prehensive plan, a task, in which he persevered with the greatest assiduity, and without the least interrup tion, for near forty years; and so great was the reputation he had acquired, that students not only flocked to him from every part of Europe, but likewise from the American colonies. In 1759, our professor entirely relinquished the business of the anatomical theatre to his son Dr. Alexander, who had assisted him in the course of lectures the preceding year. After this resignation, however, he still endeavoured to render his labours useful to mankind, by reading clinical lectures at the hospital, for the improvement of the students. His father, old Dr. Monro, lived to an advanced age, and enjoyed the unspeakable pleasure of beholding a son, esteemed and regarded by mankind, the principal actor in the execution of his favourite plan, the great object of his life, the founding a seminary of medical education in his native country. The son, who survived him near thirty years, had the satisfaction to behold this seminary of medical education frequented yearly by 400 or 500 students, and to see it arrive to a degree of reputation, far beyond his most sanguine hopes, being equalled by few, and inferior to none in Europe. Few men were members of more societies than Dr. Monro; still fewer equally assiduous, in their attendance of those, which, in any way, tended to promote general utility. He was a manager of many public charities; and not only a member of different medical societies, but, likewise, of several others instituted for promoting literature, arts, sciences and manufactures in Scotland, and was one of their most useful members. While he was held in high estimation at home, he was equally esteemed and respected abroad, and was elected an honorary member of the royal academy of surgery, at Paris. He was not only very active in the line of his own profession, but as a citizen and general member of the community: for, after he had resigned the anatomical chair to his son, he executed, with the strictest punctuality, the duties of several engagements, both of a civil and political nature. At length, after a life spent in the most active industry, he became afflicted with a tedious and painful disease, which he bore with equal courage and resignation till his death, which happened, July 10th, 1767, in the 70th year of his age. Of his works, the first in order is his " Osteology," which was written for the use of the students, but is capable also of affording instruction to the oldest and most experienced practitioners: as, besides a minute description of the parts copied from nature, it every where abounds with new and important observations immediately applicable to practice. This work has been translated into most of the European languages. The six volumes of Medical Essays and Observations, published by a society in Edinburgh, are universally known and esteemed. To that society, he was appointed secretary; but, after the publication of the first volume, to which he had Jargely contributed, the members growing remiss in their attendance, he became the sole collector and publisher of the work. To him we are, therefore, in a great measure indebted for these numerous and important discoveries, with which this publication has enriched every department of medical knowledge. His account of the success of innoculation in Scotland, may be considered as his last publication. It demonstrates his extensive correspondence and indefatigable industry, and had great influence in promoting that salutary practice. Besides these, he was also the author of several other elegant and masterly productions. A collection of all his works, properly arranged, corrected and illustrated with copper-plates, was published at Edinburgh, in a splendid quarto, by Dr. Alexander Monro, his son and successor to the anatomical chair: to this is prefaced the life of the author, by his son Dr. Donald Monro. MONTESQUIEU, (CHARLES DE SECONDAT) Baron de Montesquieu, of a distinguished family in Guienne, was born at the castle of Brede, near Bourdeaux, on the 18th January 1689. Scarcely had he advanced beyond the period of infancy, when the philosophical turn of his mind began to appear. At the age of twenty he prepared materials for his Spirit of Laws, by making concise extracts from those immense volumes, which compose the body of Civil Law. An uncle by the mother's side, who was a president of the parliament of Bourdeaux, having bequeathed to him his whole wealth, as well as his office, our young philosopher was admitted to the lat ter in 1716. Six years after, in 1722, his company having appointed him to present a remonstrance and petition against a new tax, he displayed so much zeal and eloquence upon the occasion, as to obtain its suppression. A year before, he had finished his Persian Letters, which he began in the country, and completed at such hours of relaxation as he could procure from the duties of his office. This profound work, under an air of lightness, announced to France and to all Europe, a writer superior to his works. It opened to Montesquieu the doors of the French academy. The death of Mr. Lacy, the translator of Pliny, having left a vacancy, our philosopher who had resigned his office, and who wished now to devote himself entirely to literary pursuits, offered himself as a candidate, and was received. His discourse upon this occasion, is replete with energy and learning: it was pronounced on the 24th of Jan. 1728. The design which Montesquieu had formed of painting the character of different nations in his Spirit VOL. III. No. 23. Y y |