The Miscellaneous Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott (Volume 4)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1834 Excerpt: ... BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, &c. HENRY MACKENZIE. For the biographical part of the following Memoir, we are chiefly indebted to a short sketch of the life of our distinguished contemporary, compiled from the most authentic sources, and prefixed to a beautiful duodecimo edition of The Man of Feeling, printed at Paris a few years since.1 We have had the farther advantage of correcting and enlarging the statements which it contains, from undoubted authority. Henry Mackenzie, Esq. was born at Edinburgh, in August 1745, on the same day on which Prince Charles Stuart landed in Scotland.2 His father was Dr Joshua Mackenzie, of that city; and his mother, Margaret, the eldest daughter of Mr Rose of Kilravock, of a very ancient family in 1 The original source of the memoir alluded to, is the publication entitled The British Gallery of Contemporary Portraits. London, 1808, &c - Prince Charles Stuart landed in Scotland on the 25th of July, 1745, --but he raised his standard on the 19th of August. VOL. IV. A Nairnshire. After being educated at the Highschool and University of Edinburgh, Mr Mackenzie, by the advice of some friends of his father, was articled to Mr Inglis of Redhall, in order to acquire a knowledge of the business of the Exchequer, a law-department, in which he was likely to have fewer competitors than in any other in Scotland. To this profession, although not perfectly compatible with that literary taste which he very early displayed, Mr Mackenzie applied with due diligence; and, in 1765, went to London, to study the modes of English Exchequer practice, which, as well as the constitution of the court, are similar in both countries. While there, his talents induced a friend to solicit his remaining in London, and qualifying himself for the English bar. ...