I do not recollect the precise time, when I first visited the Edinburgh College Museum, preparatory to the description given of it in my Popular Philosophy, which then, as I got my mind more and more relieved from other considerations, must have been obtaining some ascendency in my thoughts; but I recollect distinctly enough, that it was on my way to the westward, to visit some friends in the month of August, this summer, that I embraced the opportunity of introducing my wife to this superb collection, in company with another lady and some friends,-and that it was, in coming out on this occasion, that we met with, and received so hearty a shake of the hand from, poor Mr Constable, then in the zenith of his glory,—and whose activity, perseverance, and enterprising spirit, in trade,-certainly merited a better fate, than what befel him at the last.

Although my heavy stock must, by this time, have been much reduced, yet, the best season for auctioning was not to be let slip, without attempting something, and, I accordingly find, we once more entered upon a new series, beginning at Dunbar, on the evening of the 1st of October, and finishing, with occasional intervals, at same place, on the last week of the year; and in the mean time, I availed myself of the busiest selling time in Edinburgh, to get Messrs M. and S. to introduce some of my books occasionally into their catalogues, during the months of November and December.*

* The sale in Dunbar, as above observed, commenced on Wednesday, the first of Oct. and continued to the 11th, afterwards, we find my son operating at Dunse, on the 13th to the 18th,-at Eccles and Litholm, from the 21st to the 25th,at Kelso, from 28th, to 1st Nov.-at Swinton, 3d, 4th,-Ladykirk, 5th, 6th, Whitsome, 7th, 8th,at Allanton, Chirnside and Westruther, week ending the 15th,-Ayton and Coldingham, from 17th to 22d-after this, there seems to be a small interval during our Fair week,-and then, the sales proceed at Cockburnspath, East Barns, and Innerwick, 1st to 6th Dec.-Tyningham, Whittingham, and Linton, 8th to 13th,-Whittingham and Stenton, 17th to the 20th, and a week at Dunbar, from the 22d to the 27th.

-'s

The nights, on which some of my articles were inserted in Messrs catalogues, in Edinburgh, were the 3d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 11th and 12th-and again, on the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 22d Nov.-and 1st, 3d, and 4th of Dec.

CHAPTER XXXIII.-1824.

Although the year 1824, brought with it, its cares and troubles, yet 1 had now got into comparatively smooth water, in many respects.-Certain matters, that I must however have felt keenly, or, which, could not have borne lightly on me at the time -The arch enemy of mankind, changes his mode of attack, but is defeated by my resolution, NOT to curse God, and die, but, to BLESS GOD AND LIVE. Grateful aspirations in my new retrospect.-Am again indispos ed. Begin to think seriously, of proceeding with my "Book of Nature Laid Open."-Circumstances, that must have contributed to induce me, to proceed in earnest with my work at this period-Beautiful extract from Galen.—Golden opportunities not lost sight of,-Moments of seclusion from the world, how they may be profitably employed, and well spent.-Night thoughts, as well as daily exertions, called into action.-All necessary, to enable me to progress with my task. What seems to have been the will of providence, in this respect Other concerns not neglected.-Spring auctions-Write to a stranger in America. His prompt reply.-Procedure adopted, after receiving the American intelligence.-Preparations for another extensive winter auction campaign. —“Cheap sale," and "Literary Treat."-Theatre of our new auction operations, from commencement, till their termination.-What must have contributed much, to put me in spirits, as 1824, drew to a close.

THE year 1824 brought with it its cares and troubles, and, of course, its own anxieties and struggles; but, as I had now got into comparatively smooth water, in other respects, and these, however acute and grievous to be borne, may be said either to have belonged to the mysterious subject within the veil,-or so allied to, and connected with, other private concerns, as not to come within the pale of, legitimate subject for public exposure, I shall pass them by, with this slight notice.

There are, however, certain reminiscences, which go to show, that, whatever relief I may have obtained, by this time, in regard to other matters-the troubles of the year, upon which I had now entered, were neither of a light, nor a temporary nature-and that neither did they fall lightly, nor bear transiently,-on my still seemingly devoted head!

For, it could not be a small matter, which could induce a dear friend, in writing to me so early as the 3d of January, as if afraid, that he had touched too strongly on a certain tender

chord, in a recent communication, to say, "I hope my last would not have a very bad effect," and that seemed to make him deeply regret having said any thing on the subject :-it could not be a light matter, that bore me down, and pressed me to the earth, by the weight of mental anguish, towards midsummer, on that memorable sacramental Sunday, when I was confined to bed, suffering besides, under severe bodily indisposition,-while the family were at church :-and, it could not be a small or a light matter, indeed, which, towards the close of the year, made me eat that bitter bread of sorrow, and occasion, (what has been termed by a certain writer, whose name I do not at present recollect,)— "the most afflictive sight in nature"-the tears of the aged to flow!

In short, it was but too evident, that my troubles and my sorrows were not yet at an end ;-that, if the ARCH TEMPTER -and when he failed in his artifices that way,-ARCH TORMENTOR, of mankind,—had really been permitted by my SuPREME BENEFACTOR-who permits "these ills to fall"

"For GRACIOUS ends, and wills that man should mourn-”

to exercise his malignant purposes on me, so far as to “ "sift me as wheat,” as he requested permission to do unto Simon, in other respects,-but, only to save my life as in the case of Job,-he had only changed his mode and manner, but not, his determined system, of attack.

In this, again, however, I trust, he was foiled; and, if he was actually bent on nothing short of my destruction, and driving me, in the anguish of despair, to "curse God and die," he must have found himself grievously out of his calculation, when he saw, that I was as determined on my part, to pursue a quite contrary course, and to BLESS GOD and LIVE. But to return.

So early as the time when I wrote my new Retrospect, which I see is dated the 18th of January, I observe that, notwithstanding these portentous omens had already made their appearance, more or less-although some of them were only to the extent of small specks, of rather uncourtly, or unseemly appearance, and but little, as yet, above the horizon,—yet,

in reference to some matters, which had taken place in course of the by-past year, I could not, but feel grateful, and had, even at that early period, begun to give expression to these emotions in such language as this-" This calls again aloud for gratitude; and for these unspeakable mercies, I again desire to lift up my soul in thankfulness to the adorable giver of all good, whose loving kindnesses have kept pace with the revolving moments of the by-past year."

But, as the spring advanced, it appears that I had commenced in earnest, making my preparations for giving a more substantial proof of my determination to "BLESS GOD AND LIVE," than the mere expression of my sentiments and my wishes, on a manuscript, that was meant to remain as a sealed letter, in regard to the public in general, or, as I shall say, to the world.

By a letter to my youngest son, who still continued in his situation at Edinburgh, of date the 7th April, I see that, after alluding to "the weak state I had recently been brought to, before I began to take barks and other medicine," I gave him the additional information, "I begin now to think, if I do not now get on with the Book of Nature laid open,? I never shall; and, on that account, am anxious that I get it as far forward as possible, this summer;"-hinting, at same time, that I had been able to make little progress with it of late,-which shows, that I had not only been indisposed, but fixes the time, viz., during that Indisposition in which I had been doing a little, and had now turned my thoughts seriously on doing more, in furtherance of what, I may perhaps well style ONE of the BEST WORKS of my life-being, as Gallen has expressed it, in the quotation at the commencement of the introductory chapter of my Popular Philosophy, (the new name I gave to my improved edition of the Book of Nature laid open,) of that description of treatises, which "compose one of the noblest and most acceptable hymns."*

This quotation is altogether so beautiful, that I cannot resist the inclination I feel, for again copying it. It is to the following purport, and is stated exactly in the way, in which it is made to commence my popular philosophy -"Such treatises," says GALEN, "as display the excellencies of the GREAT CREATOR, compose one of the noblest, and most acceptable hymns. To acquaint purselves

I need scarcely repeat to my reader, that this had long been a contemplated, and a favourite object, with me,—and the time certainly, had at last, become favourable and fitting for carrying my intentions into execution,-when, notwithstanding the prevalence of other miseries, (and who can count upon, being ever, entirely exempt from them in this mortal state) I had been considerably relieved from the pressure, of what had so long borne me to the earth, and, found, in consequence, not only more leisure, but my mind in a better frame for the purpose, during an indisposition that seems to have overtaken me early in January, and which seems to have increased about the beginning of June, to such a degree, as to unfit me, for a time, for all further exertions.

The golden moments, that so opportunely then came in my way, it may readily be supposed, I would avail myself of, in my state of solitude; and I did so, to such a degree, that it might have become a question with me, whether I did not much retard my convalescence, by the excess, or severity of my employment,—were it not, that instead of suffering under, I have generally been accustomed, to consider myself rather as benefited by such exertions.

Be this as it may, I seem to have plied my hands well, and had made considerable progress in my preparations during these months of seclusion. And when I say, that not only were my day hours, but many of those that are usually spent under the influence of

"Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep!" devoted to the performance of my arduous task, so that the average of three hours and a half, might still be, as it had been before, and has often been since, considered as my allotted portion of time, for sleep; this may surprise my readers the more, when I remind them of what I must have endured, not so much from bodily, as from mental suffering, in

with His sublime perfections, and point out to others, His infinite power, His unerring wisdom, and His boundless benignity,-this is a more substantial act of devotion, than to slay hecatombs of victims at his altar, or to kindle mountains of spices, into incense."-How far, it is there, well appropriated and fitted for the place it occupies, will be best appreciated by those, who peruse what follows in that work.