ALEXANDER, WILLI/on eminent as a poet, and statesman, was horn at Minsu ie, Ili, father's estate, in Scotland, A. D. 1580. Alter completing iris education, he travelled as tutor or companion to the duke of Ar gyll; and on his return, spent some time in retirement, amusing himself with composing amorous verses. At the court of king James VI. to which he next removed, lie distinguished himself by his genius and accomplish ments; and, directing his poetical talents to the instruc tion of kings and nobles, composed a series of tragedies, with choruses, in imitation of the Greek and Rornan models. Nor did his muse disdain to sing on political subjects: his Parxnesis, addressed to prince Henry, contained many lessons exceedingly valuable to the heir apparent to a throne. He wrote likewise a Supplement to the Third Part of Sir Philip Sidney's Romance, which he published in 1615, when he was sworn one of the gentlemen-ushers of the presence to prince Charles; and in the following year appeared his poem, entitled, " Doomsday." About this time lie was knighted by king James, and made master or the requests; and was now to act a distinguished part in the political transac tions of that period. Has Mg projected the establish ment of a colony at Nova Scotia, he obtained a grant of that country by royal charter, in 1621. The project was encouraged by Charles on his accession : Sir William set forth, in a pamphlet, the advantages which the na tion would derive from it; he was appointed lieutenant of Nova Scotia, and invested with the privilege of coin ing small copper money. Nay, so sanguine were the hopes which Charles entertained of this settlement, that he instituted, in Scotland, a new order of knights baro net, who were to support this colony, on condition that a portion of land should be assigned to each of them hi the new plantation. Notwithstanding these advantages,
the project failed ; the country was sold to the French for five or six thousand pounds; and in the conduct of the whole transaction, sir William seemed to merit a considerable degree of reproach. His sovereign, how ever, retained his confidence in his talents and integrity. In 1626, lie was raised to the office of secretary of state for Scotland; and four years after, was created a peer of that kingdom, by the title of viscount Stirling. At his majesty's coronation, in the palace of Holyroodhouse (A. D. 1633), he was made earl of Stirling, and conti nued to discharge the office of secretary of state with great reputation, till his death, which happened in the year 1640. Were we to judge of his writings by the encomiums of his contemporaries, we should entertain a very high opinion of his genius; and indeed those works must possess a very considerable portion of merit, of which Mr Addison declares, " that he had read them with the greatest satisfaction." Besides his four monarchic tragedies, and the other poems which we have mentioned, lie wrote an heroic poem, entitled, "Jonathan," which was published with his other works, about three years before his death. His plays are more adapted for perusal in the closet than for theatrical re presentation. (k)