Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/81

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Macfarlane
75
Macfarlane

Macfarlane's best work was the ‘Civil and Military History of England,’ which he contributed to Knight's ‘Pictorial History,’ edited by George Lillie Craik, 8 vols. 8vo, 1838–44. The struggles between the houses of York and Lancaster are described with especial spirit and knowledge. An abridgment, with a continuation to date, was published, under the title of ‘The Cabinet History of England,’ 26 vols. 12mo, London, 1845–7. Another edition, with the title changed to ‘The Comprehensive History of England,’ appeared under the editorship of the Rev. Thomas Thomson, 4 vols. 8vo, London, 1856–61, and again in 1876–8; and a third, with a continuation to 1884, by Thomas Archer, was issued as ‘The Popular History of England,’ 3 vols. 8vo, London, 1886. For Knight Macfarlane also compiled anonymously two pleasant little volumes called ‘The Book of Table Talk,’ 1836 (another edition 1847), for which Planché wrote a brief history of stage costume.

Macfarlane's historical novels are readable, but his biographies of Gresham (1847), Marlborough (1852), Wellington (1853, 1877, 1886), and Napoleon I (1852, 1879, 1880, 1886), his histories and books of travel, go far to justify the ‘Athenæum's’ reference to him as a ‘voluminous, not a luminous writer.’ Macfarlane's writings, other than those already noticed, include: 1. ‘Constantinople in 1828,’ 4to, London, 1829 (two editions; translated into French, 2 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1829). 2. ‘The Armenians, a Tale of Constantinople,’ 3 vols. 12mo, London, 1830. 3. ‘Barba Yorghi (or Uncle George), the Greek Pilot,’ in vol. i. of ‘The Sisters' Budget,’ 8vo, London, 1831. 4. ‘The Romance of History; Italy,’ 3 vols. 12mo, London, 1832 (and 1872). 5. ‘The Seven Apocalyptic Churches. The Etchings by T. Knox,’ 4to, London, 1832. 6. ‘The Lives and Exploits of Banditti and Robbers in all parts of the World,’ 2 vols. 12mo, London, 1833 (and 1837, in the ‘Family Library’). 7. ‘The French Revolution,’ 4 vols. 8vo, London, 1844–5, in Knight's ‘Library for the Times.’ 8. ‘Our Indian Empire,’ 8vo, London, 1844, in the same series. 9. ‘The Camp of Refuge’ (anon.), 2 vols. 12mo, London, 1844 (also 1880–1887); a tale of the conquest of the Isle of Ely. 10. ‘A Legend of Reading Abbey’ (anon.), 12mo, London, 1845, in ‘Knight's Weekly,’ No. 62. 11. ‘The Dutch in the Medway’ (anon.), 12mo, London, 1845, in the same series, No. 43. These three tales were published collectively, under the title of ‘Old England Novelettes,’ 4 vols. 18mo, 1846–7. 12. ‘The Romance of Travel; the East,’ 2 vols. 12mo, London, 1846–7, in ‘Knight's Weekly,’ Nos. 81, 111. 13. ‘Popular Customs, Sports, and Recollections of the South of Italy,’ 12mo, London, 1846, in ‘Knight's Monthly Volume,’ originally contributed to the ‘Penny Magazine’ between 1834 and 1845. 14. ‘A Glance at Revolutionized Italy,’ 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1849. 15. ‘Sicily, her Constitutions, and Viscount Palmerston's Sicilian Blue-Book,’ 8vo, London, 1849, an appendix to the above. 16. ‘Turkey and its Destiny,’ 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1850. 17. ‘The Neapolitan Government and Mr. Gladstone,’ 8vo, London, 1851. 18. ‘A History of British India,’ 8vo, London, 1852 (1857, 1858, and 1881). 19. ‘Japan, an account Geographical and Historical … With Illustrations from Designs by A. Allom,’ 8vo, London, 1852. 20. ‘The Catacombs of Rome, with Illustrations,’ 12mo, London, 1852 (1854 and 1855). 21. ‘The Great Battles of the British Army,’ 8vo, London, 1853 (2nd edit. 1854). 22. ‘Kismet, or the Doom of Turkey,’ 8vo, London, 1853. 23. ‘The Camp of 1853, with Hints on Military Matters for Civilians,’ 12mo, London, 1853. 24. ‘Patriots of China,’ 8vo, London, 1853. 25. ‘The Chinese Revolution, with details of the Habits, Manners, and Customs of China and the Chinese,’ 16mo, London, 1853. He also translated Desbarolles's ‘Two French Artists in Spain,’ 8vo, 1851.

[Athenæum, 18 Dec. 1858, p. 800; Planché's Recollections; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

G. G.

MACFARLANE, DUNCAN (1771–1857), principal of Glasgow University, son of Duncan Macfarlane, minister of Drymen, Stirlingshire, was born at Auchingray, 27 Sept. 1771. He was educated for the church at the university of Glasgow, licensed 1791, and ordained to the charge of Drymen, in succession to his father, in 1792. In 1806 he was created a D.D. of his university. He contested unsuccessfully the chair of divinity and the ministry of the Tron Church, where Dr. Thomas Chalmers was elected, after a keen contest, in 1814. He was made one of his majesty's chaplains in 1815, served as moderator of the general assembly in 1819, and presented an address to George IV on his accession in 1820. While still at Drymen he was appointed dean of the Chapel Royal, but resigned both offices on being made principal of Glasgow University and minister of the High Church, Glasgow, in 1824. Opposition was raised to his holding the two offices conjointly, but the general assembly, by 165 to 80 votes, decided that he was acting legally. The colonial mission scheme was originated by him, and he continued its convener over twenty years. In the patron-