BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 121
the pastorship of Lady Yester’s Chum4 by the Town Council of Edinburgh ;
and again by the same body, in 1758, he was translated to one of the charges in
the High Church. About the same period, the degree of D.D. was conferred
upon him by the University of St. Andrews. In 1759, Dr. Blair commenced
the delivery of those lectures on “ Rhetoric and the Belles Lettres,” afterwards
given to the public in a printed form, and which have since continued to hold
precedence as a standard work on literary composition. The lectures were undertaken
with the concurrence of the University ; and so popular did they at once
become, that in 1761 the Town Council procured from Government an endowment
of 370 a-year towards instituting a historical class in connection with the
College, of which Dr. Blair was appointed Professor. Hitherto, except in the
case of one or two sermons on particular occasions, which were printed, the
Doctor had not appeared as an author before the world. The deep interest
w-hich he took, however, in the exertions of Macpherson to recover the traditional
poetry of the Highlands, led him to publish, in 1763, “ a critical Dissertation
on the Poems of Ossian,” which was held by the advocates for their
authenticity to be one of the finest specimens of “critical composition in the
English language.’’
Although his style of pulpit oratory had become an object of very general
imitation among the young clergy, and although he had been repeatedly urged
to favour the world with some of those productions which had captivated so
many hearers, it was not till 1777 that he was induced to think of publishing.
In that year he -transmitted the MS. of his first volume of sermons, through
the medium of Mr. Creech, to an eminent publisher in London (Mr. Strachan),
with a view to the disposing of the copyright. Strachan, presuming probably
on a very general feeling of aversion then existing .in the public mind towards
clerical productions, sent a discouraging answer to Dr. Blair. In the mean time
the MS. had been handed to Dr. Johnson for perusal, who, after Strachan’s
unfavourable letter had been despatched to the north, sent a note to the
publisher, in which he says, “I have read over Dr. Blair’s first sermon with more
than approbation; to say it is good, is to say too little.” This judgment,
strengthened by a conversation afterwards held with Dr. Johnson, soon convinced
Mr. Strachan of the error he had committed. He therefore wrote a second
time to Dr. Rlair, inclosing Johnson’s note, and agreeing, in conjunction with
Mr. Cadell and Mr. Creech of Edinburgh, to purchase the volume for one
hundred pounds.’ The popularity of these sermons exceeded all anticipation ;
Dr. Blair was thefirst person who introduced the Poems of Osaian to the notice of the world ;
first, by the “Fragments of Ancient Poetry “ which he published ; and next, by setting on foot an
undertaking for collecting and publishing the entire poems. He used to boast of this, but he little
dreamed that the lapse of a few years would produce so general a change in public opinion as to the
authenticity of these remarkable productions.
a The MS. was first submitted to the perusal of Mr. Creech, who was so highly taken with it,
that he made an offer off-hand to the author of one hundred guineas. Dr. Blair was so much struck
with the amount, as to be almost incredulous of the verity of Mr. Creech’s offer. “Will you
indeed ! ” was his exclamation.
R
123 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
so much so, that the publishers presented the author with two additional 6ums
of money, by way of compliment. Not long after its first publication, the
volume attracted the notice of George 111. and his consort--a portion of the
sermons, it is said, having been first read to their Majesties in the royal closet
by the eloquent Earl of Mansfield. So highly did their Majesties esteem the
merits of the author, that a pension of €200 was settled upon him. The
Doctor afterwards published other three volumes of sermons, all of which met
an equally flattering reception, and were translated into almost all the European
languages.
Upon occasion of the publication of Dr. Blair’s Lectures, Logan the poet
addressed a letter to Dr. Gilbert Stuart, at that time editor of the “English
Review and Political Herald,” from which the following beautiful extracts have
been taken : -
I need not
tell you that I am very much interested in the fate and fame of all his works.
Besides his literary merit, he hath borne his faculties so meekly in every situation,
that he is entitled to favour as well as candour. He has never with pedantic
authority opposed the career of other authors, but has, on the contrary, favoured
every literary attempt. He has never studied to push himself immaturely into
the notice of the world, but waited the call of the public for all his productions;
and now, when he retires from the republic of letters into the vale of ease, I
cannot help wishing success to Fingal’ in the last of his fields. * * * *
Your influence to give Dr. Blair his last passport to the public will be very
agreeable to the Ziterati here, and will be a particular favour done to me. It
will still farther enhance the obligation if you will write me such a letter as I
can show him, to quiet his fean.’’
Dr. Blair retired from the Professorship in 1788, in consequence of advanced
age, and in a few years afterwards found himself also unable to discharge the
duties of the pulpit. Such, however, was the vigour of his intellect, that in
1799, when past his eightieth year, he composed and preached one of the most
effective sermons he ever delivered, in behalf of the Fund for the Benefit of the
Sons of the Clergy, the subject of which was-“ The compassionate beneficence
of the Deity.”
In addition to his acquirements in theology and general literature, Dr. Blair
was intimately acquainted with some of the sciences ; while it may be worthy of
remark, he also indulged to a considerable extent in light reading. “The
Arabian Nights’ Entertainments,” and ‘‘ Don Quixote,” were among his especial
favourites. He was also an admirer of Mrs. Anne Radcliffe’s talents for romance,
and honoured Mr. Pratt’s ‘‘ Emma Corbett ” with particular praise. In Church
politics, although the Doctor took no active part, he was, like his intimate friend
Principal Robertson, a decided Moderate, and was zealous to adopt any means
of improving the worship of the Church of Scotland, where such could be done
This allusion, considering the share Dr. Blair had in bringing the worka of Ossian to light, is
“Dr. Blair’s Lectures are to be published sometime in spring.
extremely appropriate,
