Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 7.djvu/169

Rh Revolution," or those of the future permanency of the country, in the position in which the Revolution left it. Owing to the other eminent histories of the same period, this work is not so valuable as the author's History of Queen Anne, which appeared in 1798, with the title, "The History of Great Britain, during the Reign of Queen Anne; with a Dissertation concerning the Danger of the Protestant Succession: and an Appendix, containing Original Papers." This work was a valuable accession to the literature of the period at which it was published; and it must still be allowed to be the most ample and accurate, if not also the most impartial, history of the times of which it treats. It is certainly above the average of historical works: there is nothing offensive or affected in the style vices very common among those who were secondary to the three great historians of the last century it is expressive and plain, and, in many cases, elegant. The reflections, if not those of a profound philosopher, show a well thinking mind; and, although breathing party feeling, never show violent prejudice. That this, however, should be the best history of so remarkable an age, is to be regretted, especially since the late discovery of many documents, illustrative of its dark transactions. A change more interesting than that of a palpable revolution, in the gradual passage from prerogative to influence, forms a subject for a writer more conversant with constitutional subjects, and better able to discuss them in all their bearings, than Dr Somerville, who is in general a better narrator of the intrigues of individual politicians, and the diplomatic intercourse of nations, than a student of laws and governments, and their effects on society. In discussing the question of the danger of the protestant succession, the author professes, as writing at a period when the subject is not looked on with party views, not to be actuated by them. It is very doubtful whether he was correct in the supposition, either as it refers to his own feelings, or to those of the period; and, independently of the information acquired since Somerville wrote, it will perhaps hardly be denied, that there was then enough known to show, from legitimate deduction, that what was called "the protestant succession," actually was in danger, not only from the machinations of Bolingbroke, and the zeal of the Jacobites, but from the personal feelings of the queen. In the interval between the production of his two great historical works, (1793,) he wrote a pamphlet, "On the Constitution and State of Great Britain." About the same time, he was chosen one of the chaplains in ordinary to his majesty for Scotland, and elected a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He also received the degree of doctor of divinity from the university of Edinburgh, at what period of his life we are not aware. At the period of the publication of his "History of Queen Anne," he visited London, and presented a copy of his work to the king, at an introduction at St James's. A whimsical circumstance happened to him during his visit, thus told by his biographer: "On the day subsequent to his arrival, while in the lobby of the house of commons, Dr Somerville was arrested, and taken to Bow street, on a charge of felony. Thunderstruck, and utterly incapable of accounting for the strange predicament in which he was placed, our bewildered divine could scarcely avail himself of the polite advice of the magistrate, to apprise his friends of the circumstance. Meanwhile, the late lord Melville, then Sir Henry Dundas, who had witnessed his seizure, entered the office, and having satisfied the magistrate of the respectability of his countryman, indulged in a hearty laugh at his expense. A notorious and specious swindler had been, it should seem, a passenger on board the packet in which Dr Somerville came to London; and being seen in the company of this man on their landing, led to his arrest as an accomplice. This anecdote the writer has often heard Dr Somerville relate with much pleasantry."