Mr Tytler’s first appearance
as an author took place in 1759, when he published an "Inquiry, historical
and critical, into the Evidence against Mary, Queen of Scots, and an
Examination of the Histories of Dr Robertson and Mr Hume with respect to
that Evidence." In this work Mr Tytler warmly espoused the cause of the
unfortunate princess, and brought a force of argument, and an acuteness and
precision of reasoning to the discussion of the interesting question of
her innocence or guilt, which had never been employed on it before. It
was the first appeal in behalf of the Scottish queen which made any
impression on the public mind, or which excited any feeling of particular
interest in the charges which had been brought against her moral character.
A similar attempt with this of Mr Tytler’s, had been made some years
previously by Walter Goodal, one of the under keepers of the Advocates’
Library in Edinburgh, but it was so indifferently written, and its matter so
unskilfully arranged, that it entirely failed to attract any share of the
public attention. Mr Tytler, however, found it a useful assistant. He
adopted many of Goodal’s arguments, but he arranged them anew, and gave them
that consistency and force which is so essential to efficiency. The first
edition of the Inquiry was published in a single octavo volume; another,
considerably enlarged, particularly in the historical part, soon afterwards
appeared, and in 1790, a fourth edition was published in two volumes.
The ability displayed by this
work acquired for Mr Tytler a very high reputation in the world of letters.
It was eagerly read throughout Britain, and was scarcely less popular in
France, into the language of which country it was pretty ably
translated. The interest which the Inquiry excited was also very great.
There were a novelty and chivalry in the attempt eminently calculated to
attract attention, and to excite sympathy, and it obtained a large share of
both. It was reviewed in many of the different periodicals of the day by
some of the most eminent literary men then living; amongst these were
Johnson, Smollett, and Douglas, bishop of Salisbury. To the favourable
testimony to the merits of the work borne by these competent judges, was
added that of lord chancellor Hardwicke, who said it was the most conclusive
arrangement of circumstantiate proofs he had ever seen.
Mr Tytler’s next literary
production was, "The Poetical Remains of the James the First, king of
Scotland," in one volume, 8vo, Edinburgh, 1783. In this publication Mr
Tytler, on very strong grounds, ascribes to that monarch the celebrated
poems of "The King’s Quair," and "Christ’s Kirk on the Green." His reasoning
here, as in the defence of Mary, is remarkable for cogency and conciseness,
and if it is not always convincing, it is, at least, always plausible. To
the Poetical Remains there is added a Dissertation on the Life and Writings
of James, remarkable at once for profound antiquarian research, and the
lucid arrangement of its facts.
Mr Tytler was an ardent lover
of music, especially of the music of his native country. He was himself a
good performer, and his theoretical knowledge of the science was fully equal
to his practical proficiency. This devotion to music, together with a fine
sensibility, which subjected him in a peculiar manner to the influence of
the pathetic strains of the national melodies of Scotland, led him to write
a highly interesting, though in some respects fanciful, essay on Scottish
music, which is appended to Arnot’s History of Edinburgh.
The ability which these various
publications displayed rapidly increased Mr Tytler’s reputation, and
procured him the respect and esteem of men of taste and learning, especially
of those of his native country, who felt and acknowledged the good service
he was doing towards completing their national history by his industry,
diligence, and patient research in the peculiar walk of literature he had
chosen: a feeling which was yet further increased by his subsequent
publications. The next of these, of the character alluded to, was a
Dissertation on the marriage of Queen Mary to the earl of Bothwell,
published in the first volume of the Transactions of the Society of
Antiquaries in 1791. In this Dissertation, which is distinguished by all the
merits displayed by Mr Tytler’s other productions, he defends, with much
ingenuity, that unhappy step which united Mary to Bothwell; but it is to be
feared, that, with all its ingenuity and judicious remark, it can never be
otherwise considered than as an attempt, generous and chivalrous indeed, but
unavailing, to defend a thing in itself indefensible.
In the year following, viz., 1792, Mr
Tytler published, through the same channel with that by which the
Dissertation had been given to the world, "Observations on the Vision, a
poem," first published in Ramsay’s Evergreen. The object of these
observations was the generous one, of vindicating Ramsay’s title to the
merit of being the author of the poem in question, of which some doubts had
been entertained.
The "Observations," &c., were
soon after followed by a production of singular interest. This was "An
Account of the Fashionable Amusements and Entertainments of Edinburgh in the
last (seventeenth) century, with the plan of a grand Concert of Music
performed there on St Cecilia’s day, 1695."
Mr Tytler was also the author
of a paper in the Lounger, No. 16, entitled the "Defects of Modern Female
education in teaching the Duties of a Wife;" and with this terminates the
catalogue of his published literary achievements, so far as these are known
or acknowledged.
To Mr Tytler’s talents and
acquirements his works will always bear evidence, but there are other merits
which he possessed in an eminent degree, which it requires the pen of the
biographer to perpetuate. His works sufficiently inform us of his
profound and intimate acquaintance with Scottish history and antiquarian
lore; of his zealous patriotism, and eminent knowledge of the science of
music; but they do not inform us of his generous and benevolent disposition,
nor of that delightful and enviable buoyancy of spirit, which enabled him,
at the latest period of a life protracted beyond the usual limit of human
existence, to join, with the utmost glee, in all the pranks and follies of
the young persons, his friends and relatives, who came to visit him, and
whom he was always rejoiced to see. Mr Tytler not only attained and enjoyed
himself a healthy and happy old age, but had a prescription ready for his
friends which would confer the same blessing. This prescription was "short,
but cheerful meals, music, and a good conscience."
Mr Tytler was one of the
original members of the Musical Society of Edinburgh, and continued his
connexion with that body for nearly sixty years. He usually spent a portion
of the summer at his beautiful country seat of Woodhouselee. Here in a
private and shady walk he had erected an urn with the following
inscription:—
Hune lucum
Caris mortuis amicis,
Sacrum dicat
W. T.
Some time before his death,
Mr Tytler was seized with a slight paralytic affection, but it did not much
debilitate his frame, nor did it in the least degree affect his faculties,
all of which remained unimpaired till the hour of his death, an event which
happened on the 12th of September, 1792, in the eighty-first year of his
age.
Mr Tytler was married in
1745, to Miss Anne Craig, daughter of James Craig, Esq. of Costerton, in the
county of Mid Lothian, one of the writers to his majesty’s Signet, by whom
he left two sons, Alexander Fraser Tytler, afterwards lord Woodhouselee, and
major Patrick Tytler, fort-major of the castle of Stirling. He left also one
daughter, Miss Christina Tytler. It only remains to be added to this sketch,
and the addition though short, comprises one of the strongest eulogiums
which was ever bestowed on human virtue: it is recorded of Mr Tytler, that
no one ever spoke ill of him.
