LAINO, MALCOLM, an historian, was born in Orkney, where he possessed a small patrimonial estate, in 1762. He received the rudi ments of education at Kirkwall, and afterwards studied at Edinburgh, where he was one of the most active members of the 'Speculative Society,' an association in which many young men who became distin guished in after life first tried their prowess. In 1785 lie joined the Scottish bar. He does not appear to have obtained much practice as a lawyer, and the only conspicuous occasion in which lie was pro fessionally employed seems to have been in the defence of some of the parties tried for sedition in Scotland between 1793 and 1795. Ile is one of the many instances where lawyere have in their works displayed peculiarly high foreusie abilities, without being able to rise in their profession. His first known literary effort was editing the last volume of Ilenry'a 'History of Britain,' in 1793, after the author's death, lie was charged with having spoiled the harmony of the work, as Henry'a opinions were all in favour of despotic principles, while the addition. made by Laing were of a democratic tendency. Iu 1800 he published 'The Hiatory of Scotland from the Union of the Crowns on the accession of James VI. to the throne of England, to the Union of the Kingdoms in the reign of Queen Anne.' This was published along with two other works, the names of which appearing on the title of the ' History,' with which the subjects of neither of them were in nay way connected, are very characteristic of Laing's propensity to enter on disputed points in history or criticism with the spirit of a lawyer.
The ' History' as published in two volumes was accompanied by' Two Dissertations, Historical and Critical, on the Cowry Conspiracy, and on the supposed authenticity of Ossian's Poems.' To the second edition of his 'History,' published in 1804, he added A Preliminary Dissertation on the Participation of Mary Queen of Scots in the Murder of Darnley.' He was a sagacious, honest, and able historical critic, but too much inclined to take up it side in any question, and to keep perpetually in view the circumstance that he was bound to defend that side. His style was harsh and formal, and sometimes obscure. lie was for some time member of parliament for Orkney, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of Fox. lie died in 1818. His brother Samuel Laing, the author of the valuable Notes of it Traveller,' • Travele in Norway,' &c., succeeded to his property. Mr. Samuel Laing, late chairman of the Brighton Railway and Crystal Palace Companies, and a conspicuous member of the railway interest in the House of Commons, is the son of Mr. Laing the traveller, and nephew of the hiatoriau.