tion, the soundness of his judgment, and the calm, clear sense which his writings as a politician always exhibited. He did not, however, long retain this office, for, finding himself subjected to the indignity of being superintended by a committee of management, who interfered in the most summary and vexatious manner with his independence as an editor, he indignantly threw up his engagement, and bade adieu for ever to the Fair City. During his brief sojourn in Perth, Carrick wrote several humorous pieces of various kinds, his kindly and joyous temperament finding always some congenial escapement, notwithstanding the disagreeable circumstances in which he was placed. Of these pieces, one of the best is the well-known letter from "Bob, " to his friend in Glasgow, which appears in the last edition of the "Laird of Logan," at page 224. He does not seem to have thought much of the citizens of St. Johnstoun, remarking, with caustic severity, that "the last thing a true man of Perth would show you was the inside of his house."

At this critical period of his fortunes, some individuals in Kilmarnock, of liberal opinions, had projected a newspaper, and were looking out for an editor; immediate application was made by Mr. Carrick's friends, the result of which was successful. He was powerfully supported in this object by his generous friend Motherwell, who, though differing widely in politics, gave a strong but honest recommendation of his general talents, as well as fitness for the situation, stating at the same time, "He (Motherwell) had never concealed his most rooted hostility to what was called Liberal or Reform principles."

Carrick left Perth in February 1834, and immediately proceeded to Kilmarnock, to enter on his duties as editor of the Kilmarnock Journal. It was fondly hoped by the friends of this warm-hearted but ill-starred man of genius, that here, at last, he might set up the staff of his rest; but a short period served to dispel these pleasing hopes, and to cast a shadow over his prospects, which was never to pass away till it darkened down into the gloom

of the grave. Here, too, Carrick was subjected to the annoyance and torture of a committee of management, many of whom were persons the most incompetent for such a delicate duty as the superintendence of a public journal. The members of this junta were, moreover, divided into parties, in a state of bitter hostility with each other, so that, when, urged by some of them, he had written a few lively, satirical articles, of local application, which severely galled sundry individuals in the town, the parties who had suggested them, alarmed for the consequences, withdrew their countenance equally from the editor and his journal.

Previous to his leaving Perth, there is reason to believe that the disease which brought on his death had evinced its existence by slow and insidious approaches, at first in the form of partial paralysis of the nerves and muscles of the mouth, issuing finally in tic doloureux, one of the most excruciating diseases to which the human frame is liable. The annoyance to which he was incessantly subjected induced a severe attack of this complaint, and obliged him to apply for a temporary leave of absence, engaging to find a substitute to do duty for him during its continuance. This reasonable request was refused by the humane and enlightened committee of management, and the wretched state of his health leaving him no alternative, he resigned his situation, and returned to Glasgow in the month of January 1835. During his stay in "Auld Killie, " notwithstanding the painful visitations of disease, and the annoyances to which he was subjected in the exercise of his editorial duties, he never exhibited more affluence of mind, or a more perfect command over his rich and various powers. Besides various literary compositions, he exercised the duty of editor to the first edition of the "Laird of Logan," which appeared in June 1835. After this, Carrick went to Rothesay for the benefit of his health, but found it declining so rapidly, that he had given up all hopes of continued activity, and actually had fixed upon a spot in

Recovering,

which to lay his weary and worn-out frame. however, he returned to Glasgow, and resumed his literary pursuits. He contributed, about this time, some admirable papers to the Scottish Magazine, rich in humour and in happy traits of Scottish habits and peculiarities entitled, "Nights at Kilcomrie Castle, or the days of Queen Mary." Occupied with these and various other compositions, some of which are still in manuscript, and at times suffering acutely from the attacks of the painful disease, which now seldom, for any length of time, intermitted its visitations, and which, from its effect on his power of speech, was peculiarly obnoxious to a person of his social habits and character, Carrick continued to mix occasionally in society, and enjoy the fellowship of his friends. But a severe attack of inflammation coming on, aggravated by the weakening effects of a recent course of depletion, suggested by his medical attendant, proved too much for his enfeebled frame to resist, and, after a few days' suffering, he expired on the 17th of August 1835.

As

As a literary man Carrick's peculiar forte lay in the rich and humorous resources of a lively and salient mind and imagination. In broad humour he was singularly effective, and the edge of his satire was keen and biting. He had a quick perception of the ridiculous, coupled with much observation and knowledge of mankind. a describer of old manners and customs he is remarkably happy; and there is a graphic truth and beauty, enchased in a fine vein of drollery, in his descriptive sketches. The excess of his humour was ever ready to overflow in a stream of pleasant waggery, which the kindness of his nature, with his gentlemanly habits and self-respect, prevented from degenerating into broad or offensive caricature. As the editor, and a principal writer in the first series of the "Laird of Logan," he will long be remembered. this admired collection of Scottish and Gaelic stories, Carrick was the original projector, and he also contributed the excellent biographical sketch of "the Laird,” with

Of

the greater part of the anecdotes of that celebrated humorist.

In concluding this brief memoir, we may observe, generally, that as a descriptive painter of the comic and ludicrous aspects of man and society, and as equally skilful in the analysis of human character, combined with a rare and never-failing humour, a pungent but not malicious irony, and great ease and perspicuity of expression, few writers have surpassed John Donald Carrick.

ALEXANDER RODGER.

ALEXANDER RODGER was born in the village of MidCalder, Mid-Lothian, on the 16th July 1784. His father occupied the farm of Haggs, close by the small village of Dalmahoy. The weak health of his mother for several years consigned him to the care of two maiden sisters, of the name of Lonie; and it was not till he had attained the age of seven years that he returned to the parental roof. His father appears at this time to have given up farming, and to have kept an inn in Mid-Calder. Up to that period the young bard had not received any regular education, but now he was put to school in the village. And this, as far as we have learned, was the only education he received, except what he may have acquired for himself, in after life, during the few hours he could steal from laborious employment.

Shortly after this his father removed to Edinburgh, where Alexander was sent to learn the trade of a silversmith, with a Mr. Mathie. He continued a year in this employment, when his unfortunate father became embarrassed in his affairs, and, in consequence, emigrated to Hamburg, whence he sent for his son; but his relations by the mother's side, being strongly attached to the boy, persuaded him to accompany them to Glasgow, where, in 1797, he was apprenticed to a respectable weaver of the

name of Dunn, who resided at the Drygate Toll, in the near neighbourhood of the ancient Cathedral of Glasgow. We may be sure so venerable a relic of antiquity would be often visited by the youthful poet, and contribute, by its solemn magnificence and historical interest, to fan the flame of his poetic genius.

In 1803 the loyal fever, universally prevalent, infected our friend Sandie, who celebrated his connection with the Glasgow Highland Volunteers in a satirical poem of considerable merit, in which he employed the powers of his Muse in what became afterwards a favourite amusement with him, hitting off the peculiarities of his Celtic brethren. The corps, being principally composed of Highlanders, furnished ample scope for the keen edge of the poet's wit, and he seems then to have imbibed that attachment to the mountaineers which has led him so often to embalm their colloquial humours and foibles in his poetic effusions. Rodger continued in this volunteer regiment, and in another which rose out of it after its dissolution, called the Glasgow Highland Locals, for no less than nine years.

In 1806 the poet, then only twenty-two years of age, married Agnes Turner, by whom he had a large family. After his marriage Rodger removed to Bridgeton, a suburb of Glasgow, where he continued to solace himself, from time to time, in poetical composition and the exercise of his musical talents. His knowledge of the science of music enabled him to compose for his own amusement, and qualified him for imparting a knowledge of its principles to others, which he prosecuted for some time, the emoluments from which assisted him considerably in maintaining his young and growing family. Amongst the earliest efforts of his poetic vein is a poem entitled "Bolivar," written on the occasion of seeing in the Glasgow Chronicle, in September 1816, that this distinguished patriot and soldier had emancipated the negro slaves in the districts of Carraccas, Venezuela, and Cumana, to the number of seventy thousand.