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
124 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
partial to them at all.”-“How, sir,” faltered out the querist--“how should
that be ‘I ”-“ Why,” replied the southron, “ because they are so much read, and
so generally known, that our clergymen can’t borrow from them.” The whole
company, hitherto in a state of considerable embarrassment, were quite delighted
at this ingenious and well-turned compliment.
Dr. Blair died in the 83d year of his age, on the 27th December 1800. He
was buried in the Greyfriars’ Churchyard-the Westminster Abbey of Scotland
-where a tablet to his memory, containing a highly elegant and classical Latin
inscription, is affixed to the southern wall of the church. He married, in 1748,
his cousin, Katherine Bannatyne, daughter of the Reverend James Bannatyne,
one of the ministers of Edinburgh, by whom he had a son and daughter. The
former died in infancy, and the latter when about twenty-one years of age.
Mrs. Blair also died a few years previous to the demise of her husband. Dr.
Blair’s usual place of residence in summer was at Restalrig-in winter in Argyle
Square.‘
No. LVIII.
THE HONOURABLE HENRY ERSKINE,
DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF ADVOCATES.
MR. ERSKINE, in consequence of holding an appointment from the Prince of
Wales, generally presided at the anniversary meeting of his Royal Highness’s
household in Edinburgh on the 12th of August ;’ hence the reason why Kay
has placed the Prince’s coronet at the bottom of the Print. The motto, “ Seria
mixta jocis,” is in allusion to the uncommon humour and vivacity which characterised
his legal pleadings.
The Hon. Henry Erskine was the third son of Henry David, tenth Earl of
Buchan, by Apes, daughter of Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, and was born
at Edinburgh on the 1st November 1746. His patrimony was trifling, and had
it not been for the exemplary kindness of his eldest brother, who took a paternal
charge both of Henry and his younger brother Thomas, afterwards Lord Erskine,
he would not have been able to defray the expenses attendant upon the course of
study requisite to be followed in order to qualify him for the bar. In the year
1765, Mr. Erskine was admitt,ed a member of the Faculty of Advocates. He
had previously prepared himself for eztempore speaking, by attending the Forum
Near the present Industrial Museum.
On one of these occasions, while a gentleman was singing after dinner, the Prince’s tobacconist
accompanied the song with his fingers upon the waiwcoting of the room, in a very accurate manner.
When the music finished, the chairman said, “He thought the Prince’fl tobacconist would make a
capital King’s Counsel.” On being asked I‘ Why?” Harry replied, “Because I never heard a man
make so much of a pannel.”
