gaged in the medical profession; but, when on the eve of being appointed surgeon to a man of war, he died of a malignant fever at Portsmouth. Notwithstanding this melancholy event, which was deeply felt by the whole family, Mr. Scott was still desirous of bringing up one of his sons to the medical profession, and the education of Mr. Thomas Scott was conducted with a view to that object. After learning the rudiments of Latin, &c. at Burgh, and afterwards at Bennington, Mr. T. S. also was sent to Scorton School, where he continued five years without revisiting home during the whole period; nor need this excite much surprise when the difficulty of travelling in those days is taken into account, and when it is remembered that Scorton is a hamlet of the parish of Bolton, about five miles from Richmond in Yorkshire, and not less than a hundred and forty miles from Braytoft. There were then,' Mr. S. observes,' several turnpike roads in the neighbourhood, and one through the village, but I do not remember that I ever saw or heard of a stage coach.' The effects of such long separations from parents, brothers, sisters, and other near relations is justly censured by Mr. Scott as being far from favourable to the formation of the moral and social character in future life. The periodical meetings of families at each returning vacation powerfully tends to rekindle affection, and to diminish those selfish and tyrannical feelings which are too often contracted at school.

Mr. T. Scott appears to have made considerable proficiency at Scorton, though far less than under more favourable circumstances might have been expected. The master, though an able man, had become old and lethargic, and was in consequence exposed to various impositions, which the ushers however active, could scarcely obviate.

In some respects indeed this conduced to Mr. S's improvement, for as there were EIGHTY boys in the school, many of whom were far more liberally supplied with pocket money than Mr. S., he not unfrequently turned his talents to account by supplying exercises for others for very trifling remuneration. In this way he acquired great facility in translating Latin into English, and English into Latin, an attainment which materially contributed to his success in after life. His experience however at Scorton induced Mr. Scott most decidedly to protest against large public schools, where the boys are unavoidably a very great part of their time from under the eye of the master, and at a distance from parents and relations, whose presence would impose restraint upon them; and he therefore strenuously advocated wherever practicable, a domestic and secluded education.

On Mr. Scott's return from Scorton in 1762, he was placed with a Surgeon at Alford, who appears to have been a skilful but unprincipled person. unprincipled person. He had not however been very long bound apprentice, when a disagreement with his master took place, in consequence of which he returned home; and as the terms demanded for his entire liberation, appeared to his father unreasonable, while the master hoped, by preventing Mr. Scott's engaging in any other situation, he would eventually ensure compliance with his extortionate demands, the indentures were still retained, and a complete and final stop put to Mr. Scott's medical career.

Nor was this the only painful consequence. Mr. Scott had acted improperly in the first instance, and when the affair became public, he was regarded by his father, as having brought reproach, not only upon himself, but also on his family, who had been uniformly

respected for strict propriety of behaviour. Hence he inflicted on his son many severe reproofs, and much harsh treatment; nor were any vigorous efforts made either for mollifying his late master, or providing for his son in any other way; while as is too often the case with young persons at that time of life, the reproof Mr. T. Scott deserved, instead of leading to humiliation and repentance, only produced sullenness and discontent; his father's presence was avoided, and the society of the menials of the family was chosen, while such degrading associations naturally produced new causes of offence. He was in consequence employed in the most laborious parts of the work belonging to a Grazier; and as his father usually kept about a thousand sheep, and much of his farm consisted of low land, which was often flooded, Mr. T. Scott was introduced at the beginning of winter, to scenes of hardship, and exposed to many dangers from wet and cold, for which his previous habits had not prepared him. In consequence, he was frequently ill, and at length suffered such repeated and obstinate maladies, that his life was more than once despaired of. Yet a kind of indignant proud selfrevenge kept him from complaining, though he was naturally impatient of reproach or suffering.

During this period his mind was very feebly, if at all under the influence of religious principles. His parents were exemplary in their moral conduct and deportment, and their family in general well-ordered; but through the whole of that part of the country at the time of which we are speaking, there was a lamentable deficiency of religious instruction; many of the clergy were far from what they ought to have been, and as most of them were compelled by circumstances to supply two or three churches, and hurry away from one to the other,

through roads only practicable by horsemen, and not very safe for them, the Sunday duties were too often hastily and superficially performed, and the pastoral office almost entirely neglected. There was thus in many parts a darkness which might almost be felt, and in comparatively few places were the people favoured with any clear exposition of Christian doctrine, or powerful enforcement of Christian duty. That great deficiencies still exist among clergymen in various parts of the country, is deeply to be feared, but during the last century a most amazing improvement has taken place, and is, we trust, still advancing.

Such however being the state of religious instruction at the time of which we are speaking, it is no way surprising that Mr. Scott felt little on the subject of religion. His mind however was deeply impressed by a remonstrance of the surgeon above referred to, who, though himself a very improper character, yet on one occasion reminded his apprentice that he ought to recollect that his conduct was not only displeasing to him, (who was his earthly master) but also wicked in the sight of God. With this remark Mr. S. was much affected; it ofttimes recurred to his mind, and appears to have been of great service to him in after-life.

When about the age of sixteen, Mr. Scott was of course, (according to the requirements of our church, which had happily not then lost their authority) expected to attend at the Lord's table; his conscience had also been awakened by some discoveries of natural corruption, and partly to quiet its remonstrances, and partly to prepare for the ordinance to which he was called, he made some attempts at reformation, procured a form of prayer, attended at the Lord's table, and continued his devotions for a time; when his alarms being

quieted, and new temptations occurring, he gradually laid aside his religion, until his fears were afresh excited by another exhortation to attend the Lord's table; his repentance was then renewed, the divine ordinance was again attended on, and alas, after a time, his serious feelings again lost sight of. Such for the most part were Mr. Scott's proceedings for nine years, at some periods being excedingly alarmed, and very earnest in prayer and supplication; at others, living entirely without prayer, and conforming in many respects to the evil examples of those around, though various cir. cumstances concurred in preserving him from the more debasing vices of profaneness and intemperance, at all times too common among those employed in agricultural pursuits.

During this long period various reveries of future advancement presented themselves to his mind, and especially when the temptations of the low-lived persons into whose company he was occasionally brought, had seduced him into conduct which he reviewed with remorse. At such periods he would form plans of study, resume his neglected books, and speculate on obtaining admission at the university, and entrance into the church. On more mature consideration, however, the difficulties appeared insuperable, The books he had studied at Scorton, were left behind; he had a few Latin authors, and an old Greek Grammar, but not even a Greek Testament; and his father, though himself remarkably fond of reading, yet threw every discouragement in the way of his son's pursuits; and thus often drove him into company and engagements of an injurious nature. An ordinary mind would probably have sunk under such discouragements; but accidental circumstances relieved Mr. Scott from the desponding feelings which

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the treatment he met with at home was calculated to produce. The best mode of draining the adjoining fens was at that time warmly discussed, and Mr. Scott addressed a letter on the subject, to one of the provincial papers, which excited great attention, and induced various conjectures as to its author; while he was himself astonished at his humble production being attributed to some of the most distinguished characters in the neighbourhood; this unexpected circumstance occurring at a season when he was much depressed by the taunts and reproaches he met with encouraged him to persevere for some time in his attempts at improvement; at length however as hope deferred maketh the heart sick," he very nearly determined on relinquishing his exertions; he was now five-andtwenty; he had become accustomed to his employment, and seasoned against its hardships, and as his only brother was already settled in a farm in a neighbouring parish, and his father now in advanced life was subject to many infirmities, he naturally concluded that he should eventually succeed to his father's business and be thus comfortably provided for; to his surprise, however, he discovered that his father had made a different arrangement, that the lease of the Braytoft farm was left to his elder brother; and that the only provision designed for himself was the occupation of some marsh lands where there was no house, and no reasonable prospect of a provision, or even maintenance for a family. On this discovery he immediately determined to make some effort, however desperate, to extricate himself from what appeared a hopeless situation. His Latin books and Greek Grammar were immediately resumed and sedulously plied at every moment of leisure, his father expressing much astonishment at this sudden change

of conduct; until a severe, and possibly undeserved reproof, after a day of hard labour, induced him to give vent to his feelings, and to throw aside his shepherd's frock, with a declaration of his purpose never more to resume it. That night Mr. S. lodged at his brother's, but considering the next morning that a large flock of ewes in yeaning time had no one to look after them, he returned, and after paying the requisite attention, set off for Boston, where a clergyman resided with whom he had a slight acquaintance, and with some trepidation communicated his purpose of attempting to obtain orders. The clergyman was astonished, he had only known Mr. Scott as a shepherd, and he therefore immediately inquired, Do you know any thing of Latin and Greek? Mr. S. replied that he had received some education, but that for ten years he had not seen a Greek book except the Grammar. The clergyman instantly took down a Greek Testament, and put it into Mr. Scott's hands, who, without difficulty read several verses, giving both the Latin and English rendering, as had been the custom at Scorton School. On this the clergyman having strongly expressed his surprise, said, 'Our visitation will be next week; the Archdeacon, Dr. Gordon, will be here, and if you will be in the town, I will mention you to him and induce him, if I can, to send for you.' Mr. Scott of course

assented, and immediately returned to his father's house for the interval, knowing that his assistance was just at that season wanted for services which his father was not accustomed to entrust to labourers, and was himself no longer able to perform.

At the appointed time Mr. Scott returned to Boston, and was introduced to the Archdeacon, who was also examining chaplain to the then Bishop of Lincoln, Dr.

Green. Green. After examining him in the Greek Testament, the Archdeacon asked many questions, and concluded by assuring him of a favourable report to the bishop. Thus encouraged, Mr. Scott immediately sold a few sheep, the produce of a lamb given him by his father several years before, and went to live at Boston, where under the superintendence of the above-mentioned clergyman, he diligently applied to the study of the Greek Testament, the writing of Latin, &c. and at length, in less than seven weeks, having obtained a title and sent in testimonials, he proceeded to London, in hopes of being ordained. On arriving in town however, he was informed that his papers had not been received in time, and that other circumstances were not satisfactory, and that therefore he could not be admitted as a candidate. On this he earnestly requested an interview with the bishop, who asked him many questions as to his life, his family, his prospects, his reasons for desiring admission to orders, &c. to which Mr. Scott returned unreserved answers, being satisfied that independently of religious motives, sincerity and frankness are the best policy. His lordship, however, still declined admitting him as a candidate, but intimated that in case he procured his father's consent, and a letter from any beneficed clergyman in his neighbourhood, with whom his lordship was acquainted, he might probably admit him at the next ordination.

Mr. Scott, much discouraged at the result, and almost despairing of success, after staying a few days in town, returned home. At length he says, I reached Braytoft after walking twenty miles in the forenoon; having dined, I put off my clerical clothes, resumed my shepherd's dress and sheared eleven large sheep in the afternoon.

This was however his last labour of the kind. The spirit of