Volume 3 > Half-Volume 6

633
influence grew until it became one of the most im-
portant organs of literature. The promoter of it
lived to see the Gazette wane and die about six years
ago.
He wrought himself into a good position, and his
personal acquaintance with nearly all the most cele-
brated men and women of his time rendered his
conversation welcome everywhere; but he appears
to have laboured under difficulties even in the midst
of his success. Writing in 1852, he says, "My life
has been one of much vicissitude, of infinite struggle,
and latterly of very grave misfortune." The precise
nature of his misfortune is not stated. In his auto-
biography (four volumes, 1852-53), a work which
contains many anecdotes and sketches of the notable
personages of the previous thirty years, he urgently
warns young men not to adopt literature as a profes-
sion. He was, however, always a kindly adviser of
literary aspirants, and in that way assisted many who
have since won for themselves distinction in letters
and art. Amongst his proteges was L. E. L. (Miss
Landon), whom he first introduced to the public, and
with whom he remained on terms of intimate friend-
ship till the period of her sad death.
He was a prolific miscellaneous writer, and besides
his London work, continued for a long time to con-
tribute leaders to provincial journals. He was a
zealous advocate of the Royal Literary Fund, and in
support of it produced his work Illustrations of the
Plan of a National Association for the Encouragement
and Protection of Authors and Men of Talent and
Genius (1839). Of his other works the principal are:
The National Portrait Gallery of Illustrious and
Eminent Personages of the 19th Century, with Me-
moirs (1830-34); A Voyage to the Isle of Elba; The
Rutland Papers; The Perth Papers; The Paris
Spectator; " The Works of the Rev. G. Herbert, with
Remarks on his Writings, and a Sketch of his life"
(1853); "Men I have Known; Illustrated with Fac-
simile Autographs" (1866). He continued to con-
tribute to the metropolitan magazines till within a
few weeks of his death; and the number of the
Gentleman''s Magazine issued at the beginning of the
month in which he died contains the second portion
of one of his sketches. During his latter years a
pension of �100 per annum was paid to him by gov-
ernment, in acknowledgment of his services to liter-
ature.
JOHNSTON", ALEXANDER KEITH, LL.D., an
eminent geographer, was born at the village of
Kirkhill, near Edinburgh, in December, 1804. He
was educated at the high school of the neighbouring
city. After a short term of medical study he aban-
doned the idea of becoming a physician, and turned
to the art of engraving as more suitable to his tastes.
Entering into partnership with his brother William
�afterwards Sir William�he devoted himself to
those geographical studies that had early enchanted
him, and that received from him for about half a
century the attention of an enthusiast. His assiduity
and painstaking were not expended fruitlessly, whether
we regard the sale of his works and the honours
conferred on him, or the influence they have had
throughout our own country and in America, in
extending an accurate and scientific knowledge of
the localities and characteristics of the globe. His
works, both atlases and geographical treatises, cover
two distinct fields; the one field being the general
educated public, the other the younger and less
educated classes of the community. And with him
the word "geography" is a term embracing much
more than it was generally received to do when he
commenced the study of the science, and compre-
hends all that the trader, the historian, and the
student of general science seek to learn of our globe
in their various pursuits. And it is chiefly to the
efforts of Dr. Johnston that physical science has
come to be widely regarded as an essential element
in the education of youth; while the Meteorological
Society owes its existence in great part to his enthu-
siasm.
Dr. Johnston's first great work appeared as a folio
volume in 1843, after five years of incessant labour.
This was the National Atlas, which passed through
many editions, and well merited the honour, soon
after bestowed on him, of geographer-royal for Scot-
land. It was followed in 1848 by the Physical Atlas,
a really splendid work, not to be soon forgotten as
the rival and superior of the most learned German
works then produced, as a work of heroic enterprise
undertaken without any near prospect of adequate
financial return, and as a monument of nearly ten
years of unbroken labour. In the preparation of it
Humboldt was specially consulted; Ritter gave all
the benefit of his rich mind; and the information of
numerous scientific travellers on geology, meteor-
ology, climatology, and hydrography, were contained
in convenient limits. The value of the atlas was
acknowledged by competent authorities; the public
at large welcomed it; a second edition appeared in
1856, and 2500 copies at least were disposed of
before the author's death. In 1850 the Dictionary
of Geography was published; and five years later he
commenced his Royal Atlas of Modern Geography,
another splendid work, to which special interest
attaches itself, not only because we have here summed
up all the special learning of an arduous life, but
because its progress was critically watched by the
thoughtful and amiable husband of Queen Victoria.
Dr. Johnston constructed the first physical globe, and
received for this the medal of the International Ex-
hibition of 1851. In 1852 he completed his chart
of the geographical distribution of health and disease,
a work in which his early medical studies proved of
some value, and for which he was elected a corre-
sponding Member of the London Epidemiological
Society.
During the sixth decade of the century he issued
a series of atlases, four in number, for the use of
schools, embracing physical, classical, general and
descriptive geography, and astronomy; and in his
later years he supervised the publication, or prepared
with his own hands the materials of a series of small
and cheap educational hand-books of geography, and
also of maps for school-rooms. These works, which
were simply popularized from his more elaborate
productions, have greatly contributed to the cause
of education in every quarter of the globe.
While many geographical societies in various parts
of the world elected him as an honorary or corre-
sponding member, Edinburgh University conferred
on him the degree of Doctor of Laws in 1865; and
only seven weeks before his death the Royal Geo-
graphical Society, on the recommendation of Sir
Roderick Murchison, who had placed him beside
Petermann in his special field, awarded him the
patron's gold medal for "his distinguished services
in the promotion of physical geography." He was
chosen to act as president of the geographical section
of the British Association at the Edinburgh meetings
in 1871; but our venerable countryman was not
favoured to fill the actual post of honour. He died
at Ben Rhydding on the 9th of July. Colonel Yule,
the Scottish traveller of Cathay fame, succeeded to
the vacant chair, and in his opening address paid
a generous tribute to Dr. Johnston's memory and
attainments.