han those of William Jerdan.

Mr Jerdan is chiefly known as having been for a third of a century the
editor of the _London Literary Gazette_, a work which used to report
on literature with a sympathy for authors strikingly in contrast with
the tone of some of its contemporaries, in whom it would almost appear
as if the saying of a kind word, or even the doing of simple justice
towards a book, were felt as a piece of inexcusable weakness. He is
now, at seventy, relieved from his cares, with little tangible result
from his long and active career; but for this the readers of his
autobiography will be at no loss to account. Jerdan has evidently been
a kind-hearted, mirth-making, tomorrow-defying mortal all his days, as
if he had patriotically set himself from the beginning to prove that
Scotland could produce something different from those hosts of staid,
sober, calculating men for which it has become so much distinguished.
We speak here, indeed, according to the English apprehension of the
Scotch character, for in Scotland, strange to say--that is, to
Englishmen it will appear strange--the people believe themselves to be
remarkable for want of foresight--'aye wise ahint the hand,' is their
own self-portraiture--and for a certain ardour of genius which leads
them into all sorts of scrapes. The issue is, after all, a hard one,
and viewing the long services of Mr Jerdan to the literary republic,
we would hope that a cheerful life-evening is still in store for him.

Our autobiographer tells, with all due modesty, of his early days at
Kelso--the respectable friends by whom he was surrounded--his
acquiring the reputation of a clever youth, and running nigh being a
good deal spoilt in consequence. At nineteen, he went to London, to
enter the counting-house of a mercantile uncle, and during two years
spent there, formed an acquaintance with a group of young men, several
of whom have since become distinguished. Among these were Messrs Pirie
and Lawrie, since Lord Mayors of London--David, William, and Frederick
Pollock, of whom the last is now Chief Baron of Exchequer--and Mr
Wilde, who has since been Lord Chancellor. Interrupted in his career
by a severe illness, he returned to Scotland to recruit, and soon
after was placed with an Edinburgh writer to the Signet, to study the
mysteries of law. The Scottish capital was then a much more frolicsome
place than now, and Jerdan entered heartily into all its humours,
spent merry evenings