ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE, the hydrographer. He was born at New Hanes, the seat of his father, Sir James Dalrymple, Bart., on the 24th of July 1737, and was the seventh son of a family of sixteen children, all of whom he survived. His scholastic education was very limited, partly from the troubles of the times, and partly from the early death of his father ; aud when scarce sixteen years of age he went abroad as a writer in the East India Company's service. Owing to his deficiency in the ordinary branches of learning, he was, on his arrival in India, placed under the storekeeper; but at length, through the kindness of friends, he was removed to the secretary's office, Lord I'igot himself giving him some lessons in writing, and Mr. Orme, tho historian, instruction in accounts. In the records of the secretary's office he found certain papers on the subject of a commerco with the Eastern Archipelago ; and so interested in the subject did he become, that, contrary to Lord Pigot'a advice, be refused the secretaryship, and determined on a voyage among the eastern islands. He now also made himself master of the Spanish language by his own efforts, as he had a short time before done in regard to the French. In the course of the voyage he concluded a commercial treaty with the sultan of Sooloo ; but not long afterwards the political affairs of that place were altogether changed, and no beneficial effects resulted from the enter prise. He subsequently returned to Sooloo, and re-established a friendly understanding between the inhabitants and the company; but unfavourable circumstances again intervened to prevent the results which were anticipated, and his exertions in England, whither be afterwards came on the same matter, were equally uufortunate. In 1769 the court of directors voted him 5000/. for his past services, equivalent to the 'emoluments of secretary at Madras, which he had relinquished in 1759 to proceed on the easteru voyage. From the
time of his return to England in 1765, he employed himself iu collect ing materials for a full exposition of the importance of the Eastern islands and South Seas; and the court of directors, satisfied of the important information he possessed, employed him to draw up several charts of the Eastern seas, which were published under their authority. On Lord Pigot's appointment to be governor of Fort St. George in 1775, Dalrymple was reinstated in the service of the East India Company, and went out to Madras as a member of council and one of the committee of circuit ; but in 1777 he was recalled with others, under a resolution of the general court, to have their conduct Inquired into, though nothing appears to have been done thereupon. Two year, afterwarde he was appointed hydrographer to the East. India Company ; and in 1795. when the admiralty at last established the like office, it was given to Dalrymple, to whom it had been promised when its establishment was first proposed nineteen years before. This piece he retained till 'SOS, when the admiralty, having called for his resignation on the ground of superannuatioo, be refused to resign and Was dismissed. A month later, Juue 19, ISOS, he died, it is said from vexation. Ho left a largo lihrary, and rich particularly in wolka ou navigation and geography, a few of which were purchased by the admiralty, and the remainder wore sold by auction. His own works amount to about sixty in number; many of them undoubtedly valuable, but some also of a merely personal and transitory character. A list of them Is appended to a memoir of the author, furnished by himself, iu the 'European Magazine ' for November and December le02.