At length, on the morning of the 4th of November, they were deposited in the church of St. Pancras, in the county of Middlesex. To one so distinguished, the Abbey of Westminster, where his bones might have reposed among those of the great men of England, was considered as the most appropriate place by many of his admirers; but it is said, they will be speedily transferred to the country that gave him birth, where a monument, worthy of his talents and celebrity, is intended to be erected to his memory.

The funeral was conducted in a modest and simple, but respectable manner; and what is not a little remarkable, with an exception of the members of his own family, consisted chiefly, if not wholly, of men of letters.

No. IX.

JAMES GLENIE, Esq. M. A. AND F.R.S.

OF LONDON AND EDINBURGH; FORMERLY AN OFFICER BOTH IN THE ROYAL ARTILLERY AND CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS.

To the names of a Stewart, a Simpson, and a Maclaurin, all distinguished geometricians and natives of Scotland, may now be fairly added that of the subject of the present memoir. His life more varied by incident and adventure, than that of any one of his countrymen, who have been just named, affords, of course, a wider scope for reflection, and a larger range for biography. It is connected, indeed, with the history of the times in which we live.

James Glenie, a man of singular endowments, was born in 1750; in that fertile tract of country, happily situate on the shores of the Forth, and the German Ocean, formerly called the "kingdom," and now the shire of Fife. The precise spot was designated by him, with topographical exactitude: for he always boasted during the whole course of his life, "that he first saw the light of heaven, in that very parish which had the honour to produce one of the most illustrious, and unfortunate of the sons of Caledonia." By this he plainly indicated that extraordinary man, whose early talents and rare endowments have readily obtained for him the appellation of the "admirable Crichton."

His father had been an officer of the army, a sturdy veteran who had fought, and perhaps, bled for his country, during many hard campaigns. He is said to have been present both in the field of Dettingen, and at the siege of Belleisle; events

which he was accustomed to mention with an honest pride. It appears from an authentic document, that the Captain, and a daughter were both living in 1777, at which period, they resided in the parish of Leslie, about eight miles from the town of Kircaldy.

Young Glenie, as is usual in the northern portion of this island, received the rudiments of his education at a parochial school. At a proper age, however, he repaired to the University of St. Andrew, where both Knox and Buchanan had been students.

Here he certainly either displayed, or attained such a skill in the Greek and Latin languages, as would have entitled him to respect, even if he had not disclosed an early taste for the sciences. But the bent and structure of his mind, admirably fitted him for geometry. Such was his proficiency, that in 1769, when in the mathematical class, he obtained a prize for the second time, on account of his excellence in that department This consisted of a work, still in high repute, entitled, "Elements of Geometry, by Thomas Simpson, F. R. S., 2d edit. 1760." It was a present from Thomas the eighth Earl of Kinnoul, then Chancellor of his College, and who conducted himself with such liberality to men of talents, as to be considered a northern Mecanas. Here follows the Latin address, printed from the original manuscript version, prefixed to the work in question:

"Ingenuo magnæq. spei Adolescenti

JACOBO GLENIE

Propter insignes in Artibus humanioribus Progressus in Classe Mathematica secundo, Præmium hoc literarium, ex sententia Præpositi et Professorum Collegii St. Salvatoris

et Sti. Leonardi :
DEDIT

Nobilissimus D. Comes de Kinnoull Academiæ ad Fanum Andreæ Cancellarius pridie Idus Aprilis A. D. 1769.

Quod Testor.

JOANNES YOUNG, P. P.

Notwithstanding his early and eminent attainments in mathematics, Mr. Glenie, was originally destined for holy orders. He accordingly attended the divinity class*, and appears to have paid great attention to his studies; for in addition to his other acquirements he was a keen polemic and a theologian, well versed in all the niceties and distinctions of his art. No one was better acquainted with the tenets of the various churches that are either established or tolerated throughout Europe, than himself. He was accustomed to argue most learnedly, acutely, and metaphysically, on the doctrines of transubstantiation, and consubstantiation; and like men in general, appeared finally, to lean towards the creed of that sect, for the ministry of which he was expressly educated. Had he proceeded, there can be little doubt, but that like Dr. Matthew Stewart, father of Mr. Dugald S. who was one of its ornaments, he would have so distinguished himself by his geometrical talents, as to have been invited to the mathematical chair of one of the five Universities of his native country. Like that same professor too, he would doubtless have left a great name behind him.

A favourite pursuit necessarily becomes a ruling one, and that in which a young and ambitious individual excels, is most likely to tincture the future character of his life. This was precisely the case in the instance now before us: for whether it was, that a presentation to a Kirk, did not readily occur, or that the memory of the exploits of his father, in conjunction with his own excellence in a science intimately connected with the art of war, occupied and inflamed his youthful imagination; certain it is, that he was at length smitten with a passion for distinguishing himself as a military

man.

Here again, that early reputation for talents which afterwards proved so serviceable to his country, readily paved the way for

• The learned and Reverend Doctor Pierson, of Chelsea, formerly Minister of the English Church at Amsterdam; and the late Dr. William Thomson, of Kensington, were among the number of his fellow-students.

his advancement. The Professors of St. Andrew's, proud of a student, than whom few, perhaps, had more distinguished themselves, since the epoch of Buchanan, determined if possible, to gratify his wishes; and on this occasion they were doubtless joined by their worthy and accomplished Chancellor. An application was accordingly made to the late General Lord Adam Gordon, uncle to the present Duke of Gordon, and at that period Commander-in-Chief of the forces in Scotland. This nobleman immediately acceded to their wishes; and in the course of a few months more, we actually find Mr. Glenie a candidate for the artillery at Woolwich.

To a mind so gifted, nothing could be more facile than the application of geometry to fortification, and the doctrine of projectiles. Accordingly, after a short course, and a satisfactory examination, he was declared fully qualified for a commission; and he actually obtained one soon after without any difficulty.

A contest between the mother-country, and her American colonies, unhappily took place in the year 1775. On this occasion, it was deemed necessary to send a large body of both native and foreign troops across the Atlantic, and these were accompanied by formidable detachments of artillery, an arm, in which Great Britain at that period, greatly excelled the insurgents; as she undoubtedly surpasses all Europe at the present moment.

Mr. Glenie, arrived in the harbour of New York, at a time when every thing assumed a most prosperous and imposing aspect. General Howe had penetrated to the Chesapeak, effected a victory at Brandy-wine, and captured Philadelphia; while Burgoyne seized on Ticonderoga, and arriving on the banks of the North River, already proclaimed his expectations of an easy conquest.

Our Lieutenant of artillery was immediately placed under the orders of General St. Leger *, uncle to the gay and accomplished Colonel, once so well known in the circles of fashion; and such already was his reputation, that he appears to have

* He then possessed the rank of Colonel only.