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Kay's Originals Vol. 1

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 123 without an infringement of principle. With this view, during one of his visits to London, he procured singers from the Cathedral of York, by whose aid he. originated an amendment in the conducting of the psalmody, which was at first looked upon as a daring innovation, but is now become pretty general throughout the Establishment. There were some slight defects in the character of the Doctor, which have been admitted by his warmest friends-he was vain, and very susceptible of flattery. A gentleman one day met him on the street, and, in the course of conversation, mentioned that his friend Mr. Donald Smith, banker, was anxious to secure a seat in the High Church, that he might become one of the Doctor’s congregation. “ Indeed,” continued this person, ‘‘ my friend is quite anxious on this subject. He has tried many preachers, but he finds’your sermons, Doctor, so superior in the graces of oratory, and so full of pointed observation of the world, that he cannot think of settling under any other than you.”-“ I am very glad to hear that I am to have Mr. Smith for a hearer,” said the preacher with unconscious self-gratulation-“ he is a very sensible man.” Dr. Blair’s “ taste and accuracy in dress,” continues our authority, “were absolutely ridiculous. There .was a correctness in his wig, for instance, amounting to a hair-breadth exactness. He was so careful about his coat, that, not content with merely looking at himself in the mirror to see how it fitted in general, he would cause the tailor to lay the looking-glass on the floor, and then standing on tiptoe over it, he would peep athwart his shoulder to see how the skirts hung. It is also yet remembered in Edinburgh, with what a self-satisfied and finical air this great divine used to walk between his house and the church every Sunday morning, on his way to perform service. His wig frizzed and powdered so nicely-his gown so scrupulously arranged on his shoulders-his bands so pure and clean-and every thing about him in such exquisite taste and neatness.” Upon one occasion, while sitting for his portrait, he requested the painter to draw his face with a pleasing mile. The painter replied, “Well, then, you must put on a pleasing smile.” The Doctor, in attempting to do this, made a most horrid grin, which, being immediately transferred to the canvas, gave his effigy the appearance of that of a downright idiot. This effect being pointed out to him by a friend, he immediately ordered the painting to be destroyed, and a new one forthwith commenced, the Doctor contenting himself with having it executed without the ‘‘ pleasing smile.” During the latter part of his life almost all strangers of distinction who visited Edinburgh brought letters of introduction to Dr. Blair ; and as he wils quite at ease in point of worldly circumstances, and had then in a great measure ceased to study intensely, he in general entertained them frequently and well. On one of these occasions, when he had collected a considerable party at dinner to meet an English clergyman, a Scotchman present asked the stranger what was thought of the Doctor’s sermons by his professional brethren in the south. To his horror, and to the mortification of Mrs. Blair, who sat near, and who looked upon her husband as a sort of divinity, the Englishman answered, “Why, they are not
Volume 8 Page 179
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