Although the influence of her Grace has produced the most sensible and regular effects in the amusements, recreations, and character of fashion, yet has she occasionally excrted herself with much activity in the political world. From the first public appearance of Mr. Pitt she regarded him with the highest admiration; but though attached to the party that supported him, she was in the habits of friendly intercourse with many of the opposite side. Her liberal mind did not consider identity of political opinion with her own as a necessary constituent in an estimable character. At the time of the King's illness, approving of Mr. Pitt's plan without questioning the integrity of those who having always voted with Mr. Fox adhered to him on that occasion, she with much indignation reprobated those who having professed themselves the King's friends, and eaten his bread, joined the opposite party when they knew it likely to become prevalent. As her Grace, when requisite, expressed sentiments very frankly that she knew to be right, although not perfectly agreeable to some hearers, she was at that time not sparing in her animadversions. She accosted, with very great and just severity, a well known peripatetic (we do not mean a peripatetic philosopher,) and exposed his conduct in so humourous and strong satire, that it is said she almost recalled to his recollection that there is such a feeling as shame in the human mind.

When the French revolution changed the form and object of parties, her Grace adhering to that which adopted the sentiments of Mr, Burke, occasionally

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sionally met with persons who viewed it in a different light. Even then, without attacking with indiscriminate acrimony, all those who thought otherwise from herself, she was frequently severe on persons of rank and title, whom in conceiving to wish for the abolition of their own privileges, she considered as guilty of a sort of political suicide. One day a very acute and able nobleman, but by no means so remarkable for external appearance as for intellectual ability, and whose lady was supposed to have been more in love with his title than himself, was advancing some doctrines which she construed to be favourable to levelling principles. "Lord!" said she, "it is very ungrateful of you to abuse titles; to a title you owe your rich wife. Do you think any woman of fortune would have married you if you had been plain

Her Grace very frequently has parties of able politicians to dinner. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas are of the number of her visitants on such occasions.

The eldest son of their Graces, the Marquis of Huntley, is one of the most elegant young men of the age; acute, accomplished, open, frank, and unassuming, carrying in his handsome, expressive countepance a passport to the heart; a favourite with all that know him, is peculiarly so with Scotsmen, at whose periodical testivals he often presides, and delights those numerous companies by his social, convivial manners and habits. His Lordship began his military career in the 42d or Old Highland regiment. To his native highlands he is extremely partial, and never in higher glee than when enjoying himself at the high

land

land club*. His Lordship now commands a regiment, at the head of which he distinguished himself in Holland in the engagement at Alkmaar, was wounded, but fortunately for his friends and country, in a slight degree. Lord Huntley is very fond of Scotch music and dancing, and of the latter is one of the best and most graceful performers in the kingdom. The Duchess is extremely fond of this amiable and worthy son. Of the daughters of the family, three have become members of the first houses in England; and one married a respectable Scotch baronet. Lady Charlotte, the eldest, is the wife of Colonel Lennox, heir of the Duke of Richmond. Lady Madelaine, the second, married Sir Robert Sinclair; Lady Susan is Duchess of Manchester; Lady Louisa is the wife of Lord Broome, son and heir of Marquis Cornwallis; and Lady Georgina, equal in beauty, loveliness, and accomplishments, to any of her sisters, now about seventeen, is still unmarried. Their Graces have two sons under

age.

Her Grace is somewhat above the middle size, very finely shaped, though now considerably embonpoint. Her face is oval, with dark expressive eyes, very regular features, fine complexion, and a most engaging expression.

The Duchess very frequently deals in bon mots; some of them sportive, and some, as we have already seen, strongly and poignantly satirical. Two we just

*Which meets periodically at the Shakespear during the winter.

now recollect, which we shall here annex to our ac count. One evening a party of friends being engaged at some amusement resembling questions and commands, it is said that the Marquis being asked what trade he would choose, answered, making garters* for ladies' stockings; and that the Duchess observed, " Ah, George! you would soon be above your trade.”—One evening her Grace was in company with a gentleman, the correct composition of whose military dispatches had undergone some critical animadversions" I congratulate you," said the Duchess," on your talent for writing English poetry.” "English poetry!" said he." Yes !" said she, "for I am sure what you write is not English prose."

Her Grace had several brothers, of whom, we believe, Sir William Maxwell is now the only one alive. General Maxwell, her second brother, died some years ago, leaving her Grace a considerable legacy. She has two sisters, one of whom is Mrs. Fordyce, the lady of John Fordyce, Esq. formerly a banker in Edinburgh; the other, Lady Wallace, so well known in the fashionable and literary world.

* A certain Scotch methodistical lady, of considerable beauty, was so fond of scripture passages, that she had some of them marked on different parts of her dress. The motto of her garters was, set your affections on things above.

DOCTOR

DOCTOR CURRIE,

OF LIVERPOOL.

JAMES CURRIE, M. D. is the only son of a clergyman of the church of Scotland, whofe father also exercised the pastoral office in that part of the county of Dumfries, named Annandale. In the manse, or parsonage house, which had descended as by inheritance from his grandfather to his father, the subject of the present memoir was born in the

year 1756.

The Scottish nation enjoys an invaluable advantage in the institution of parochial schools, where youths. receive, upon the easiest terms, the rudiments of a good education. In the school of his parish, and under the inspection of his father, Dr. C. entered upon his grammatical and classical studies. When he had attained the thirteenth year of his age, he was sent to the school of Dumfries, which was then conducted by Dr. Chapman, so well known by his work on education. In Dr. Chapman's house he resided as a boarder; and, after going through the regular course of the school, he continued, under the superintendance of the Doctor, to prosecute his studies in the mathematics. If, from the maturity of a plant, we may form an idea of its early culture, we may be justified in supposing, that Dr. Currie enjoyed considerable advantages in the assiduities of his tutor, and that he improved these advantages to the utmost.

R

The disposition of the northern Britons to emigrate into climes more promising than their own, has been

SO