The Shasta courier., 1867-09-07
COURIER
THE ADMIRABLE CREIGHTON.

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In the course of short life he acquired an
uncommon degree of celebrity, and on ac-
count of his extraordinary endowments, both
of mind and body, OBJ aimed the appellation
of " The Admirable Crichton," by which
title he has continued to be distinguished to
the present day. The time of his birth is
said, by the generality of writer's, to have
been in 1851; but the earl of Buchan, in a
memoir read to the society of Antiquaries,
at Edinburg, asserts that be was born in
the month of August. 1860. His father was
| lord advocate of Scotland, in queen Mary's
reign, from 1861 to 1913; and his mother,
| the daughter of Sir James Stuart, was
allied to the family which then filled the
Scottish throne.
James Crichton is said to have received
his grammatical education at Perth and to
have studied philosophy at the university of
| St. Andrews. His tutor at that university
was Mr.. John Rutherford, a professor, at
that time famous for his learning, and who
distinguished himself by writing four books
on Aristotles logic, and a commentary on
his poetics. According to Aldus Manutius,
who calls Crchton first cousin to the King,
he was also instructed, with his majesty, by
Buchanan, Hepburn, and Robertson, as well
arrived at the twentieth year of his age,
when he had gone through the whole circle
of the sciences, and could speak and write to
perfection in ten different. languages. Nor
had he neglected the ornamental branches of
education for he had likewise improved
himself, to the highest degree, in riding,
dancing, and singing, and was skillful
performer on all sorts of instruments.
POSSnssinp these punIprOus sb.
ments, Crichton went abroad upon his trav-
els, and is said to have first visited Paris
Of his transactions at that place the follow
ing account was given: He caused six pla-
cards to be fixed on all the gates Of the
schools, halls, and colleges of the university,
and on all the pillars and posts before the
houses belonging to the most renowned lit
erary characters in that city, inviting all
those who were well versed in any art or
science, to dispute with him in the college
of Navarro, that day six weeks, by nine
o'clock in the morning, when he would
attend them, and be ready to answer what
ever should be proposed to him in any art or
science, and in any of these twelve languages,
Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Greek, Latin,
Spanish, French, Italian, English, Dutch,
Flemish, and Sclavonian and this either
in verse or prose, at the discretion of the
disputant.
During the whole intermediate time, in.
stead of closely attending to his studies, as
might have been expected, he attended to
nothing but hunting, hawking, fitting,
vaulting. riding, tossing the pike, handling
the musket, and other military feats or
else he employed himself in domestic games,
such as balls, concerts of music, vocal and
Instrumental cards, dice, tennis, and the
like diversions of youth. This conduct so
provoked the students of the university, that
beneath the placard which was fixed on the
Navarro gate, they wrote the following
words: If you would meet with this mon
ster of perfection, the readiest way to find
him. is to inquire for him at the tavern, or
the house of ill-fame"
Nevertheless, when the day appointed ar
rived, CrichtOn appeared in the college of
Navarro, and acquitted himself bevond ex-
preston in the disputation, which lasted
from nine o'clock in the morning till six at
night. At length the president, after ex-
tolling him highly for the many rare and
excellent endowments which God and nature
had bestowed upon him, rose from his chair.
and accompanied by four of the most emf,
nent professors of the university, gave him a
testimony of their respect and admiration.-
The whole ended with the repeated acclama.
tions and huzzas of the spectators, and
henceforward our young disputant was
called the admirable Crichton." It is
added, that so little was he fatigued with
his exertions on this occasion. that the next
day he went to the Louvre, where he had a
match of fitting, an exercise then in great
n 10 e
Der of ladies, and some of the princes of the
French court, carried away the ring fifteen
times successfully.
We find him about two years after this
display of his talents, at Rome, where he
affixed placard in all the conspicuous places
of the city, in the following terms: '' We,
James Crichton, of Scotland, will answer
extempore any question that may be propos.
ed" In city which abounded in wit, this
bold challenge could not escape the ridicule
of pasquinade. 1t is said, however, that
being no wise discouraged, he appeared at
the time and place appointed and that, in
the presence OF the pope, many cardinals,
bishops, doctors of divinity, and professors
in all the sciences, he exhibited such won
dertul proofs of his universal knowledge.
that he excited no less surprise than he had
done at Paris. Boccalina, however. who
was then at Rome, gives a somewhat differ
ent account of the matter. According to
that writer, the pasquinade made such an
impression upon him, that he left the place
where he had been so grossly affronted, as
to be put upon level with juggers and
mountebanks.
From Rome, Crichton proceeded to
Venice, where he contracted an intimate
friendship with Aldus Manutius. Lauren
titus Massa, Speron Speronius, Johannes
Donatus, and various other learned persons.
to whom he presented several poems in com
nendation of the city and university. At
length he was introduced to the doge and
senate, in whose pre- ence he made speech,
which wassaccompanied with such beauty of
eloque nee. Vand such grace of person and
manner, thai he received the thanks of that
illustrious body. and nothing but this prodi-
gy of nature was talked of through the whole
city. He likewise held deputations on the
subjects of theology, philosophy, and math.
ematics, before the most eminent professors