power not only extending to his open intercourse with the world, but penetrating the retirement of the closet, and the secret recesses of the heart.

That benevolence which christianity so forcibly inculcates was, with him, not less an impulse of nature, than a discharge of duty. Alive to the most generous sympathies, he participated with cordial concern in whatever affected the interests of a fellow-creature. But, whilst his philanthropy was of that expansive quality, that would, if possible, comprehend in its embrace the whole human family of the one great common parent, it was not allowed to waste itself in vague generalities and unprofitable aspirations, but was invigorated, and rendered daily and hourly productive, by the particular and local exercises of its beneficence. The many useful institutions in the town and vicinity of Manchester, of which he was the founder, or the zealous encourager; the readiness with which his attention and his counsels were afforded to the difficulties and the emergencies of his neighbours; the alacrity with which the services of courtesy and goodwill were performed by him, towards all within the range of his acquaintance; and the activity of his exertions for the welfare of those to whom the closer tics of intimacy supplied yet stronger claims; all evinced the disinterested ardour and practical energies of his social affections. In those charities which may be termed patriotic, he was exceeded by none. His sensibility to every infringement of the honour and the liberties of his country, was of the liveliest nature; but, whilst he breathed the purest sentiments of independence, he always held in

view the fundamental principles of legitimate authority. To him the seductions of a fallacious freedom could present no charms. His discerning eye easily discovered the true bounding-line between liberty and licentiousness, between innovation and improvement; and he stood at all times, equally removed, and equally averse, from the debasements of despotism, and the machinations of faction.-Of the christian charities bis breast was peculiarly susceptible. Every resemblance to divine goodness most powerfully excited his regard; and, to the man possessed of moral worth, he felt himself irresistibly drawn, as to a brother. But whilst his benevolence emanated thus widely on all surrounding objects, its radiant "flame" (to use his own expressions) "became more warm and bright to "those which were most near, in "proportion to the diffusion of its "lustre;" and in the relations of husband, friend, and parent, all the kindly affections of his nature were kindled to their highest fer

vour.

If ever man could be said to have lived for his children and his friends, rather than for himself, it was he. So unceasing his attention to their interests, so tender his anxiety for their welfare, so assiduous his endeavours for their improvement, that they seemed almost to have mingled with his consciousness, and to have formed a part of his very essence. The endearments with which his instructions were conveyed, the lenient remonstrances with which youthful errors were reprov ed, the tempered indulgence with which the reins of paternal authority were guided, procured for him, from his children, their fondest re

gard

gard and most friendly confidence; at the same time that the known firmness of his rectitude, and his indignant abhorrence of every deliberate deviation from principle, inspired them with an awe, which, while it impressed upon their hearts the strongest fear of offending, served to heighten yet more the feelings of virtuous attachment and reverential love; for to his mind truth and right were dearer even than his child. And, though mildness and suavity were his characteristic features, though they may be said to have beamed in every look, and sounded in every word, yet his determinations once formed, they were as unalterable as the principles of probity and justice, on which they were invariably founded.

With such a rare combination of transcendant qualities, with a character in which the most placid virtues were associated with the highest intellectual endowments, and the most inflexible integrity softened and embellished by the most conciliating accomplishments; with the fairest reputation, derived from a long and uninterrupted course of honourable and meritorious conduct; with the esteem, the love, and the veneration, not only of those immediately connected with him in the bands of amity and kindred, but of all who were the witnesses of his actions, and capable of appreciating his deserts; with the complacency of mind which accompanies the conscious ness of well-doing; and the peculiar self-gratulation arising from the contemplation of the rich fruits returned to his paternal culture, in the enlarged understandings, the regulated affections, the confirmed principles, and the amiable manners

2

of those whom it had been his great business to form to know. ledge and to goodness; it seems as if such a state were too prosperous for man; and it was his lot to experience some severely afflict. ing providences in that quarter where his tenderest affections were engaged. But here the consolations of christian hope, and the unshaken assurances of divine goodness, were his refuge and support; and, whilst he bowed in resigned submission to that searching discipline with which it was the good pleasure of his God to ex ercise his faith, and with pious Job was enabled to praise and glorify that Great Being, who had both given and taken away; he turned with grateful contentment to those numerous domestic blessings, which were yet permitted him to enjoy, and which he continued, with hum ble thankfulness and quickened sensibility, to cherish and to im prove to the last moment of his existence. Thus the severity of his trials but proved the stability of his virtue; and his probationary sor rows, by softening his devotion, and refining all his best dispositions, served only to render him a fitter recipient for the felicities of another world, and a brighter example for the edification of this.

We could gladly indulge in the melancholy satisfaction arising from the detailed contemplation of excellence so diversified; but the matter is too abundant, the pro posed, limits too contracted, and, we may add, the pencil of the pain. ter too feeble, for an adequate delineation. We must, therefore, take our leave of this exemplary character with this short and imper. fect summary.

He was an author without vanity, a philosopher

a philosopher without pride, a scholar without pedantry, a student without seclusion, a moralist without moroseness, a patriot without faction, and a christian without guile; aftable in his manners, courteous in his conversation, dignified in his deportment, cheerful in his temper, warm in his affections, ardent in his friendships, mild in his resentments, and unshaken in his principles. The great object of his life was usefulness, and the grand spring of all his actions was religion. -With such a singular union of estimable endowments, and with scarcely a single distinguishable failing to cast a shade on their collective splendour, who that knew him can avoid dwelling on his memory with pleasure? a pleasure indeed accompanied with sensations of the most poignant regret, yet such as compels the heart to vent itself in the exclamation

his profession, the practice of the domestic virtues, and the occupa tions of literature, however respectable such a character may be, can afford but slender materials for biography.

The facts stated in the present account were communicated to the compiler of a collection of his poems in conversation with his son, Robert Blair, esq. solicitor general to his majesty for Scotland, and his cousin, the learned and amiable Dr. Blair, one of the ministers of the high church, and professor of rhetoric and belles lettres in the university of Edinburgh.

Robert Blair was the eldest son of the rev. David Blair, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and chaplain to the king. His mother was Euphemia Nisbet, daughter of Archibald Nisbet, esq. of Carfin. His grandfather was the rev. Robert Blair, born at Irvine, in 1593, a distinguished Scottish clergyman in the

versari

Quam tui ineininisse."

Brief Memoirs of Robert Blair, Au. thor of the celebrated Poem of the Grave, by Dr. Anderson.

The life of a country clergyman, constantly engaged in the duties of

of the ancient and respectable family of Blair, of Blair in Ayrshire.*

He was born at Edinburgh, in 1699, received a liberal education in its university, was afterwards sent abroad by his father for improvement, and passed some time on the continent. After undergoing the usual trials appointed by the church, he was ordained minister of Athelstaneford,

Athelstaneford, in the county of East Lothian, Jan. 5, 1731, where he resided during the remainder of his life.

As his fortune was easy, he lived much in the style of a gentleman, and was greatly respected by Sir Francis Kinloch, baronet, of Gilmerton, patr of the parish, and by all the gentlemen in that neighbourhood. He was a man of learning, elegant taste, and polished manners; he distinguished himself as a botanist and florist; and was conversant in optical and microscopical knowledge, on which subjects he carried on a correspondence with some of the most learned men. He was a man of sincere piety; assiduous in discharging the duties of his clerical function; and, as a preacher, he was serious and warm, and discovered the imagination of a poet.

Ile married Isabella Law in 1738, daughter of Mr. Law of Elvingston, and sister to the sheriff-depute of East-Lothian, a lady of uncommon beauty and amiable manners. With her father, who had been professor of moral philosophy in the university of Edinburgh, who was his relation, and had been left one of his tutors, he had been long and intimately connected; and, upon occasion of his death in 1728, which happened' several years before his marriage with his daughter, he wrote and printed a funeral Poem to his Memory, which is thought worthy of being preserved; and is accordingly inserted in his collection.

By his lady, who survived him several years, and died in 1774, he had five sons and one daughter, David, William, Francis, Robert, Archibald, and Anne; of these sons, Robert Blair, esq. of Avington,

solicitor general to his majesty for Scotland, is the fourth.

Mr. Blair died of a fever, on the 4th of February, 1746, in the 47th year of his age; and was succeeded in his living at Athelstaneford by another poet, Mr. John Home, the celebrated author of "Douglas ;" and who has recently published an interesting history of the rebellion in 1745.

The poet's brother, Mr. Archibald Blair, was minister of Gawald, in the presbytery of Haddington, whose son, Robert Blair, M. D. is regius professor of astronomy in the university of Edinburgh. He was surgeon, during the last war, on board the ship in which Lord Robert Manners was killed; and, at the solicitation of the noble family of Rutland, was presented with the professorship, as a reward for his services. He resides at Merchiston, near Edinburgh, and is the author of some ingenious papers on optics, in the transactions of the royal society of Edinburgh.

The friends of Blair were friends of science and of virtue; his love of poetry and polite literature procured him the friendship of Watts, a polite scholar, and devout poet; no less remarkable for his genius and learning, than the mildness and fervency of his piety: his passion for natural history obtained him the correspondence of the famous naturalist, Henry Baker, esq. fellow of the royal society, an intelligent, upright, and benevolent man, who was attentive to all the improvements in natural science, and solici tous for the prosecution of uselul discoveries. Besides the papers written by himself in the Philoso "phical Transactions," he was the means, by his extensive correspon

dence,