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neighbour. The earliest literary friend with whom Dr. Blair was connected, was the celebrated David Hume. He was a few years younger than the historian, but more nearly of an age with him than the rest of those men of genius who at one time adorned this country. However much he disapproved of Mr. Hume's tenets in matters of religion, yet he respected him as a man of science. Even to the enemy of that cause, which he was disposed from principle, and bound from profession, to support, he could shew a candid liberality. He admired his dignified callousness against the impressions of public folly, when he first appeared as an historian, and foresaw a period when political prejudice would yield to the force of truth. He enjoyed the liberality of his manners as a private friend, and that cheerfulness of temper which enlivened every circle in which he was a companion. He felt the value of that unsuspicious gaiety, in which there was nothing frivolous, but which was, in him, connected with every talent which mankind are willing to respect.

"During the time that Mr. Hume attended Lord Hertford upon his embassy to Paris, he was absent from Edinburgh several years. The intimacy was supported by a correspondence, which has unhappily perished. The habits of friendship that subsisted betwixt Dr. Blair and Dr. Robertson, were much less frequently interrupted than those be tween the former and Mr. Hume. As they were of the same profession, and were members of the same University, the intimacy, which was voluntary on the part of both, was in some degree unavoidable. Whatever diversity existed in the character of these two men of let ters, it did not prevent them from

being intimate friends. Dr. Blair beheld with admiration, talents in Dr. Robertson which he was conscious of not possessing. He saw, without envy, that address in the management of business which would have done honour to a statesman, and which enabled his friend so long to direct the affairs of the church. He admired that moderation with which he wished to effect his purposes, and which, with him, `was almost always a successful instrument. He knew the amiableness of his manners in private life, and respected that disposition to heal the differences of parties, which he himself possessed in an eminent degree.

"These intimate friends, however, were not satisfied with admiring the talents which each possessed, whether in common or otherwise, but availed themselves of that critical skill for which both were distinguished. Neither of them ever presented a work to the public which the other had not revised. Devoid of every thing like jealousy, the reproof that was given without restraint, was received like the admonition of a friend. Their praises and their censures were alike sincere. Each could make allowance for a friend's partiality, and could anticipate, from what passed between themselves, the reception which he was to meet with from the public.

"Dr. Blair's connection with Dr. Adam Smith was early formed, from a similarity in their literary pursuits. The latter, it has been said, set the example of reading Lectures upon Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, and was the first in this country who ever made the attempt. Upon any subject to which the mind of Dr. Smith directed itself, it was capable of throwing light. A timid enquirer, which Dr. Blair naturally

was,

was, felt the benefit of such a friend, and gladly availed himself of every advantage which his company and conversation could afford.

"When Dr. Smith became a member of the University of Glasgow, and still more when he travelled with the Duke of Buccleugh, the intimacy between him and Dr. Blair was necessarily suspended. Upon the return of the former to Edinburgh, the subject of his studies had changed. From being purely literary, they had become political, and he was about to deliver to the world his work upon the Wealth of Nations.

"It appears, in Dr. Blair's Lectures, that he had the use of certain manuscripts from Dr. Smith, from which he acknowledges that he had taken a few hints. When he made the confession, his doing so should bave saved him from the charge of plagiarism. Dr. Blair did not know that this was urged against him, both by Dr. Smith and his friends; the harmony that subsisted between them accordingly suffered no interruption. As few men were less apt to be suspicious than Dr. Blair, so his love for his friend continued unimpaired till his death. He respected Dr. Smith as a man of delicate taste, of extensive information, and of profound science. Still, however, he was not blind to the eccentricities of his character, and was often amused with the opposite views which he took of the same subject, according to the humour in which he happened to be.

There is reason to believe that the habits of friendship between Dr. Blair and Dr. Adam Fergusson were not so close as those between him and the men of letters already mentioned. Still, however, they lived upon intimate terms, and entertained for each other a mutual

esteem. The manliness and libe rality of Dr. Fergusson's character did not escape his friend's notice, and accorded with that unaffected candour and sincerity which were the ornaments of his own. Though Dr. Fergusson had no desire to de rogate from what was due to men of eminence, yet every unreasonable pretension he treated with contempt. While Dr. Blair felt the applause of the world with a keenness that exposed him to the imputation of vanity, he was, at the same time, free from every thing like arrogance. He repaid the attention that was due to him, in a way the most acceptable to those from whom it came. While pleased with himself, he had no propensity to be displeas ed with others, or to make them displeased with themselves. To every thing excellent in his neighbour, he was ready to give his tribute of praise. This part of Dr. Blair's character was particularly ac ceptable to Dr. Fergusson. He loved the man who, though beloved by every body around him, took no advantage of his superiority, and increased the attachment by being wise enough not to abuse it,

"Few men, perhaps, have commanded the admiration of his friends more generally than Dr. Fergusson. They beheld in him the qualities of a high and independent mind, and the total absence of every thing like selfish intrigue, Though a candidate, like others, for literary fame, he had nothing of that mean jealousy which has so often been the disgrace of learned men. The gaiety of his manners and disposition made him the delight of every private cir cle. By this he seized their hearts, while, by a display of talents that was not ostentatious, he commanded their respect. No one of his friends formed a more just estimate of his

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accomplishments than Dr. Blair, Before the public was duly aware of the merit of Dr. Fergusson's writings, Dr. Blair perceived in them a depth of thought, and a force of eloquence, which have now given them that place in its estimation which they are entitled to hold.

"The friendship that subsisted between Dr. Blair and Mr. Jokn Home seems to have been of an early standing. Being both originally bred to the same profession, their habits would be long similar, and many opportunities would present themselves for their enjoying each other's conversation. The poetical talents of Mr. Home could not escape the notice of one so able to appreciate them as Dr. Blair. In the tragedy of "Douglas," many splendid beauties would arrest his attention; and the high merit discovered in the distribution of the piece, would have been visible even to one who had not the partiality of a friend.

"When to the literary accomplishments of Mr. Home, we add the amiableness of his private character, it needs not surprise us that he and Dr. Blair were such intimate companions. The attachment, accordingly, that began early in their - lives, was continued as long as it could exist. During Mr. Home's long residence in Edinburgh, they had constant opportunities of being together, and both were disposed to improve them. Each discovered a complacency while in company with the other, that could not escape the notice of any body; and it is certain that Mr. Home's sentiments of attachment to Dr. Blair continued in variable to the last.

"Those mentioned were the persons with whom Dr. Blair lived in habits of intimacy, and with whom, during the greater part of his life,

he maintained social intercourse. There were others who acted towards him both as patrons' and friends, and who were happy to einploy that influence which was at tached to their situation, in rewarding his merit, and promoting his success. In early life, he was tutor in the family of the last Lord Lovat, and spent one summer in the north country, attending his Lordship's eldest son, afterwards Gen. Fraser. In this situation he merited the ap probation of all concerned with him, That good sense displayed itself in his youth, which was afterwards so conspicuous during his whole life. Young as his pupil then was, he perceived his good fortune in being under such guidance, and gave early proofs of that discernment of character, in which few outdid him when he advanced to manhood.

"This attachment to Dr. Blair seems to have grown with time; and, had the General's letters to him not been destroyed, like those of his other correspondents, they would probably have presented something interesting, and worthy of his ele gant pen. When General Fraser was appointed to the command of the 71st regiment, he testified his respect for his old tutor, by making him chaplain to one of its battalions. This mark of attention was altogether unexpected upon the part of the Doctor. He heard the General mentioning at table, to some person, how he had bestowed his chaplainship; and he immediately asked if it was so. The General answered, that the appointment was made; and added, with great good humour, that, as his Majesty had not been pleased to pre-occupy his services, by making him one of the Royal Chaplains for Scotland, he felt it a duty incumbent upon him to make him one of his.

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"There were few people of eminence, in this country, to whom Dr. Blair was more indebted than to the late Chief Baron Orde. His Lordship, in his official capacity, was a regular hearer of the Doctor's sermons while his court sat, and there was no one better qualified to judge of the preacher's merit. This merit, too, was never more conspicuous than when it was honoured with the approbation of the venerable judge. Dr. Blair's literary reputation was then thoroughly estabJished. He was in the vigour of life; and the unwearied labour which he underwent in his closet, while composing his Sermons, was repaid by the admiration of a discerning audience.

"The Chief Baron soon shewed himself none of the inefficient patrons, who amuse those they mean to allow to court their protection, with promises never to be fulfilled. His Lordship's honourable mind felt the obligation he had brought upon himself; and his respect for the literature of the country prevented him from sporting with the feelings of a man who had then done it honour, and who promised to do it more. In private life, he bestowed upon the learned preacher every mark of his confidence and esteem. He spoke of his Sermons as affording valuable instruction to all, but especially to those who were deaf to every thing not recommended by the charms of eloquence. When it was proposed to establish a Professorship of Rhetoric in the University of Edinburgh for Dr. Blair, the Lord Chief Baron took an active part in giving effect to the plan. His Lordship spoke with confidence, because he had felt the energy of those powers which a teacher of rhetoric should possess. To this creditable testimony his Majesty's

ministers paid the attention it deserved; and to it the Doctor reck. oned himself, in a high degree, indebted for his success.

"But the connection from which Dr. Blair derived most benefit, and which he had it in his power to cultivate for the longest period, was that with Lord Viscount Melville. As early as the year 1739, he had dedicated his thesis, "De Funda"mentis et Obligatione Legis Na"ture," to his Lordship's father, then Lord Arniston, and afterwards Lord President of the Court of Session. This event, however, as it took place before Lord Melville's birth, and as the Lord President died when his son was very young,

cannot be understood to have been the foundation of that friendship with which Dr. Blair felt himself so highly honoured.

"When Dr. Blair began to read his Lectures, he was fortunate in having hearers that could discover their merit. Among them he could number Henry Dundas, afterwards Lord Melville; and, from the ardour with which his Lordship pursued his studies, his instructor ventured to predict the lustre of that career which he was destined to run. An attachment, founded upon mutual esteem, could not fail to be permanent. During a great part of his long life, Dr. Blair relied upon the friendship of Lord Melville, and never once repented of having done so. His Lordship also found a corresponding steadiness upon the part of the learned man, whom he mark• ed with the most flattering attention, and whose merit he believed he could hardly over-rate.

"The growing reputation of Dr. Blair, which soon extended beyond the limits of the British empire, proved the discernment of that patron to whose munificence he was

so much indebted. Every favour which he received was multa dantis cum laude, and it did honour to the hand that bestowed it. In the year 1780, his Majesty was graciously pleased to grant him a pension of 2001. In procuring him this proof of royal favour, Lord Melville would doubtless take an active part. It is said, at the same time, that the marked approbation with which her Majesty honoured his Sermons, gave immediate success to the request. The high elegance of the Sermons was often not so apparent when they were delivered by the author, as when they were read by others. In his manner, there was a stiffness which eclipsed their beauties, and to which strangers could not be reconciled. It is reported that they were read to the Royal Family at St. James's, by the first Earl of Mansfield; and their intrinsic merit never appeared to greater advantage than when they came from the mouth of so dignified a speaker.

"From the situation of the country a few years before Dr. Blair's death, he appeared in a light that endeared him more than ever to the

worthy and discerning part of the community. Of his ability as a scholar, and his amiableness as a man, he had long given unequivocal proofs; but his loyalty as a subject, and his faithful attachment to the British constitution, had till then no opportunity of shewing themselves. The opinion of a person of his eminence served, in such times, as a guide to the simple. Many, who could not judge correctly upon political subjects, were ready to be directed by him, whose sentiments upon religious topics they believed to be unerring. He declared from his pulpit, that no man could be a good Christian that was a bad subject. The opinions of those French philosophers, who wished to destroy subordination, and to loosen the restraints of law, he rejected with abhorrence. He regarded those men as the authors of incalculable mischief to every country upon earth, as well as to that which unhappily gave them birth. He beheld them as disturbing the peace of the world, which, with an insidious appearance of benevolence, they pretended to promote."

LITERARY LIFE AND CONNECTIONS OF THE HON. HENRY HOME, LORD KAMES.

[FROM LORD WOODHOUSELEE'S MEMOIRS of his LIFE and WRITINGS.]

MR

R. HOME, in every period of his life, was fond of social intercourse; and, with all his ardour of study, and variety of literary and professional occupations, a considerable portion of his time was devoted to the enjoyments of society, in a numerous and respectable circle of acquaintance. In his earlier days, the warmth of his af

fections, a happy flow of animal spirits, which disposed him to enter keenly into every innocent frolic, and a great power of animated and sprightly conversation, made his acquaintance be eagerly courted by the gay young men of fashion, who acquired some consequence in their own esteem, from being the friends and companions of a man of science

and

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