The principal work of Mr Duncan was his translation of select orations of
Cicero, which is still a book of standard excellence, and constantly used in our
schools. He contributed the department of Logic to "Mr Dodsley's Modern
Preceptor," which appeared in 1748, and was one of the most useful and
popular books published during the eighteenth century. In 1752 appeared
his last work, the translation of Cæsar's Commentciries, which is decidedly the
best in our language. Duncan has in a great measure caught the spirit of the
Roman writer, and has preserved his turn of phrase and expression as far as
the nature of our language would permit In this year, Mr Duncan received a
royal appointment to a philosophical chair in the Marischal college; and in
1753, commenced lecturing on natural and experimental philosophy. Before
leaving London, he had engaged to furnish a bookseller with a new translation
of Plutarch ; but his health proved inadequate to the task. His constitution
had been considerably injured by the sedentary nature of his employments in
London, and he was now content to discharge the ordinary duties of his chair.
After a blameless life, he died (unmarried) May 1, 1760, in the forty-third year of his Jige. Mr Duncan cannot so much be said to have possessed genius, as good sense and taste ; and his parts were rather solid than shining. His temper was social, his manners easy and agreeable, and his conversation entertaining and often lively. In his instructions as a professor, he was diligent and very accurate. His conduct was irreproachable, and he was regular in his attendance on the various institutions of public worship. Soon after his settlement in the Marischal college, he was admitted an elder in the church session of Aberdeen, and continued to officiate as such till his death.
DUNDASSES of Arniston. This family holds a very conspicuous place in the legal and political history of Scotland for a period extending almost to a century and a half; and to the biographical student, nothing can be more interesting than to trace the merited elevation of the successive heads of the family to the highest judicial appointments in the country. The Arniston family is sprung from that of Dundas of Dundas, one of the most ancient in Scotland. Sir James Dundas, the first of Arniston, who received the honour of knighthood from James VI., and was governor of Berwick, was the third son of George Dundas of Dundas, the sixteenth in descent from the Dunhars, earls of March, a family which, according to Sir James Dalrymple, can trace its origin from the Saxon kings of England. The mother of Sir James Dundas was Catherine, daughter of Lawrence, lord Oliphant. Having premised this much of the origin of the family, we proceed to give short biographical notices of its most distinguished members.
DUNDAS, Sir James, of Arniston, eldest son of the first Sir James, by Mary, daughter of George Hume of Wedderburn, had the honour of knighthood conferred on him by Charles I. After receiving a liberal education, he spent a considerable time abroad, visiting the principal courts of Europe. On his return, he was chosen one of the representatives of the county of Mid-Lothian, in the Scottish parliament, and during a period of great danger and difficulty he maintained the character of a steady patriot, and a loyal subject, an enemy alike to slavish subserviency, and to treasonable turbulence. He greatly disapproved of the measures proposed by Charles I. at the instigation of Laud, for establishing episcopacy in Scotland, and did not think it inconsistent with a sincere principle of loyalty to subscribe the national covenant, entered into for the purpose of resisting that innovation.
After the restoration, when the English judges who had officiated in Scotland during the usurpation, were expelled, and the court of session re-established, Sir James Dundas was, in 1662, appointed one of the judges, and took his seat
