Thomas Pringle, a Scottish author, born at Blaiklaw, Teviotdale, Jan. 5, 1789, died Dec. 5, 1834. He graduated at the university of Edinburgh, and became clerk to the commissioners on the public records of Scotland, which post he held till 1817, when he commenced the " Edinburgh Monthly Magazine," which was the germ of " Blackwood's Magazine." At the same time he was editor of the " Edinburgh Star" newspaper, and joint editor of "Constable's Magazine." He soon quarrelled with Blackwood, and, his other publications being unprofitable, went out to the Cape of Good Hope in 1820, and became government librarian at Cape Town. He established a private academy, founded the " South African Journal," and edited the " South African Commercial Advertiser," both of which were discontinued in consequence of the censorship of the colonial governor. He returned to Great Britain in 1826, and became secretary to the anti-slavery society. His " Narrative of a Residence in South Africa" appeared in 1835. A collection of his poems was published by Leitch Ritchie (1838).