London, Nov. 1783.

"You tell me, my dear William, that you read important and good books many hours every day. I am very glad your taste for literature is decided; and I do not insist on your entering into the Church, since you do not find inclination for it. Let us trust in God that we shall find employment for your future life, while I cultivate, and can truly say I enjoy the advantage of many friends here; who will be your friends, I firmly believe, if your good conduct and talents merit their esteem and confidence; every thing depends upon yourself: every man is the architect of his own good success in life. Do not aim ardently for money; let your merits, your virtues, your prudence, speak for you. With regard to books, you will read here what Milton says, before he wrote Paradise Lost.

Incessantly, and to his reading brings not

A spirit and a temper, equal or superior,
Unsettled and uncertain still remains,

Deep versed in books, but shallow in himself."

"Not that I think you will be shallow; I flatter myself, like all parents, that you will be distinguished, yet unassuming, sedate, without vain boasting; the je ne scai quoi, the toute ensemble which the French attain better than any of the family of John Bull in general. Yet there are many in London, your native place, of superior talents, and

excellent by virtue, without any deficiency of what is called the Graces. Never let them assume any precedence above the sterling honour and good principles, by which only any young man can hope to establish himself in the best society either of England, or on the Continent.

"When I was young, I wrote many verses at Edinburgh and in London. I enclose you my verses on Friendship, when I was your age. The heart is then ardent, with sanguine views of life; yet it is good to encourage kind ideas of human nature; the heart and the health are both improved by kind feelings of friendship: all satirical, severe, ill-natured, misanthropical imaginations of the heart are bad. The blood of the misanthrope is acid, and affects the whole system. Here are my youthful rhymes.

"ON FRIENDSHIP.

"O friendship! thou joy and delight of our youth,
By thy gaiety, kindness, ardour, and truth,
Thou art pleasure supreme in life's busy stage,
And our chief consolation and cordial in age.
No blessing to mankind more precious is given,
Except our high hopes of salvation in heaven.
Thou dost sweeten the cup often bitter in life,
Which can only be sooth'd by a friend or a wife.
Such friendship as no loss of fortune can change,
Or the darkest adversity ever derange:
Yet think not such treasure is easily gained,
Or that what is so precious is often attain'd.
All excellent things in this world, we know,
Advance by degrees, not rapid, but slow;

For in friendship the mind must make observation,
If those virtues exist which claim estimation.

Great honour and truth, with principles sound,
Where whim and caprice can never be found.
For oft have we seen, in the history of life,
That a trifle will raise a torrent of strife;
And genuine friendship, a jewel so rare,
That some have declared it, ' A Castle in Air.'
But if temper and heart are fully combin'd,
With progressive esteem and confidence join'd,
Such friendship is form'd, so truly allied,
That its fall or decline may be firmly denied:
We have seen its existence in greatest perfection,
While the heart feels with joy the soothing reflection,
To the last hour of life it is faithful and true,
And such friendship in heaven we hope to renew.

"Farewell! my dear Son. the tour of Europe, read the lady or the friend you love.

After you have made

above to the young

"I am your affectionate father,

MAXWELL GARTHSHORE."

DR. HUGH BLAIR.

BIOGRAPHY is a most important species of History, inasmuch as, by its means, men who were greatly distinguished by merit and talents are not forgotten, in the quick progress of life, by the next generation. It is by Biography that the mind and feelings are particularly enlightened and interested; it leads our attention to characters of very superior excellence, whose spirits are now removed, and blessed by celestial happiness. We anticipate the hopes of mental improvement by their good works, and may see in heaven those whose life and excellent works we have read of in this world. The most useful and interesting reflections on life and death flow from Biography; we see the active industry of virtue and piety, by which the mind supports the body under the afflictions of human nature. The most able physicians have declared, that health is greatly improved by animated and cheerful ideas; every exertion of the soul towards a higher state of existence gives better circulation to the blood, and animates the nerves. So intimate is the union of mind and body.

If the petty trifles of life occupy our time, or the deep sorrows of the heart correct the soul, by causing it to look beyond the present world, the excellent works of Dr. Blair have done most essen

tial good to many thousands. It is most important that such sermons, which passed through twentytwo editions, by which means 30,000 copies were sold in his life-time, should not be forgotten. If the excellent spirit of the Author is now supremely happy in heaven, some account of his life must be interesting in this volume, composed chiefly by the friend and correspondent of Dr. Blair. The Rev. Author of the Lectures on the Psalms had known him from early life, and read the first volume of his Discourses with the most lively pleasure. He wrote to Dr. Blair, and expressed the great pleasure he had derived from his book. He intreated the Rev. Author to proceed in the exercise of his admirable talents for the improvement of mankind. Dr. Blair wrote a kind letter of thanks; but said, "My good friend, I am grateful to God, who enabled me to exert myself, after severe domestic afflictions, and who has gratified my feelings as an author far beyond my sanguine hopes; but I ought to be satisfied, and not risk the loss of public favour by proceeding with more volumes." The Editor saw this letter, which filled three pages; but by some accident it has been mislaid, and cannot be found to be inserted here.

Dr. Blair lived to eighty-three years of age. He printed four volumes of Sermons in his life-time. The fifth volume was published after his death, in December, 1800. All were in his own hand-writing, and (excepting the first volume, which was pub