parts of my Oriental work to the press, and have sufficient employment in supplying it with matter, and correcting the proof sheets. I hope it may be finished in the course of the year," (this of course must be the first Fasciculus,) "but there is great uncertainty in these things, I am constantly in the Library all the forenoon, and till four o'clock sometimes in the afternoon; so that there is not much variety in my plan of life. Independently of my great inclination to remain here, I am, every time I think of it, more convinced that I could not easily have been reconciled to a residence in Edinburgh, after I have formed such strong attachments, and been engaged in such employments here. Sir William Hamilton has lately sent me a work on Persian Poetry in German, by M. Vonhammer of Vienna. He wishes me to make a Review of it for the Edinburgh: this I should be glad to do, but fear I shall not be able to produce any thing worthy of that Journal. The subject is

however new, and much may be said that is but little known in this country. Dr. Bernstein, Professor of the Oriental languages at Berlin, who is now here, has promised to assist me in communicating information relative to the state of such literature in Germany. One of the pleasantest circumstances attending my situation in the Library is, that I see strangers from all countries. I received a letter lately from an Italian at Paris, delivered to me by an Italian Marquis, who was accompanied by his wife, and two gentlemen related to the poet Alfieri."

During the long vacation of this year, his chief and almost only companion was Dr. George Henry Bernstein, with whom the writer of these anecdotes had also the pleasure to be acquainted. He was a man of great talents, having been made a Professor at the early age of 24, and was remarkable both for the urbanity of his manners, and the fluency and correctness with which he

spoke the English language. From Dr. B.'s profound knowledge of oriental literature, as well as from that of the celebrated Wm. Gesinius, Doctor in Theology, and Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages in the University of Halle, with whom he became acquainted at Oxford in 1820, Mr. Nicoll acknowledges to have received much valuable assistance. On the eighth of June, 1821, he published, by the desire of the Curators, and the Delegates of the University Press, the first Volume of the second part of the Catalogue of the Oriental MSS. in the Bodleian Library, comprehending 156 Articles, under the several heads of, Codices Samaritano-Arabici; Codices HebræoArabici; Codices Christiani Sermone et Literis Arabicis expressi; Codices Arabici Mohammedani. Of this performance he speaks with some degree of self-satisfaction; though, he says, I do not expect to gain sufficient credit with all people, especially in England, for the labour it has cost

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me. I have sent copies of it to the best scholars in Germany, France, and Denmark with whom I am acquainted, as well as to those in England." At the same time he mentions, that, together with Sir Wm. Hamilton, he had been chosen a member of a Society in Berlin for the investigation of the German language.

The reputation which Mr. Nicoll had gained in the University, and indeed among the best Oriental scholars both at home and abroad, began now to turn to account. On the promotion of Dr. Richard Laurence, Regius Professor of Hebrew, to the Archbishopric of Cashel, he had the good fortune to be appointed his successor in the Professorship, and of course to a Canonry of Christ Church. The circumstances under which he obtained this preferment are most highly honourable to the character of the Archbishop, as well as to that of the late Earl of Liverpool. The Archbishop, being in London for the purpose of going through the ceremonials consequent

on his promotion, was asked by Lord Liverpool whether he knew any person in Oxford particularly well qualified to fill the Professorial chair. As the Archbishop could not doubt that there were many aspirants to so desirable an appointment, he could not but feel scrupulous about giving any opinion: but when the question was thus put directly to him, he replied that he certainly did know a studious young man, devotedly attached to Oriental literature, who he believed would be found not undeserving of his Lordship's patronage. In a few days after this application, to the no small delight of the Archbishop and the astonishment of Mr. Nicoll himself, he received the following letter.

SIR,

Fife House, 19 June, 1822.

In consequence of the promotion of Dr. Laurence to the Archbishopric of Cashel, the Regius Prófessorship of Hebrew in the University of Oxford, together with the Canonry of Christ Church attached to it,