CRICHTON, JAMES, surnamed the "ADMIRABLE," was a native of Scotland. where he was b. in 1551, or, according to others, in 1560. His father, Robert Crichton of Elliock, in the co. of Perth, was lord advocate of Scotland from 1561 to 1573. On the mother's side, C. was descended from the old Scottish kings, a circumstance of which lie used to boast on the continent. He was educated at St. Andrews university. Before lie reached his 20th year. lie had, it seems, "run through the whole circle of the sciences.," mastered ten different languages, and perfected himself in every knightly accomplishment. Thus panoplied in a suit of intellectual armor, C. rode out into the world of letters, and challenged all and sundry to a learned encounter. If we can believe his biographers, the stripling left every adversary who entered the lists against him hors de combat. At Paris, Rome, Venice, Padua, Mantua, lie achieved the most extraordinary victories in disputation on all branches of human knowledge, and excited universal amazement and applause. The beauty of his person and the elegance of his, manners also made him a great favorite with the fair; while, as if to leave no excellence unattained, he vanquished, in a duel, the most famous gladiator in Europe. The duke
of Mantua, in whose city this perilous feat was performed, appointed him preceptor to his son, Vincentio di Gonzago, a dissolute and profligate youth. One night, during the carnival, C. was attacked in the streets of 31antua by balf-a-dozen people in masks. lie pushed them so hard that their leader pulled off his mask, and disclosed the features of the prince. With an excess of loyalty which proved his death, C. threw himself upon his knees, and begged Vincentio's pardon, at the same time presenting him with his sword. The heartless wretch plunged it into the body of his tutor. Thus perished, in the 22d year of his age, the "Admirable Crichton." What measure of truth there may be in the hyperbolical eulogies of his biographers, it is impossible to determine, as C. left no writings by which they might have been judged.