The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-08-30
Death OF Prof. Aytoun, Editor OF Black
woods Magazine.


woods magazine.
We copy from the Scotsman briefnotice of Pro-
fessor WILLIAM E. AYTouN, the well-known editor
of BlacLtroods Magazine, and son-in-law OF Pro-
fessor WILSON christopher North), the preccd-
ing editor. He died on the 4th inst. Tho Scots
man says:
The death Of Prof. Aytoun, which we have this
morning to record, will excite regard and awaken
q sense of loss far beyond the limits OF this his
been 80 intimately associated For o number Of
years his state of health had been unsatisfactory
No acute or local disease had laid his hand upon
him; he was rather, as he has himself on OCCASION
expressed it, uneasy, than unwell, and he hoped
and sought, by change Of air and keen entrance,
30 far as his duties allowed into the enjoyment Of
country life, to repair tho breaches Of the past,
and prepare store of health against the future.
For year or two he had retired, for at least part
of the summer recess, to Blackhills, near Elgin,
residence which he had leased for the sake Of the
shooting and fishing, and the other country
recreations OF which he was 80 fond; and it was
there toa that early F5d@y mqrnng he died. at
toun was born IN 1918, Of on old Fifeshire family
He received his education at Edinburgh Universi-
ty-being distinguished among his class-fellows at
the former by the elegance and excellence of his
English and Latin compositions. In 1881 he gave
to the public his first work. poem on "Polnnd,"
tic spirit had doubtless 10 I draWp from the the stirrnr in
events OF the Polish Revolution; but the poem met
with no very cordial reception: In 1910 no was
aQmltIeQ aB an advocate. AT the par ne dlu not
little reputation in criminal business. His genial
ity and ready wit, however, made him o favorite
among his fellows OF the robe. In 1846 he was
aSa 81 es n the TO hysIsty ssaF of
Edinburgh, and in 1862 the Conservative govern
n,ent further advanced him by making him Sheriff
Of Orkney and Shetland. Shortly after his ap-
pointment to the chair, we believe, he married the
youngest daughter of Prof Wilson. From Oxford
University he received, e year or two later, the
degree Of DOL. The 'Iays Of Scottish Caya-
lers" was Mr.. Aytonp's most ambitious, and
it has been his most successful work; it has run
through seventeen editions at the rate q one per
fair to hold good place in popular favor: Many
Of the best Of the " Bon Gualtier" ballads,
too, we owe to Mr.. Aytouns fancy and humor.
9. Ffmiian, spasmodic Tragedy" which he pub
Jones'" was unquestionably Mr.. Aytoun's most ef-
fective and benehcent work. Provoked by an in
telligible and praiseworthy irritation against tho
inflated, excited and unprncipled productions Of
like Bottom, calling out for o part to tear O. call
In, to mako all split"-" Firmilian," almost with
out the author intending it., made an end Of thI
"spasmodic school," "Bothwell, Poem" th
Of Mary Queen OF scote, was Published in 1854
and has paused through three editions; but, thoug
the author spent considerable pains on 1t both bS
fore and after it saw the light It was not through
In 1858, Mr.: Aytorn edited a collection Of the Bal
| lads OF Scotland; and In the aame year appeard
the graceful and classical translatons OF tft
Poems and! Ballads Of Goethe executed in COM
was republished from Blaciwood the novel Of MOI
man Sinclair, which was certsIly tfe least men
torious and successful Of all tho literary efforts |
Mr.. ,Aytoun. Since then, excepting "nuptil
has published nothing with his name. I'D. Ill
. IN