9. The nobility of his paternal grandfather's paternal grandmo. ther; this entitles him to a ninth quartering: 10. The nobility of his paternal grandfather's maternal grandmother; this entitles him to a tenth quartering: 11. The nobility of his paternal grandmother's paternal grandmother; this entitles him to an eleventh quartering: 12. The nobility of his paternal grandmother's maternal grandmother; this entitles him to a twelfth quartering: 13. The nobility of his maternal grandfather's paternal grandmother; this entitles him to a thirteenth quartering: 14. The nobility of his maternal grandfather's maternal grandmother; this entitles him to a fourteenth quartering: 15. The nobility of his maternal grandmother's paternal grandmother; this entitles him to a fifteenth quartering: 16. The nobility of his maternal grandmother's maternal grandmother; this entitles him to a sixteenth quartering. To be a Knight of Malta, four quarterings were required from a French, and eight from a German, or Spanish, postulant: for a canonicate of the cathedral church of Strasburgh, sixteen were required. It being frequently found convenient to repair a shattered patrimony, by a mercantile or financial marriage, few French families about the court could produce that number. When all the quarterings were perfect, it was said, that the House was Full; a defective quartering was called a Window. On account of the non-noble descent of Mary of Medicis, the wife of Henry IV. the Escutcheon of Lewis XIV. their grandson, had its window. But the provinces abounded with families from whom Knights of Malta, and even canons of Strasburgh might be chosen. Most of the sovereign families of Europe affect to trace their origin to a very ancient period: but probably the families of Venice, who elected the Doge in 697, and, from that circumstance are called the electoral families, produce a pedigree supported by certain and positive evidence, of more remote antiquity than any sovereign, or, perhaps any private family. The certain pedigrees of the Houses of Guelph, Savoy, Lorraine, Hohenzollern and Baden, reach to the eleventh century; but the pedigree, equally certain, of the house of Capet extends to the ninth. The difficulty of tracing pedigrees beyond the twelfth arises from the want of surnames. Before that time, the greatest princes, in their public acts, mentioned only their Christian names, and sometimes their dignities; in the twelfth century, they began to mention the place of their residence. To the same period, in consequence of the Crusades, coat-armour is to be traced. It originated in the marks, or signs, by which the heads of the crusaders distinguished their vassals; these, they preserved after their return to Europe, and they became general. The Fleursde-lys on the crown and mantle of the kings of France are not traced beyond Lewis the seventh, or 1146. (See Blondel, Genealogie de France, tom. 2, p. 163.) In antiquity and illustrations, the Irish, Scottish. and English families, are, at least, on a level with whatever is most distinguished on the continent, and their legislative character confers on the Peers of the Imperial Parliament of the United Empire, a dignity peculiar to themselves. Documents Documents, exhibiting a View of the Proceedings which have taken place relative to the Election of the Rev. ALEX. MURRAY, as Professor of HEBREW and ORIENTAL LANGUAGES, in the University of Edinburgh. IT T will readily be allowed, that nothing can contribute more to the advantage of this city, as well as to the general glory of Scotland, than any arrangement which tends to support and extend that high reputation which its University has attained.Among the very important accessions which this seminary has recently made, the present holds a conspicuous place. Few institutions, indeed, as is fully proved by the testimonies of the most eminent literary men in this country, have received into their bosom a more distinguished, and a more illustrious member. This consideration, we trust, will alone justify us in devoting, for this month, a very large proportion of our pages to develope the steps which led to so desirable an event. Besides its general importance, however, there are accompanying details which render it peculiarly interesting. Many of the most distinguished characters in this metropolis have found an opportunity of manifesting their zeal in the cause of unfriended science, and the highest honour has been reflected on the Patrons of the University, by the course which they have followed. They have shewn a fixed determination to prefer the most deserving candidate, in opposition to all personal connection and solicitation, even when seconded by no inconsiderable share of merit. The continuance of such a system cannot fail still farther to enlarge the fame of that seminary which they have already rendered so emi cation has received from the contributions of this very learned and ingenious person. In consequence of the recent and lamented death of the Reverend Dr Moodie, a vacancy took place in the Hebrew chair of the University.The duties attached to this office are very important, not only as they minister to an important branch of clerical instruction, and afford a foundation for the important science of biblical criticism, but also because practice has attached to them the initiation into the languages of the East, of those numerous young men of distinction, who go out from this country to fill stations in the government of our Indian possessions. While the situation was thus highly creditable and desirable, the competition for it was narrowed by the very rare qualifications which it demanded. Those who started on the present occasion were four in number: the Rev. Alex. Murray, the Rev. David Dickson, the Rev. Alex. Brunton, and the Rev. David Scott, We shall now present our readers with a copy of the applications for, and recommendations given to each of these candidates; documents which will contain within themselves a complete view of the history of the transaction. We shall begin with those in favour of Mr Murray; and certainly never were testimonies more copious and unequivocal delivered in support of any candidate. These, too, so far as we can observe, are counterbalanced only by one single objection, arising from the opinion so decidedly expressed by Dr Ritchie, that the Professor of Hebrew ought always to be one of the ministers of this city. The learned Doctor has not assigned his reasons for this opinion; yet, considering the highly respectable quarter from which it comes, we trust it will not be overlooked. Nor can the Magistrates experience any difficulty in acting upon upon it. A vacancy, not yet filled up, will afford them the opportunity of adding to the other qualifications of Mr Murray, this, which he alone wants, of being a Minister of Edinburgh. DOCUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF THE REV. Ramsay Lodge, June 23d 1812. Sir, I beg leave to transmit to you the accompanying papers. I take this liberty, from considering you as the official channel of communication to the Honourable Patrons of all matters that relate to the University. The papers contain, besides other documents, the Opinions of several literary men as to the qualifications of the Rev. Alexander Murray, minister of Urr, for filling the vacant office of Professor of Oriental Languages, and I now, at his own request, suggest his name as a candidate for that chair. Allow me on the occasion to add, that my personal opportunities of knowing Mr Murray's attainments, have been particularly favourable, He was committed to my charge when about fourteen years of age.The Minister of his native parish (who was a stranger to me,) had been so struck by the uncommon proficiency of the boy, that in hope of procuring patronage and encouragement for him, in literary pursuits, he took the resolution of sending him to Edinburgh. His letter to me was the only introduction he brought to town. I asked the late Drs Finlayson and Moodie to join me in examining him, and judging of his proficiency, and we were all astonished Formerly Professor of Oriental Languages in this University. to discover, that, at so early an age, and without his having ever attended any school, more (to the best of my recollection,) than about two years, at interrupted intervals, he read ad aperturam libri, and also explained and analyzed accurately, a passage of French-an ode of Horace-a page of Homer-and a Hebrew psalm. A bursary from the Good Town was immediately procured for him by the late Mr Elder; and Dr Finlay ray's acquirements was equal to my son, (whose admiration of Mr Murown,) took an equal interest with me in all that related to his advancement in his studies. Such has been his advancement, particularly in Oriental literature, that I now hold him as indisputably at the head of all living British scholars, in that important department of knowledge. With this impression of Mr Murray's merits, I trust the Honourable Patrons will feel, that I am discharging an imperious official duty, when I bring his character and qualificacations under their review. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble seryant, of Nature and Nations in the Uni- South Castle Street, 9 o'clock, Dear Sir-I have this instant the pleasure of your letter, relative to Mr Murray, and its inclosures. It appears to me to do you personally a great deal of honour, to have come forward on this occasion, in that gentleman's behalf. The letter * in li which he gives an account of his terary undertaking as to the history of the languages of the civilized world, convinces me that he has fallen on the right direction, in opening that immense mine of science; and I trust his singular talent in the acquisition of languages, and the encouragement that the success of such a work must afford him, will enable him thoroughly to explore it. As an Emeritus professor, I think myself entitled to interest myself deeply in the regulation and interests of the University; and I trust it is impossible that the Patrons will let slip such an opportunity of placing in it so distinguished an Oriental scholar as Mr Murray, and one so obviously calculated to add lustre even to that character, by his superior acuteness, and power of philosophical research. I have no title to offer my sentiments, except as one connected with your learned body; but you may, I flatter myself, rank me with other men of general information, among whom, I am confident, there can be but one opinion on this occasion. I have the honour to be, with much respect, Reverend Sir, your very faithful and obedient servant, A MACONOCHIE. Reverend the Principal. No. III. Letter, James Gregory, M. D. and Professor of the Practice of Physic * No. VIII. in the University of Edinburgh, to Principal Baird. St Andrew's Square, 23d June 1812. past 10 o'clock. Dear Sir,-This moment, on my return from a professional visit in Fife, I found your letter on my table. I have not the pleasure of being acquainted with the Rev. Mr MurLiterature, of which, indeed, I am ray, nor am I any judge of Oriental perfectly ignorant. But I have often heard Mr Murray spoken of with the highest admiration, as a man of extraordinary, and almost miraculous or supernatural genius for languages, and of singular and quite unrivalled proficiency in a great number of the Oriental Languages. I understand him to be such a man as would be a valuable and most honourable acquisition to the University of Edinburgh, or to any University in Europe; nor should I be the least surprised to hear, some of these days, of his being invited to some other University, as a a professor of Oriental Languages, purely in consequence of his spreading reputation, which two or three land, that he was applied to as the years ago was so well known in Engonly person in these kingdoms, or probably in Europe, who could do it, to translate the Emperor of Abyssinia's letter to our king. That letter, written in the Abyssinian language, Mr Murray translated perfectly. From all that I have heard of him, I believe Mr Murray to be not inferior, probably superior, as an Oriental Linguist, to Dr Leyden and Sir William Jones. Such an extraordinary genius is seldom to be found, and ought not to be lost. Letter, John Leslie, Esq. Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, to Principal Baird. Edinburgh, 22d June 1812. Dear Sir,-Your determination to bring before our Honourable Patrons the claims of Mr Murray to the vacant chair in the University, does credit, I think, to your liberality, your discernment, and your zeal for promoting the best interests of the Body over which you preside. election of such a man as Mr Mur- No. V. I have only a slight personal ac- Attestation by Alexander Christison, I should rejoice if our patrons would view the matter in a similar light. They have in general corresponded in their appointments with the public voice. We look for something more than the decent and respectable performance of our several tasks. This University owes its prosperity to the lustre which it has acquired in the eyes of Europe, and which can only be upheld by the continual accession of the most splendid talents which the country produces. The In consequence of the death of the late Professor of Eastern Languages in this University, and of the application made by Mr Murray, minister of Urr, as a candidate for that office, I still feel it an imperious duty to declare my opinion of the uncommon knowledge of those languages which Mr Murray possesses. When he was a student here, he taught privately Arabic and Persic. He has acquired the different dialects of the Ethiopic, and has studied even Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. His knowledge of languages appears to me to equal that of Sir William Jones, and that of my friend Dr Leyden, who lately died in the East, of whom Lord Minto said in public, "The late Dr Leyden's knowledge of languages resembled more the ancient gift of tongues, than the slow acquisitions of ordinary men." Such is Mr Murray. He has not to fit himself for such a situation as is here vacant. He is already fit. would, by his genius and practice in teaching, inspire his own ardour into the youth educated for the church, Hé and |