read with interest and advantage. He subsequently produced the "Tales of a Pilgrim;"" A Summer Ramble in the North Highlands," and other minor productions. By her he had several children, of whom there now survives only one daughter, born a few hours after the intelligence of his untimely death had been received by his family. SUTHERLAND, JAMES, an early promoter of the study of botany in Scotland, was by profession a gardenFor some time before his death the er, and "by his own industry," says state of his health had occasioned Sir Robert Sibbald, “attained to considerable uneasiness to his family great knowledge of plants and of meand friends, the effect, as was believed, dals." Of his personal history little is of too close application to study, and known. In September 1676 he was it was hoped that a few weeks' relaxa- appointed superintendent of the Phytion and change of air would effectu sic Gardens at Edinburgh, which were ally remove all unfavourable symp- established principally through the toms, but such hopes were destined exertions of Sibbald. In 1683 he pubnever to be realized. He died sud-lished" Hortus Medicus Edinburgendenly at Montrose, June 30, 1831. sis; or, a Catalogue of the Plants in He was buried in St Cuthbert's the Physic Gardens at Edinburgh, Churchyard, Edinburgh, where a tombstone was erected to his memory bearing the following inscription: "This Tablet, sacred to the memory of Alexander Sutherland, is erected near the spot where his ashes repose, as a tribute to the worth and talents of one who, in all the relations of life, exhibited every endearing quality, containing their most proper Latin and English Names," dedicated to the Lord Provost. He is supposed to have died in 1705. His valuable collection of Greek, Roman, Scotish, Saxon, and English coins and medals, was purchased by the Faculty of Advocates, and is still preserved in their Library. TANNAHILL, ROBERT, a popular song writer, was born in Paisley, June 3, 1774. His father was a hand-loom weaver, and both his parents were respected for their intelligence and worth. After receiving the most ordinary school education, he was ap Ꭲ . prenticed to the weaving business. Tannahill's friend, ROBERT ARCHIBALD SMITH, to whom Scotish melody some of his best songs are said to back to Paisley. On being apprised have been composed. About 1800 of the state of his mind, his brothers he went to England, accompanied by hastened to their mother's house, a younger brother, whom he left at where they found that Robert had Preston, while he himself proceeded gone to bed, and was apparently to Bolton, where he found constant asleep. About an hour afterwards it employment. Two years afterwards was discovered that he had risen from the brothers returned home, on re- his bed, and gone out. Search was ceiving the intelligence of the last ill-made in every direction, and next ness of their father; and on his death morning his body was discovered in a they remained in Paisley. The poet pool in the vicinity of Paisley, where having had the good fortune to be he had evidently drowned himself. come acquainted with R. A. Smith, This melancholy event took place well known as a composer, the latter May 17, 1810, when he had only reachset to music and arranged some of his ed his 36th year. In 1838 an enlarged finest songs. The first edition of edition of his poems and songs, with his poems appeared in 1807, and was memoirs of the author and of his very favourably received. The songs friend, R. A. Smith, by Mr Philip A. attained an extensive popularity, and Ramsay, was published at Glasgow. were sung from one end of Scotland to the other; among them, "Jessie, the Flower o' Dumblane," "The is so much indebted, was a native of Braes o' Balquither," "Gloomy Winter's now awa'," "The Lass o' Aranteenie," "Loudoun's Bonnie Woods and Braes," and several others, continue to be special favourites. His acquaintance was now courted by many who were his superiors in station; but his mind was naturally prone to despondency, and, despair ing of ever being able to raise him. self above the obscurity of his original condition, he soon gave way to a confirmed melancholy. The refusal he became a member of a church of Mr Constable, to publish a second choir in Reading, and likewise joined edition of his poems, added to the de- the band of a regiment of volunteers. pression of his spirits; and having re- When very young he was placed at solved to destroy everything which the loom, and on the return of his he had written, he burnt all his manu- father with the family to Paisley, in scripts, including many songs which 1800, he for some time followed the had never been printed. Amongst trade of a weaver, but never liked the others who visited him about this occupation. In 1802 he was married, time was the Ettrick Shepherd. and soon after he commenced the After a night spent in the most de- teaching of music. A congeniality lightful communion of sentiment, of sentiment brought him acquainted Hogg took his departure, Tannahill with Tannahill, and during the life of mournfully exclaiming, "Farewell, the unfortunate bard, he composed we shall never meet again!" The day original music for many of his songs, previous to his death he went to Glas- while various others he adapted and gow, where he displayed such une- fitted with piano-forte accompa quivocal proofs of mental derange-niments. Through one of these. ment, that one of his friends consi-"Jessie, the Flower o' Dunblane," dered it necessary to accompany him the name of R. A. Smith first be England, but spent the greater part of his life in Scotland. He was born at Reading, in Berkshire, November 16, 1780, being the son of Robert Smith, a native of East Kilbride, near Glasgow, who had been a silk-weaver in Paisley, but had removed to England. At an early age he gave indications of his genius for music; and he was in a great measure self-taught, having never had the benefit of a regular musical education. As he grew up SCOTISH BIOGRAPHY. TAS With came known as a musical compo- paintings formed by the brothers ser. In 1807, chiefly on the recom- Foulis, the eminent printers. mendation of the Rev. Dr Boog, the design of acquiring a knowlege of senior minister of the Abbey parish drawing, he soon after removed to of Paisley, he was appointed precentor Glasgow, where he constantly attendof that church, a situation which he ed the infant academy, as often as he filled with great credit for sixteen could spare time from his occupation years. In August 1823 he removed of stone-cutting, by which he maintainto Edinburgh, having been appointed ed himself. Repairing afterwards to to conduct the music in St George's Dublin in search of employment, he Church of that city, under the aus- became known to Dr Quin, a physipices of the late Dr Andrew Thom- cian, who amused his leisure by atson, whose own musical attainments tempting to imitate precious stones were of a very high order. publications are Smith's with coloured pastes, and to take off of great value. impressions of the antique sculptured Among these are "Devotional Music, gems, an art practised in France and original and select," published in Italy with great secresy. 1807, which coutains no less than tor, finding that Tassie possessed all The Doctwenty-one original pieces; thems, in four vocal parts, with an "An- the necessary qualifications, took him Accompaniment for the Organ or succeeded in their experiments, he as his assistant, and when they had Piano-forte," 1819; and "Select Me- generously enabled him to proceed to lodies," 1827. His great work, "The London, and try the art, as a profes. Scottish Minstrel," comprising every sion, for his own benefit. Tassie, acScotish melody worth preserving, cordingly, went to London in 1766, with a great number of original pieces where, from his excessive modesty, he by the editor, appeared in six long struggled with difficulties, which volumes, at intervals, from 1821 to would have discouraged most people 1824. He afterwards published a si- in his circumstances. These, howmilar work, comprising the melodies ever, with patience and perseverance, of the sister island, entitled "The he ultimately surmounted, Irish Minstrel." Besides these, he emerging from obscurity, acquired prepared and arranged the following: both fortune and reputation. -"Sacred Music, for the use of St name at length became so much reGeorge's Church, Edinburgh ;""The spected, that the first cabinets in His Sacred Harmony of the Church of Europe were open to his use. Scotland;""Sacred Music, consist-talogue of his gems, ancient and moing of Tunes, Sanctuses, Doxologies, dern, appeared in 1775, in 8vo; but so Thanksgivings,&c.,sung in St George's Church;" and composed a number of anthems for the anniversary of George Heriot's day. His detached pieces are very numerous. Smith died at Edinburgh, January 3, 1829, universally lamented, leaving a widow and five children. TASSIE, JAMES, a celebrated modeller, was born of obscure parents in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, at what particular period is not known, and began life in the humble condition of a country stone-mason. visit to Glasgow during the fair, he On a obtained a view of the collection of 715 and, A ca great was his progress in the art, that |