Biographical Sketch Of The Late Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., &C,

if it was one in which he felt an especial interest , he broke forth ivith an exuberance of thought and diction which , combined ivith a spontaneous felicity of eloquence , rendered them exceedingly effective . One hacl only to take a cursory glance at his tall

and commanding figure , his massive forehead , his regularly chiselled features , and his openness of countenance , indicative of his kindness ancl generosity of heart , to admire him . But Ave are not alone in our admiration of Sir Archibald ' s

varied intellectual talents and attainments—the acquisition of which is chiefly attributable to his persevering energy—as his noble independence and courageousness of spirit , together AA'ith his exalted patriotism , have justly commanded the unbounded admiration and reverence of neighbouring nations . Sir Archibald Avas an accurate

discerner of the signs of the times . He watched with the liveliest interest the various subjects introduced into Parliament—indeed , he weighed each question so thoughtfully and minutely , that he could determine Avith a considerable amount of

certainty its ultimate issue before it Avas made 23 ublic . The affairs on the Continent likeAvise came in for a share of his attention . He hacl a great respect for the march of onward thought , provided that it progress in a true and safe

direction , and Sir Archibald ivas proud at seeing the people on the Continent putting off the coloured spectacles of the past , and emancipating themselves from tbe darkness , superstition , ancl bigotry AA'hich brooded , like a nightmare , over them for

centuries , ancl rapidly becoming more enlightened , and progressing in a higher state of material and spiritual existence . Perhaps there AA'as never an age more remarkable , or which abounded more in peculiar signs than the wonderful age in which

our lot has been cast . Everything is moving restlessly and resistlessly on , and amid the actions and reactions , discoveries ancl rediscoveries in science , history , and philosophy , Ave are often at a loss what to believe . Let us , hoAvever , like Sir

Archibald , discern the signs of this perplexed transition period , and not be running , like the ostrich , to our bush AA'hen the danger flag is hoisted .

Sir Archibald ' s sociability ancl affability of nature , ancl his honesty of heart ancl purpose made his society courted , and secured for him an extended circle of acquaintances , among Avhom were the most eminent men of the clay . He AA'as a particular favourite of Her Majesty , and to SIIOAV the respect in which she held him , we may state

that he attended her levees in London , besides being often a guest at Balmoral . When our virtuous and generous-hearted Queen , accompanied by her late devoted , courteous , ancl pre-eminently accomplished Prince Consort , visited Glasgow in

August , 1849—a city , in the welfare of which the Queen has taken an unbounded interest—Sir-Archibald accompanied her , describing the names and places of interest . Her Majesty Avas particularly delighted Avith the Cathedral , ancl

expressed her admiration of it in no measured words ; but on being informed by Sir Archibald , that it Avas one of the scenes delineated in " Rob Roy , " it excited even a deeper interest . Her Majesty's feelings of gratitude ancl delight at the

enthusiastic reception she hacl received , as Avell as at the Avealth , enterprise , ancl commendable industry of the inhabitants , were never excelled at any future period since her accession to the throne . Among the many observations she

addressed to him Avas , that he was to be sure to point out to her the Saltmarket ancl the dwelling of " Bailie Nicol Jarvie , " Avhich the eminent historian did not fail to clo .

Nevertheless , Sir Archibald , like all great men ,. Avas not Avithout his detractors , the severest of whom are to be found among his professional brethren practising at the Edinburgh Bar . A critic writing in the Journal of Jurisprudence—a

critic rather free in his judgment ancl censureapparently anxious to get the first fling at him , has given vent to his malice in a notice appearing in the current issue , with scarcely a particle of literary or critical acumen . The object of the

critic , unmistakeably , has been to murder the legal reputation of Sir Archibald , ancl , in caricaturing his abilities , he has employed a redundancy of unwarrantably strong words . The critic seems

to have forgot the enormous amount of work that he had to perform , else he surely Avould never have sneered at his decisions in the contemptible manner he has done . We are not indiscriminate eulogists of Sir Archibald . He had his failings and

imperfections like other men , ancl , amid a multiplicity of business , occasionally committed grave legal mistakes ; but his known anxiety Avas to perform the numerous and important judicial duties as efficiently and satisfactorily as possible , ancl those

Avho are capable of forming a judgment of his capacity as a lawyer , know IIOAV successfully he accomplished that object . We do not think Ave are wrong in regarding the article as the product