Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 2.djvu/333

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SIR DAVID DALRYMPLE.
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DALRYMPLE, Sir David, a celebrated Scotlish judge and antiquary, was born at Edinburgh, on the 28th of October, 1726. His father was Sir James Dalrymple, of Hailes, bart., and his mother lady Christian Hamilton, a daughter of the earl of Haddington. His grandfather, who was lord advocate for Scotland during the reign of George I., was the youngest son of the first lord Stair, and distinguished for ability even among the members of his own able family; and his father, Sir James, had the auditorship of the exchequer bestowed upon him for life. Sir David Dalrymple was sent to be educated at Eton, where he was eminently distinguished for ability and general good conduct. At this seminary he acquired, with a competent share of classical learning, a fine classical taste and a partiality for English manners and customs, which marked through life both his public and private conduct. From Eton he returned to Edinburgh, where he went through the usual course at the university; and afterwards went to Utrecht, where he prosecuted the study of the civil law, till the suppression of the rebellion in the year 1746, when he returned to his native country. From the sobriety of his character, with his ardour and diligence in prosecuting whatever subject arrested his attention, the highest hopes of his future eminence were now entertained by his friends. Nor were these hopes disappointed; although circumstances led him into studies not altogether such as he would have pursued, had he been left to the bent of his own genius. The study of antiqui-

    and clear proof that the Spaniards have no right to Balambagan, 1674, 8vo. An historical relation of the several expeditions from Fort Marlbro to the islands oil' the west coast of Sumatra, 1775, 4to. Collection of voyages, chiefly in the South Atlantic ocean, from the original MS. by Dr Halley, M. Rouvit, &e. with a preface concerning a voyage of discovery proposed to be undertaken by Alexander Dalrymple at his own expense; letters to lord North on the subject and the plan of a republican colony, 1775, 4to. Copies of papers relative to the restoration of the king of Tanjore, the imprisonment of lord Pigot, &c. printed by the East India Company for the use of the proprietors, 1777, 4to. Several pieces on the same subject, 1777, 4to. Notes on lord Pigot's Narrative. Letter to the proprietors of the East India stock, 8th May, 1777. Account of the transactions concerning the revolt at Madras. 30th May, 1777, Appendix. Letter to the court of directors, 19th June, 1777, Memorial 19th June, 1777. Account of the subversion of the legal government of Fort St George, in answer to Mr Andrew Stuart's letter to the court of directors, 1778, 4to. Journal of the Grenville. Philosophical Transaction, 1778. Considerations on the present suite of affairs between England and America, 1778, 8vo. Considerations on the East India Bill, 1769, 8vo, 1778. State of the East India Company and sketch of an equitable agreement, 1780, 8vo. Account of the loss of the Grosvenor, 1783, 8vo. Reflections on the present state of the East India Company, 1783, 8vo. A short account of the Gentoo mode of collecting the revenue on the coast of C'oromandel, 1783, 8vo. A retrospective view of the ancient system of the East India Company, with a plan of regulation, 1784, 8vo. Postscript to Mr D's account of the Gentoo, &c. being observations made on a perusal of it by Moodoo Krotna, 1785, 8vo. Extracts from Juvenilia, or poems by George Wither, 1785, 24mo. Fair state of the case between the East India Company and the owners of the ships now in their service; to which are added, considerations on Mr Brough's pamphlet concerning the East India shipping, 1786, 8vo. A serious admonition to the public on the intended thief colony at Botany Bay. Review of the contest concerning the four new regiments graciously offered by his majesty to be sent to India, &c., 1788, 8vo. A plan for promoting the fur-trade, and securing it to this country, by uniting the operations of the East India and Hudson Bay Companies, 1789, 4to. Memoir of a map of the lands around the North Pole, 1789, 4to. An historical journal of the expedition by sea and land to the north of California, in 1768, 69, 70, when the Spanish establishments were' first made at San Diego Monteray, and translated from the Spanish MS. by William Revely, Esq., to which is added, translations of Cabrera Bueno's description of the coast of California, and an extract from the MS. journal of M. Sauvagne la Muct, 1714 ; 1790, 4to. A letter to a friend on the test act, 1790, 8vo. The Spanish pretensions fairly discussed, 1790, 8vo. The Spanish memorial of 4th June considered, 1790, 8vo. Plan for the publication of a Repertory of Oriental information, 1790, 4to. -Memorial of Alexander Dalrymple, 1791, 8vo. Parliamentary reform, as ibis called, improper in the present state of this country, 1793, 8vo. Mr Fox's letter to his worthy and independent electors of Westminster, fully considered, 1793, 8vo. Observations on the copper'coinage wanted for the Circars; printed for the use of the East India Company, 1794, 8vo. The poor man's friend, 1795, 8vo. A collection of English songs, with an appendix of original pieces, 1796, 8vo. A fragment on the India trade, written in 1791 ; 1797, 8vo. Thoughts of an old man of independent mind, though dependent fortune, 18CO, 8vo. Oriental Repertory, vol. 1st, 4to, April, 1791, to January, 1793. Oriental Repertory, vol. 2d not complete.