mathematics as well as in classics. Like his father, he excelled in drawing. And in character and demeanour he was formed after the paternal model, having a sweetness of manners and benevolence of disposition that endeared him to his family and to all who became acquainted with him. As a Fellow of Trinity College he was selected to accompany the son of Sir John Stanley in a tour through Europe. He travelled a second time, and at Rome he caught a fever, of which he died on 14th December 1786. There he was buried with peculiar honours in presence of the English visitors, and notwithstanding the general strictness of the Romish Church, the English funeral service was read over him by Rev. Dr. Walsby, chaplain to the Duke of Gloucester. Sir Thomas Stanley erected a monument over his grave. His parents placed an elegant marble tablet in the Church of the Holy Cross, Canterbury, with this epitaph:—
James Six, M.A.,
Fellow of Trinity College in the University of Cambridge,
died at Rome, Dec. 14, 1786, aged 29 years,
and was buried in that city.
A monument erected there by a friend and countryman
bears honourable testimony to his amiable virtues and extensive learning.
To preserve in this his native place
the memory of the son so justly dear,
his affectionate parents have inscribed this marble.
He had printed nothing except an English translation (published in the Gentleman’s Magazine, vol liv.) of two odes by the German poet, Friedrich Leopold, Count von Stolberg. I give an extract from the second ode, which evinces no inconsiderable command of beautiful language :
Hail to the Bard! to Homer hail!
From trembling lips and glistening eyes
Burning melting ecstacies
Shall never fail
With gratitude’s soft dew to swell thy song,
As in stupendous course it rolls along.
......
Nature — who taught the rose
Its blushing beauties to disclose
And drink celestial dew —
She form’d and she imbued thy opening faculties
With graces ever new.
She gave thee, with invention’s eye,
New earths — new heavens to descry;
She gave (the utmost that her love could do)
Tears to every feeling true, —
Those that with gushing flood the countenance o'erflow
Where boisterous passions glow —
And those more mild and meek
Which trembling eyelids pour
In trickling shower
Down the changing cheek.
She gave thy soul
The dove’s simplicity and eagle’s might,
Like to thy song
Now gliding soft along
As rivulets by Cynthia’s silver light,
Now thundering wild and loud, as headlong surges roll!
May 8, 1782.
J. Six.
The following memorial lines were written by Mr. W. Jackson : —
In obitum Jacobi Six, M.A., nuper Romae in more Ecclesiae Anglicanae sepulti.
Hie jacet — ast eheu! quantum mutatus ab illo —
Spes nuper patriae , spes quoque prima patris.
Care, vale! juvenis, quern lamentabile fatum
Duxerat ad Roma; moenia, care, vale!
Terra tegit Romae, insolitos concedit honores;
Spes patris et patriae! sit tibi terra levis.
The romantic interest that was felt in James Six is represented by the appearance of four translations of the above lines. (Nichols’ “Literary Anecdotes,” vol. ix. Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. lvii., part I.) The first translator suggests, as an emendation to the fifth line,
Terra lugens Roma; insolitos concessit honores.
