BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 29
his career. He soon became one of the most popular men of his day in the
city-esteemed for the generosity and benevolence of his disposition, respected
for his worth, and admired for his genius and talents.
Amongst the innumerable schemes for the benefit of the destitute, and of
suffering humanity in all its forms of misery, which this excellent man either
suggested or promoted, the most conspicuous was the establishment of a fund
for the widows of the clergy of the Church of Scotland ; an institution which
owes its existence chiefly to his benevolence, and its admirable system to his
singular powers of arithmetical calculation, a department of intellectual labour
in which he greatly excelled.
With all his other popular qualities, Dr. Webster possessed a great degree
of firmness and intrepidity of character, of which he exhibited a very striking
instance when the rebels were in possession of Edinburgh. At that crisis, when
most other men of his political sentiments and notoriety would have sought
safety in silence or retirement, he, boldly mounted his pulpit, and employed his
eloquence in denouncing the cause of the Chevalier, and in urging his hearers to
retain their fidelity to the House of Hanover.
Nor was his genius, sound judgment, and excellent taste, recognised only in
matters connected with his clerical capacity. They were so well known, and so
highly appreciated, that he was uniformly consulted by the magistrates of Edinburgh
in all public undertakings.
Dr. Webster was married to Miss Mary Erskine, a young lady of fortune,
daughter of Colonel John Erskine (brother of Sir Charles Erskine of Alva,
Bart.), by Euphemia, daughter of William Cochrane, Esq., of Ochiltree. She
was nearly related to the family of Dundonald, and was courted by some of
the first Peers of the realm. This connexion originated in a somewhat curious
manner, During his residence at Culross, Mr. Webster was employed by
a friend to procure for him the good graces of Miss Erskine, who then
resided at Valleyfield, in the neighbourhood. This duty he faithfully performed,
and urged his friend‘s suit with all the eloquence he was master of, but
to no purpose. At length, wearied with his importunities in the cause of
another, and at the same time prepossessed by his own figure and accomplishments,
both of which were eminently attractive, Miss Erskine plumply
remarked to him, ‘I You would come better speed, Sandy, if you would speak
for yourself;” and on this hint Mr. Webster did indeed speak, and to such
purpose, that they were shortly afterwards married.
This union, though thus brought about by a circumstance somewhat out of
rule on the lady’s part, was a happy one-Dr. Webster’s affection for his wife
never suffering the slightest abatement of that ardour so forcibly expressed in
the following stanza, addressed to her soon after their marriage :-
“ When I see thee I love thee, but hearing adore,
I wonder, and think you a woman no more,
Till, mad with admiring, I cannot contain,
And, kissing those lips, find you woman again.” I
