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takes place for a prize, given by the Earl of Buchan, and commonly known by the name of the Silver Pen. The contending parties are required to translate a small portion of Greek into Latin and English, and the name of the successful competitor is inscribed on a medal, and published in the provincial newspapers. Nicoll carried off the prize on this occasion; and the circumstance being of course made public, he began to be noticed as a young man of promising abilities. He was now entering on the third collegiate session, when his friends were apprised by Bishop Skinner, that one of Snell's Exhibitions for natives of Scotland, at Balliol College, Oxford, was then vacant, and they were strongly advised to apply for it. Their application was successful, and Mr. Nicoll was in consequence removed from Aberdeen to Oxford in the month of November, 1807. Though no longer under the eye of his 'parents, and then only in the fifteenth year of

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his age, he was not allured by the examples

of idleness and dissipation which are too abundant in the English Universities. On the contrary, by his studious and regular habits, he obtained the good-will of the governing part of his College, of which he received an honourable testimony in a letter of the late Master to Bishop Sandford. The acquaintances also which he made here were of the most respectable kind: among these may be named Sir William Hamilton, and Mr. Lockhart.

In 1811 Mr. Nicoll took the degree of B.A. having been placed at his examination in the second class; notwithstanding, however, the disadvantages under which he laboured during the first terms of his residence in the University, from a less perfect knowledge of the Greek language than would have been acquired at some of the English schools, he might perhaps have attained a higher honour, had his attention been more exclusively directed to that object. But it seems to have been about this time

that he entered upon that line of study for which he had undoubtedly an extraordinary talent, and to which he owed his dignified situation at Oxforda. In a letter of Dec. 19, 1813, to his elder brother, Mr. Lewis Nicoll, Advocate in Aberdeen, (to whom I am obliged for the communication of several particulars here mentioned,) he says, "For the last year I have been chiefly engaged in the study of some of the Oriental languages,

a

Among Mr. Warner's books, (at Cawnpoor,) I found in a volume of the Edinburgh Annual Register a Dialogue from an ancient Arabic MS. in the Bodleian, translated six years ago by Dr. Nicoll, containing a dispute between a Christian Monk, and certain learned Mussulmans, at the court of one of the Seljerkian Sultans; which I thought so clever, and so evidently authentic, that it greatly delighted me, and I borrowed it for Abdullah, as more likely than most things which I have seen to do him good, and confirm his faith in Christ. The original Arabic ought by all means to be published, if it is not already, and sent out for circulation in the East, by the Societies interested in such good works." Bp. Heber's Journal, vol. i. p. 215. 8vo.

Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian; and occasionally of the modern languages. I have obtained some knowledge of French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. There is no place where there are finer opportunities of studying the Oriental languages than at Oxford. The Bodleian Library, to which I have had access for the last two years, is said to be richer in this department than in any other. I have lately been introduced to Dr. Winstanley, Principal of Alban Hall, one of the best linguists in Oxford: he has promised me very kindly every assistance in his power in the study of languages, particularly the Oriental. I also know Dr. Macbride, lately appointed Principal of Magdalen Hall, and Lecturer in Arabic, (the Lord Almoner's Professor,) who has already shewn me great kindness."

The progress which he made in this new and extensive line of study, and the facility with which he acquired a considerable knowledge of the several languages mentioned

above, soon became reported in the University, and pointed him out as a person well qualified for a situation in the Bodleian Library, where an acquaintance with languages, the modern especially, is an almost indispensable requisite, in consequence of the visits of numerous learned foreigners. He was accordingly nominated one of the Sub-Librarians in 1814, having for his associate the learned and ingenious Dr. Henry Cotton, late Student of Ch. Ch. now Archdeacon of Cashel, with whom till his death he maintained the most intimate and cordial friendship. Of the opportunity which he had by this appointment of examining and applying to the promotion of his favourite studies the stores of, literature, both ancient and modern, contained in that vast collection, he did not fail to take advantage. In 1815 he published a catalogue of Dr. Clarke's Oriental MSS. forming a second part to that of the Greek, &c. edited by Professor