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

of jealousy and ill-nature , so characteristic of the young Ishmaels of the Parliament House who are quicksighted in discovering and exposing to vieAV a mote in a professional brother ' s eye , who , in point of tact , talent , ancl ability , is vastly their

superior , but are insensible to the beam in their OAVU eye . The malice of the warped ancl prejudiced critic seems insatiable , as he no sooner descants on his legal qualifications , ancl the manner iu which he selects his substitutes , than he proceeds to deal ivith his literary abilities . To believe the critic , Sir Archibald Avas a mere " hodman , " and had

only a sort of stupid industry and immense capacity for literary or legal labours , Avithout a spark of literary or legal ability , with other equally complimentary epithets . Here again the critic is mistaken in point of fact , and only evinces his

stout dogmatism and contempt . That Sir Archibald Avas a careful , painstaking , as well as a useful historian , ancl that he was allowed to be one of the greatest ornaments of the bar , are facts beyond dispute . As we have already given a candid ancl

moderate estimate of his literary and legal worth , and as the public have appreciated his herculean efforts so thoroughly , ifc is unnecessary to go further into detail . Had the Journal of

Jurisprudence critic , in dealing ivith Sir Archibald , adhered closely to facts , which , as Burns says , are " chiels thafc ivinna ding , " instead of clinging to his doubtful theories , he would not haA'e been led so wide astray . The article is wanting in common

sense and propriety , and our advice to the querulous and ill-conditioned critic is , that if he cannot wield his literary tomahawk to better advantage , he had better go and admire his oivn shadow , or uproot the rank weeds of prejudice out of his nature .

Honours flowed ou Sir Archibald in torrents from all quarters . In 1845 he was made Lord Rector of Marischall College , Aberdeen in 1851 the students of Glasgow similarly honoured him ; in 1 S 52 the Queen conferred the honour of Baronetcy upon him .

in 1853 he received the degree of D . C . L ., at the installation of Lord [ Derby as Chancellor of Oxford University ; and for [ twenty years lie was Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of Glasgoiv , and in that capacity he laid the foundation stone of

numerous public buildings . The latter days of Sir Archibald were calm and resigned . He died on the night of Thursday , tho 23 rd May , after labouring for almost a fortnight under a very severe asthmatic attack . He was in his seventy-sixth year , and enjoyed good health—the greatest of earthly possessions—up to his last illness .

He Avas surrounded in his last days by an affectionate family circle who anticipated his every Avish . He has left behind a ' widow ( a daughter of Colonel Patrick Tytler , brother of Lord Woodhouselee ) nnd two sons and a daughter to mourn their irreparable loss . According to his desire his remains were interred

in the Dean Cemetery , Edinburgh , aucl his relatives deferring to the wish of the general public , kindly agreed to make his funeral of a public character . The deceased ' s remains ivere conveyed to Edinburgh via the North British Railway , and the route from Tossil

House to the station ivas thronged by hushed spectators . So deep was the emotion Avhich filled the hearts of some of the spectators that tears—not the crocodile tears , so fashionable [ to be shed in these daysbut those of true sorrow—were depicted on

, their countenances . By his death the literary world has lost one of its luminaries , who shed a gentle and brilliant radiance all around ; the city of Glasgow an impartial judge , and one of its most conspicuous ornaments ; Avhile philanthropy in him has lost an

earnest advocate , and last , though greatest of all , his family circle its light and attraction . Let us admire his winning urbanity , his modesty , and his unflinching adherence to truth . Altogether , despite his imperfections , he is worthy of admiration , and those

Avho sedulously emulate his example cannot fail to acquire an enlargement of miud , an elevation of sentiment , as AA * ell as become useful ancl eminent

men . " Lives of great mnn all remind us AVe can make our lives sublime , And departing , le-. we behind us Footprints on tho ' sands of time . ' " [ The author has , in a very unassuming yet forcible

manner , essayed to paint Sir Archibald ' s character , as AA'ell as his literary and legal abilities , iu their true colours . J . G . after giving a brief resume of the distinguished career of Sir Archibald , proceeds to point out some of the leading inconsistencies in the

same ill-judged and unjustifiable remarks by an Edinburgh critic . We cau . bear testimony to the accuracy of our remarks ; he has succeeded in the task undertaken by him , and though the production of a young writer , this little biographical sketch is Avell deserving

of a place amongst the other and more copious and exhaustive- articles Avhich have appeared in vindication of the useful , industrious , honourable , and honoured public life of Sir Archibald Alison . We have already given a full account of the Masonic career of our

late brother , and Ave think it right to state thafc 3 . B ., the writer of the biographical sketch , is not a member of our Order . The ill-natured remarks of the Edinburgh critic arc not Avorthy of being considered as tending in any way to pale the lustre of the reputation ivliich our