BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 30 1
In discharging the private duties of his profession, no individual could be
more zealous than Dr. Hunter. The great aim of his life seemed to be in every
possible way to extend the knowledge and practice of true religion. To all the
religious and charitable institutions of Edinburgh he contributed largely from
his own substance ; and wide and judicious was the range of his private beneficence.
Both in his pastoral conduct and in the discharge of his duties as a
Professor of Theology, no individual could be more completely divested of
bigotry or party spirit. He judged of others by himself; and uniformly gave
credit to those who were opposed to him on minor points of religious opinion,
or as to questions of church polity, for the same integrity and purity of intention
by which his own conduct was governed. By his brethren he was much
respected ; and his well-known candour procured every attention to his opinions
in the church courts.'
In the following quotation the character of Dr. Hunter has been drawn
by one who knew him intimately, and whose judgment may well be considered
no slight authority :-" Eut shall I not mention the known integrity and purity
of his mind-the candour and sincerity which so eminently distinguished him
through life, and which ever commanded the confidence of those who differed
from him most in judgment-the fair, and open, and generous spirit which he
invariably discovered, when he judged of other men, or acted with them--the
scorn with which he ever contemplated an unfair, an uninterested, a disingenuous
proceeding-the mildness of his temper, of which, by the grace of God he had
acquired the entire command ; and (what can certainly be said of few amongst
us all), which was scarcely ever known to have been roused into passion, either
in public or domestic life-the earnestness and godly sincerity with which he
followed every good work, and co-operated with other men whom he believed
to be sincerely disposed to be useful ; with no shade of worldly selfishness to
pervert his conduct ; without ostentation ; superior to envy, and superior to
pride ; gentle and forbearing with all men ; but firm and immovable where he
saw his duty before him ; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." In the private
relations of life few men could be more estimable. He was one of the kindest
of husbands-an affectionate parenGand the most attached of friends.
At a period of life when actively employed in discharging the duties of his
profession and in the full enjoyment of health, on returning from the sacramental
services at Leith, he was suddenly seized with inflammation, and died, after
a few days' illness, on the 21st of April 1809. The closing scene of his life was
as exemplary and instructive as his whole previous conduct had been ; and he
looked upon his approaching dissolution with all the calmness, resignation, and
hope, which a well-spent life can inspire. Funeral sermons were preached on
the occasion by his colleague the P&v. Dr. Simpson, and the Rev. Sir Henry
Moncreiff Wellwood, Bart.; and most gratifying tributes of respect were paid
to his memory by almost all the clergy of the city.
He was appointed Moderator of the General Assembly in 1792.
302 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Dr. Hunter married, in 1779, Marion Shaw, eldest daughter of William, sixth
Lord Napier, by whom he had four children. His eldest son, a member of the
Faculty bf Advocates (who afterwards took the name of Arundel in compliance
with the wishes of his wife, who was a relative of Lord Arundel of Wardour),
succeeded to the estate, and died leaving several children. His youngest son,
the Rev. John Hunter, was appointed one of the ministers of the non Church
-which charge he held till his death, in conjunction with the late Dr. Brunton,
Professor of Hebrew in the University.
No CXXII.
LORD C R A I ~ .
THE father of his lordship, Dr. William Craig, was one of the ministers of
Glasgow, author of ‘‘An Essay on the Life of Christ,” and two volumes of
excellent sermons. WILLImf-the subject of the Print-was born in 1745.
He studied at the College of Glasgow, where he was distinguished for his classical
acquirements. In 1768, he was admitted to the bar, and became intimate
with several young persons, chiefly of the same profession, who met once a week
for the improvement of their professional knowledge.
As an advocate Mr. Craig was not so successful as might have been anticipated
from his talents. His tastes and habits were perhaps too literary to lead
him to legal eminence. He nevertheless had a fair share of business j and, in
1784, when Sir Ilay Campbell became Lord Advocate, he and his intimate
friends, Blair and Abercromby, were appointed Advocate-deputes. In 178 7
he became Sheriff-depute of Ayrshire; and, on the death of Lord Hailes in
1792, took his seat on the bench as Lord Craig. In 1795, he succeeded Lord
Henderland as a Commissioner of Justiciary. This office he held till ,1812,
when he resigned it on account of declining health ; but retained his seat in the
Civil Court until his death.
Lord Craig was more distinguished on the bench than he had been at the
bar. His conduct was upright and honourable ; and to excellent professional
talents, and a profound knowledge of law, he joined the most persevering exertion.
There were few of his colleagues who despatched dore business, or with
greater accuracy, than his lordship. His judgments, formed after careful and
anxious consideration, were generally clear and well-founded.
The fame, however, of Lord Craig does not rest solely on his character either
as a lawyer or a judge. His well-known attainments, and especially his connection
with “ The Mirror ” and “ The Lounger ” have raised his name to an
honourable place among the literary characters of his native land Most of
our readers are aware that the Mirror and Lounger were the joint productions
of a club of gentlemen-of whom Henry Mackenzie, author of the “Man
