DEATH OF A NOVELIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 13 May 1887, Page 28

DEATH OF A NOVELIST.

The death is announced of James Grant, the well-known romantic novelist ; aged 65 years.

James Grant was born at Edinburgh on August 1, 1822. When only 10 years old he sailed with his father, who had the command of a detachment of soldiers, for Newfoundland, and was several years with the tr*oops in America, his education being principally received in barracks. To this military training may be traced the style and character of many of his works. Returning Home in 1839, he was gazetted to an ensigncy in the 62nd Foot ; joined the provisional battalion at Chatham ; and in 1840 had charge of the depot. He left the army soon afterwards, and devoted himself to literature and the study of Scottish antiquities. His first work — "The Romance of War, or Highlanders in Spain" — was published in 1846; an additional volume appearing in 1847, with the secondary title of " Highlanders in Belgium." It was followed by " Adventures of an Aide-dc-Camp, or a Campaign in Calabria," 1848 ; "Memoirs of Kircaldy of Grange," 1849; " Walter Fenton, or the Scottish Cavalier," 1850; "Memorials of Edinburgh Castle," illustrated by drawings of his own, 1850 ; " Bothwell, or the Days of Mary Queen of Scots," 1851 ; " Memoirs of Sir John Hepburn, Marshal of France and Colonel of the Scots Brigade," 1851; "Jane Seton, or the King's Advocate," 1853; "Philip Rollo, or the Scottish Musketeers," 1854, published in Paris as "Les Mousquetaires Ecossais " ; •' Frank Hilton, or the Queen's Own," 1855 ; " The Yellow Frigate," 1855; " The Phantom Regiment," 1856; " Harry Ogilvie, or the Black Dragoon," 1856 ; "Laura Eyeringham," 1857; "Memoirs of the Marquis of Montrose," illustrated with designs by himself ; " Arthur Blanc, or the Hundred Cuirassiers," 1858; "The Cavaliers of Fortune," 1858 ; " Lucy Arden, a Tale of 1715," 1859; "Legends of the Black Watch," 1859; "Mary of Lorraine," 1860 ; " Oliver Ellis, or the Fusileers," 1861 ; " Dick Rodney, or the Adventures of an Eton Boy," 1862 ; "Captain "g . the Guard," 1862 ; " Adventures of Rob Roy," 1863; "Second to None," 1864,; "King's Own Borderers," 1865; " Constable ot France," 1866; "The White Cockade," 1867 ; "First Love and Last Love, a tale of the Indian Mutiny," 1868 ; " The Secret Despatch," 1869 ; " The Girl He Married," 1869; "Lady Wedderburn's Wish, a tale of the Crimean War," 1870; "Only an Ensign," 1871; " Under the Red Dragon," 1872 ; " British Battles on Land and Sea," vol. i, 1873 ; "British Heroes in Foreign Wars," new edition, 1873; "Shall I Win Her?" 1874; "Fairer than a Fairy," 1874; and " Six Years Ago," 1877. Most of these works have been printed in the United States. AH have been translated into German and Danish, and several into French. Mr Grant has been a constant contributor of memoirs to the " Dublin University Magazine," the " United Service Magazine," &c. In 1852 he prepared the " Memorial," which was presented to the House of. Lords by the Duke of Richmond, in the name of 200 Peninsular lieutenants, craving the rank of captains without increase of pay. It was not acted upon, owing to the opposition of the late Duke of Wellington. In December 1875 Mr Grant abjured Protestantism, and was received into the Roman Catholic Church by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. — " Men of the Time."