ion was intended as a popular treatise, not addressed to the
learned, but to the unlearned. It fulfils to perfection the idea of what
such a treatise should be. There is in the style not the slightest
approach to condescension, or that writing down to the meaner capacity
which must always offend an adult student; while the first principles of
the science discussed are stated with such lucidity, that his capacity
must be mean indeed who cannot grasp them, and they are illustrated by
statistics which will remain always interesting, even to the best
informed. Probably the particular charm of the book arises from its
having been written _currente calamo_. The information had been all
previously stored in the author's mind before he ever thought of writing
it. When he began to write, it poured forth without effort or any
reference to authorities. The book was written in some marvellously
short time,--the writer fears now to say how short. It was counted in
days. It would have been quite contrary to Dr Burton's principles to
boast of rapidity of composition. His greater works are monuments of
industry. Dr Burton's information on economic subjects had probably been
acquired during his studies and correspondence about the abolition of
the Corn Laws. He was interim editor of the 'Scotsman' at an early
period of the Corn-Law agitation, and during his editorship committed
the journal to Anti-Corn-Law principles. He was at that time in
correspondence with Mr Cobden, whom he visited in Lancashire, and who
tried to induce him to remove to that part of the world for the purpose
of editing an Anti-Corn-Law newspaper.

Mrs Burton was fond of society, and her husband had not then become
positively averse to it. His acquaintance in Edinburgh gradually
increased. It included Lord Jeffrey and his family, Lord Murray, who
remained a fast friend during his life, and all the remaining members of
the old Edinburgh circle.

About the year 1848, the writer first saw Dr Burton, accompanied by his
wife, as guests at one of those late evening parties given by Mrs
Jeffrey during the last years of her husband's life--a very faint
reflection of the earlier hospitalities of Craigcrook and Moray Place.

In 1848 Dr Burton left Scotland Street for a house in Royal Crescent,
better suited for occasional reception than the other. But in 1849 the
heaviest blow of his life fell on him in the loss of his wife. His five
married years had been a period of perfe