The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-10 00:00:00

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LIFE OF ALEXANDER ALEXANDER. Two Vats.
EDINBURGH, 1530.
This work is a strict exemplification of the old
klage, ,‘ a rolling stone gathers no moss." It is
'the history of an individual of humble parentage,
The has seen life in its every form and condi-
tion in almost every quarter of the globe, who
has travelled north, south, east, and west, by
day and by night, by land and by sea, under
tvery conceivable variety of circumstances, as a
soldier, as a sailor, as an irresp"nsible individual,
et whose long practical commerce with, man-
Ind has brought no grist to the mill, and been
'reductive of little beyond the gratification of
Curiosity. The present volumes, however, bid
fair to obtain a good circulation, and may so far
be beneficial to Mr. Alexander. They are full,
to overflowing, of startling, romantic, and piquant
qlventures, and bear the strong impress of truth
itt every page. We subjoin an amusing anec-
`dote ; it regards the biographer's early school
days. The individual alluded to was a crusty
old parish clerk in some Scotch burgh :
, " The improvement that had taken place in harmony soon
vegan to work contention in the church. Often were
the precentor and congregation at variance. One day he
taised the tune in his usual manner, but they would not
fbllow ; in vain be strove, they would have it another way
than he would lead. In rage be struck the desk, and
bawled, 'lf ye diuna sing better than that 11l gnat.' In
amaze the minister arose, and gravely said, ' Let us pray ;'
and thus the strife was quelled in the middle of the fourth
line of the psalm.
" One other scene, and lam done. It is given to illus-
trate his character, for I bear no malice. In one of his
Land-ffm veying excursions he caught a cold, which rendered
his voice scarce audible all the Saturday. On Sabbath
Morning it was unchanged. As he proceeded to the
Church, a young weaver lad, an excellent singer, kindly
offered to officiate that day for him. Indignant he re-
Plied ' Na, na ; these thirty years I hae na missed a day
out o' the desk, and I'll no miss this day either.' It was
vain to say a word in reply in hopes to alter his determi-
illlation. He mounted the desk with all his wonted self-
IMPortance,—the psalm was given out as usual,—up he
I:oBe,—the'first line he attempted to read, but his voice
Plat inaudible, his wonted gestures were all that could be
tllatinguished ; his contortions began to increase; a strange
sound arose like that of a dog in tho agonies of strangula-
; ;ton ; the liquorice, with which his mouth was stuffed,
i besmeared his lips and chin, and sputtered all around ; and
the congregation began to titter at his hideous sounds, and
antic efforts. The worthy minister started up in surprise,
not in the least aware from whence came the strange
noise he heard beneath him, and angry at the irreverent
titter which profaned the house of God. He looked
over the pulpit ; their eyes met as old B gave one
of his wonted twists ; the cause was at once recognized ;
and he himself conducted the psalmody of the day, while
his precentor, nought abashed, continued to utter forth his
uncouth sounds."
Mr. Blackwood deserves great praise for the
spirited style in which he has brought out these
volumes, the first of which is ornamented with a
very superior engraving of Alexander. We hope
Mr. Blackwood's charitable exertions in behalf
of this unfortunate individual will not go un-
rewarded.