"Index, drawn up in the Year 1629, of many Records of Charters granted by the different Sovereigns of Scotland, between 1309 and 1413 (which had been discovered by Mr. Astle in the British Museum), most of which Records have been long missing; with an Introduction, giving a State, founded upon Authentic Documents still preserved, of the Ancient Records of Scotland, which were in that Kingdom in 1292."
The object of this publication was to endeavour to recover many ancient records, which there was much reason to believe were still in existence. The labour which he underwent in preparing this volume for the press, and in transcribing a very ancient quarto manuscript, written on vellum, which was found in the State Paper Office, was very great. Every word of this ancient vellum MS. he copied with his own hand, and it is printed along with the volume of the Records of the Parliament of Scotland. The preface, introduction, notes, and appendix to the Index of Charters, show, not only the great labour which this work required from him, but the extensive information also, on the subject of the ancient history of Scotland, which he possessed.
At a general meeting of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, held Jan. 28, 1799, he was elected a member, and placed in the literary class of the Society. He died March 4, 1803, at his house, St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh, in the sixty-third year of his age.
Elginensis.
COWPER, OR COOPER.
In the midsummer holidays of 1799, being on a visit to an old and opulent family of the name of Deverell, in Dereham, Norfolk, I was taken to the house of an ancient lady (a member of the aforesaid family), to pay my respects to her, and to drink
tea. Two visitors were particularly expected. They soon arrived. The first, if I remember rightly (for my whole attention was singularly riveted to the second), was a pleasant-looking, lively young man—very talkative and entertaining; his companion was above the middle height, broadly made, but not stout, and advanced in years. His countenance had a peculiar charm, that I could not resist. It alternately exhibited a deep sadness, a thoughtful repose, a fearful and an intellectual fire, that surprised and held me captive. His manner was embarrassed and reserved. He spoke but little. Yet once he was roused to animation; then his voice was full and clear. I have a faint recollection that I saw his face lighted up with a momentary smile. His hostess kindly welcomed him as "Mr. Cooper." After tea, we walked for a while in the garden. I kept close to his side, and once he addressed me as "My little master." I returned to school; but that variable, expressive, and interesting countenance I did not forget. In after years, standing, as was my wont, before the shop windows of the London booksellers (I have not quite left off this old habit!), reading the title-pages of tomes that I intensely longed, but had not then the money, to purchase, I recognised at a shop in St. Paul's Churchyard that well-remembered face, prefixed to a volume of poems, "written by William Cowper, of the Inner Temple, Esq." The cap (for when I saw "Mr. Cooper" he wore a wig, or his hair, for his age, was unusually luxuriant) was the only thing that puzzled me. To make "assurance doubly sure," I hastened to the house of a near relation hard by, and I soon learnt that "Mr. Cooper" was William Cowper. The welcome present of a few shillings put me in immediate possession of the coveted volumes. I will only just add, that I read, and re-read them; that the man whom, in my early boyhood, I had so mysteriously reverenced, in my youth I deeply and devotedly admired and loved! Many, many years have since passed away: but that reverence, that admiration, and that love have experienced neither diminution nor change.
It was something, said Washington Irving, to have seen even the dust of Shakspeare. It is something too, good Mr. Editor, to have beheld the face and to have heard the voice of Cowper.
George Daniel.