292 HAMILTON. . . . where h e had the honour o f having the King, Queen, and several o f the royal family, t o s i t t o him. From England h e proceeded t o Italy, where h e resided twelve years; and while pursuing his studies from the models o f excellence i n that country, exchanged his crayons for the palette and pencil. His portraits i n o i l were not less distinguished for characteristic likeness, knowledge o f half-tint and good drawing, than his former productions i n crayons: and his efforts i n historic painting, prove how much h e would have excelled, had his genius taken a n earlier direction i n that line. A Cupid and Psyche, i n the possession o f Lord Charleville; and a fine sketch o f Prometheus snatching fire from the car o f Apollo, are strong evidences o f his talents i n the higher walks o f art. Hugh Hamilton died i n Dublin i n 1806. WILLIAM HAMILTON, An eminent divine and naturalist, was a native o f the county o f Antrim. He received his education a t Trinity College, Dublin, where h e took the degree o f A . M. and was afterwards elected t o a fellowship. He had always been addicted t o the study o f natural philosophy and geology, and the leisure o f a college retirement enabled him t o resume those pursuits with great application and success. His “Letters o n the Coast o f the County o f Antrim,” very early attracted the notice o f philosophers. I t contains a n ingenious and masterly review o f the opinions concerning the origin and productions o f the basaltic strata; and although h i s own theory o n the sub ject may b e equally unfounded with those which h e com bats, yet his observations will b e found useful a s pointing out the defects o f the descriptions and engravings o f the Giant's Causeway, which had been previously published. His topographical notices are very few and scanty; but his account o f the mineralogy o f the district, i s evidently written b y a man who had devoted much time t o the study. This work was very popular o n the Continent,
