632 He is best known perhaps as the editor of the cele- brated Naturalist's Library—a work superbly illus- trated, extending to forty volumes, and published by Lizars of Edinburgh. Changes of sweeping and revolutionizing extent have taken place in natural history as a science since the publication of this extensive work, which comprised at the time of its publication the most recent and trustworthy additions to the greater part of the known fauna of the world —but even in the present day the Library may still be said to hold its own as a unique work in point of extent and range, and as a remarkably faithful and correct guide in so far as it represents the animal forms known and described at the date of its publi- cation. The illustrations to this work, taken and coloured from nature or from approved specimens, form a feature of super-excellent kind; and, especially in the details of bird classification, the labours of Sir William's hand and practical knowledge are exemp- lified. Sir William also edited Wilson's North American Ornithology, and at one time he conducted the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, one of the early standard scientific magazines, which formed the antetype of the many and voluminous periodi- cals of the present day. Conjointly with Prideaux J. Selby, the late Sir Stamford Raffles, and other naturalists, Sir William edited the Illustrations of Ornithology, and he also performed a like office for the celebrated Whites Natural History of Selborne— a work just such as we might have conceived the baronet himself to have written. Sir William thus acted as literary godfather to many distinguished naturalists of his day and generation; and undoubtedly the editor's task in such cases is one demanding the judicious exercise of powers and knowledge often more than equal to those required for the production of original matter. At any rate Sir William's labours as editor were of no light kind; and the best testi- mony to his skill was given in the faithful apprecia- tion of his work by his contemporaries, who recog- nized in his ample stores of knowledge and impartial judgment sufficient guarantees for the due performance of his many tasks. His original labours as a pure author comprise a history of the British Salmonidæ; and doubtless his title to speak with authority on this important subject led to his appointment as one of the Commissioners on Salmon Fisheries in the year 1860. The Ichnology of Annandale formed Sir William's contribution to one of the most fascinating departments of geological inquiry, namely, the science of "foot-prints," or of markings and traces of animals, the actual or fossil remains of which have not been discovered. And in the Memoirs of Hugh Strickland—whose magnifi- cent ornithological collection is now deposited in the museum of the University of Cambridge, and who resembled Sir William in many points connected with study—together with the Ornithological Syno- nymsy the list of Sir William's more important lit- erary labours may be brought to a close. Sir William Jardine was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and the Linnæan Society of London conferred a similar honour upon him. He was a member of the British Association for the Advance- ment of Science, and president of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society— his example and aid being thus conducive to the extension of habits of scientific study and observation in his own county and neighbourhood. As an antiquary Sir William's opinion was valued, and he evinced a great interest in archæological pur- suits generally. The ancient castle of Spedlins, one of the old border or baronial towers, is situated on his estate, and overlooks Jardine Hall from the opposite bank of the Annan Water; and this fact, together with the many objects of antiquarian inter- est in his own and neighbouring counties, doubtless exerted some influence on Sir William in his study of the historical and other associations of the past. Sir William never entered Parliament, although a representative man of his time and country. He allowed himself to be nominated as a candidate in the Conservative interest on one occasion, but with- drew from the candidature before the day of election. He was elected deputy-lieutenant of the county of Dumfries in 1841. In county matters generally he took an active part, and in agricultural pursuits he evinced a hearty and warm interest. During the great cattle plague epidemic Sir William proved himself in many ways energetic and judicious in sup- porting the measures calculated to arrest or stamp out the disease. In his private character Sir William was of frank generous disposition. He was highly respected as a landlord, and was a pleasant companion. Whilst free from dogmatism, Sir William was able to main- tain and argue concerning his views on scientific and social subjects; and these views were in the majority of instances of a temperate, well balanced kind, and such as proceed from carefully ascertained facts and from practical observation and research. JEBDAN, WILLIAM, born at Kelso, 16th April, 1782; died at Bushey Heath near London, nth July, 1869. He was the third son and seventh child of John Jerdan and Agnes Stuart. His father was the descendant of a long line of small landowners in Roxburghshire. The fortune of the family, how- ever, only sufficed to provide for the sons a good education, and to start them in life. William Jerdan first attended the grammar-school of his native town; and subsequently he was sent to Edinburgh, where he studied law for more than two years in the office of Mr. James Hume, writer and distributor of stamps for Berwickshire. But his bent was for literature, not law, and this he attributes chiefly to the influence of Dr. Rutherford, author of A View of Ancient History, &c., who had removed from Uxbridge, Mid- dlesex, to settle at Maxwellheugh. With that gentle- man he became a favourite, and from him learned much. On his birth-day in 1801 he sailed from Berwick in a smack, and reached London in nine days. For some time he was occupied as a clerk in the city, and in his leisure hours busied himself with composition in prose and verse. He gradually formed acquaintances in literary circles, and at length he became a reporter. His diligence and fidelity in this capacity obtained for him the favour of men of high position, and opened the way to that extensive intimacy with the leaders of politics and literature which he afterwards enjoyed. On the afternoon of the nth May, 1812, he was pro- ceeding to his duties in the House of Commons, when he was passed in the lobby by Mr. Spencer Perceval, who was, almost the next moment, shot by Belling- ham, the bankrupt merchant. Jerdan seized the assassin and handed him over to the officers who were presently in attendance. That was one of the events which brought him into notice, and by which he will be remembered. In his profession he dis- played considerable fertility and activity. One par- ticular circumstance marks this character; when editor of the Sun, in 1818, he was the first to introduce reviews of new books as a regular feature of news- paper journalism. He afterwards started the Literary Gazette, which during its first year circulated weekly nearly 1000 copies stamped, and 250 unstamped. ! In its second year the circulation increased, and its